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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Zurich, Switzerland
    Posts
    1,322

    TR: Goodbye Colorado and Hello Switzerland

    I am sitting here in Switzerland writing this. Somewhat sad, but also excited about what’s to come in the future. My wife and I just relocated to Switzerland, the country I grew up.

    I have spent the last 8 years in the States. 4 years in Chicago and then 4 in Colorado. It has been an amazing time. From enjoying the single life in Chicago with partying all night, to getting married and moving with my wife to Colorado. There we enjoyed the outdoors to the fullest. Who would not enjoy 300 sunny days and light and fluffy powder?! This Rocky Mountain state really has a special place in my heart.

    So it has been a very tough decision to make. But Mother Nature seemed to be with me, because as soon as I put in my notice at work the storms started rolling in and Colorado finally turned white at the beginning of December. Just in time so I could start off my Colorado farewell tour in style.

    Day 1: Aspen Highlands Opening Day - December 8, 2007

    No pictures from an epic opening day in Highlands, since I was rolling solo and the snow was just simply too good to stop.
    It just does not happen too often that you can drop into the Deep Temerity terrain with 3ft of untracked pow. To top it off I made two amazing runs down the highlands bowl and had even first tracks down G-6!


    Day 2: Ajax - December 9, 2007

    The sun was poking out after several days of snow and the familiar view on top was pretty nice:



    I have no action shots so I allow myself to borrow one:

    From Funken’s TR: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...d.php?t=104745


    Day 3: Snowmass - December 10, 2007

    It was now also time to say goodbye to one of my Colorado babies: The new Maroon Creek Bridge. Major construction is almost complete and the bridge should be in service sometime at the end of 2008.



    The afternoon was spent on the slopes in Snowmass.
    Later on I made my way down to Telluride since they predicted another major storm moving into the SW corner of Colorado.


    Day 4: Telluride - December 11, 2007

    The storm did not exactly pan out as predicted, but the 8” of fresh were still pretty nice and chair 6 allowed for some great laps.


    Day 5: Telluride - December 12, 2007

    Wednesday was a long anticipated day in Telluride with the opening of chair 9. It seemed like the whole town of Telluride took the morning off. So the first 2 runs of the plunge chair were good but after that the place was nearly tracked out.

    Therefore I took it a bit easier and enjoyed the nice views in the T-ride area.

    The Bear Creek Drainage:


    Looking north from the ski area:


    The Wilson group:



    Day 6: Ophir Pass Backcountry - December 13, 2007

    The avy danger was high and I was solo so I did no crazy lines. I toured around a bit south of Ophir Pass and was amazed about the potential in this area. The San Juans it’s were it's at!!! So many great mountains and lines.



    I followed some locals skin track which guided me to a nice area with a 32deg slope:



    Day 7: Red Mountain Pass Backcountry - December 14, 2007

    On the drive to Silverton I stopped on top of Red Mountain Pass and toured on the east side. I did not really put the best tour together and the weather was not really co-operating, but I still managed to get a few nice turns in.

    Some guys tracks:


    An old shack:



    Day 8 & 9: Silverton Mountain - December 15 & 16, 2007

    I always wanted to check out Silverton Mountain and now was finally the time. The 20” that fell earlier in the week settled, so we did not have the full on over-the-head powder day, but this were still some great two days.

    I met Kya, Blurred, Summit and Adimmen for a maggot weekend.

    Blurred started up the day with some hucking:


    Summit is pondering some lines:


    Adimmen charging:


    (Maybe Summit has a few more action shots after he sorted out the problems with his laptop)


    Day 10: Wolf Creek Pass Backcountry - December 17, 2007

    I made a few runs on Wolf Creek Pass. There is some great tree skiing up there.

    A scenic one:



    And yes, I believe the snow total they usually report when I look at those trees:



    Day 11: Monarch Pass Backcountry - December 18, 2007

    I did one run up at Monarch Pass. However the snow was quite wind affected, even in the trees. I had been skiing/riding already for 11 days straight at this point and I figured I pack it up and head back to Denver for a rest day.

    Looking west from top of the pass:



    Day 12: Rest Day


    Day 13: Summit County Backcountry – December 20, 2007

    I have tried to hook up with spthomson earlier on the road trip but it never worked out. So finally on this Thursday we met up and went for a tour to Summit County.

    Spthomson on the skintrack:


    It had not snowed for almost a week, but we were able to find about a nice foot of fresh on some north facing slope.

    Yours truly dropping in to get a taste:


    Sequence of spthomson:














    Day 14: Rest Day

    Day 15: Mount Trelease – December 22, 2007

    The last day skiing in Colorado was spent with my (former) co-worker TurnEarner. It probably was one of the coldest days in Colorado history or something, but we managed to stay somewhat warm and get some nice turns in near Mount Trelease.

    Citadel:


    TurnEarner enjoying some nice turns:









    These were two memorable last weeks in Colorado and I was sad to leave, but the time came.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Zurich, Switzerland
    Posts
    1,322
    The holidays were spent in the Midwest with my wife’s family. And no…. we did not go and ride the gnar in northern Illinois and Wisconsin, therefore no pics.


    1 week in Zermatt (January 12 – January 19, 2008)

    After the flight over the pond to Switzerland and curing out the jetlag and flu for a week we went with my whole family to Zermatt.

    My wife was a bit homesick thinking of the US. So what better place then the Valais is there to visit where you are in the middle of the amazing mountain scenery. Zermatt has probably not the sickest and steepest (inbounds) ski lines in the world, but the scenery can not be beat. When you are on top of one of the mountains you can see for miles and miles and are surrounded by numerous 4000ers.

    We timed it almost perfectly. On the drive up on Saturday (January 12) it was snowing hard and on Sunday we had about 0.50m of fresh and blue skies.

    When you wake up, look out the window and see this, you know it’s going to be a good day:



    My brother enjoying some freshies:



    Strahlhorn, Adlerhorn and Findel glacier (from left to right) as seen from the Unterrothorn:



    The Breithorn as seen from the Klein Matterhorn:


    The panorama from the Klein Matterhorn to the west and south is gorgeous:
    (some peaks indicated for orientation)




    From here we dropped in to the south and went to Cervinia (Italy) to enjoy a pizza. It’s nice when you can cross borders on skis or snowboard.

    The Matterhorn seen from the south side:



    I love Colorado and the outdoors there, but I had to realize again after this week in the Valais: The Alps are just amazing and I am glad I will have plenty of time in the future to explore it again whenever I can.


    At the moment we are doing last preparations for our 6-month journey. We will be backpacking in South and Central America. It should be an exciting time!

    Maybe I will check in from time to time, but if you do not hear from me I will be back next season with some Euro TRs.

    See you later.
    Last edited by IridePow; 01-20-2008 at 01:36 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    CH
    Posts
    1,871
    Safe travels and welcome back to CH!
    #1 goal this year......stay alive +
    DOWN SKIS

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    680
    Whew. That there's a big TR. Thanks.
    washu feeze drive me to firenze?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Colorado Springs
    Posts
    775
    Skiing to Italy for a pizza. What a concept! Great report, enjoy Europe!
    Change is good. You go first.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    A Chamonix of the Mind
    Posts
    3,656
    Taking a photo of the Matterhorn from a hotel window never gets old! Nice work!
    "Buy the Fucking Plane Tickets!"
    -- Jack Tackle

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Golden, CO!
    Posts
    2,112
    nice TR - enjoy your backpacking trip.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Pugetopolis,WA
    Posts
    1,373
    Good decision. Fuckin switzerland!! Land of chocolate and lederhosen's. I'd stay permanently,man.
    So local it hurts...

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    2,139
    Nice pics man - sorry i never got to meet up with you on those Aspen days early in the season but good luck in the new location. God damn i love CH - i will make it back out there sometime soon

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Glasgow, UK
    Posts
    1,312
    Really cool pics. I think you could call this one a LR(Life Report). Have fun on the next adventure, that sounds like a serious backpacking trip.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    cb, co
    Posts
    5,035
    But, but, but... You never hit CB on the SW CO trip. I'm insulted. Actually it makes sense, WC to Monarch and keep going N.

    Sounds like a cool trip in S America and looking forward to some more TR's next winter.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Colorado Cartel HQ
    Posts
    15,932

    Thumbs up

    Great to meet you and ride with you in Silverton!!!

    Those were good times, amazing conditions! May see you over the pond some day soon.

    Best wishes!

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Dillon, CO
    Posts
    524
    Living the dream...thanks for sharing.
    “I mean god damn, who could believe that shit.” Greg Noll, Riding Giants

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    6,388
    epic





    __________

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Where the Butte is Crested
    Posts
    3,338
    Good riddance! I mean, um, we will miss you in Colorado Some great pics in there of CO, but man, Europe is just a whole other level. Best wishes to you and I hope for more TR's!!!
    -
    14erskiers.com

    "Don't be afraid of the spaces between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." - Belva Davis

    "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle"--Albert Einstein

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    floating in that 5-10% magic
    Posts
    121
    Iride, yeah that last day in the CO BC was a cold one. It was good to make a few last turns with you before your big move back across the pond.

    It was a blast hitting the mountains with ya and working with you for the past couple of years. You will be missed here…

    Have an incredible time in South and Central America for the next 6 months , and good luck on getting a new job when you return to the “real world”.

    Keep a spot open on your couch, ‘cause I will be visiting you over there in the land of Swiss pow.
    "You know what's rrrrreal good? Cheese, dipped in cheese." - Big Rodge.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    PacNW
    Posts
    954
    Cpngrats on returning home. I blame Switzerland for my skiing obsession. Learned to ski pow in Leysin during a semester abroad and havn't been the same sisnce.
    "Don't tease me about my hobbies, I don't tease you about being an asshole"

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    verbier, milan, isla de pascua
    Posts
    4,806
    welcome back, and thanks for sharing!!!!

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Switzerland
    Posts
    7,578
    nice! so where are you residing now?

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    The Ranch
    Posts
    3,792
    The Matterhorn always reminds me of the view of Bierdstat from Guanella Pass.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Zurich, Switzerland
    Posts
    1,322
    Quote Originally Posted by goldenboy View Post
    But, but, but... You never hit CB on the SW CO trip. I'm insulted.
    Yes, almost made it to Crested Butte. It was very tempting, especially with all that snow you guys got in December. However at the end it just did not work out.... next time.


    Quote Originally Posted by Ripzalot View Post
    nice! so where are you residing now?
    I will be in the Zurich area.
    I will let you know when I am in your neck of the woods next season.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Denver, Co.
    Posts
    1,422
    Stoked for you Oliver.

    Happy travels!

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    756
    Truly one of the most pleasurable TR's I've read in a while. Just awesome.

    Pretty sweet huck by Blurred as well.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Durham, North East England
    Posts
    18
    Quote Originally Posted by jrbd View Post
    Skiing to Italy for a pizza. What a concept! Great report, enjoy Europe!
    it's something i've done, and really funny to be in an italian restaurant at the bottom of a run just minutes after getting off a lift in switzerland.

    mind, the skiing isn't as good on the italian side and it takes a while to get back over.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    398
    Beautiful pix. Man, I am so bummed you've left Colorado, but that just gives me an excuse to come stink up Switzerland next year.

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