Powder Day

Winter in Colorado has officially arrived. A surprise storm hit Saturday morning, dropping 7" of snow on the dogs. I don't know who was more excited, me or the sled dogs. The entire world seemed silent and white. The feeling only intensified when I arrived at my new job at Sunlight Mountain Resort.
Sunlight is a relatively small, family ski area. We have 67 trails and boast the steepest grade in the lower 48. We also have the longest trail in the U.S. at two and a half miles.
None of that really mattered though, when 7" of dry, fluffy powder hit the slopes. As a part of my position at the mountain, I am encouraged to take an hour break every day to ski. I cannot really help guests if I do not know the mountain myself. And so, when ski patrol called in to say they had just opened a new trail, I jumped on the opportunity. In ten minutes I was on the lift and headed to the top. My first Colorado powder experience consisted of first tracks down Rebel Trail with snow up to my knees. It doesn't get much better than that.
The only problem with snow up to my knees is that I don't know how to ski it. I'm used to the sheer ice of Vermont. I may be proud of skiing that ice, but it isn't helping me now. I quickly learned that digging in an edge doesn't really help, nor does lifting your uphill ski. Even with these fallbacks, I was smiling the entire way down. At one point, I hit a rock buried under the snow and fell; that was the softest landing I have ever experienced while skiing. It was most relaxing just laying in the powder and taking in the silent world around me.
This winter is going to be good. Powder good.