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My Page: Carson Bennett

Snowblog

According to the Denver Post on January 7, “Snow Trumped Recession” when it came to the holiday ski season. In fact, even more people visited Vail during the holidays this year than last year. According to the story, “‘History has shown us that skiers are devoted to their sport and even in a slippery economy they will find a way to get out there, especially if the snow is really good,’ said Jennifer Rudolph, spokeswoman for Colorado Ski Country USA, which has 22 member resorts.”

However, the Bulletin in Bend, Oregon, reports dismal holiday numbers. The weather was bad (who wants to ski in “frozen fog” anyway?) but the poor economy took its toll as well. According to Alana Audette, the President and CEO of the Central Oregon Visitor’s Association, “Central Oregon’s lodging community reported occupancy declines ranging from 10 to 30 percent over the holiday period.”

I’m curious. Is snow or recession the stronger motivator? [more]

A Few Thought for the New Year

At the risk of perpetuating a cliché, snow teaches me that life is short. The winter lasts only so long. Eventually, the flakes on the ground are the only flakes we have, and once the little spot of Earth on which I’m riding tips back toward the sun, those flakes will return to their original form, filling creeks, rivers and lakes, continuing the cycle. I need to spend less time indoors longing for snow, and more time outdoors enjoying it. [more]

Epic Steeps on Opening Day

At 10:50am on December 30, cheering crowds of skiers and snowboarders strained against the ropes at Arapahoe Basin’s famed Montezuma Bowl. Folks lined up at the 12,472-foot entrance to “Zuma” starting half an hour before the ropes dropped, leaning into the fierce wind whipping up and over the Black Bear and Larkspur runs. [more]

Record Snowfall Nationwide

Various toupee-clad television weather forecasters have predicted massive amounts of snow in Colorado Springs, but so far the streets are dry. In some places, however, this has been the snowiest December on record. And winter just started. [more]

It's Going to be a White Christmas

Apparently all the powder hounds in the West asked Santa for snow, because he’s bringin’ it! Here’s a rundown of the Christmas depths and events at my favorite mountains.

Arapahoe Basin – 8 new inches, 35 inch base. As a special Christmas gift, the Pali Terrain has just opened.

Keystone – 9 new inches, 34 inch base. For $85, take your honey on a horse-drawn sleigh ride to dinner at a Soda Creek Valley cabin.

Breckenridge – 14 new inches, 54 inch base. Peaks 7, 8, 9 and 10 are open and full of pow. [more]

Be Prepared

It’s been snowing hard in the Western U.S. over the last few days, and a big dump of snow in the mountains over a short period of time is a recipe for avalanches. On Sunday and Monday, three avalanches caught three people in Utah and Colorado. Two victims died. [more]

10 Gifts Under 20 Bucks

Most of my friends and family are snow enthusiasts and I’d like to get all of them something for Christmas. I’m not a very wealthy guy these days (and, I’ll be honest, I’m trying to save up for some AT bindings), so I did some research and found ten great gifts for snow lovers, all under twenty bucks. Some are useful. Some are corny. None will break the bank.

[more]

Loveland's "Ski Hooky Days" Begin on Dec. 11

The day has come to try out Colorado’s oldest locally owned and operated mountain. On Thursday, December 11, play hooky at Loveland.
[more]

Freeing the Heel, Part 2

I have begun my search for AT gear and immediately realized something. This stuff is expensive. If I bought a brand new setup – including skis, bindings, boots and poles – I would have to drop at least $1600. For me, that’s equivalent to four months rent, sixteen months of groceries, or one day heli-skiing in Alaska. In any case, it’s more than I can afford at the moment, so I did what any bargain hunter would do. I went to eBay. [more]

McCombs Hits Another Roadblock

On November 20 the Forest Service officially suspended the EIS application process, effectively rendering McCombs’ Village at Wolf Creek a pipe dream. [more]