046 | Berthoud Pass, Colorado

Not much to report here. Been too busy living a horrible life so I only time for pictures and not much detail. Apologies for being late on the post here, but the skiing sucked on Tuesday such that I kept thinking about one of the top five days of the year for the rest of the week coupled with a trip from my brother and The Guy.

Enjoy.


► Song of the week:

Primal Scream: "Come Together"






► Skiing recap of the week:

Saturday, March 29, 2008 was my second trip back to Berthoud Pass. I met up with Dave, Gary, and John (and canines Cody and Bella) sometime around 8 AM and we headed up towards Russell Peak (elev. 12,391 feet). We hit XYZ Chutes on our 2nd lap, and what some call Frankenstein's on our 3rd while heading into creek #2.

Below is a detail visual of our methodology. Red = ascent; Green = descent; yellow = end of true descent. Total vertical climbed for the day was 2,500 feet. Total vertical skied was 3,200. Not bad I say.





The group atop Russell (Gary, Cody, Dave, Bella, and John):




Gary dropping in with Cody trailing behind for some freshies:




Slayed part 1 (my tracks on the far looker's left ... clearly I like to turn):




Skintrack stoke:




Dave dropping into the top of one of the XYZ Chutes:




Slayed part 2 (don't worry, we hit the big juicy chute in the middle the next day ... more pics further down):




The group takes a break in Peter's Hut before making the last skin up towards Frankenstein's:




Clouds came and went throughout the day ... this is of the latter and taken while on the hour-plus trek up:




Slayed part 3:




Survey says?




John with Bella:




Doggie stoke!







Sunday, March 30, 2008 was nearly identical to the previous day but much better. Because I was the first to ascend Russell, I scored first tracks on two solid lines. We didn't leave much room to be desired for those that got up 15 minutes late. Yep, the skiing sucks here.


The day's powder hounds (Nate, Mike, Bowdy, Andy):




Why I got up wicked early this day:




Andy navigating his way through the wind crust:




Mike making a strong turn:




Nate making the hardpack seem more inviting:




Bowdy who absolutely killed it this day and you should see him patrolling Winter Park next season:






Look at all the little ants on the ridge (only the skier's left side of Russell was skiable). Sorry guys, better luck next time!




Some doggie stoke courtesy of the group behind us:




Bowdy at the top of XYZ about to SLAY the dragon:




Nate looks pretty upset with the conditions:




Mike loses the heel and skies for real!!







Next week will see a fair amount of powder shots. Here's the teaser:






► In case you missed it, UK students are too fat for their desks:

BIGGER DESKS FOR UK’S FAT CHILDREN
Saturday March 1,2008
Sarah O’Grady Social Affairs Correspondent

SCHOOL desks and chairs now have to be made larger because children are getting fatter.

Pupils are also taller than the children of 10 years ago. And their arms are longer. That means any new furniture in school gyms, canteens or laboratories needs to be stronger and bigger to withstand their weight.

On average British children are a centimetre taller and wider than they were a decade back, according to figures collated by the Furniture Industry Research Association and the British Educational Suppliers Association.

The bigger sizes – an additional millimetre growth per year is predicted – have resulted in changing European standards for school furniture. Any new desks and chairs supplied to UK schools are to be sized up to ensure that “pupil health and mental well-being is being addressed”.

More and more children are becoming obese. It has been described as a modern epidemic. Fitness specialist Tessa Hicks, of the website TeachingExpertise, said: “Children are less active than they used to be both at home and at school where diminishing hours are spent on PE as a result of competing national curriculum pressures.

“Fear of injuries and potential litigation has even forced some schools to limit running around in the playground at break times. “Now a frightening number of children are overweight or obese. One in 10 are already clinically obese by the age of six, and this trend is set to increase.”

She added: “In times gone by children sat at the ergonomically preferable solid upright chairs at sloping desks. But the cheaper moulded plastic chairs and flat tables have largely replaced these.”

Educational furniture supplier Welco has seen a 10-fold increase in inquiries from head teachers and governors who need to comply with the European standard. This calls for “properly-shaped equipment” to prevent long-term back damage.

► In case you missed it, Florida teens use Mountain Dew to prevent pregnancy:

Fla. Teens Believe Drinking Bleach Will Prevent HIV; Some Teens Also Believe Mountain Dew Will Stop Pregnancy

UPDATED: 3:34 pm EDT April 4, 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Florida teens who believe drinking a cap of bleach will prevent HIV and a shot of Mountain Dew will stop pregnancy have prompted lawmakers to push for an overhaul of sex education in the state.

Another myth is that Florida teens also believe that smoking marijuana will prevent a person from getting pregnant, Local 6 reported. State lawmakers said the myths are spreading because of Florida's abstinence-only sex education. They are proposing a bill that would require a more comprehensive approach, the report said. It would still require teaching abstinence but students would also learn about condoms and other methods of birth control and disease prevention. The bill just passed its first vote in a committee.

► Quote of the week:

"Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of - for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear."

- Socrates