Page 15 of Full Send

To this day, I still feel like a kid every time I ride it, my face glued to the windows taking in the views of the mountains and the valleys surrounding us on all sides.

We keep walking, gear in tow, to the area just past Big Red at the base of the resort, where there is another mix of gondolas and chair lifts. This is where we’re starting today, going to a mid mountain area with more intermediate level terrain before venturing off to the more exciting parts of the slopes. Even though we’re all advanced or better skiers, it’s a good idea to give us at least one warm up run before hopping on the tram for our first day out this season. After all, we did have a few bottles of wine last night.

We’re in the lift line for the main gondola in the center of the village, by 8:45 AM. Exactly as I planned for our first day on the slopes. Sorry, not sorry, Collin and Lizzy.

“Remind me why we needfirst chairagain?” She clearly wanted more beauty sleep this morning, not that she needs it.

Lizzy, as expected, has shown up in a fashionable outfit, something I’d never wear. Slim and tailored white ski pants with black accents and gold zipper hardware, a matching jacket with a faux fur trimmed hood, and a glossy white helmet and pink goggles. To top it off, she has two strands of her perfect blonde hair sticking out and tucked up between her goggle strap and helmet, like little pigtails for ski girls orslut strands.Her outfit looks cute, but I can’t imagine it’s very warm. She does look perfect for Aspen Valley, I’ll admit. But she stands out like a sore thumb here compared to the regulars, who are known for dressing for functionality with the harsh conditions in the Tetons.

She’s in stark contrast to me, with my loose fitting waterproof shell pants and jacket, with no concern for matching colors or brands. In my case, orange pants and a teal jacket. I wear a small backpack with water to stay hydrated and extra layers if the weather shifts.

Myoutfitis complete with a matte black helmet, my mirrored goggles resting on the small brim until needed later. Not exactly the trendiest or most flattering attire, but it does the job. Practical Veronica wins here, keeping me warm and dry. Nothing worse than getting wet on the mountain.

Collin is in similar practical attire like me, black pants and a blue jacket, desert tan helmet and blue tinted goggles. After more than thirty years of skiing with me, he’s a pro at getting ready early in the morning to get in the lift lines before the chairs spin at 9:00 AM. Lizzy keeping pace with us and being on time was an unexpected surprise. I’m glad to see she’s a little more functional in the morning than our college days, albeit with the same snarky morning angst as ever.

“Oh boy, Lizzy,” Collin says, shaking his head as we wait for the lifties to begin loading us onto the gondola. “I see you’ve never been skiing with V before. I learned a long time ago you’rejust along for the ride when you come out here with her. Besides, it’s on her schedule she sent us for the next two weeks.FIRST CHAIR, in all caps, practically every morning.”

“Very funny, Collin.” I raise my eyebrows at him. But he’s right. Whether it’s a deep powder day or a bluebird day with freshly groomed corduroy runs, chasing first tracks has always been a therapeutic obsession for me. I can’t control the mountain, but I can control when we get out there. I probably have my Grandpa to thank for this obsession, an old man that liked towake up before the mooseas he would say.

Our parents rarely came on our trips. They were always so busy that they would ship us off for the holidays, spring break, and chunks of summer break to spend with our grandparents.

Grandpa would wake us up at the crack of dawn to go skiing. Eventually I became so accustomed to it, I started waking up before him, coming down stairs and getting my ski gear together to make sure we got first chair, just like he always wanted. Every day here felt like Christmas, with breakfast by the fireplace with Collin and our grandparents and the mountain having a new surprise in store for us each morning.

The lift line has finally started moving and we walk over to the gondola cars, claiming the first one up.

Aspen Valley, where Lizzy is used to skiing, as bougie as it is, mostly has traditional chair lifts. They have just one rarely used gondola where the lifties load your skis on for you anyways. This is now painfully obvious with Lizzy. I load my skis into the rack on the gondola door and hop in the car, but Lizzy is still fumbling her skis until the liftie grabs them and loads at the last second.

“Yikes! Glad I don’t have to dothatevery day,” she huffs as she barely gets into the car before the doors start closing automatically. The brief look of panic on her face washing away.

The ride up gives me a chance to take in the view of the mountain and the valley below, a view that never gets old.We’re ferried away from the base and up the mountain and a welcome sense of calm sneaks its way into me. I think about the day ahead and what the next two weeks have in store and feel a sense of optimism I haven’t felt in ages. I swear, sometimes these gondola rides really are like therapy. Too bad skiing isn’t cheaper.

After riding the gondola up towards the mid mountain area, we work our way across a cat track over to my favorite part of the mountain, where the Thunder and Sublette chairs are. Two chairs taking skiers to rocky cliff bands, steep chutes, tree filled gladed ridge lines, and several of the mountain’s best powder filled bowls. This part of the mountain is special.

We get off of the chair lift for the firstrealrun of the day, I’m not counting the warm up run off the gondola. No, we’re going for something a bit more fun. A little more adventurous. The three of us make our way to a black diamond groomer, freshly surfaced the night before by the resorts grooming equipment. It’s a steeply pitched run, but should be fun. After securing first chair this morning and beelining it over here from the gondola on the cat track, we’re the first ones to get to it today.

Looking down the run, it’s a perfect, glistening sheet of corduroy, not a single ski track having disturbed the manicured surface yet. This is why I insist on getting up early and making first chair. Being the first one to leave their tracks on the untouched snow is pure bliss.

We take off down the run and I’m hardly able to contain my joy, a smile gleaming over my face. Sure it’s a black diamond run, but the steep pitch is perfect to rip turns on. As I sail down the mountain, I’m overtaken by all the sensations coming back. It’s been nine or ten months since the last time I was on the slopes, but it’s always been like riding a bike for me, my body never forgetting the movements needed to descend down the mountain.

The sound of the edges of my skis cutting into the snow with each arching turn, the cold air rushing across my face, all of it bringing something in me that’s been dead back to life. It feels amazing to just let go and focus on my skis on the snow, the wind in my face, not a care about anything else in the world.

After a few laps, I’ve been impressed with Lizzy, who has held her own on some of the more difficult terrain. She’s been keeping up on steep groomers, wide open bowls, and a couple treed glades. Time to start challenging her more I guess. We hop back on the Sublette chair, hoping to go do a little exploring before lunch.

???

After lunch, Collin texts Tanner and wants to peel off and get a few runs in with him.

“See you girls at the condo later, right?” Collin asks, ready to head off to find his friend.

“Yep, you got it. 5:00 or so work for you?” I don’t know why I even ask. It’s been the same routine forever.

“Should be fine. Tanner has to take care of something for work but he should be there a bit later with pizza. So I’ll see you girls there.” And with that, Collin heads down the slopes, off to find his shadow like countless days before.

“Where do you think they’re heading?” Lizzy has been surprisingly quiet until now.

“Who knows. Probably off to do some dumb reckless shit.” I shake my head, thinking about their past escapades.

Lizzy asks to see a bit more of the mountain, but I think from her subdued body language she’s wearing out on me. We get a couple more runs in before eventually heading over to Sublette chair.

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