Ski Trip 2020

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webpage last updated by James Keith Montz on 5-May-2020

Colorado Ski Trip 2020
Tuesday, February 25th through Tuesday March 2nd

On Tuesday, February 25th, Jessie Patterson and I took off from Houston, Texas on a day and half drive to Keystone, Colorado. We drove up in one of Jessie's long haul delivery trucks which was set up with reserve diesel tank and lots of creature features inside. This photo is from outside the lodging in Keystone.

I booked a very gorgeous vacation house capable of sleeping eleven people, where there was at least nine people coming in from different locations for the ski trip. Jessie always drives up with the ski bikes and other ski equipment so I decided to join him on the drive rather than flying so that I can enjoy the scenery along with catch up with Jessie.

On this annual ski trip, of the ten people planning on attending was: myself ~ Keith Montz, cousin Drew Montz, Charlie Haubein, Peter and his son John Wheatley, Myk Thornton, Mia Pham and her boy friend Dale, Jenny Hoang and Maggie. Both Jenny and Maggie left husbands back at home running the family businesses. Mia, Jenny and Maggie are life long friends, since childhood. At the last moment, Drew and Dale had to back out.

We skied two days at Vail and one day at Keystone. The weather was perfect with average temperature around 40 Degree Fahrenheit in town and in the 20s on top of the mountains.

Photos From the First Three Days

1	Scenery from the road. Snow in the New Mexico
2	Capulin Volcano National Park. Photo of the extant volcano from the road as we passed by. National Park link.
3	More beautiful scenery on the drive up to Colorado. We were passing through another National Park with vast distance views of mountains and snow.
4	Our Lodging in Elk Run near Keystone Resort
5	Interior den area of the house.
6	Looking up from den to the second floor.
7	Looking out to the backyard area from the den.
8	Two Moose we saw in the morning in the backyard of the house.
9	First of two close up photos of the Moose. Next to the hot tub in the back yard by the door.
10	Extreme close up as one of the Moose as it walked right up to the back door.
11	All of us: John, Peter, Jessie, Mia, Jenny, Maggie, Keith and Charlie. Myk arrived the day after this photo was taken.
12	Jessie's truck got stuck in front of the house requiring a tow truck to pull him out. Ironically, Jessie helps someone a few days later

Day 1 of 3 days skiing at Keystone

Mia and Maggie went to Vail. Jessie and Jenny hung out at the house.

1	Breakfast on the first day before heading to Keystone. John Wheatley, Charlie Haubein, Jessie Patterson, Keith Montz, Peter Wheatley.
2	Keystone billboard at the ski resort.
3	Keith and Charlie at the base with ski bikes.
4	John with his ski board at the top of Keystone.
5	Charlie, Peter and Keith at the top of Keystone.
6	Peter next to one of the Keystone Mountain Men.

Day 2 of 3 days skiing at Vail

Skiers: Keith, Charlie, Peter, John, Mia and Maggie

1	Down at the base area at Vail at Eagle Bahn Gondola 19. Every time we go to Vail, it tradition to get a picture next to Eagle Bahn.
2	Charlie and Keith next to Eagle Bahn and Born Free Express
3	All geared up. John, Charlie and Keith as we were about to get on Born Free Express Lift
4	Peter at the top of Lost Boy Ski Run
5	Photo while sitting on the ski bike of the Lost Boy Ski Run. This is one of everyone's favorites.
6	Dinner that evening in Silverthorne, Co at a great Mexican Food Restaurant. Jessie, Keith, Peter, John, Charlie and Myk

Day 3 of 3 days skiing at Vail

Skiers: Keith, Charlie, Myk, John, Mia and Maggie

1	Down at the base area at Vail at Eagle Bahn Gondola 19 again. John, Charlie, Keith and Myk
2	John gearing up on his ski board.
3	Charlie as we were entering one of the side trail runs off of a ski run at Lost Boy.
4	Keith at the same location.
5	Lunch on top of the Ski Resort Mountains is always good but hilarious expensive. This is what $25 gets, which would be $10 in Houston. It is just a bowl of Bison chili, bread, some M&Ms and yogurt. Ice water is free : )
6	Charlie, Keith, John, Maggie and Mia Headed toward Cloud 9 areas.
7	At the farthest back bowl areas of Vail, "Cloud Nine".

Movies on the ski bike from days 2 and 3 skiing at Vail

The two ski bikes, that we are using, are now roughly 15 years old and built in Austria, which I purchased online in 2006. On this trip we saw many new and more advanced ski bikes, that looked amazing. My two old ski bikes work perfectly, ride great, have two shock absorbers and are very comfortable so there is no need to upgrade to something new. The funny part is these old ski bikes, when comparing these to the new models, is like comparing a new sleek sport car with a car from the 1950s.

Some notes on the videos:

The videos show a wrong date and time, as the correct date/time was never set. Correct days are February 28th and 29th.
The Video camera is in a water proof case to protect it from snow and then snow melting into it, so the sound is muffled along with voices are affected by the 15 to 20 Degree Fahrenheit cold air. Also when skiing at 10 to 50 mph, the wind chill factor gets to below zero Fahrenheit.
The video camera is being worn in a harness to keep it stable but unfortunately it is aimed down a little to low. I've tried mounting it on the ski helmet and unfortunately it has been knocked off too many times on the ski lifts.
Although the video does not convey speed very well, the average speed is probably around 30 mph with some points much faster. All of us are about having fun and not getting hurt, so we are not doing anything to elaborate.

When clicking on the movie link, it may take a little time to download.

1	Movie: Coming down from Buffalos and Henry Hut to ride down to Timberline Catwalk Trail (Charlie and Mia at the beginning).
2	Movie: Approaching Timberline Catwalk Trail. (At the end Maggie approaches on snow board and then Charlie comes up on ski bike, followed by John on snow board.)
3	Movie: Riding down Timberline Catwalk Trail. (Maggie on snow board in the beginning.)
4	Movie: Leaving Two Elk Lodge Restaurant Area, riding down to Blue Sky Basin. (Charlie on ski bike and John on snow board.)
5	Movie: Coming down Hunky Dory Trail. (Mia on skis along with Maggie and John on snow boards. John falls but is good to go.)
6	Movie: Farther down on Hunky Dory Trail. (Following Mia on skis along with Maggie and John on snow boards. Then I pass them up at the end.)

Day 3 Jessie and Peter toured around the resorts, towns and the two Continental Divide observation points

The photos do not do the severity of the situation as there was a sheer drop off within a few feet of where the Jeep was stuck. The passengers in the Jeep were students come from Massachusetts. Jessie's diesel rig truck pulled out the jeep with ease.

1	Jeep that Jessie and Peter helped to pull out this Jeep stuck on the side of the road.
2	Jessie's truck about to pull out the Jeep.

Jessie and Keith Drive back to Houston

1	Keith at Hoosier Pass Continental Divide. It was around 19 Degrees Fahrenheit there. Threw on boots to take some quick photos and look around.
2	Jessie at the same place
3	Arriving into the City of Alma. North America's Highest Incorporated Town.
4	We saw ranches with Buffalos quite often in Colorado.
5	Text from Myk, with his wife Shannon, telling me that he had a great time with all of us.