Dusty Mason of BootDoctors Oak St

Trying to determine the season can be slightly convoluted this time of year.  Is it summer or is it winter?  Mountain Biking in hot Moab sun one day and the next morning you are back in Telluride making turns on your skis or snowboard. Snowshoeing along your favorite trail enjoying the subtle crunch of the new snow beneath each step. As we returned from a quick trip to enjoy Moab we were met by new snow on the high peaks.

Returning home to new snow

Excitement built quickly as the snow continued to fall.  Trick or treat?  I’ll take the treat of powder turns please. We set off on our tour skinning high up the mountain and enjoying the perfect quiet of breaking new trail.  The temperature was ideal to prevent one from overheating while climbing.  We pushed on thru the trees enjoying the warm sun on our faces.

Halloween Skin Track

I enjoyed the benefit of skinning thru the fresh snow while the snowboarders utilized snowshoes.  It’s still pre-season conditions and therefore we were all on our “rock” gear.  The boys didn’t feel it necessary to potentially foul up a nice new split-board.

Dusty Mason enjoying the approach

As we continued in and out of the trees the sun brilliantly illuminated the small amount of frost hoar that was on the snow.  It’s quite easy to find yourself slipping into a meditative state; one step at at time, smooth consistent breathing and mother nature putting on a natural light show for your eyes to feast upon.

Dusty developed some frost hoar of his own

When we began ascending we had hopes of deep snow and more realistic expectations of some low tide turns.  What we were met with was consistent knee deep powder with an ample base that allowed us to carry speed.  Pow turns with friends, I couldn’t ask for a better Halloween.

Dusty settles into a smooth turn

After the first few hundred feet of vertical we found the snow getting deeper.  Luke and Dusty were able to find face shots for dozens of turns in a row.  Truly surprised by how good this Halloween treat is, the laughter spreads thru the cold smoke that lingers after each turn.

Luke LaFemina finds himself in the whiteroom

We were able to link turns for just over 3,000′ of Vertical.  This early in the season, we’ll take it!  We descended back to reality and returned to work, after all there is another storm in the forecast for the start of next week and frankly; we are addicted.

Dusty milks another out of the free treats bowl