JCHIL

More Telluride recs and another vote for Brown dog: 1) Smuggler Union Restaurant and Brewery, 2) Cosmopolitan- upscale , 3) Siam - Good thai food

Blues and Brews - Gary Clark Jr headliner last night

Found this tool/crude point yesterday while dove hunting in Eastland County. I looked at the projectile point of Texas and figured it to be a Young Cluster preform….

Did a tasting in Los Olivos CA over 15 years ago and i am still a club member - clean EVOO - good shit https://www.globalgardensonline.com/pages/visit-us

Nathaniel Rateliff and Tyler Childers last night in Missoula MT - Blissful 67 degrees at showtime. Stellar show with a super cool drone show.

https://www.spaccanapolipizzeria.com We caught a Cubs game this past May and ate here afterwards ( I think it was 1.5 mile away from Wrigley - 30 minute walk). Best neopolitan pizza i’ve ever had . Casual- reservations are needed to sit inside and they reserve the patio for first come first serve.

I have been doing at home PT - very light as per Dr. orders but starting with a trainer next month (10 weeks post surgery) and taking baby steps building myself back up. I worked out rigorously pre-surgery so I went in being in really good shape and recovery has been easier than I expected but yes I will work out 3-4 days per week steadily starting next month and up to ski season. Skiing is my only remaining passion that requires physical fitness and I am all in because I really love it. I am actually excited to ski pain free now although I will most likely have to dial it down a little and stay off the more extreme stuff unless conditions are perfect but Im ok with that:) Japan - yes the yen will be friendly - I am extremely excited to be going with experienced skiers that have been to Japow on several trips - we are going to be based in the North Main Island at a resort with a nationally recognized Onsen in an area where there are 45 resorts within a 45 min to 1 hour drive and we will ski a different resort everyday depending upon snowfall and conditions - Im pumped.

I was in Taos (my home mountain) last weekend to watch my daughter run the Up and Over trail run and bought my season pass - I will ski there 3-4 days every month of ski season - Jan, Feb, and March and I will ski Big Sky in Jan and April. Booked a trip to Japan in mid Feb - really stoked about crossing Japow off my bucket list....I just had my hip replaced in June so hoping it holds up to the skiing I have booked so far lol! Positive thinking...

Saw Waxahatchee last night at Tannehills in FW. Solid show, great voice and love the steel guitar play….

Still skiing! Today makes 20 days this year…season ends tomorrow…already scheming to make 25-30 days next year!

My buddy sent me this pic from this morning - his car is on the right ❄️

Sometime in next 2 weeks - Road trip!

Yeah...I think TSV has a public use agreement with Carson National Forest that sets a limit on the amount of user days in a ski season so since Taos chooses to open on Thanksgiving weekend every year, the days run out by first week in April every year. I have seen them extend the season on some years by a week when the snow is good and this year it would seem like they would,,,,,

Taos is getting a serious dumping! Glorious powder skiing yesterday - I was maybe 30th person in lift line at 9 am for fresh tracks and I made fresh track runs on backside blues and easy access blacks for over an hour before those runs got tracked out….Snowed all day yesterday (too bad I had to leave) and all night - too bad it’s only open 2 more weeks ….

Classic spring skiing in Taos this week- higher elevation runs still holding up well. Lower trails turning to mash potatoes after lunch …..strong and cold storm supposedly headed to Rockies on Sunday

IMG_4030.MOV Top of Kachina Peak today

Yes. Main Street is most straightforward run on Kachina and less steep for most of the run than the other ridge runs...As always, photo doesnt show how steep it really is...There are a couple of choke points at midway point and lower part of run where it gets steeper where you cannot traverse out of it and if you fail to execute several tough turns, you will slide for awhile - that is what makes it double black for the most part - those 2-3 choke points...otherwise, like skiing Al's Run....

Yeah it was windy - bummed that I lost my last ski day of this trip but after 4 beautiful springlike days, yesterday would have been a beating even if not windy as it was overcast and the hard pack would not have softened up like last few days with the sun….on positive note, several waves of storms coming in March ! Main Street off of Kachina:

Sunny springlike conditions in Taos - snow still holding up well considering no snow in last 10 days but def needs a refill. Looking like Monday thru Wed another much needed storm is coming ! Photo 1 - Signage at entrance to Kachina Lift which was open today. Photo 2 - Hunziker Bowl

Received this as a gift this past weekend. Haven’t opened it yet. Apparently only available in Japan….anyone tasted it ?

Taos - 34” storm and almost 70” base - prime time !

Another free refill day today in Taos! The ski gods are smiling on me this year!

This is back of Snakedance Condos - the back door is a ski locker room where you keep your skis boots etc. Boot up in the locker room and walk out this door and ski or walk 30 yards to Lift #1 (see new construction of St Bernard Hotel on right…soon to be the most luxurious lodging in TSV with the best location)

A few Legit Ski In/Ski Out starting with more affordable to more expensive : Kandahar - Located on kids slopes, all individually owned, some nice units, some not so much.... Snowbear - dont know much other than ski in/out Powderhorn - condos - dont know much about Sierra del Sol - not technically ski in/out but very close - basic looking condos - nothing special but close Snakedance Condos - Legit ski in/out - Solid 3 star property with 5 star location - maybe best value in TSV Alpine Suites - not technically ski in/out but very good location - 50 yds from "beach" Edelweiss Condos - Legit ski in/out - very nice, expensive The Blake Hotel - owned by TSV Inc. - nicest place in TSV - 5 star - 25 yards from "beach", expensive with many amenities like outdoor heated pool/hot tub, spa etc. Other options - several VRBO houses with access to the Rubezal connector ski trail in TSV A very good compromise are the rental homes in "Los Altos" neighborhood located just off the hwy 150 after passing thru the tiny enclave of Arroyo Seco going up to TSV at base/foothills of mountain about halfway between town and ski valley - very cool adobe homes about 9-10 miles away from both the Town and Ski Valley