Great Escape Winter 2022 | Page 42

direction of the trail , and

broad clearing called Little

the floor of this valley , and

plained tactics , then rode circles around

center of my life . We played in Little Red

the other was following so

Red Park – altitude 8,530 .

there were hills toward the

us , showing how the easiest way to turn

for a long time , expanding to some of the

closely that he followed the

The guides assured us that ,

edges with big rocks that

left is to lean hard to the left but then crank

shallower surrounding hillsides , finding a

first into the ditch . It was

in normal conditions we ’ d

could cause a surprise if

your skis to the right . The boys watched

few things to jump off of and generally liv-

lesson No . 1 .

have stunning views of the

we attacked them think-

intently , and then tried it themselves . One

ing a powder-riding fantasy .

As a part of the unsticking process , Asta and

very nearby Hahn ’ s Peak

( altitude 10,843 ) and other

ing they were just snow piles , we were told . Other

took to it right away , the other needed a bit more time , but soon they felt like pros –

Miller reiterated some

features from this loca-

than that , this huge , snow-

dipping a shoulder into the snow , hucking

While us flatlanders continued to play , our

powder riding basics to

tion , but in today ’ s intense

filled meadow was a per-

the skis in the other direction and carving

hosts started preparing for the next step .

the boys , including driver

snowfall we rarely could

fect playground where we

circles that became increasingly smaller

Rainsberger and Asta went to the valley ’ s

weight distribution , know-

see more than 100 yards in

could get used to our sleds

with practice , and having a riot .

edge and started a beautiful fire before

ing when to really whack

front of us .

and goof off as we waited

And me ? I was having a blast , too , but I

digging snacks out of their packs . We took

the throttle to change directions and always standing and leaning . Call that

for the snowfall to ease . At first , the powderriding neophytes used as

was most intrigued watching my son and his friend forget about the snowboards mounted on the back of their sleds while

the hint and got there quickly when we saw food ! This is where we learned more about our hosts .

lesson No . 2 .

Instead of sight seeing ,

much of the valley as they

they fell in love with the sport that is the

I already knew Miller . He ’ s a jovial ,

Soon we were back on

we played !

could , pinning the throttles

the gas , with powder fly-

Way beneath the snow

and letting the sleds glides

ing everywhere again . In

somewhere was a creek

through the deep snow .

no time we came upon a

bed that had carved up

Occasional undulations and

gentle hills in the surface

created enough variance in

terrain to add to the entertainment

, but when it came

time to turn back each boy

got stuck a few times .

Quickly the guides

came to the rescue , then

Miller started providing

helpful advice on how to

countersteer when riding

in this conditions . Call it

Lesson No . 3 . Miller ex-