1/3/15 10:12 AM

I'll be in Manhattan 1/16 (pm) through 1/18, and it would be fun to grab a beer or coffee with TTF folk, one and all. I'll be at 41st and Madison, in a hotel with a nice rooftop bar (enclosed) as well as a coffee room with a complimentary espresso machine. Anyone interested respond here or shoot me an email at danemeryatmainedotrrdotcom. Or maybe we can take a group ride on citibikes.

1/3/15 5:32 PM

I'll be in Colorado starting 1/16

1/3/15 5:53 PM

Yeah, Colorado... Bummer. ;)


Have fun in the powder!

1/4/15 8:13 AM

I should be around!

1/5/15 8:20 PM

April, where are you skiing? I'm currently in Breckenridge- my first time there.

Sandiway

1/5/15 10:32 PM

I have a pass that's good for Copper, Winter Park, Steamboat. (I skied the Vail group resorts a lot in the few years prior, so giving them a miss for a couple years)

On this trip, the plan is to spend the first half of the trip at Steamboat and the second half at Winter Park. May do Copper for a day while on my way to Steamboat.

How long are you in Colorado? Breckenridge is a fun place. Enjoy!

1/6/15 8:09 PM

April, have you skied Steamboat before? If you need any guidance, I have skied there well over 150 days. I know it pretty well.

1/6/15 10:39 PM

Kerry, that's great. I'd love to get an insider's view. I'll perhaps ask more specific next week, closer to the time so I can also take into account weather forecast.

I've skied it last year for the first time. That was the week before Christmas. This time, I'll be there during MLK weekend. So crowd avoidance strategy will be one of the issues.

As usual, the top priority is powder hunting! But that depends on whether there's any new precip immediately prior to (better yet, during) my stay...

Come of think of it, suggestion for good places to eat would be great.

1/7/15 7:55 PM

April, send me an email at irons54vortex (at) gmail (dot) com

1/10/15 9:38 PM

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How long are you in Colorado?

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1/10/15 10:22 PM

Nice!

I skied Breck twice last year. We skied off the Imperial Chair only once. Pretty intense, even though we only did the less extreme line. Condition wasn't the best when we were there.

That's always the challenge of skiing, trying to find the good condition but there's no guarantee. Sometimes we got smooth cream cheese,, other times we got death cookies.

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Just finished up 5 days of skiing at Breckenridge. First time. Windy place.

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1/11/15 2:15 PM

Conditions are variable. It didn't snow during our visit, so each day got progressively worse, ie more ice, less powder. Bumps got harder and icier. But trails that were in the shade and less exposed were nicer.

I bagged last two days; I wanted to try Vail but I think the conditions were not as good as breck.

I'd like to try steamboat as well, so please report back.

Sandiway

P.S. Friend told me today Breck is white-out. Glad I bailed a bit early...

Last edited by sandiway on 1/11/15 6:08 PM; edited 1 time in total

1/11/15 2:24 PM

Nice pictures!

I have not skied Colorado since 80s actually. My family moved to the west coast and I just never got out there except one summer 2006.

I lobe Colorado, and wanted to move there but Elaine was not keen on it...

1/13/15 11:44 AM

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I lobe Colorado, and wanted to move there but Elaine was not keen on it...

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1/13/15 2:45 PM

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It has a major airport, albeit with baggage-handling problems.

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1/13/15 3:56 PM

I believe Sandiway was referring to the airport's infamous baggage system. It was supposed to be the most advanced in the world, but proved to be a giant boondoggle

See: http://calleam.com/WTPF/?page_id=2086

1/13/15 4:17 PM

My last ski flight into Denver was in the old airport. At that time they piled all the skis from a bunch of flights 4' deep along a wall 60' long maybe. It took us 45 minutes to find ours. And no ticket checking anywhere, easy upgrade opportunity. I hope the new airport had some design considerations built in for... I don't know.. maybe a lot of folks flying in with skis ?

1/13/15 4:28 PM

I think they use a different system now.

Anyway, they have this carousel.



But United was also having big problems with changeover to a new subcontractor when I was visiting. See:

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_27270086/uniteds-baggage-woes-start-affect-denver-airports-reputation

I guess we were lucky. Only took an hour or so to get the bags..

Sandiway

1/13/15 9:02 PM

I'm not flying United. So wish me luck.

That said, the "baggage handling problem" is old news. It's been 10 years and millions and millions bags, the traditional way. As far as I can tell, it's not particularly slower than other airports.

1/13/15 9:40 PM

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As far as I can tell, it's not particularly slower than other airports.

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1/13/15 11:07 PM

Sorry, I only saw Pat's link first. I knew about that old tale. But since I've traveled to Denver many times since that piece of news, I just couldn't figure out what the relevant is.

Your link is a different issue. Lost and late luggage is not unique to Denver or United. Though mass lost/delay luggage of course is a more serious problem than the usual. I hope that same company isn't handling the Southwest bags!

1/19/15 5:49 PM

Great to see Parkin and Henoch in NYC - would have been nice to see April but she had a good excuse. To me a great aspect of TTF is meeting with folks in different places - never had a TTF meetup or ride I didn't enjoy.

C'mon up to Maine!

1/20/15 8:16 AM

Always a pleasure meeting up and catching up.

1/20/15 9:57 AM

Great to catch up again and to meet your family! Hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip.

1/20/15 2:42 PM

Thanks, enjoyed the trip a lot. Particularly liked the Museum of the City of New York, new to me. And of course, great food.