After months of waiting for a fresh coating of the white, powdery cocaine, snow is finally filling the mountains of Colorado. Like addicts falling off the wagon, Eric Poore and I met before dawn to get our fix. We headed to St Mary's Glacier, where we were guaranteed at least some rock free skiing with a layer of fresh on top.

We were the only car in the parking lot. I was giddy taking my first gliding steps uphill, the nylon skins gripping the heavy, wet snow. God, I've missed this!



Navigating through the rocky trail we made it to the lake to find a beautiful winter wonderland. Needless to say, I'm excited for more of this.

Eric has had his right hand in a cast all summer with a broken wrist. He's psyched for the freedom of the brace, but can't wait till he can fully use his hand again.

Eric flips his binding's risers as we get onto the glacier.

It was white out conditions when we got to the top of the glacier.

Halfway down our first run Eric swaps out his Dynafit skis for a pair of snow blades.

Eric scopes out the slope skier's right of the glacier.

Eric really wanted to ski the couloir we skied back in early August. He had broken his skins earlier and was having to boot-pack, so he decided to boot-pack the couloir to see what the conditions were like. I skinned around to the top and waited for him. I loved this tree weighted by the burden of the fresh snow.

Eric booting out the top of the couloir.

Eric advised me not to follow him down the couloir, since it was pretty boney. I went back to the previous face and got the run of the day in. Great turns in good snow. Makes me so excited for the rest of the season!