A nice little Saturday in Aspen

One Night of Queen. Click 4 pix.After 4 legit POW days our entire staff needed a day off from skiing.  A recovery day if you will. The mountain has been skiing the best it's been all year.  Saturday was probably a top 10 day for the season, but Saturday was set to be our day of rest.  We had a nice little Saturday planned.  Home Depot and Bed Bath and Beyond were not on the agenda...a beer bong...maybe?  This is Aspen.

Here's what we came up with for our day off. CLICK 4 PIX: Nice little Saturday

Aspen High School's Boys Basketball team had a great 2012 season. The AHS Skier-dome was the site of the regional final on Saturday, on-the-line was a trip to the State semi's. The AHS Skiers had already won their league crown and their district title and now they would compete for a trip to Fort Collins for a spot in the Colorado Great 8.  Unfortunately, the Skiers dropped a 2 point game to Holy Family (Broomfield) 48-46.  The roundballers had a very successful season, finishing 19-5. The hoopsters played hard and played as a team, but to many missed free throws and early turnovers (the Holy Family defense was swarming) kept the Skiers from the Great 8.  It was an exciting final game and an extremely rewarding season despite the loss.  Congratulations to Coach Steve Ketchum and the whole team, they should hold their heads up high.

Lo and Ro finished the grueling Power of Four mountainering race.The Power of Four.  an extreme mountaineering race which requires reaching the summit of all four of Aspen's ski mountains by hiking on skis. Power of Four is roughly 11,000 feet in vertical ascents, 12,500 ft in descents and more than 25 miles through freezing temperatures and 50 MPH winds.  48 teams competed in the Power of Four.  The Gaston Twins, John and Peter finished first in 5 hours 29 minutes.  The Gastons are physical freaks...but the entire field was composed of some of the fittest and most dedicated athletes in Colorado.  See the race description and official results: Click POWER of FOUR.

We bumped into a group of Disabled Israeli War Vetrans at the base of Ajax.  The soldiers are in Aspen to experience FREEDOM by skiing and riding in the mountains.  Hosted by the Aspen J.C.C. and Challenge Aspen these guys were loving life, and for a few days...living the dream. 

Boyz cookin' Bacon. My childhood friend C.C. Rider invited me to watch the Duke / N.C. game at his killer pad. He was in town from Chicago with his boys trip. "We're cooking dinner after" he texted.  7 guys cooking dinner?? Who knew that one of the guys was a professional chef. Phat Filets and tender Chilean sea bass along with brussles sprouts cooked with plenty of high quality bacon and twice baked potatoes.  It was sooooo siiiiiiiiiiick, a total food orgy.  Thanks C.C....keep up the great work with the fellas.

On tap later, One Night of Queen...a Queen impersonation band.  Gary Mullen and The Works from Scotland have been touring the globe for 10 years doing their Queen show.  Since we never got to see the original Queen with Freddie Mercury...One Night of Queen would flll in the gaps.

A night cap at Casa Tua...and that's all she wrote.

Click 4 Pix:  NICE LITTLE SATURDAY

Late in the 4th quarter. This 3 pointer, had it fallen would won the game for Aspen High. click 4 pixStaffan and Himie were releived to finish the POWER of FOUR. Click 4 pix. Diabled Israeli War Veterans visited Aspen to find FREEDOM on the Mountains. Click 4 pix.The Boys from Chicago can cook....and Aspen Spin is a world class eater.One Night of Queen. If you closed your eyes...it was real. click 4 pix.Late Night at Casa Tua. Clay had it goin' on. Click 4 pix.