One of the cool things this time of year is winding the season down with spring activities at the ski areas. Pond jumps, costume parades, skiing in light clothing or shorts, and other frivolities celebrating the end of the end of ski season. Many of the areas have a place where people can sit and gather and enjoy the sun, The Beach at Deer Valley is a typical example where there are a bunch of Adirondack chairs just waiting for skiers to sit and relax and catch some late season rays. This time of year, you take what you can get. My wife loves the sun and he warmer temps, but is not a fan of skiing in the slush. But if you want to partake in late season skiing, if is usually frozen in the morning, then you get that late morning window of soft snow, then around lunch time it turns to slush and you can tough it out, or just go to …………The Beach.
A few years ago, I spent some time at The Beach in Arapahoe Basin with my two childhood friends, John and Richard Nicolette. I was a guest of Chipotle and invited my two friends to come. The Chipotle set up was at The Beach right above the main parking lot and there was a lot of good food and beverages. We came down after a good morning of skiing and had lunch at The Beach and enjoyed the afternoon sun at one of Colorado’s premier resorts. The skiing was good but the springtime festivities at the Beach were even cooler. People celebrating the end of the season in style before it just became too warm and interest waned.
Spring skiing can be fickle. Take this season for instance. The west had had a tough year with record high temperatures and early closings for a lot of ski areas. Local skiing here in Pa was excellent and cold with great snow for December, January and February and then the bottom fell out with an early closing after spring skiing activities. Due to un-forseen circumstances, Janet and I had to cancel a couple of western trips this year and our season ended early. My annual Mammoth trip was also cancelled. We didn’t get to ski with our friends Mike and Judy Smith. I was kind of bummed but immediately bought my Ikon and Epic passes for next season hoping for a record year. You have to take advantage of things while you can and although life gets in the way sometimes, you can look back and see all the good times from ski seasons gone by and think about the seasons ahead. I am grateful for what I have. Get those passes, talk about skiing this summer, hit the summer beaches, and before you know it, you will be back on be slopes again. I don’t like short seasons, but I know that they are an anomaly. So, the skis are waxed and sharpened and ready to go for 2026-2027. All my clothes are washed and ready when the first flakes fly. I put the bike rack on the Jeep and am ready for the transition. Thanks for reading and follow the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com
“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1
chroniclesofmccloskey 
Great read Pat! Brings back memories of many seasons, both long and short. Fickle is the operative word for spring skiing!
Amen Rus.
I remember skiing with Tom katilius (rip), Andy michanowice and Richie Nicollete at A Basin circa mid 70’s. I hear all this talk about Richie laying out back flips full tilt. So, Richie sees this medium cliff side jump he wants to take. I say, :Richie! Wait a second. Let us step down the landing because the snow was wet and heavy that day.” He eyes it up. We are below the launch pad. Richie misses the packed landing by a foot. He ejects out of both bindings. Then he skids down the hill for who knows how far. He gets up. Collects himself, walks uphill to our viewing position and says. “That was awesome”! Typical answer from him. It only got crazier when he was under the influence. I remember him as loose and crazy. He looks pretty much the same.
I remember Johnny courting Lou Ann Michanowicz with his guitar. Remember his band was practicing up on the hill in Oakland when we picked up Rich Monty. Now that guy was a trooper for his skill level.
I have many fond memories. A few of them were with you. Im not even going to go into a chair lift ride with me, you and Larry Cohen
looking back, I wish we could have spent more time together. And you had a host of great friends that I wish I would gotten to know a little better like Dixon and there was another guy who was pretty good in the gates. Oh yeah, porter. Not a bad memory for an OG.
I haven’t skiied since 1985. Things change. The grand kids want pappy to come out of retirement. I just might. They haven’t gone skiing anywhere yet.
I enjoyed your posts. I reminisce about those glory days jumping the headway on Tyrol or Avalanch and the Ski Patrol blocking for us. Racing Niel Al Atrach dual shlomon on Tyrol. Skiing cat and mouse with Craig Jerome and nailing a 350 mid hill on Stow. One time as a teen, I beat everyone in the Standard Downhill. Dave Davis was so jealous. He claimed I cheated. Fun fun.
take care, keep up the great work. Tell Mike Smith and the Durfees I said hey
what a great life we have had. And it’s still pretty darn good.
Tom Martin
if you get to Cincinnati, call me. 513.404.8856
I remember skiing with Tom katilius (rip), Andy michanowice and Richie Nicollete at A Basin circa mid 70’s. I hear all this talk about Richie laying out back flips full tilt. So, Richie sees this medium cliff side jump he wants to take. I say, :Richie! Wait a second. Let us step down the landing because the snow was wet and heavy that day.” He eyes it up. We are below the launch pad. Richie misses the packed landing by a foot. He ejects out of both bindings. Then he skids down the hill for who knows how far. He gets up. Collects himself, walks uphill to our viewing position and says. “That was awesome”! Typical answer from him. It only got crazier when he was under the influence. I remember him as loose and crazy. He looks pretty much the same.
I remember Johnny courting Lou Ann Michanowicz with his guitar. Remember his band was practicing up on the hill in Oakland when we picked up Rich Monty. Now that guy was a trooper for his skill level.
I have many fond memories. A few of them were with you. Im not even going to go into a chair lift ride with me, you and Larry Cohen
looking back, I wish we could have spent more time together. And you had a host of great friends that I wish I would gotten to know a little better like Dixon and there was another guy who was pretty good in the gates. Oh yeah, porter. Not a bad memory for an OG.
I haven’t skiied since 1985. Things change. The grand kids want pappy to come out of retirement. I just might. They haven’t gone skiing anywhere yet.
I enjoyed your posts. I reminisce about those glory days jumping the headway on Tyrol or Avalanch and the Ski Patrol blocking for us. Racing Niel Al Atrach dual shlomon on Tyrol. Skiing cat and mouse with Craig Jerome and nailing a 350 mid hill on Stow. One time as a teen, I beat everyone in the Standard Downhill. Dave Davis was so jealous. He claimed I cheated. Fun fun.
take care, keep up the great work. Tell Mike Smith and the Durfees I said hey
what a great life we have had. And it’s still pretty darn good.
Tom Martin
if you get to Cincinnati, call me. 513.404.8856
Tom- great to hear from you, We had a lot of good times and I am glad you might ski again with your grandkids. You had a lot of talent on the boards. I have a great picture of all of us at Tuckerman Ravine. I still ski with Craig Jerome and Porter at Laurel Mountain and Timberline. I will call you and we can catch up.