Yesterday was a sad day for me.

As I sat in my kitchen in Boulder, Colorado, an email hit my iPad that announced the end. It is summer, of course, and while I’ve been gearing up my thinking for the next ski season, I haven’t been actively thinking about it. So, the email was even more of a surprise and has sent my mind reeling a bit.

The Over the Hill Gang guided skiing program at Copper Mountain is no more.

Powdr Corp bought Copper Mountain last December from private equity firm Fortress Investment Group. Most of the indications after the purchase were positive, so this decision comes as even more of a shock. According to the announcement, Copper will be going in, “a different direction,” and will continue to support the social aspect of the program but will no longer offer the volunteer guide program.

So, I have some decisions to make about next year. I may choose to teach at Copper, I may look into teaching at other resorts, I may choose to do some other role, as well. That choice has yet to be made. In the meantime, though, the oft-misunderstood guided skiing of the Copper Mountain OHG is no more.

For me and many others, it’s a sad day…

On January 27th, I led another Over the Hill Gang group around Copper Mountain Resort. We skied the 4″ of new powder from the east side to the west, enjoying more than 13,000 vertical feet of terrain and lots of pow-pow.

I’ve posted the tracks from the day here.

The snow is finally arriving at Copper

Today, I guided a “Groom Zoom with some bumps” group for the Over the Hill Gang at Copper Mountain Resort. We skied a bit over 16,000 vertical feet entirely on the western side of the mountain. You can find a recording of the runs we took by clicking here.

The snow is finally arriving at Copper