Colorado kicked off the North American ski season today with both A-Basin and Loveland Pass firing up the chair-lifts.  Although skiing groomers on man-made snow is not really my idea of skiing, it does allow for making turns, and it is fun to think that skiing is getting closer.

We got word from Aaron up at Sol Mountain Lodge in the Monashees that they have completed their final work party of the season and ready for the snow to fly. Last season, their final work party was abruptly interupted by a meter of snow on Oct 5th, and although the snow afforded some great early season turns, it kept them from finishing their "to-do list". Here is what Aaron had to say about the lodge this season.

In other ski related news Genuine Guide Gear (G3) just announced a ski graphics contest. G3 is inviting aspiring and professional designers and artists to submit their designs for a new topsheet on a G3 ski. Judges will select 20 semifinalists on January 1st 2009. These designs will be printed and showcased on the contest website and at the Coldsmoke Festival in Nelson. The judges will then select three finalists who will participate in a video about themselves and their designs. The winner will be announced at the Saturday night dinner, as part of the Coldsmoke Powder Festival activities. The winner will get a free pair of skis with his her graphics. Get all the details at www.skigraphiks.com.

Although not ski related, AP news is reporting that the Bush administration is taking steps to make it easier for mountain bikers to gain access to national parks and other public lands before the president leaves office. Apparrantly, the National Park Service is preparing a rule to allow park managers, in some cases, to decide that some trails could be open to mountain biking. The idea is to put the decision making power in the hands of local park officials versus folks in DC.