Yes, August And Snow Don't Particularly Go Together But...........

August 27th, 2006 at 05:44pm Bigbaldbobby 55

As I dressed this morning for a nice Sunday motorcycle ride through the mountains, I wasn't sure how many layers to wear under the leathers.  I fired up the computer to get the current temperature and was very surprised that it was only in the 40'sF.  Last night was rather foul with nasty rain showers and fairly cold temperatures.  I had a thought that maybe, just maybe we could possibly see some high elevation S.  N.  O.  W.  As I walked to the garage to fire up my trusty new steed, I had to stop just to look at it.  It's that beautiful.  I recently traded in the 2 year old Honda VFR as I always find myself growing bored with motorcycles after a few years and then I have to move on.  For the last couple of years, I've pined for a BMW as the craftsmanship and build quality are superb and everyone I've ever talked with that has one will never go back to anything else.  Unfortunately, I'm not in the proper tax bracket for BMW ownership so I have to get something I can afford.  Now this may come as a surprise to most of you but there is a bike that has a very high lust factor that is affordable and I've had two of them previously, a Ducati.  The sound of a 1000cc V twin exiting through a high exhaust, the desmodromic valves ticking away and of course the jangling of the dry clutch through an open cover.  Pure music!  An Italian orchestra if I've ever heard one.  If you could ever profess your love for an inanimate object, this would be it.  I fired the Duc up and proceeded to get some precious break-in miles in before I can really open it up and destroy the stock tires.  As I was blasting down the open road taking in the crisp morning air, I had a gander at the tallest peaks that surround us here in Aspen.  At first I thought I might need to stop and clean my helmet visor as I thought I was seeing things.  No, I was not seeing things.  Yes, before me was one of the things I look forward to every year.  The first snow.  Yes, you are reading that correctly!  While it still may be summer where you are, you can already smell fall in the air here and with that, comes that first early season dusting.  Both Pyramid Peak and the Maroon Bells had a nice coat of white stuff from about 12,000 feet on up.  I'm sure the top of Independence Pass and Mt. Hayden had coats as well.  There were still some heavy clouds covering most of the highest peaks this morning but from what I could tell, the entire area got it.  Now, don't get the ski boots out quite yet as we still have plenty of summer and fall to go.  However, this does get me amped up for my favorite season of them all, ski season.  While the thought of sking right now is appealing, it is still summer after all and since we haven't yet reached the autumnal solstice, motorcycling will be tops on my agenda.  I think a nice 200 mile ride to Breckenridge for lunch sounds like a good way to waste some petroleum based fossil fuel don't you?  With thoughts of knee deep powder on the way in the near future, I'm off for some lunch and new tires. 

Entry Filed under: Skiing, Aspen