Last Wednesday, my friend and I enjoyed a bluebird day at Keystone ski resort.  Considering how very early in the ski season it was, we had low expectations.   We checked conditions at Keystone ski resort, A-Basin, and Breckenridge before leaving that morning.  From the information we found, it seemed like all three resorts had only a few lifts and a few runs open.  Keystone advertised three lifts and three runs.

Getting ready

We worked out some kinks in the morning.  First, my friend attempted to pick up his skis from the ski shop, but they weren’t ready.  However, one of the ski techs gave us some quick tips on waxing!  So then he got fitted for rental skis.  On the way up, I loaded the Bonx app on both of our phones and paired the devices via Bluetooth, so we could test the Bonx Grip communication devices on mountain.  After arriving at Keystone ski resort, we probably spent a good twenty minutes figuring out how to use the Bonx app.  Devices secured in our ears, we gathered our gear and were ready to ski – almost.  I had to activate my Epic Pass at the lift ticket window.  At long last, we grabbed some seats in the gondola.

Conditions

Looking at the mountain from the gondola was slightly dismaying, as there was not much snow yet.  The gondola, Montezuma express, and a tiny lift for first timers were running smoothly.  Keystone’s open terrain consisted of the following:

• Schoolmarm, a long green/blue;
• The terrain park to skier’s right of Schoolmarm;
• And a first-timer baby slope to skier’s left.

Since we are neither first time skiers nor interested in sharing the terrain park with snowboarders, we spent most of the day on Schoolmarm, and playing with my new phone’s camera.  We enjoyed the sunny skies and nicely groomed Schoolmarm run.  There is some pin on EpicMix earned only by repeating the same chair lift multiple times.  We earned it!   (Yes, I’m proud of my EpicMix badges).  All in all, a sunny, easy day.  More on our experience with the Bonx Grip (can you hear me now?) coming soon.  Meanwhile, do a snow dance…