Dude Where's My Skis

Ski areas legalizing bud

By Robert Weller

New trails, faster chairlifts, cheaper tickets, forget the old ways to get skiers on your mountain.

Now it’s ganja. And why not. California’s governor talked for a time of closing the budget gap by selling weed.

Marijuana Business News says it’s possible that 100 times as much cannabis is smoked today. Prices for chronic average is $50 for an eighth of an ounce. Schwag can be had for $5 or $10 but is pretty wimpy.

In fact, with Aspen having three marijuana dispensaries. Kids going through Woody Creek might want to have an escape balloon, especially since no charges have been filed against Richard Heene. And Hunter S. ThompsonHunter S. Thompson might return from the dead in the Halloween spirit.

Back in the day, he ran for mayor on a ticket of legalizing marijuana.

One Colorado ski mountain is named Mary Jane.

Not so surprising when you learn that in the mining days European immigrants found weeds that produced absinthe.

Next month Telluride, haunt of Tom CruiseTom Cruise, Oprah Winfey and others, will vote on allowing dispensaries.

Vail, the nation’s biggest ski and snowboard area, was going to approve it but after its council met in a smoke-filled room, backed off. No worries. There will be a new council next month. And there is a dispensary in Eagle, 30 miles to the west on an Interstate with a 75 mph limit.

Chill out, though. Don’t blow it in the cop's face. Several who did got tickets at Arapahoe Basin in the parking mountain. Cops and deputies usually only go on the mountain to slow down speeders who endanger others.

Breckenridge will vote next week on whether to legalize it. In the past many towns and cities did, but it mattered not because of federal law. President Obama subsequently ordered federal authorities not to hassle people smoking it for medical purposes.

Of course California is way ahead of Colorado. I wonder if marijuana that comes from dry snow, like our champagne powder, is better than Sierra cement-produced weed.

Safety could be an issue. But is it any different than slaming down a hill with Bose headphones on or several hits of Gray Goose.

As a longtime skier I would recommend bud for those who come from back east and have never experienced powder so light that you feel you need a snorkel.

Habitues of a mountain like Aspen can find a nice place, hopefully without falling in a tree well.

Once you find a place use a parking app on your iPhone to return.

Caution remember trail signs might not be their right colors. And before you take a bowl back to a back bowl make sure you don’t get lost or caught in an avalanche.