The gang invades the Elk Mountains for the 2019 Ski Test

WORDS • DONNY O’NEILL | PHOTOS • MATT POWER

We were barreling through the Roaring Fork Valley when the itch kicked in. We knew we’d get our frosty fix soon, as the army of black clouds began to march over the Elk Mountains from the west, sending temperatures into a nosedive on what was a warm, spring-like day in Colorado. Miles ahead of us, the cobblestone paths of Snowmass Village were eerily quiet for a Saturday afternoon in March. A few wide-eyed vacationers milled around the shops, some enjoyed beverages on restaurant patios, while the rest concluded their day on the slopes. The tranquil atmosphere was fleeting, however.