{"id":2441691,"date":"2019-03-13T19:20:01","date_gmt":"2019-03-14T01:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/summit-daily-photographer-describes-lessons-learned-at-aspen-power-of-four-ski-mountaineering-race\/"},"modified":"2019-03-13T19:20:01","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T01:20:01","slug":"summit-daily-photographer-describes-lessons-learned-at-aspen-power-of-four-ski-mountaineering-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/summit-daily-photographer-describes-lessons-learned-at-aspen-power-of-four-ski-mountaineering-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Summit Daily photographer describes lessons learned at Aspen Power of Four ski mountaineering race"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.9105651105651\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-301602-42\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Jeremy Swanson \/ Special to the Daily | Frisco resident Hugh Carey ascends to the top of Aspen Highlands during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3.jpg\" alt=\"Frisco resident Hugh Carey ascends to the top of Aspen Highlands during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Frisco resident Hugh Carey ascends to the top of Aspen Highlands during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.<\/strong><br \/>Jeremy Swanson \/ Special to the Daily<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Jeremy Swanson \/ Special to the Daily | Summit County ski mountaineering race partners Sam O'Keefe, at left, of Breckenridge and Summit Daily photographer Hugh Carey, ascend toward top of Aspen Highlands Resort during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen. The annual ski mountaineering race brought hundreds of athletes to scale nearly 11 thousand feet of vertical climbing over the course of 25 miles, summiting all four Aspen area ski resorts.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"10\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"Summit County ski mountaineering race partners Sam O'Keefe, at left, of Breckenridge and Summit Daily photographer Hugh Carey, ascend toward top of Aspen Highlands Resort during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen. The annual ski mountaineering race brought hundreds of athletes to scale nearly 11 thousand feet of vertical climbing over the course of 25 miles, summiting all four Aspen area ski resorts.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"15\">\n<p><strong>Summit County ski mountaineering race partners Sam O&#8217;Keefe, at left, of Breckenridge and Summit Daily photographer Hugh Carey, ascend toward top of Aspen Highlands Resort during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen. The annual ski mountaineering race brought hundreds of athletes to scale nearly 11 thousand feet of vertical climbing over the course of 25 miles, summiting all four Aspen area ski resorts.<\/strong><br \/>Jeremy Swanson \/ Special to the Daily<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Jeremy Swanson \/ Special to the Daily | Breckenridge resident Sam O'Keefe waves to the camera as race partner, Hugh Carey, follows at the top of the first descent from Aspen Snowmass Resort during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen. The annual ski mountaineering race brought hundreds of athletes to scale nearly 11 thousand feet of vertical climbing over the course of 25 miles, summiting all four Aspen area ski resorts.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-2.jpg\" alt=\"Breckenridge resident Sam O'Keefe waves to the camera as race partner, Hugh Carey, follows at the top of the first descent from Aspen Snowmass Resort during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen. The annual ski mountaineering race brought hundreds of athletes to scale nearly 11 thousand feet of vertical climbing over the course of 25 miles, summiting all four Aspen area ski resorts.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Breckenridge resident Sam O&#8217;Keefe waves to the camera as race partner, Hugh Carey, follows at the top of the first descent from Aspen Snowmass Resort during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen. The annual ski mountaineering race brought hundreds of athletes to scale nearly 11 thousand feet of vertical climbing over the course of 25 miles, summiting all four Aspen area ski resorts.<\/strong><br \/>Jeremy Swanson \/ Special to the Daily<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ The Aspen Times | Frisco resident Hugh Carey skate skis uphill to keep up with race partner Sam O'Keefe, not pictured, during the last descent of the race on Aspen Mountain as part of the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-3.jpg\" alt=\"Frisco resident Hugh Carey skate skis uphill to keep up with race partner Sam O'Keefe, not pictured, during the last descent of the race on Aspen Mountain as part of the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Frisco resident Hugh Carey skate skis uphill to keep up with race partner Sam O&#8217;Keefe, not pictured, during the last descent of the race on Aspen Mountain as part of the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ The Aspen Times | Frisco resident Hugh Carey skate skis uphill to keep up with race partner Sam O'Keefe, not pictured, during the final descent of the race,on Aspen Mountain, during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-4.jpg\" alt=\"Frisco resident Hugh Carey skate skis uphill to keep up with race partner Sam O'Keefe, not pictured, during the final descent of the race,on Aspen Mountain, during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Frisco resident Hugh Carey skate skis uphill to keep up with race partner Sam O&#8217;Keefe, not pictured, during the final descent of the race,on Aspen Mountain, during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | Breckenridge resident Sam O'Keefe leads the way during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-5.jpg\" alt=\"Breckenridge resident Sam O'Keefe leads the way during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Breckenridge resident Sam O&#8217;Keefe leads the way during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.<\/strong><br \/>Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-6.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | The finish line is in view at the Silver Queen Gondola Plaza at Aspen Mountain during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/PowerOf4-SDN-031319-3-6.jpg\" alt=\"The finish line is in view at the Silver Queen Gondola Plaza at Aspen Mountain during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>The finish line is in view at the Silver Queen Gondola Plaza at Aspen Mountain during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.<\/strong><br \/>Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/summit-daily-photographer-describes-lessons-learned-at-aspen-power-of-four-ski-mountaineering-race\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/summit-daily-photographer-describes-lessons-learned-at-aspen-power-of-four-ski-mountaineering-race\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">With each ski mountaineering event I compete in, I\u2019m reminded there are always new things to learn. The Audi Power of Four in Aspen on March 2 was no different.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Tackling Aspen Snowmass\u2019 four mountains put me in situations to continue to grow my ski mountaineering skills, namely the downhill component, as well as nutrition and hydration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">That\u2019s because ski mountaineering is a sport that combines three distinct racing elements over long-distance courses. In this case, we set out for nearly 11,000 vertical feet of elevation gain over 25 miles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Along the way in a race like this, the best racers will be the ones who\u2019ve come closest to perfecting three elements. The first: the endurance that comes with using \u201cskin\u201d ski traction sleeves to climb uphill. The second: the technical skills of traditional downhill ski racing. And, the third: the efficient technique required during the all-important gear transitions between going up and down.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For this race I was, for the first time, paired with Sam O\u2019Keefe of Breckenridge. Sam, 25, is one of the area\u2019s top mountain bikers and a really strong skimo racer. However, both he and I are still relative novices in the sport, having only competed for about the past year. It was also the first time competing in the Power of Four for both of us. Sam and I met while out on a training day, via Breckenridge local and U.S. Ski Mountaineering Association head coach Joe Howdyshell.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">On this frenetic tour of Aspen\u2019s four mountains, Sam, for the majority of the race, would be in the lead. He also was critical in reminding me when and where to consume my calories and drink water.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">My biggest concern heading into the race was to avoid what many Summit County endurance athletes regard as a \u201cbonk.\u201d To bonk, in our parlance, is to crash during a race due to a deficiency in caloric energy and\/or water. For the race, I made sure to prepare by efficiently packing the front of my waist with Clif Bars, Clif Gel Shots, Honey Stinger waffles, the Ascend electrolyte mix in my first two water bottles \u2014 and a Snickers bar, of course.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">After a five-hour sleep and a 3:30 a.m. breakfast of pancakes and eggs, the race got underway. Not soon after, I found myself eating and drinking before I was even hungry or thirsty. That\u2019s because Sam did his best to remind me at various checkpoints during the early portion of the race to eat and drink. Heck, there\u2019d be aid stations along the way to refill my water, so, might as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The race began with a moderate skin up Snowmass \u2014 about 1,000 feet per mile over 3 miles. It\u2019s in this uphill portion of skimo races where my high-elevation endurance from Summit County shines through. Despite the recent snowy conditions, while skinning up Snowmass there wasn\u2019t too much powder to trudge through \u2014 maybe 3 inches atop previously groomed snow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Once summiting Snowmass, we found ourselves staring down slope at cliffs leading to clouds. It was quite the sight to see while transitioning to our downhill gear and traversing along the ridge from Snowmass to Buttermilk.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-relive\">\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Once at Buttermilk, we flew down the resort before crossing the highway to begin the steep climb to the top of Aspen Highlands. Along the way Sam was kind enough, in a couple of spots, to tow me from ahead. Again, Sam was sure to remind me to consume more calories and drink more water. Being sure not to bonk was as key as ever, as race rules stipulate that teams of two skiers must be within 10 seconds of each other during the duration of the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Atop Highlands, I was eager to refill my water at an aid station, but we found the Gatorade bucket had frozen. We were reassured by a race volunteer that there\u2019d be water we could access at a mid-mountain location. After refilling, some of the hardest racing terrain was up ahead.<\/p>\n<p>To bottom out from Highlands before beginning the climb to the final mountain, Aspen Mountain, my downhill skiing was tested. That test came within what was almost like singletrack skiing through the racing corridor in between the trees and the towering powder around us. Some racers, including myself, actually resorted to the beginner tactic of \u201cpizzaing\u201d with their skis to negotiate the turns during a specific section of this descent. It was the third of four total descents during the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">That portion of the race set us up for the gradual yet difficult climb up to Aspen Mountain. During this stretch of the race I was able to use my endurance strength to help Sam and I pass other teams. In fact, on a portion of the climb I was actually able to lead Sam. I\u2019m sure the calories and hydration from earlier helped.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">When we topped out on Aspen Mountain, I was expecting that last descent to be a glorious one, down a groomer run to the Silver Queen Gondola Plaza. But no, the red flags \u2014 which were the course markers \u2014 directed us straight into the double-black-diamond runs to skier\u2019s right. Dipping into this terrain, the powder was deep and the moguls were as imposing as they were bulky. This final descent to the finish line wasn\u2019t for the faint of heart, as it separated the elite downhill skiers from the rest of us. Sam and I finished in 17th place of about 100 teams in the open division, with a time of 6 hours, 9 minutes and 43 seconds. For perspective, race champions Max Taam and John Gaston finished in 04:45:26.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Looking back on my first Power of Four race, it was yet another adventure that spoke to why I continue to pursue ski mountaineering. A lot of people talk about a runner\u2019s high, but the skier\u2019s high that you get from your body\u2019s endorphins when traversing dramatic winter terrain like this is unlike anything else. Truly, in my mind, in a world dense with many different sports, ski mountaineering is unlike anything else. It provides someone like me with the opportunity to view so much of such an awe-inspiring location like the wilderness surrounding Aspen. Or, in inclement weather, it provides a stark reminder of the menacing power of the mountains.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">On a more personal note, I feel that the skimo world, like life, can remind you of something very important: that the path to earning your rewards may often be harder than you expect.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But I wouldn\u2019t have it any other way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\">hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/summit-daily-photographer-describes-lessons-learned-at-aspen-power-of-four-ski-mountaineering-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Frisco resident Hugh Carey ascends to the top of Aspen Highlands during the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on March 2, near Aspen.Jeremy Swanson \/ Special to the Daily Summit County ski mountaineering race partners Sam O&#8217;Keefe, at left, of Breckenridge and Summit Daily photographer Hugh Carey, ascend toward top of Aspen Highlands [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2441691","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-15 07:45:13","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2441691"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441691\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2441691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2441691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2441691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}