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This group waits to ski Mount Evans every year — and one man is 82

The road to the top of Mount Evans opened Friday. On Sunday, a group of friends hiked from the parking lot to the peak with skis on their backs.

On Sunday morning, you'd find the surefooted hiking above the clouds and those unsure of the climb, content taking a selfie beside a sign that read, "14,130 feet."

Then, there was the group in ski boots, there because most resorts were closed and the road to Mount Evans was open.

"Top of Mount Evans. Having a ball!" said Jim Orofino. “When it opens up at the end of the year, it’s our time to come and do our thing."

Orofino's thing is the same as Bob Seto's.

“Well, I like skiing," Seto laughed. “A lot of us want to make sure we get up here to Mount Evans.”

Seto, Orofino and three friends hiked with skis on their backs to the snow at the peak of Mount Evans. They make the trip each season when the road to Mount Evans is cleared of snow and opened to traffic.

“The ride up is beautiful. You get great views," Seto said. "Very often, mountain goats are in your way and they get right of way, so you have to stop and wait for them to do whatever they’re doing and move on.”

Orofino was the oldest and newest to the group of skiers.

“I’m 82, but I only started [skiing] like 33 years ago," Orofino said. 

Last year was Orofino's first time skiing with Seto and the others. There wasn't as much snow, which made for a trickier start down the mountain.

“Last year, we had to put harnesses on," Seto said.

“[We] rappelled in," Orofino said. “It was just too rocky to ski the top.”

On Sunday, the group had no problem starting from the peak. By afternoon, the sun had softened the snow.

"Skiing's good!" Seto said.

“Lovely place," Orofino said. "Fun skiing. Can’t wait for it to open every year.”

The group got in several runs on Sunday. They parked their cars at the summit, skied down and hitchhiked back to the top.

“Every single run down is exciting and every car that picks us up gives us a story to tell," Seto said.

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