There's that cheesy line that goes, "the mountains are calling and I must go" that always seems to get written on cool, adventurous pictures, and now I know why. Since I was a little girl and learned to ski, I've dreamed of making it out to the Rocky Mountains to go down a run that actually lasted longer than the chairlift ride. To look out and see blue mountain tops and not the tops of cars driving in for the day. To run out of breath in the freezing cold air -- partly from the lack of oxygen, partly from the amount of effort expended to cut through all the fresh powder. And this January, after a
+ hour bus ride, I finally made it. Aside from the miserable altitude sickness, it was all I'd dreamed of.
The Spartan Ski Club makes a trip out to Colorado each winter break and this year I joined them in Keystone for the week. With some new friends and some old, I piled onto one of seven buses making the trek and crammed into a room in the Dakota Lodge (which was actually a really nice condo). We spent the week shredding (as I since learned to snowboard), relaxing, and partying -- a perfect end to my holiday break.
 |
| ran into some ski team friends living out there |
On our agenda was Keystone, Breckenridge, and Vail. Keystone was gorgeous, though a bit icy towards the end of the week. I wish I had been able to do more at Breck as that has the highest elevation in the area, but the altitude sickness was hitting me hard that day. (At least some others had it, too, and totally understood how it felt.) Vail, however, was truly, as its motto states, "like no place on Earth". It had just snowed leaving a dusting of fresh powder and it spanned the front and back of the mountain, in addition to a second peak. I was so sad for some of the others in our group who didn't hop on the bus with us as it was by far the best day of the week. We went to the back bowls where the trails were undefined, the slopes steep, and the powder perfect. Even when hitting a few accidental moguls, though I fell on my butt but I found my way. And in the end, it made me a better boarder and I don't regret a minute of it.
 |
| Keystone, Colorado |
I was absolutely exhausted but so happily content when I crawled back onto Bus #5 at the end of the week. Between crushing the huge hills and taking the even bigger wipe outs, there were so many little in between moments that made it a week to remember. Talking on the balcony at 2am, searching for chair #1 on the lift, trying treats from Inxpot (the cutest little coffee shop), and sifting through souvenirs at the store filled our time and my heart.
 |
| mac and cheese for our first family dinner |
And yes, the mountains will call again and I will indeed go.
P.S. This is the infamous bum run. It's tradition for the last run of the week. We did the longest run at Keystone (3.5 miles) half naked complete with lots of "go green, go white" chants and plenty of other shenanigans.
 |
| a 3.5 mile "bum run" |
