First, you need to play John Denver's, "Colorado Rocky Mountain High" in the background.
It all started Friday, a lovely afternoon at Loveland Ski Area, outside Denver, with a few friends who all happen to love to snowboard, and play soccer. We had a great time at Loveland and enjoyed a delicious snack outside on picnic tables after our half day riding. Luckily, we didn't have to sit in the circle of hipsters, grudge riders and potheads. We had our own crew.
Then, off to Routt County where Steamboat Springs hides around the bend of Rabbit Ear's Pass. The pass is infamous for horrible driving conditions but is the last leg in arriving to Steamboat from Silverthorne. My friend Katherine and I decided to head to Steamboat to avoid the Summit crowds during President's weekend and my friend Chris graciously invited us to stay with him!
We did some snowshoeing underneath the breathtakingly blue skies on Rabbit Ear's Pass. Snowmobiles tore up one side of the pass and x-country skiers and snowshoers enjoy the other side. We did about 8 or 10 miles hiking in snowshoes. Every field of crystal snow gleamed like fancy diamonds and blues and purples glimmered on the surface. All I wanted to do was run around and be the only person to touch the snow. But it was hard work. I was sweating a LOT under my Patagonia jacket, pants and mid-layer. It was HOT out there.
Psalm 104 ~ The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them...O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures...and you renew the face of the ground.
That night, we ate elk that Chris's brother hunted in Colorado. And drank beer brewed in Steamboat. Not for sale outside Steamboat :) So good! Next up? Sunday!
We went cross-country skiing at Rabbit Ear's - back to a different place on the pass. The pass is very long. And windy. And has LOTS of fun trails for all sorts of levels. We were set out to go on the moderate trail route; this is the beginner's level trail because we didn't know what to expect with x-country skiing. I think I had done it once as a little kid. Katherine? Never. So, we gather our rented gear and head out onto West Summit Loop 1A. However, a few people's comments about the difficulty and another women saying that 1B was better had us turn onto the 1B loop. It was 4 miles long. We thought we'd be out there for an hour or so, then head to the Strawberry Hot Springs. Ha! 4.5 hours later we crawled to the car doors. Cross country skiing on the most difficult loop at the West Summit area was exhausting. I had nothing left in me at the end. All that lunging, lunging to turn, going fast but your feel moves around... it was tough. I loved it - tough workout, hills to climb in skis - ask me how to do THAT one day! It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed being out in the woods, almost completely alone. We saw one couple out there on loop 1B. Katherine and I were at different speeds so I had a lot of alone time to reflect on the big questions of life like - where to go this summer on my traveling time, when should I spend some time in Michigan, when can I cross-country ski again, and do I continue teaching next year. So many big questions. God was there for all of them. It was marvelous out there!
Isaiah 40:31 - But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
he renewed my strength and I soared across the snow!
Before we went cross-country skiing, I had gone for a 4.5 - 5 mile run in town because it was a gorgeous winter morning and I needed to run. It felt so refreshing to have the mountain air seep into my system as I followed the creek running path. I always feel rejuvenated and invigorated after a mountain run.
We drank 90 Shilling beer, a Colorado beer - and then it POURED snow all night in Steamboat. 27" of snow. I didn't even get to ski that!!!! AAAAAGGGHHHHHHH I WAS SO SAD I COULDN'T GO SKIING IN STEAMBOAT IN 27" OF FRESH POWDER. But it worked out in the end. I skied Keystone all day and had great tree runs, almost all to myself! I hiked the Outback and had some great fresh tracks.
Did I mention we were staying at my friends' place? A ranch he is renting - a ranch with horses! In Steamboat - the western of western ski towns!
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