Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Last year around this time, Dan and I were hitting the slopes in Aspen Snowmass, Colorado. For me, Aspen was a trip of firsts: first time to Colorado, first time snowshoeing, first time cross country skiing, and first time downhill skiing. Dan had his assortment of firsts as well: first time seeing the Nutcracker ballet, first time attending a film screening, and first time going to the spa and getting a massage. Obviously we each have our priorities.

The drive to Aspen was probably the most memorable part of the trip. Rather than fly directly into Aspen which involves a layover in Denver and doubles the cost of your flight, we flew into Denver and then drove the four hours into Aspen. The snow was falling thick and heavy the entire way. It made for a tedious drive, but the scenery was stunning.

We stayed in Snowmass Village - one of several towns in Aspen. Snowmass sits high in the hills and the roads are heated to allow for easy access as all the snow just melts away. After checking in to the hotel, we spent the rest of our first day exploring downtown Aspen. The streets were crowded with your typical high socity folk. We'd never seen so many fur coats in our lives! Despite this, Aspen felt magical, with the soft sounds of snow falling and twinkle lights in the trees.

There was definitely no lack of snow. It piled up in yards, often several feet high. Icicles were abundant and would hang from the roof all the way to the ground.

As I had never skied before let me be the first to admit, it was not everything I hoped it would be! Dan took to skiing as naturally as if he were walking, and his grace only further discouraged me as I rolled in a giant snowball down the bunny hill. Cross country skiing on the other hand was quite enjoyable and we spent a beautiful sunny afternoon navigating the miles upon miles of ski trails.

We took part in a guided snowshoe hike through the woods. Our guide told us everything you could have imagined about the vegetation, animals, and geography of the area. The highlight for me was stopping for cookies and hot cocoa.

One particulary snowy day, we took things inside to the Aspen Recreational Center where we played in the pool and worked on our rock climbing skills. Don't be fooled. I only made it half way up the wall. Apparently my inability to ski also carries over to my inability to rock climb.

Although it was a jam packed week, some of our favorite moments were spent cozied up inside a hidden cafe where we would warm up with hot drinks.

When we returned home we were surprised to find that Seattle was blanketed in snow and would stay that way for several days. It wasn't quite Aspen, but something about snow just makes everything seem more magical.