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Grand County
Never miss an opportunity not to ski!
Written by: Donald Miserandino
Taking a non-ski, ski weekend spreads the wealth of health without straining the muscles
For those of us who don't ski, we really miss our partners and are sort of jealous of them having fun on the slopes without us. Grand County Colorado understands our loss and invites us to join the skiers in a non-ski, ski trip. So encouraged by a damp New York winter I took a break and headed out west. After checking the Internet about out all the snowstorms and cold weather, I packed the big suitcase took off for Denver. When I landed, I learned that Denver can have a different weather pattern than Grand County and that explained the sunny skies and tulips popping out of the ground!
Yo! I came for non-ski, ski trip and there's no snow? How do I explain that to the boss?
A shuttle drive across the Continental Divide proved that it snows in Colorado. And it is cold! But with a little common sense both can be enjoyed. Do a little research, bring extra warm cloths, and wear gloves and an insulated face mask.
My first stop was at the Destinations West Grand Elk Horse Shoe Village: a big name for a very big condo. It has three individual sleeping areas, even a bunk room for kids, full kitchen facilities and a fireplace and an outdoor hot tub. While some could say that these amenities are pretty standard, this building design lent itself towards privacy for a small army and the location was close to Winter Park, the Town of Granby. And there were no crowds!
Snow was all around the building in drifts up to over ten feet, but the check-in office made certain the unit was easily accessible. After a good night's sleep, my adventure immediately began with Snowmobiling with Grand Adventures at Winter Park.
This is a good one. It's just a big motorized sled: you steer with the hands, swing the rump and lean into the turn. For almost three hours we went on a guided trip through the woods. What I liked most was that the guides and the service desk kind of watched out for everything to keep it safe and yet adventurous, even at the beginner level. Before we got started on the trail they asked about what I was wearing and was I warm enough. If not, they had full insulated zip suits of various sizes: small, large and humongous. Apparently humongous was ordered special for me but now anyone can use it.
Then it was off to meet the guide and get instructions on the vehicle operation. To me the most important are go, stop and turn. To them it was safety, following distance, and the use of common sense in speed. Going up the first hill was the learning "how to drive" experience and when at the top there was an open field to let loose and perhaps burn off some of that over confidence. Going down through the woods along what seemed to be a narrow hiking trail was the test of what we learned about safety and driving. And I didn't hit a tree. My tour was almost three hours long but some of them are up to four hours. Dress warm and stay out.
Perhaps the best trip of all was the Winter Park Snow Cat tour. A Snow Cat is a sort of small school bus on tank treads. Slow for city driving but great on the hill. We drove up the ski hill on the service and supply roads. Always careful not to hit skiers at the cross roads, the driver gave a talk about the background of the resort, the mountains, tunnels, trails and a complete rundown on the ski levels required. This is a wonderful spectator sport! You can get to the top in comfort, look over the valley, and watch the snow train come in from Denver. I have real pity for all the folks who rode up on the ski lift swinging in the cold without a tour. I saw more little kids on tiny skis, whizzing down the mountain not taking their time to observe the view, trees and enjoy the occasional blast of snow.
Tonight was a special treat: I enjoyed an old fashioned sleigh ride through the country side of the Devil's Thumb Ranch. Devil's Thumb Ranch is a resort that preserves the ranching style operation while offering pampering hotel services or not. You can always sleep in the field. I suppose it was to be called a dude ranch (but don't say that out loud) with all the trimmings: livestock, health spa, snowshoe trails, sauna, restaurant, one million stars above and the occasional moose in residence. Go see the animals at the barn. A real farmer and his wife manage the animals and arrange a sleigh ride that was straight out of the movies. The horse's bells are the only sound in the quiet night. The snow crunches beneath the runners and two farm dogs occasionally bark a friendly hello. It is romantic and relaxing, so do this with that significant someone or go with the friendly dog.
Morning came early for Ice Fishing with a guide from Beacon Landing Marina on Lake Granby. After the license was obtained and the layered clothes double checked for warmth - everyone takes care of the city boy - we mounted up on the snowmobiles to get to the magic fishing spot. Remember yesterday's snowmobiling lesson because now it really comes in handy. We follow in line with about 50 yards apart in case of slushy ice or any other problem. Reaching the right spot is part art, part science, part hunch. But when we arrived we formed the snowmobiles into a circle and holes were drilled inside the circle about three feet away from the snowmobile seat, and the lines dropped. Well the bottom line is, that I caught four legal trout and since this was a catch and release trip now you can try to catch them. Besides they were so huge that we would have needed a separate sled to carry them. The company and conversation was so good that I think the fishing was an added plus. Maybe that's why people do Ice Fishing ... for the camaraderie.
The afternoon was reserved for a snowshoe tour in Rocky Mountain National Park to see the Frozen Falls. We stopped in at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center to sign up for a nature walk. For me the snow shoeing was the main experience and, although the ranger's talks were informative, I used them mainly to catch my breath. We learned a little history, saw small animal tracks, moose droppings and plenty of deep snow. The pace was manageable and when we arrived at the falls, the group gasped at the beauty while I gasped for air. After that I dove three times into the snow as we headed back to the car. I was a little klutzy on this snowshoe tour but the next time I won't be.
In between all these activities is, of course, the food. There are many restaurants, small cafes, diners, and they even provide a Grand County Dining Menu Book. So you can eat on the mountain or grab a quick bite in the cafeteria. The real culinary adventure is in the smaller towns like Granby. Walk the town for breakfast and pop-in to whoever is open and what store front that most attracts your interest. It's all good, with some spicier than others.
Have I learned a lesson? You bet! I can't believe all the fun I missed by not going on a winter break. This is the last time I'll "allow" anyone at the office to go on a ski weekend without me. I didn't know that all this non-skiing option was available.
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