Angel Fire/Monarch Trip: January 27-31

Part I: Sunday at Angel Fire

Our daughter, Lisa and her fiancé, Jeff, joined us for a 3 out of 5 day ski trip beginning at Angel Fire on January 27th. We were accompanied by Sue and Gene Downs and Jerry and Robbie Colaner on this leg of the journey. The snow was great even tho sparse in places. Whaddya expect for New Mexico?

Mike and Lisa skiing

Lisa, age 25 had only skied once since age 17, (this is the age at which female spawn make you want to eat your young), but she picked up right where she left off making some nice turns with Dad (funny how things change once children are abducted by the real world!!!)

Jeff Feller, Lisa’s fiancé, with only one prior ski experience and did a nice job keeping up with the group. But how can he fall that much and still get up smiling? Oh, yes, now I remember……..the miracle of youth. When I fall its “GET THE CRANE.” I predict Jeff will be an excellent skier if he can figure out a way to get out of Iowa fast!

Jeff skidding and smiling

From the left: Sue Downs, Gene Downs, Robbie Colaner, Mike Shelton, Lisa Shelton and Jeff Feller. This group gave this beautiful sunny day 2 thumbs up. Good friends, good snow… fun day!!!

Part II: Monarch

We (Sheltons, Fellers, Colaners, and Vaugeois’) left Tuesday Noon for Monarch and stayed at the Woodland Inn. They have a website, check it out at www.woodlandmotel.com. It is about 6 blocks west of Salida’s historic district and is just about as nice as it could be. They have various accommodation including a condo, rooms with kitchenettes and single rooms. Pets are welcome! The rooms were clean, the beds comfortable, the showers hot and the price was right. We paid $44.95 for a queen with a kitchen.

Back to the skiing…………it was snowing on Wednesday but no wind. I hate to ski while it is snowing because the light is usually so flat that it makes me cuss but that day it was snowing light fluffy stuff like crazy but it was bright. We had a fantastic day. When they finally pried me off the hill the snow had accumulated to about 9 or 10 inches.

So….Wouldn’t you be all fired up and expect the snow to be just great the next day, right? Wrong. When we arrived in the parking lot it was sunny, 7 below zero and the wind was brisk. This was not a day for exposed body parts. To make matters worse, the wind came up the night before and blew all but about 3 inches off before they could roll it. There were some big powder stashes off the black runs where it had piled up in the trees but most of the easy runs were hard as a rock. Nevertheless………the men and women (we were joined by Dick Goellen on Wed. nite) of the Last Mountain Division prevailed. Here is a glimpse of our two days at Monarch:

Jeff landing a jump?

Well not exactly… and he slid a very long way

So he tried it again…

and… and…and… Well at least it wasn’t a yard sale just a small garage.

Harriet with Mrs. I am HOT and ready to ski Colaner, and ski instructor Steve prepare to make some big round turns.

The Last Mountain Divisions Water Ballet Team!!! Watch out Salt Lake!! Jeff, Fred, MJ, Robbie and Jerry.

Oh come on, for gosh sakes!!! Jeff, this is no way to start a marriage! You are one cooked dude!!!

Mike drops into some fairly steep and deep stuff……even looks like he knows what he is doing!!

Fred, MJ and Harriet give the entire trip TWO THUMBS UP from atop the Continental Divide!!!

Stay tuned for more adventures… Coming attractions, Breckenridge and hopefully Aspen the week of Feb 10. Fat Tuesday and Valentines Day… should be a good adventure.

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