Fools rush in where Angels fear to ski

Enthused by my blue runs and P’s black run we decide to attempt another trip to New Mexico and the Angel Fire resort but commitments and everyone being available mean we can’t do this until mid March.



We drive in a van…for 12 hours…it is a long way but I entertain people with an eclectic mix of music including


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k99RBzE04Q


When we get there due to a poor season the snow is, as you can see a bit sparse

In fact it is only on the slopes and clearly the dirt will stop me should I be heading for Kansas:

Well if all this lot are doing it then it can’t be that bad and down here it is an unseasonal 65 degrees so we can really top up our tan!

So off we set – raring

But this is a different ball game altogether in fact .....

a ball bearing game and I am transformed into this


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9USvi173GE


And if anyone says cut your edges I say ^%^%^%^%$E$^*yours

Fed up of executing U bends instead of S bends we pause for lunch and then a spot of sunbathing…

Yep it is that warm so why I hear you cry am I still wrapped up…well padding basically.


By the end of the 3 days the snow below the ski lift has diminished to nothing so the prospect of falling 30 feet onto rock is daunting.


We head back on the long trip taking in Cadillac Ranch

for a spot of permissible graffitiing

Apparently a representation of western wasteful decadence…well that lesson went home..

and so did we

Steamboat

Snow dominated Xmas and so we thought we would go for more in Steamboat, Colorado - 17 people living in anticipation of some more "alpine" gymnastics. We had moaned about 2 ft grinding the UK to a halt for days on end...Steamboat had record snowfalls this year of 400 inches...and our first view of what this meant...

We slummed it away looking at this view from the bubble pool

P is stood on 3 and a half foot of snow - distributing the load..I am required to inform you he doesn't normally stand like that

He then gets cocky , but that is a wall he is standing on and not the path that runs under the gazebo

You get my drift.....

Our transport

There's a swimming pool under there

Then the sunset started to kick in...but I am still finding my feet with the camera



Then I found my way along with the sky being obliging..

And then I tried to get artistic and fool hardy because if the snow I am standing on gives way I will sink four and a half feet upto my nose and no-one knows I am out here...

17 people provides opprotunity for a lot of diversity:

A snowboarder who think she's lost her ski poles...

Diamonds and blong gives us a ring - the society editor

He who lost at shithead the night before and had to do the first run on the slopes like this

 The ski ride is a double hop, first covered, then

As we rise there is more snow

And true to form when we get up there my right leg has amnesia, just my leg, my head and eyes know exactly what to do - so I need slopes without a drop on the left hand side..

Day two and the sunshine was well hidden

By the time we got to the top you could see 10 yards. And we set off with P leading and me planning to follow, except he travels faster and why did I put a man who wears gla...sorry corrective lenses for distance when driving, as the lead to spot the signs and read them! Very soon I was alone, unable to see where the edges where and on slopes a damn sight steeper than the day before in fact a blue run...

I ended up skiing without event for 40 minutes down to the bottom.

And guess what we decide to have another go! Somewhat fatigued I make the mistake of sitting in the middle of the ski lift wedged in with P and P(aul). They get off but I am left stranded and the ski lift goes round and I head back down the mountain for 10 minutes. Worse still I have to look up into the driving snow because I hate heights and the drop is about 30 feet to the ground and I can't look down and see where I am going. Not to mention all the smart arse "you're going the wrong way" comments.

So here I am getting off on my own ready to poke two big blokes with my poles. Especially if I am asked why I didn't get off...

Spending the day battling the elements forces people to extreme apres ski

But the rest of them decide that the solution is Jaegermeister ....for me the question is always why would you drink alcoholic buttercup syrup? Because you end up doing this...

And looking like this

and this

And to be fair it was me who started it because Mr David  the guy in blue emboldened by said linctus and forgetting P had been a professional rugby player decided P needed to be persuaded to buy me the monkey ski hat I had admired. Part way through a valiant effort he realised he needed to recruit Rob (in orange) to even push him over let alone try to bury him! And meanwhile the general manager of the Bella Vista looked on indulgently; previous guests Tom Hanks and Danny DeVito must have done much same thing.

Day 3 and a milky sun start

A brief double take as we see a porcupine fast asleep tight at the top of one of these trees..I was so gob smacked I didn't fumble quick enough to get a shot and am blinded by the sparkling

A contemplative  moment

Then just more great shots

Then I start another descent, stopping for this:

This is just to emphasise the colours



Looking through orange tinted goggles

Blue

Orange

And a final appearance from our neighbours

And did I mention I managed blue runs and not be accident either. But if  I ever come across the guy who decided to wander horizontally across my descent because he was talking into his mobile...the ski pole will be where the sun don't shine..

And in case you need a break contact Britt Reed at

http://www.steamboat1.com/