There are ways home from the well-known ski resorts that do not involve traveling 85 miles per hour on I-25. It takes longer, and involves long stretches of minimal civilization, but it’s worth the detour.
In 2022, it was time to head home from our bi-annual family ski trip to Breckenridge. Instead of taking the main thoroughfare with all the other travelers, we headed north out of Breck, toward Dillon Lake and Frisco, areas that aren’t unique and similar to Breckenridge. Large SUVs fill the roads with traffic, carrying families dressed in their winter gear, ready for expensive outdoor or indoor entertainment. The snow on the roads is slushy and sloppy, as cars spin their wheels on top of it. Scattered through Frisco are businesses that cater to tourists: gift shops, bars, ski gear, all sitting behind fancy retail entry ways.
Continue reading The Way Back from Breck →
… Or Taos Again?
Northern New Mexico has become our go-to escape hatch. After the humid flatlands of north central Texas for almost 20 years, the wide open vistas and mountains, dry air, and minimal population are like a cool drink of water. Not tired of it yet – will take a few (hundred) more trips to do that.
After a long, long, long year of camping out in home offices and generally avoiding the public, we managed to block a few days for skiing. We had patiently waited for New Mexico to move in and out of various phases of lockdown and quarantine requirements – we’d driven through but been unable to stop other than getting gas and coffee, and looking longingly at the southern end of the Rockies. As some sort of stability approached, our future home state began attempting to open up the resorts to revive the economy. Having been over a year since we last saw mountains and snow, excitement was high, tempered by the worry of navigating mask requirements and protocols.
Continue reading There’s Blood On Them Skis … →
We're running all over the place …
graveyardsandghosttowns 