Weekend Expectations

It’s often recommended not to have any expectations.  But how can you not when it comes to a weekend getaway?  I’m sure even guys think (O.K., fantasize) about  what they want out of a romantic weekend away.  That’s part of the fun.  Call it another form of travel planning.

I’m trying not to think too much about my plans for this weekend.  Yet still little glimmers of mostly romantic moments keep popping into my mind.  Let’s face it, even if it’s not fireworks it darn well had better be good.  And how do I define good?  Nothing short of blissful togetherness.  Perfect harmony where the mere thought of it all coming to an end makes both of our hearts sink.

Vail is closing for the season this weekend and I thought it would be great to take in the festivities with Steve, my new love.  Normally I wouldn’t question (even remotely!) if all would go well but there’s a big storm in the forecast and Saturday is looking like a powder day.  There are no friends on powder days as the saying goes, and I found this out for real back in January when we took our first weekend away.

We both were incredibly psyched about discovering Crested Butte, a spectacular Colorado destination known for its rugged terrain, authentic spirit and quaint Victorian town.  Neither of us had spent any real time there, so it was uncharted territory for us both.  Truly though I think it was the idea of spending forty-eight hours together that appealed to us the most.

The Pearl Room at The Crested Butte Retreat

The drive there couldn’t have been more perfect since we talked nonstop, sharing thoughts, dreams and ideas that we hadn’t yet revealed in previous conversations.  We tiptoed in to The Crested Butte Retreat, a high-end bed-and-breakfast that I had located on the Internet.  Our meeting with our gracious hosts would wait until morning.  We pushed open the door to the Pearl Room (also known as the Honeymoon Suite) and sauntered into an immense, milky-colored space, twice the size of my apartment back home.  We savored a glass of red wine on the loveseat before falling into bed, totally smitten with each other and our surroundings.

We Could Ski Right Outside the Door of The Crested Butte Retreat

After an elegant breakfast together, we left practically hand in hand for the slopes the next day.  It was a perfect day, punctuated by many fun runs together on Crested Butte’s craggy slopes and one long break at the Ice Bar, a popular gathering spot on the mountain where we gulped frosty beers and snuggled up to each other at a wraparound bar made entirely of blocks of ice.  We cooed some more over an après-ski hot chocolate and then rushed back to the Retreat for a quick change for dinner.  (We even endured a goof up with the public transportation which resulted in us missing a bus and having to wait a near eternity for another.  We didn’t care much though; we were one with each other.)

We opted out of a romantic dinner à deux to dine with Ken and Kim Stone, two incredibly warm and enthusiastic people that both Steve and I knew from their time in Telluride.  As the CEO of Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Ken provided us with the full rundown on this once rough-around-the-edges mountain town that is morphing into a more sophisticated destination for outdoor enthusiasts in the know.  We chatted about this evolution over cheese fondue and juicy steaks in the uber sleek setting of the newly opened Prime in Elevation Hotel at Mt. Crested Butte.  No one, of course, could have asked for a better introduction to the Butte.

We fell asleep in each others arms, professing our utter contentment with each other and openly stated that something had to bring us back to reality.  It was almost dizzying to feel so high up in the clouds.

Be careful what you wish for—I’ve been warned of that many times, too.  Our fluffy white haze turned into a big, dark thunderhead that rained upset and grief upon us by mid Sunday afternoon.  The day started out excitedly:  Steve was pumped about skiing powder with Ken and Kim and I felt proud of myself for giving him space to knock himself out since I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with them on Crested Butte’s renowned double diamonds.  The plan was that I would go on a Meet the Mountain tour and meet him for lunch.  All was well in honeymoon land.

By almost 2 p.m., however, I was a wreck.  He never showed up for lunch.  “What?  How could you forget?”  I cried in between sobs.

“I don’t know, I just spaced it.  I’m sorry.  I screwed up.”

High Drama Hot Tub

Our weekend was irretrievable.  Even a late check out and a long soak in the Honeymoon hot tub, couldn’t take us back to the soft space we had created together the first 3/4 of our weekend away.  It took more time than that for both of us to fully recover.

Now here we are on the eve of another ski weekend away, another powder day.  It would be silly for me not to expect to have it go well.  But if there is a glitch, maybe now I wouldn’t take it quite so personally.  Travel, after all, always brings out the best and the worst in relationships.

The Crested Butte Retreat, 970-349-1701, www.crestedbutteretreat.com ; please note that since this story was posted, The Crested Butte Retreat is no longer operating as an inn.  You may, however, rent out the entire property for special retreats.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort, 800-810-7669, www.skicb.com

Prime in the Elevation Hotel at Mt. Crested Butte, 970-251-3030, www.skicb.com/cbmr/things-to-do/dining-mtcrestedbutte

Crested Butte is known for its proliferation of wildflowers in the summer.  I have never seen this spectacular display but hope to some day soon.  Maybe it will provide me with the opportunity to rewrite our ending in the Honeymoon Suite.

Hillside of Flowers in Front of The Crested Butte Retreat