Keeping that Holiday Spirit Going

Still Festive at The Peaks Resort

Gondola Cuteness

Frosty Cold Telluride

I say pooh to the people that throw out their Christmas tree by New Year’s. I keep most of my decorations up throughout January. I put away the santas, elves and baby Jesus by mid January but most–including Christmas ornaments and stockings–remain up through the end of the month. And as for anything festive in red and green, I typically keep that up until the end of the ski season–or just before Easter depending on what comes first. That’s what they do in the Alps. That’s what they do in many mountain locales, Telluride included. Hey, when you have a snowy scene outside, twinkling lights and garlands add extra sparkle to many winter wonderland settings.

And boy have we had snow! After a stellar holiday season with primo ski conditions, the cold and the snow have just kept on coming. With over fifteen feet of the fluffy white stuff so far this year, the skiing in Telluride–in all of Colorado, in fact–has been fantastic. To say we have been well served by the snow gods, is an understatement. 

Almost-Buried House in Crested Butte

I’ve been busy trying to keep up with it all, a not-so-easy task when sickness and fatigue are always knocking at your door and germs go through the ski instructor locker room as fast as locals in a lift line on a powder day. So far so good although I’ve had many “almosts” that have necessitated me having some do-not-much-of-anything days on my couch to keep the sickness at bay and to rest a very sore hip. (I think all the ski instructing–and summer gardening–is finally catching up with me.)

Christmas Eve with Steve

My Christmas Dinner

I worked the better part of two weeks during the busy holiday period save for Christmas Day when I was able to catch my breath, do a bit of tidying up and cook a nice turkey dinner for my guy and me. (We had dined out and stayed up late on Christmas Eve, so it was nice to sleep in. For the tenth year in a row, we had our own little celebrations à deux before being slammed with the busiest days on the mountain by December 27th. As a hotel GM, Christmas means full-on all hands on deck for him, too.)

View from the Chairlift

New Year’s Eve with Steve and His Brother Andy

I was also lucky to have New Year’s day morning off, so for the first time in the fifteen years I’ve been in Telluride, I was able to partake in the New Year’s Eve festivities in the town of Telluride. Standing on main street in frigid temperatures during a period when I typically don seven layers on top and three on the bottom every day on the slopes (yes, it’s that cold)  never had much appeal to me. But fueled by the excitement of the scene and a bit of alcohol, I have to admit it was an exciting way to start off the new year.

Snow Globe Bundles

Ski Clients

This month has been busy with more ski teaching, training and traveling. I did a little jaunt to Crested Butte for a Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) clinic and enjoyed playing tourist in a town almost as charming as Telluride. Actually it’s not fair to compare them, since they both have have their own special attributes but suffice it to say that I–along with many others–feel that T-ride and CB remain the most authentic of all the ski towns in Colorado. Just sayin. And, of course, the mountains/resorts have their own unique attributes as well. This can certainly be said for all of our Rocky Mountain towns.

Road Tripping to Crested Butte

Taking in the View at Blue Mesa Reservoir

The Town of Crested Butte

Mt. Crested Butte

PSIA Training

Crested Butte Coffeehouse

CB Sweetness

Lots of Holiday Spirit in CB

MLK weekend was one of the busiest ever. I taught the first session of Telluride Women’s Week during that time. It was fun and self empowering for us all. Know that there’s still time to sign up for the February and March sessions. It’s a terrific program that was recently highlighted in The New York Times. (Two of the ladies in my clinic were in attendance thanks to that story.) I’ve written about TWW many times at Bonjour Colorado. Click here to peruse some of those posts.

Telluride’s Glorious Prospect Bowl

My TWW Ladies and Me

Living It Up at Bon Vivant with My Ladies

The month closes out with the announcement that USA Today named Telluride as the top ski resort in North America. No surprise there. T-ride’s combined charm, world-class skiing, friendliness, fine restaurants, hotels and shops and much, much more provide just about everything a traveler is looking for in a memorable ski vacation. The locals have known it for quite some time. Now it seems as though every year more and more of the world finds out about the allure of this once little-known destination tucked within some of the most spectacular peaks of the Rockies. 

Kitties Grumpy About Me Working on the Couch

Better log a little more couch time. I sense that February and March are going to be very busy in Telluride. Thank goodness I feel no pressure to take down the rest of my holiday embellishments. There’s no time for that and sadly Easter will be here before you know it.

Cheers to You!

In the meantime, Happy New Year to all! (Note that in France, it’s totally acceptable to extend new year wishes until the end of January. Phew! Thank goodness I can allow my Frenchiness to shine through.)