skiing at eldora

Our first family ski vacation was a smashing success.  Of course when you have charming accommodations with staff eager to please, loads of fresh powder, and children who can't get enough of the slopes, you've got the right ingredients for just that.  Boulder Creek Lodge

The day we arrived, Paul took a photo of the outdoor patio where we were told we could smoke whatever we pleased this being Colorado and all.

This is the same patio the day we left.  The snow started as we went to bed our first night and was still falling when we left.

This footbridge led from our hotel to the main part of the small town of Nederland. We enjoyed a curry out the first night.  We ate in our hotel the next two nights as we were tired from plowing through all that powder and happy to stay warm and cozy in our room with delicious pizza from a place at the end of the footbridge.

The slopes were a winter wonderland.  Although there were plenty of people up there with us, races with teams from all over Colorado even, we often found ourselves alone.  Paul is a far better and more adventurous skier than I, but we were able to enjoy the same runs as I could stick to the centre where other skiers had sort of groomed the slope and he could enjoy untouched snow on both sides of the runs.

Both days that we skied, the temperature stayed below freezing.  The second day, the wind picked up and made for some blizzard like conditions as the snow from the trees was blown into the air in places.  

This is Luke at the first slope he mastered.  It is almost flat and he did a lot of 'walking' on his skis.  They started him with just one ski going in circles to help him get used to the feel of things.  By lunch, his group moved over to a bigger slope with a longer magic carpet.

The first magic carpet.

This slope is so shallow and the powder so thick that he can't get going very fast.  It worked well for him though as he was able to get very comfortable with the feel and movement of skis.  We don't have any other video of him because our cameras (phone, camera and GoPro) all suffered from the severe cold.  Their batteries just couldn't manage.

Luke got quite cold but still managed a smile.  

Timothy started on this slope but was soon on the regular greens, riding the chair lifts like a pro.  

After his lesson the second day, he and Paul went up together.  Paul noted that Timothy is quite fast.

Paul enjoying some untouched, fresh powder.

Powder this deep means that skiing is a real work out, but it also means that falling doesn't really hurt.  Paul managed the whole trip without a fall, and I only went down once, when I was completely stopped and watching Timothy ski.  I got off balance and tipped over like a tree.  Getting up is hard for me because my knees don't bend enough anymore to get my weight centered so I can push myself up.  Paul rescued me.  I came close to another fall when I got turned backwards in the powder.  Fortunately, I managed to stay upright; otherwise, I might have needed a shovel to dig myself out!

Driving down the Boulder Canyon on our way home.