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To the Mountaintop The call of the mountains By KATHIE GREER As much as one might love the spacious expanses of the Texas Panhandle, there still come times in a flatlander's life when the siren song of high mountain ranges calls your name.
When I heard the call a few weeks ago, I promptly began making plans for a three-generation family expedition to central Colorado. We've been making treks to that region for about 30 years and it's been a carefully guarded family secret. It required a few weeks of planning and coordination of vehicles and details before we were ready to hit the road early on a Friday morning. The three eldest grandchildren, all teenagers, rode with me. They wanted to be on the road by 5 a.m., but it was about 7:30 a.m. when we headed past the Wal-Mart on Tascosa Road toward Boys Ranch. Near Boys Ranch we hit Hwy 385 and headed north toward Dalhart to link with U.S. Highway 87 for the run through Clayton, N.M. and over to Raton, N.M. Interstate 25 took us over the pass, through Trinidad and up to Walsenburg where we headed northwest on Colorado Highway 69. We hit U.S. Highway 50 at Cotopaxi, a little more than 5 hours after leaving Amarillo. In less than an hour, we pulled into Salida, Colo. After a quick stop at the motel, and more food for the kids, we headed up the pass to the Monarch Tours office. Since physical limitations prohibit me from skiing anymore, I scheduled a snowmobile tour to satisfy my personal need for speed and that old adrenaline rush. Office manager Tess and guides B.L. and Sean were courteous, friendly and helpful. They have everything you need for a snowmobile tour, from helmets to warm boots and snowsuits. But the hospitality inside scarcely compared to the excitement outside. Seated on a Polaris 550 with my granddaughter behind me, my excitement built with every rev of the engine. A short course was provided for those not familiar with snowmobiles. Then we were on our way through powdery snow, alongside a stream that feeds the mighty Arkansas River. We passed beaver dams, old mineshafts and an historic cemetery. There was plenty of time and space in Monarch Park, a campground in summer, where I could open up the throttle, jump small hills and slide around turns to my heart's content. Another stop, above 10,000 feet, put us at eye level with Monarch Ski Area. Its myriad of ski runs, Mirkwood Bowl and Orc outback skiing area lay before us. There was an opportunity for making snow angels and taking photos. On the way down, we ran for almost a mile through a tunnel of Aspen branches. All too soon we were back at the base. The rest of our crew, my two adult daughters, two six-year-olds (Buzz and Lightning) and one of the almost-two-year-old twins arrived late Friday night. But everyone was awake and moving bright and early. When the lifts opened at one of Colorado's oldest ski areas, most of our group was ready for their first run. I stayed in the main lodge, in front of the huge windows with binoculars, walkie-talkies and a big bag of snacks. Four lifts serve Monarch, taking skiers to more than 50 runs and three terrain parks. Monarch gets more snow than any other area except Wolf Creek, and the powder on its wide slopes is the best I have found in 25 years of schussing runs from New Hampshire to Arizona. It's still my daughters' favorite place to ski and rapidly claiming that distinction with the grandchildren. We made use of both the ski school and the day care during our two days at Monarch, and they more than met our expectations. Hesitant and uncertain at first, Buzz, was great on the lifts and his skis after a one-hour lesson. Lightning rode the lift to the top of the mountain with his mother and was making great turns by the time he returned to the lodge. The grin on his face was worth the entire price of the trip. We stayed at Super 8 Motel in Salida. I've been staying there for almost 10 years, during summer and winter excursions. Owner Don and manager Britt go out of their way to make sure their guests have a great time. They also have great ski and stay packages that combine lodging, discounted lift tickets and equipment rental. The Salida Hot Springs pool, across the road, is always a perfect way to complete a day out in the snow. Six springs, first used by the Ute Indians, feed the odorless, crystalline water into the pool through more than 7 miles of pipeline. A zero depth entry provides easy access and combines a play area for the smaller children with comfortable areas where the older folks can enjoy a good soak Evening activities include casual and gourmet dining, an eclectic selection of live music, museums, bookstores, historic architecture, shopping and just wandering through town under star-filled skies. The ride back to Amarillo always seems to take longer. Maybe that's just my reluctance to leave the mountains in my rearview mirror, and return to the high plains of the Panhandle. The memories are mine to keep, and I have proven time and again that the peace I can find gazing from some spot near the top of the world is only six hours away. Monarch Ski Area will remain open through April 13. E-mail
comments about this story Posted: March 6, 2008
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