Summer Skiing at A-Basin

Roc, Isabel and Stella hit the slopes at A-Basin today -- on July 1st.  Crazy, yes?  I love Colorado.

The day began not so well as Stella was still recovering from our hike up Quandary the previous day, so we basically dragged her out of the house and she cried/complained/whined for a good portion of the 20 minute drive from my parents' house to the Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin) ski area.  If you like to ski and have never been to A-Basin, it's really worth adding to the to-do list.  Not far from the large, commercial resort area of Keystone, A-Basin is like stepping into the past -- in a good way.  The "lodge" is small and smells a little; the food selections are basic; the "village" is....well, there is none.  There are also no Beginner slopes, so skiing at A-Basin is a little more like skiing in Europe where they don't slow down the lift for every new skiier trying to hop on....you either get on or get out.  Which is refreshing, in its own way.

Anyway, by the time we arrived Stella had decided that she wanted to participate in this adventure after all and, overhearing Roc and I discussing whether HE should take her or I should take her (neither of us really relishing the idea of the tired and whining menace) she commented slyly from the backseat, "It seems like nobody really wants to be with me today," which made all of us laugh, and the mood instantly lifted.

We got them suited up (the power was out -- soooo A-Basin), and although there were no lights in any of the base buildings we managed to rent snow pants ($10 each - brilliant idea for summer skiing!) and bought some gloves and socks (the kids were dressed in shorts and flip-flops); and off they went.  Lola wasn't interested in skiing, despite our best cajoling, so she and I headed off to the Dillon Farmer's Market while Roc took the other two up the mountain for a spectacular day.  Best part was apparently the pond-skimming, during which skiers whisk down the slopes and then skim across an alpine lake (hopefully not sinking in the process).  This was something new to us, so from what I can tell, standing by the pond and watching who made it -- and more interestingly -- who didn't, was great fun.

Lola and I picked them up at 3:00 and we headed back to the Frisco Marina for kayaking in the warm afternoon light.  A perfect day.  Lucky girls.  Lucky parents.