Snowmass

We've been in Snowmass for a week now.

We explored the area on the first day, checking out an indoor treehouse play area for the kids, riding the small free gondolas called skittles, biking around and swimming in the pool.  

The condo we are staying in is located right by the base village and has a pool and hot tub. The only hiking trails we know about are the trails up the ski mountain. We hiked one of them for a long hike and had lunch where the big gondola lets out, at a Elk Camp.

We then rode the chair to the top but a cold rain moved in and we didn't even get off to look around, we just went up and down. The gondolas are so expensive here but if you hike up you can ride down for free. Saturday I went for a 16 mile run on the mountain and had a very difficult and bad day. James and the kids biked down to a playground below the mountain base village and then took the free bus up.  In the afternoon we drove into Aspen and attempted a river float. This is apparently a popular thing to do and we wanted to try. Unfortunately the river was very cold and once julia fell in and was wet she could never get warm again. We were having fun but we honestly got worried julia was getting hypothermia so we abandoned the float and I hitch hiked back to get the car while James snuggled with julia to keep her warm.  Near our condo and right under the skittles is a small downhill dirt bike track.  The kids wanted to try it out.

At one point julia lost control and started straight down the hill out of control and eventually crashed in a face plant. We felt so helpless watching her. I feared the worst as we ran to get her but fortunately she just had some scrapes and bruises and nothing was broken. We've gone and watched a semi pro beach volleyball tournament, played at playgrounds and spent lots of time biking and swimming. There was a small fair one day where the kids got face paint, played instruments and went down a water slide.

Yesterday we did the biggest hike so far. The kids hiked from the bottom of the mountain to the top. With our zigzagging course I have no idea how many miles it was but it was an altitude gain of 3,200 feet. The kids walked each and every step of the way and wanted to be sure they made it without being carried.  

When we got part way up we stopped for lunch and the kids did the big climbing wall located at Elk Camp over and over again.

Then we made our summit push. It was fun because we didn't follow a trail but walked up the ski trails instead.

 The kids had fun collecting "artifacts", which was anything we found on the trails such as money, broken parts of ski poles, lip sticks, sun glasses, etc.  It was a beautiful day and and we were so proud of the kids for making it up.  

We took pictures, ate snacks, and compared our artifacts before heading down on the chair lift. Tonight is the local rodeo which we are all looking forward to.