a little bit of paradise

view from the top of mt. elbert

right now i am 7867 feet closer to heaven. that is, if heaven were actually elevated high above our heads as we tend to refer to it.

this week i am visiting my brother in the rocky range of colorado, and for me being surrounded by this magnificent beauty is about as close to heaven on earth as it gets.

as i’ve shared, i may have been born in the plains, but my heart is at home in the mountains. in fact, this is so much a part of me that my husband chose a picturesque peak to propose, knowing it would make the moment perfect for me.

all activities of the outdoor and adventurous variety are a resounding “yes” for me. i’ll gladly hike, camp, climb, raft, or participate in any other fresh air pastime three-quarters of the year.

unfortunately, the winter games are permanently closed in oklahoma, so a migration to geographically superior locales is necessary. (of course i still have a special place in my heart for my home state, it just can’t offer me what i desire when it comes to topography.)

so, enjoying a week with one of my best friends playing on the snowy slopes is my kind of vacation.

i’ve always been a skiier, and quite unwilling to surrender any of my precious ski days to try a new downhill sport, namely snowboarding. i’ve been quite content to hone my carving technique and improve my powder and mogul skills on two boards. which is not unreasonable for someone who lives 750 miles from the hill.

however, last season i was inspired to swap equipment with one of bry’s fellow boarding instructors, who happened to have a few free hours one afternoon and the same size feet as i do. she helped me get the hang of it fairly quickly, so this season i headed out there determined to give snowboarding a fair shot.

little did i know that a super-storm would blow in the day i arrived, bringing with it more than a foot of fresh powder and making it almost impossible to tear the skiis from my feet. what a dream! floating on a pristine white blanket is the most peaceful experience. (until your quads start burning )

but my resolve to board again was strong, and thankfully i had the same opportunity to switch gear and ride, this time for a full day. i’m happy to say that i may now be an ambi-rider, a bi-slider, a dual…not sure what the customary term is here, but i definitely want to continue riding as well as skiing.

i never thought i’d want to sacrifice any of my thrilling ski time for the slow process of starting from square one.  but there’s something about learning a new skill that i just love. the challenge, the gratification of each small success, the stimulation of your brain and body…it’s a high i’ll go for anytime.