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The Winter time is full of joy. What brings extra joy to my friends, family and I is the beginning of Winter sports. Skiing and snowboarding have both been prominent sports throughout my entire life, but snowboarding has grown to become my favorite Winter pastime of all. It seems that throughout the winter the adrenal glands of humans are dormant, but cold mountain air and powder dusted cliffs are sure to awaken them.
Fortunately as New Mexicans we have a variety of mountains to choose from. Howeveronce the desert snowstorm fury calms we turn to our close neighbors to fufill our outdoor desires. My favorite spot in the entire world to snowboard in Wolf Creek Valley .
Wolf Creek Ski Valley is located in Pagosa Springs Colorado. It is a beautiful mountain valley that is groomed with all level ski runs from first time beginner to the most advance terrain. It is a valley so the runs are wide, long and seem to go on forever.
It is overwhelming at first, but the majesties of the mountain are also very therapeutic and calming. Another great aspect is that this mountain can be conquered by people of almost every level.
Haidorfer-Pitcher said, "The beginner hill has the best snow on the mountain. She said now is the perfect time to learn to ski due to the lack of crowds and wide-open availability for ski lessons. The upper mountain provides mostly intermediate to advanced terrain. There's even a rail for the freeride skiers and snowboards to jib."
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You can go on small runs with your beginner friends and in the same day, challenge yourself to hike up the backside of the mountain and ski the rugged unbeaten paths. Once you buy your entry ticket for the day, you have just officially bought a date with you and the mountain. The beauty is overwhelming, empowering and invigorating. I thrive off of these feelings.
The 5-10 minute lift ride takes you up the run to let you off only to come down the mountain in maybe thirty seconds. This rush is incredible. You feel all the compression insidelift off your shoulders slowly as you glide down the mountain. The best natural high available.
Wolf Creek has been a skiing destination for my family for as long as I can remember. I have pictures of myself and cousins as little kids in the same places we go to as young adults today. Wolf Creek is a famous destination for people all over the country. “The best mountain in the Southwest” (Chapman, Blake). claims one of our family friends Blake. Often do you find people all the way from Michigan, Illinois and other places on the east coast. I think it is so beautiful that a simple mountain can bring together to many different types of people from so many different places. It is one thing we all have in common, the love of nature, the pureness of the mountain air, and the fun and pleasure accomplishing a big mountain run brings. Not to mention, family time.
What I encourage you all to look is for the beauty in letting yourself go, whether its letting loose to your favorite tunes, or letting go of the chairlift and pushing down mountain run. Also, to get away from the mundane normalness of the everyday routine. Letting your lungs breath the crisp mountain air, I am sure makes you stronger. Spending time doing these things with the people you love around you to grow and enjoy life along side with you. It is so vital for us as humans to de-stress and let go of all the superficiality that surrounds us daily.
- http://pagosasprings.com/history-of-the-pitchers-wolf-creek-in-inc-maga
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/hem-pics/sets/72157613677589254/detail/
- http://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/13822/wolf-creek-is-third-to-open-in-colorado
- Shot by : Tasha Uilkie, 12/16/09
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