YOUR AD HERE »

Vail Daily letter: Great place or what?

Skip Thurnauer
Vail, CO, Colorado

Recently retired, this is our first full winter in Vail. We have been here a little over two weeks, a fantastic two weeks of snow and winter recreation. This morning at the Vista Bahn lift, I confirmed my days skied already this year, 11, more than half my total 2009-10 days. On “down days,” we’ve snow shoed and cross country skied.

Back in Chicago, our home as recent as the day before Thanksgiving, our friends are digging out of 4 inchesof snow to begin their morning commutes. In East Vail, I am sweeping about a foot of new powder off my deck. “Digging,” “sweeping,” what a difference 1,133 miles and a couple of weeks makes.

Thursday was one of those picture perfect days you dream about, fresh powder and postcard blue skies — and no lift lines! By 2, we had more than our fill of skiing. I have matured to understand that my ski ego no longer compels me to take the last lift down in the afternoon to tally a full day of skiing.



After the hot tub and an early dinner, we returned to town for the free Bud Lite Street Beat concert featuring the Emmitt Nershi Band. As I surveyed the early crowd, I couldn’t help but think we were the sole representatives of the boomer generation. Later we observed that more of our ilk, some with grandchildren on their shoulders, had populated the crowd. Bill Nershi sang about Colorado blue skies. That’s when it occurred to me that this had been another day in paradise: great snow, blue skies, a full day on the mountain, topped off by a free concert. And this is only December! There are many more paradise-like days on the horizon.

Skip Thurnauer

Support Local Journalism



Vail


Support Local Journalism