2026 Spring break at Crested Butte

 

⛷️ Ski Lesson Notes (Instructor: Stephen Hill)

Key Techniques

• Stay in control — avoid skiing out of control, especially in variable spring conditions.
• Weight distribution — aim for about 90% of your weight on the downhill ski.
• Finish your turns — don’t rush; fully complete each turn before starting the next.
• Pole plant technique — actively punch your pole plant hands forward to keep rhythm and balance.

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🧩 Drills to Practice

• Balance drills
  • Skiing on one foot:
    • One run turning on the downhill ski
    • One run turning on the uphill ski
• Single-ski turns
  • Practice left and right turns on the same ski
• Hop turns
  • Great for control and quick direction changes on steeper terrain

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💡 Lesson Tip

A full-day lesson is usually only slightly more expensive than a half-day.
A good strategy:

• Book a morning half-day
• If you like the instructor/group, add the afternoon session

Trip Diary

We left right after school on Friday, the kind of departure that feels equal parts rushed and exciting—bags packed, energy high, and the long drive ahead of us. By the time we reached Wichita Falls, we had our hearts set on Willie’s Place, only to find it closed with a casual “gone fishing” excuse. Not exactly what we hoped for, but it somehow added to the road trip story. We settled for McDonald’s and kept going, finally arriving in Amarillo late that night. The Hyatt felt like a familiar checkpoint—nothing fancy, just reliable and welcome after hours on the road.

The next morning started early but unhurried. There’s something about road trips that makes even simple routines feel different. We got back on the road, stopping in Gunnison to stock up at City Market, then pushed on toward the mountains. Lunch was at a small Indian food truck in Raton—surprisingly authentic and comforting, though not exactly road-trip friendly. We ended up eating at a motel picnic table instead of in the car, which felt slightly inconvenient in the moment but oddly memorable in hindsight.

By the time we reached Crested Butte and checked into our condo, the day had stretched long behind us. The place—Cottonwood in Paradise Condominiums—immediately won us over with its location. Everything felt close, walkable, easy. Later, soaking in the outdoor hot tub while looking out at the Elk Mountains, it felt like we had arrived exactly where we needed to be.

The week unfolded in that slow, shifting rhythm that ski trips tend to have. The first day on the mountain was colder than expected, a reminder that spring skiing still has a bit of winter left in it. Some of the terrain near where we stayed was thin on snow, but we managed—picking our way through crusty patches and appreciating what coverage we had.

Tuesday evening brought one of those moments that quietly becomes the highlight of a trip. We went out for a sunset walk, not expecting much, and ended up with the most incredible light of the entire week. The sky stretched endlessly, and everything seemed to pause just long enough for us to take it in. That same afternoon, Isha’s family arrived. Our schedules didn’t overlap much because of ski lessons, but knowing they were there added a sense of shared experience.

By Wednesday, the warmth had fully settled in. The snow softened quickly—firm in the morning, slushy by afternoon—and the day naturally split itself into activity and rest. Will and Jackson took a break later in the day, playing catch in town like it was summer instead of ski season. They came back with Secret Stash Pizza, and we all gathered with Deepti and Shweta’s family for an easy, relaxed dinner. Earlier, I had walked with Shweta all the way to Snodgrass Trail and back. The air was just right—not too cold, not too warm—the kind of day where you forget about time.

Thursday felt like it asked for a pause, so I took it. A full day off from skiing, just reading and relaxing at the condo. Later, I met Deepti for lunch at The Hideout, followed by a quiet walk through town. Crested Butte has that small-town calm that makes even doing very little feel full.

As the week went on, one downside became harder to ignore—the noise. The walls in the condo were thinner than we expected, and with spring breakers around, quiet nights were not guaranteed. By the last couple of days, it was noticeable enough that I mentioned it to the property manager. His response made sense: older buildings, younger crowds, and the timing of spring break all coming together. Still, it gave us something to think about for next time—maybe a quieter spot, maybe a different part of town.

And then, just like that, it was time to leave. We headed out early at 7:15 in the morning, the mountains fading behind us as the long drive home began. By the time we pulled in at 9:21 that night, the trip already felt like it had settled into memory—full of small moments, a few imperfections, and a lot to hold onto.

2025 Christmas Ski in Crested Butte

 For the third winter in a row, we returned to Crested Butte for Christmas skiing. We hit the road Friday afternoon right after school, leaving at 3:30 p.m., and spent the night at the Hyatt in Amarillo. Along the way, we tried a new Greek restaurant, Hibiscus Café, in Wichita Falls. The wait was a bit long—even with an advance order—but the food was good.

After another full day of driving, with stops at Hive in Trinidad and City Market in Gunnison, we finally arrived at our condo around 7 p.m. We stayed in the Columbine Condominiums, a true ski-in/ski-out setup perched above the Red Lady Lift, with a direct view of the lift from our balcony. I had been looking forward to this ideal ski accommodation for a long time, and it did not disappoint.

Our condo had a skylight above Norah’s bed. On clear nights, we lay beneath it, gazing up at the stars. Norah saw her very first shooting star. We also squeezed in a relaxing evening in the hot tub.

During our stay, the snow on the mountain slowly retreated. Locals said it was the worst snow condition in the past 40 years. With limited runs open, we adjusted our expectations and focused on skill-building instead. I worked on carving turns, while Will practiced skiing backward.

For five overlapping days with the Vehiccione family, we skied and sledded together. The kids came up with endless ideas for dramatic wipeouts on the local sledding hill, filling the air with laughter. We also shared a dinner at Bonez, a Mexican restaurant, one evening.

The forecast promised snow on Christmas, but it arrived as a mix of rain and snow instead. We decided to take a break from skiing and hike the Cement Creek Trail. After Norah complained about how easy it was, we switched to the Caves Trail. The hike was treacherous, with slick ice and steep terrain leading up to the rock formations. We returned muddy, our ski gear thoroughly baptized by the trail.

On Saturday night, December 27, we were finally rewarded with eight inches of snow. Sunday morning delivered a joyful first hour of fresh powder skiing.

Monday morning, we woke up at 6 a.m., left the condo by 7, and arrived home at 9 p.m.—tired, happy, and carrying another beautiful ski memory to add to our books.

Hiking in Sedona December 2025

This was a long-anticipated trip, one we began planning back in August. Six women in our forties—who met at TI in our twenties and are all still working there—finally made it happen. With kids and toddlers, business travel, and Deep Dives, it felt almost miraculous that we could align our schedules. Given the many layers of commitments in our lives, the first weekend of December was the only one that worked.

Sedona and Joshua Tree are often recommended for cold-weather hiking, and we chose Sedona for its convenience and abundance of lodging options.

Five of us flew from DFW to Phoenix on Friday morning, while one arrived from Houston later that night. The two-hour drive flew by as we listened to each other’s favorite songs and caught up. I chose our house for its proximity to the trails, and it turned out to be perfect—right at the start of the Teacup Trail, with four bedrooms, a jacuzzi, and an outdoor fire pit.

That afternoon, we jumped straight onto the Doe Mountain Trail to catch the sunset. The hike was steeper than some of us expected, and the rocks were a bit slick in regular shoes. Still, we all made it to the top, and the sunset was spectacular. The evening ended with the jacuzzi and a sky full of stars.

Saturday began with a lovely breakfast at Casa Sedona Restaurant, followed by a hike to Devil’s Bridge. Priya and Rajani lined up for their turn on the bridge before we continued on to Boynton Trail in search of the energy vortex. Six women and one young boy sat together for an outdoor meditation. Later, we drove to Airport Mesa for sunset. Sandy, Wenjia, Rajani, and I hiked down to the base of the mesa for a few extra steps. 🙂

The viewpoint was buzzing—bands playing, incense burning, and a sea of people pausing in awe of the expansive view. The sun brushed the mesas in deep reds before slowly fading, and we stayed until twilight.

Dinner was at Angel Kitchen, a Japanese eatery. The food was good, though the prices were steep. We ended the night with a long fireside chat that stretched late into the evening.

On Sunday morning, we headed out early for a final hike on the Teacup Trail. Priya, Rajani, and I even squeezed in a group psychic reading. Reluctantly, we said goodbye to Sedona and drove back to Phoenix, already missing the magic of the weekend.

2025 Thanksgiving at Broken Bow

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with the whole family. We laughed and swam, cooked and carved, rode one-wheels and hiked. It was a nonstop, joy-filled holiday spent with the people we love.

 

2025 Labor Day at Broken Bow

Uncle Dave and Aunt Julie invited us for a wonderful long weekend on the lake, and we had three days of nonstop fun. Best of all, we all learned to stand up on a wake surfboard! On the first day, we also had two wave-runners, which the kids absolutely loved driving. Beavers Bend Lake’s stony bottom gives it clear waters and plenty of jumping cliffs, and the kids had a blast leaping from different heights. Our lake house was big and luxurious, and evenings by the fire with s’mores made it even more special. We loved every moment of our lake time with cousins!

2025 summer Crested Butte - Montrose - Lake City

Saturday Aug 9 – The Rough Start

We hit the road around 8 a.m., aiming for Trinidad, with La Quinta booked for the night. Things went smoothly until after Amarillo—then the engine started overheating. Not ideal when you’re staring down hours of highway. We limped into Trinidad and straight to an auto shop, worried about what the rest of the drive might bring.

La Quinta didn’t help the mood. The room smelled off and looked tired. At least dinner redeemed the day: Sunset Bar & Grill, an Indian fusion spot, was surprisingly good.

Sunday Aug 10 – Waterfalls & Sand Dunes

Another 8 a.m. start. First stop: Alamosa, to pick up something Grandpa left at the RV park. Then a short detour to Zapata Falls. The trail was just half a mile each way—perfect for kids—and ended at a waterfall tucked inside a box canyon. We waded the creek, got our feet chilled, and loved it.

Ten minutes later: Great Sand Dunes National Park. We rented a board and a sled, full of excitement. Hiking in sand, though? Way tougher than it looks. Add wind whipping sand into our skin (ouch!) and sun baking the dunes, and suddenly it felt like survival training.

The board flew; the sled, not so much—it just got stuck. Lesson learned: rent two boards next time, and be ready to wax them constantly. Still, sand dunes next to a waterfall? Unreal.

The car almost gave us a heart attack—temperature flirting with 270°F—but we made it. After a few hours we reached Crested Butte. Our place, across a little walking bridge, was old but cozy. We cooked dinner, then took a long evening walk to scout spots for December. Later that night, I went ahead and reserved a place in town on Airbnb.

Monday Aug 11 – Legendary Rafting & Mountain Tennis

Morning adventure: rafting the upper Taylor River with Three Rivers Rafting. It ended up being just the four of us plus a guide—Veto, a legend in the valley. He’s been rafting here 45 years, started guiding on this very river, and at 68 might soon retire. The water was fast, fun, and full of stories. We spotted a brown bear, birds, billion-year-old granite cliffs, and even let the kids “ride the bull” at one of the rapids. Pure magic.

Lunch was at Three Rivers Resort—just as I remembered, their smoke chicken was quite tasty.

Afternoon: family card games, then tennis at the prettiest courts I’ve ever seen—pristine, ringed by mountain views, with a wedding happening just uphill at City Hall. The kids ran off to the playground while we played.

After dinner, we hiked Snodgrass Trail. The loop rewarded us with a herd of gorgeous horses and a fox trotting by with prey in its mouth. Norah was enchanted by the horses—so much so that horseback riding might be on the agenda soon.

Tuesday Aug 12 – The Epic Hike

We tackled a monster hike: eight miles, climbing nearly 2,000 feet. Getting there required a rough Jeep road, two miles of bumping and jolting just to reach the trailhead. From there, we hiked the Daisy Pass loop, about 6.7 miles. The views were spectacular—sweeping valleys and ridgelines—though shade was scarce. We suspect miners cleared out the trees long ago. Along the way, we found wild raspberries, which Norah later turned into jam for sandwiches—delicious! Lunch was beside a rushing creek, gorgeous but with zero shade.

Norah battled altitude sickness, so she and Mom stopped short while Dad and Jackson pushed on to the top of Cascade Mountain, just 200 feet higher but looking scary steep. Along the way, we passed a snow cave and even two old mine shafts. At one cave, four miles up, we stopped to rest and shout into the echoing darkness, wishing we knew how to yodel. Exhausting, but unforgettable.

Wednesday Aug 13 – Horses & Bikes

We split up for the day. Mom and Norah went horseback riding at Fantasy Ranch, with their guide Josie. Norah’s horse was Windsor, while Mom’s was Chubbs. They meandered peacefully through the Snowgrass valley. Fantasy Ranch owns 400 acres, and it felt like riding through a private kingdom.

Meanwhile, Dad and Jackson braved downhill mountain biking at the CB resort. Both were a little intimidated by the steep descents, but they came out grinning.

We reunited for lunch at Thai Smile (a rafting-guide recommendation—spot on). In the afternoon, we hiked the Three Lakes Loop: Lost Lake Slough, Lost Lake, and Dollar Lake. At Lost Lake we played with some dogs and chatted with fellow Dallas travelers.

Thursday Aug 14 – Boulders & Big Skies

Before leaving town, we squeezed in one more adventure. We hiked 1.5 miles along the Upper Loop Trail to reach Skyland Boulders, a rock field perfect for climbing. The kids scrambled over giant rocks like it was nature’s jungle gym, while we picnicked on sandwiches with our homemade raspberry jam.

Afterward, we drove two hours to Montrose to meet the grandparents and drop off the kids. Dinner was at a BBQ joint right by their campground, then onward to Lake City.

We checked into the Alpine Moose Lodge—a tiny, eight-room family place at the edge of town. That night, stepping outside before bed, we were stunned by the Milky Way. Millions of stars lit the sky—more than we’d seen in years.

Friday Aug 15 – Cataract Lake & Moose Encounters

We thought Cataract Lake Trail was eight miles… but it turned out to be eleven. Five hours of hiking took us through shady forest and sunny meadows before finally reaching the alpine lake. Other hikers pointed out three moose across the lake. On the way to Lake San Cristobal, we spotted another one—our moose luck was strong.

After the hike, we drove the Colorado 30 loop toward American Basin but turned back at a crossroads due to car worries. Dinner at Southern Vittles was good with hearty, family-style food.

Evening brought wildlife magic: at Deer Lake, we saw two cow moose in the pond. As we drove out in heavy rain, a bull moose splashed and played right in front of us.

Saturday Aug 16 – The Grand Finale

Our last hike: Wetterhorn Basin. Remote, quiet, and wild. We saw no one the entire time. The first stretch required bushwhacking, and the trail was faint, but with Will’s hiking app we stayed on course. The payoff: a breathtaking basin surrounded by towering peaks. Easily the best hike of the trip.

Afterward, we drove straight toward Raton, New Mexico. Along the way we stopped in Creede, Colorado, to explore the quirky town and eat at Kip’s Grill (Tex-Mex, tasty). At the edge of town, the box canyon cliffs made for a dramatic backdrop.

We reached Heart’s Desire Bed & Breakfast around 8:30 p.m.—an 1816-era building filled with antiques and character. The climb there pushed our car hard, but it survived. Breakfast the next morning was homemade by the owners, a couple who bought the place after their kids grew up. It had been run by a woman named Barbara for 25 years before they took over. The food (and the story) made the stay special.

Then came the long drive home on Sunday —10 hours, one bathroom break, no kids in the car. We rolled into the driveway at 6:45 p.m., tired but glowing from a week of adventure.