Mountain Jam!

The alarm was mighty early this morning. But when the view streaming through your window looks like this, the day will compel you.


We dressed, strapped on knee braces, stopped by the Gasser for breakfast sandwiches and coffee. We drove the three miles to the mountain, and grabbed a bench by the bonfire to eat our wares. Damned civilized.



But the mountain...the mountain called us. We got our gear from the ski valets, and headed to the Silver Queen lift. We had intended to ease in with the green runs off of the Red Lady lift, but a highly intoxicated former snowboard instructor told us the night before that we wanted to start from the very top. Who were we to argue?


This was our only trip to the top of the lift-served mountain, all day, but what a spectacular treat:





Paradise Bowl, or bust, then down, down, down. Such incredible natural beauty.

However, we discovered very quickly that even though we are virile and manly in every way, after about 1.4 runs at this altitude, we were seeking comfort and relaxation. Luckily, the sun deck at the Paradise Warming Hut was grilling meat and serving bacon-jalapeno Bloody Marys and playing Srius XM "Deep Cuts." It made for a lovely place to chill and take in the surroundings. 

A few more beautiful runs, and we found ourselves back at the base lodge to bask in the 40 degree sun and try one of those Bloody Marys.

Here's the problem: we both were essentially finished by 11:30. But, at 1:00, when we were done with lunch, we headed back out. We were, however, smart enough to realize our physical limitations, and stick to easier runs. But the mountain was crowded by this time, and the lift lines were getting unpleasantly long on the main lifts, so even though the ski gods were sending a clear message to quit for the day, we instead went in search of a lift with lesser lines. We found one, and, BONUS! It had great views of my "favorite" mountain. 

But it also meant a steep, bumpy hill with heavy, soft, choppy snow. I fell once, and though I was fine, I spent the rest of the run thinking: "I'm tired. The conditions are deteriorating, and this hill is pretty challenging, to begin with. This is how people get hurt."

Time to quit. So we did. Live to shuush another day. But our day was just getting started. We had foodie adventures afoot!

After resting at the house and my first viewing of The Pineapple Express, ahem, we headed to the Dogwood for cocktails. Mmmmm, fancy!



Then, on to the Sunflower for a special seating. During the day, The Sunflower is a nice lunch-brunch place, but on weekend nights, it is taken over by Chris and Natalie, who run a farm-to-table cooperative, they bring in a chef, and incredible food and wine.














NOM!!!

(There may or may not have been imbibing from the Parron)



Then, we finished up the evening out at the Princess wine bar, where they have an excellent assortment of bourbons, including green label Weller, thank you very much. Finally, back to the house to listen to music, and blog, etc. Another busy day ahead, after all!