My Big Fat Drive to Colorado and back.

[jasonwx]

dude thanks for the report..nice trip

 

[Low Angle Life]

After Taos, drive north to visit another National Park before Aspen. Great Sand Dunes NP, which is like a giant beach right next to the San Christo mountains as they drop to a high plain. Took a lot of pics on my real camera, which await editing, but here's one from my phone. Does not do the dunes justice, a few are 800 feet high. You can rent a board to slide down them. The guy second from right is carrying one. I did not.

Ever since learning of the San Luis Valley and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains I've felt this immense urge to get out that way and explore. Such a weird mix of different eco-systems, people and folk lore. Great trip!

 

[Campgottagopee]

Great trip and report, Benny. Thanks for talking the time to share.
What an adventure. Driving across the country is a bucket list item, for sure, for me.

 

[Brownski]

Cool TR, Benny. That’s a lot of driving for sure

 

[Benny Profane]

Well, try to do the "southern" route instead of I70 or I80. Drive down thru the Shenandoah valley , which is pretty, and hook up to I40 right around Tennessee. I actually got turned on to that route here, in this forum, by somebody I dont see around too much anymore, forgot his handle. You get your choice of Nashville and or Memphis, both fun places to visit, and from Memphis you aren't too far from New Orleans. Then it gets meh until New Mexico, but it's a lot better than the dismal western Pa./Ohio/Illinois/Missouri route.
More time, but better sites.

 

[JTG]

Great trip report. Glad you scored some fresh snow in CO. We’ve done the NY to FL drive a couple times. Blech! I couldn’t spend as time in the car as you did, but it’s cool to see different stuff!

Did you venture over to the Steep Gullies (opened about the same time as Beavers I think) at A Basin? I love that place. Why no hiking on the East Wall? Boo!!! (just kidding)

 

[Benny Profane]

I've always been convinced that some do those hikes more for the hike than the skiing. If you look real close at that wide shot of the East Wall, there's a staircase going straight up the wall a little right of picture center. For all that effort, you only get maybe eight turns. But it's pretty awesome exercise.

Btw, one of the cool things about the Beavers chair is the view of the North Pole ridge with the hikers on it. You cant see that from Lanawee (which is going to be a six pack next year. I still dont get that.) You also get a great view of Breck in the other direction. That's a high chair.

 

[Harvey]

Benny this is awesome.

Just read it, such a fun story Benny, thanks for posting.

 

[Tjf1967]

Nice work Benny. Thanks, I enjoyed the read.

 

[x10003q]

Excellent trip report - thanks for the posts and photos