better than great
January 23, 2012 Despite the drive that had me glued to the edge of my seat, acting as if I could help the husband see the road more clearly, today was better than great. It was better than Christmas morning. It was better than the first night of Hanukkah.
It was a powder day.
For the first two hours this morning, this is what the road looked like. Thankfully, there was a pickup truck somewhere in front of us that helped carve the way.
Were we even on a road? It really didn’t seem like it. I wasn’t nervous at all…
The roads weren’t icy though, just a bit snow packed.
Finally. After what seemed like forever, the sun worked it’s way up.
Being able to see the surrounding area, made me feel much better.
After making it up over Rabbit Ears Pass, Steamboat was just in the distance.
The morning drive in took 4 hours, and by 8:45 we were heading to the top.
Snow fell for most of the morning, but we stayed surprisingly warm. Except for a few white-out, snow-blowing-everywhere moments, at the top of the mountain. Like needles in the face!
We made our way down, run after run, floating through the powdery snow. Big dopey grins, smeared across our faces.
Winter has taken awhile to show its face this year, which may have made this day even better.
Husband spotting in the corner! I kind of like that guy.
The sun finally broke, and soon after, we were ready for the trek home.
Our legs feeling like jello.
And a little red in the face.
Lunch was unpacked + devoured. I had our coffees, breakfasts, lunches, mountain snacks, multiple waters, and dinners [in case we were held up] all ready to go. Cheaper, more delicious, and a time saver on long mountain days.
I made my Creamy Smoked Kale Salad, which I highly recommend trying. Dressing was in a separate container, to prevent sogginess.
Farm fresh egg salad was prepped the night before and then smashed between slices of bread. We love our eggs in this house!
As I rummaged around the multiple bags of food, trying to remember what was packed, I felt like I struck gold when this was found!
How could I have forgotten??
What I won’t forget, is to fill you in on the details of this doughnut sometime this week. Get ready.
The drive home was just under 4 hours, with gorgeous views in every direction.
The long drive was totally worth it. Easy for me to say though, I wasn’t driving! Although, I will note that I only slept for 25min on the way home.
As soon as we got in, we collapsed on the couch. Okay, we put everything away first, because who wants to stare it down all night?
A gourmet dinner was soon devoured.
For that guy I like…mac n’ cheese + tuna melts + sauteed spinach
For me?
GF mac n’ cheese with spinach mixed in. The nice thing about having to make 2 separate boxes of mac n’ cheese, is that I get to chow down on the entire box myself, all in one sitting.
Snowboarding through powder all day long, will do a number to your appetite! Doughnut eating, immediately followed.
And now to face plant into bed.
Loved this, better than great, day.
Ashley
Reader Comments (54)
looks like you had an amazing weekend (donut included...I won't let the details of that bad boy slip your mind...looks fantastic!)
I am glad you were handsomely rewarded for making such a long journey! That must have been so much fun! I am anxiously waiting to hear about that doughnut...
Cool pictures! And I have to say that you're much braver than I am. I lived in Utah for 10 years and never once went skiing. Probably something to do with the fact that I'm from the South where we don't really have skiing. But still!
:)
Yowzers - those roads are scary! That looks like what I drove through on the way home on Friday when we got slammed with snow. Glad you got through the day safely!
Glad you enjoyed an awesome time on the mountain! Have a great week!
jealous of your awesome day on the slopes! :) it looks/sounds amazing.
This post just made me so excited for my trip to Snowmass in Feb! That drive would have had me sweating bullets though.
great pics! Glad you had such a great time :)
Yay!!! Better than great days are so exciting. I feel like they're kind of rare, which seems kind of sad, but I guess that's what makes them special... And better than great! :)
p.s. I feel like they usually involve picnics. Magic ingredient?
I always have that same goofy grin plastered on my face while I'm skiing down the mountain, usually singing to myself out loud. For some reason I think it helps me stay concentrated haha. This looks like a gorgeous day, I'm so jealous of your west coast skiing!!
Oh my that doughnut looks incredible! Glad you had a good trip! I'll be skiing out west soon too - can't wait!
I heard you got an awesome dump, so jealous!
Wow that looks like it was a very long and satisfying day of funness(?),,,so worth it! Haven't done down hill in yrs,,,but really considering x country again(we have an awesome track just outside of our town.
And I agree that doughnut pic looks very promising,,,can't wait.
1 box definitely equals 1 serving. Love the idea of adding spinach--what a great way to healthify an occasional boxed mac n cheese treat!
That's a lot of driving in one day but it looks worth it! So does that mac n cheese :)
Ahh powder--I'm jealous!
Steamboat is where I learned how to ski but I have yet to return back after that first year!
Also, I ALWAYS pack my food for the mountain. I can't stand the prices and the east coast mountain food is quite terrible tasting!
WOAH. We were on the same mountain yesterday! This blows my mind. The skiing was amazing. My dad lives in Steamboat so I'm here for the month. We took our butts up to the very windy storm peak and found some LOVELY soft stuff, hope you come back to my home away from home!
Reading this and looking at the pictures makes me SO sad that we don't live there anymore!! Miss skiing.
So jealous you live in Colorado! My boyfriend and I took a vacation out there around New Years and skied at Copper Mountain! It was awesome & I completely fell in love with the state! Living in Columbus, OH (from Cleveland, like you!) but so ready for something new!
NOTHING beats a good powder day. Except maybe when you don't have to drive to the mountain and you get to eat a doughnut.
Glad you had a good day!
uh-mazing.
I never liked kale salad much because I couldn't find recipes that didn't have tahini dressings (not a huge tahini fan). Yours made me a believer. I love them now. I had one for lunch today with your smoked paprika dressing, some leftover tofu and half a cubed sweet potato. Best. Lunch. EVER!!!!!
I know the ski enjoyment totally makes it all worthwhile, but I'm curious as to how many hours you actually spent on the slopes considering you had to spend 8 hours in the car?
Looks like you had a great day filled with fun and good food....we love our eggs in this house too lol! I make gf 'wraps' out of them for burritos. I'm looking forward to that donut recipe. Hope you have a great start to the week!!!
Can't wait to hear about that donut! Sounds like a great day :)
This day definately looks better than great :) Glad you had fun!
I wish I lived near snowboard country-how stunning! Have you heard of these fitness classes that mimic the motion of boarding? Thoughts?
Looks like you had a great day of skiing, and great food too! That donut looks incredible - I can't wait to hear about it!
You have great pictures and recipes consistently, but you also consistently use commas incorrectly. It's frustrating and I think if you would research the correct way to use them, more people would read your blog and enjoy it more!
Thanks Emily! Definitely something I need to work on. I appreciate you pointing it out.
FUN!! We went snowboarding over Christmas break and I busted my butt about 100 times. A few times so hard, I jammed my tailbone really badly and couldn't walk or sit for a few weeks. Ouch!
WOW - took us 4 hours each way from Boulder to Vail yesterday. Can't believe we could have made it to Steamboat in the same amount of time! Crazy.
I want the husbands dinner! Looks like a great one after a long day of shredding powdah ;)
Also, your donut looks like the equivalent of a gourmet donut shop like Voodoo in Portland. Well done!
Aw, thanks Casey!!
WOwow, that is intense!!! Hope you had fun!
I took a really hard fall riiiiight before we left coming down a catwalk to the base of the mountain. It was a straight up sheet of ice. I was so pissed!! haha
No, I haven't. That sounds super interesting though!
Ooooh and egg-urito!! haha
We were on the slopes for 5hrs and yes, 100% worth it!!
Tofu would be a great addition and sweet tater...yummmm
Loved seeing your ski photos too!!
That's awesome you got to vacay here. The snow has been really slow to come in this year but hopefully you will had a good time!! Yay for Ohio! :)
That is hilarious!! I wonder if we passed each other?? Hard to spot people with all their gear on! :) Hope you had a fabulous day of skiing [or boarding]!
Totally!! Really hard to find veggie + GF options too!
I"m spinach obsessed! So delicious with cheese sauce. :)
We just got snowshoes and I can't wait to try them out!
Yes!!! Finalllyyyy!! You lucked out the week you came though!
Have fun!! Hope you see some good snow!
I think you may be right! :)