April Recap
April is generally not my favorite month. The painful transition from a wintry wonderland to melting snow and muddy trails leaves much to be desired in terms of outdoor scenery and opportunities for recreation. However, I’ve made the most of it by heading north to enjoy some of the last downhill and Nordic skiing. I also flew out to Colorado to wrap up the downhill ski season with a bang. During the downtime between ski days, I’ve kicked off my mountain biking season and started trail running again as the weather improved.
My season started off with a quick trip to Boston, where I stayed in the heart of the city for a work event. It was refreshing to see the city in bloom. When it comes to outdoor adventures, spring arrived swiftly in most of New Hampshire. Whenever I had the chance for local exploration, I enjoyed hiking at Mount Monadnock and trail running in Hollis, making the most of the chilly, overcast days.
One of my favorite Nordic centers in New England remained open through the middle of the month. Waterville Nordic featured the Tripoli Road/Osceola Vista loop, which had pretty good coverage. I took the opportunity to go out with my family for a beautiful day, closing out the season.
I also took the opportunity to visit Loon Mountain and Sunday River a couple more times, enjoying some fresh late-season snowfall that made both days feel like deep winter—without the crowds. With the late-season snow, I even managed to get out to Crotched Mountain with a few friends for what I thought would be my last skin of the season. It was a bit thin; my skis needed a lot of work after just one run on two inches of snow.
Easter came and went, and I colored some eggs with food colors I scrounged around the house. I think Buddy enjoyed investigating the eggs.
As April drew to a close and the snow transformed into mud in the mountains of New England, I made a quick escape to Colorado to conclude my ski season. I don't consider myself one for arbitrary goals, such as skiing 50 days or 100,000 feet. However, I did set a soft goal of skiing over 40 days this winter, and this final week in Colorado promised not only fantastic spring runs but also the opportunity to bring my total closer to 45 days on the slopes.
I flew to Denver on a Sunday and wasted no time. After quickly retrieving my ski bag and car rental, I zoomed up to Winter Park for some fun at Mary Jane. While the snow was slushy and thin in spots, they hosted an awesome locals' party in the parking lot, featuring great music and a fun vibe, making for an enjoyable time playing in corn snow. My Airbnb in Silverthorne was possibly the best I've had in the area. Tucked away in the Wildernest area, adjacent to the National Forest, it was quiet and serene, with plenty of wildlife visiting me daily.
I spent the week working earlier hours, and by the time I wrapped up, I was still able to head over to Copper or A-Basin for a few runs before the lifts shut down. I also brought my fly fishing gear along and ended up trying my luck on the Blue River and the Arkansas River in Leadville. Honestly, I didn’t catch anything, but I enjoyed the beautiful evening scenery more than the fishing itself. Sometimes it’s the little things!
