Ski/cross-country/snowshoe Monarch/Salida Jan 11-15

Although the snow is very sparse around Los Alamos, hope springs eternal, and I trust that southern Colorado will have reasonable snow cover by mid-January. I propose to head north to take advantage of that snow. Even now, there is something there (19” base at Monarch Ski Area) vs. what you can see in the hills around Los Alamos.  As we have done in past years, we will head for Salida to establish a base in a comfortable house or cabin, and spend our days in winter sports in the Monarch Pass area. Any of the 3 top Pajarito season passes offer three free days at Monarch, and otherwise tickets are relatively inexpensive online. Monarch is a high Continental Divide ski area with wonderful views, and is skiing of the old fashioned kind, without the glitz and expense one finds farther north in Colorado. There are several snowshoe/XC options; a classic is the old Monarch Pass trail. Salida is an interesting town with some nice restaurants. There are even hiking options along the Arkansas River if we have a warm day.

We will drive up in the afternoon on Thursday, January 11, and stay in a rented house for four nights. We spend three full days doing winter sports, and will return on Monday the 15th, perhaps squeezing in a morning outing of some sort. Please let me know at bill@priedhorsky.net if you are interested. I would appreciate a $100 deposit to help me make the house deposit. In the past the per person cost has been in the $150-200 range for the weekend, depending on the house and how we fill it. These have been wonderful weekends in the past, and I expect another.