Ski/cross-country/snowshoe Monarch/Salida Jan 13-17

In a repeat of a classic outing, let's head north over the Martin Luther King holiday weekend downhill/ crosscountry/ snowshoe around Monarch Pass. Although this might not be the greatest snow season, Monarch should offer something, and reports 24" on the ground as of Dec. 10. 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. Some of the 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 13, and stay in a house that I have reserved for four nights. We spend three full days doing winter sports, and will return on the holiday Monday, January 17, 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 $200 deposit per person to make the house deposit. The 4 bedroom house will cost $1150, and we will divide up costs in some fair way. If we fill the house we might look for a second one. These have been wonderful weekends in the past, and I expect another.