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Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Posted by Sia on November 27, 2025, 7:36 am ADMIN We are headed out soon to go to our daughter's house where everyone else will be! Enjoy whatever your day brings. Big hugs!

You too. I am happy to report a mostly no conflict/drama day Posted by Trish on December 1, 2025, 8:48 am, in reply to "Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! " Admin

That's great! Posted by Sia on December 1, 2025, 8:59 am, in reply to "You too. I am happy to report a mostly no conflict/drama day" ADMIN

Hope it was nice Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on November 28, 2025, 1:46 pm, in reply to "Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! " ADMIN Read below. Glad that went well. Xmil was ill and didn't want conpany. So we stayed home and made a meal. Then facetimed with son in Pawtucket for a couple hours. Antics of the cats took center stage as they all played MASCAT racing around the houses. They live about two miles from the Massachusetts border. I suggested he start a daily running regimen across the state line and back. Should be able to do it easily in well under an hour. We can joke about that when they are able to return to Colorado, which is what they both want. He said they've been to three states now. That's like visiting three counties here. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

If he wants a real treat, he should take the Kancamagus Highway Posted by Sia on November 28, 2025, 5:00 pm, in reply to "Hope it was nice" ADMIN Through Vermont and New Hampshire in spring (for the amazing greenery & renewal or especially in the fall for leaf peeping. Take a picnic lunch and stop frequently by the roadside to take in pure running streams with largecrocks to sun on and the frequent hidden waterfalls that often feed them. Absolutely beautiful roadway. This winter, they should book a hotel/motel up in the Whites and rent snowmobiles to travel the trails. They'll need proper clothing and maps of the trails, but it is breathtaking there. Come summer, a trip to the Cape (Cod) is a must. Take a few days to explore it all the way to the top for Provincetown where they hold daily gay pride parades through the streets and thousands of pop up craft and food/drink tents appear as if by magic.

Don't forget the whale watching off of Cape Cod! Posted by Skye on November 28, 2025, 9:18 pm, in reply to "If he wants a real treat, he should take the Kancamagus Highway" Valued Poster We did that with our grandson one summer. It was awesome. We've seen whales in many other places, but that was the best for close encounters! I think the whales there actually like to people watch.

They do! But you can watch them off any part of the MA or ME coast. My Posted by Sia on November 29, 2025, 12:19 am, in reply to "Don't forget the whale watching off of Cape Cod!" ADMIN favorite was off of Newburyport ! Plus, its one of the coolest towns for one of a kind gifts and every imaginable type of professional crafting imaginable located in the downtown area. Very walkable and wonderful experience!

Thanks for the recommends Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on November 28, 2025, 9:14 pm, in reply to "If he wants a real treat, he should take the Kancamagus Highway" ADMIN His studio is struggling because of AI and she is immersed in her Alzheimer research. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

Well there are lots of places and things to do that aren't costly. Skip the snowmobiling Posted by Sia on November 29, 2025, 12:24 am, in reply to "Thanks for the recommends" ADMIN which is costly to rent everything plus lodging. So go to the Whites in summer to hike the trails and see the sights. Certainly not impressive heights, but New England is very, very different than Colorado in what you'll find, the history here, and so much to do and see that doesn't cost a whole bunch if you know where to look.

Whites low altitude betray their danger Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on November 29, 2025, 4:16 pm, in reply to "Well there are lots of places and things to do that aren't costly. Skip the snowmobiling" I respect them. Washington has killed many hikers and climbers with its weather. If you go there and aren't prepared for that... The free stuff is always better, regardless where you go. My Fifty Things pieces for Go Colorado and THe Colorado Experience series for the state chamber of commerce features those sites locally. Hanging Lake, Calhan Paint Mines, Lost Creek Wilderness, Flattops Wilderness, The Haunted Cemetery, Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, The San Luis Alligator Farm, Unaweep Canyon. Unaweep is a 2000 foot deep canyon tha cuts through the Uncompahgre Plateau. It has two streams in the bottom, one flowing east out the east entrance, and the other flowing west out the west entrance. In many miles they flow PARALLEL to each other! If you think about that a moment, you realize the improbable absurdity. The canyon has a somewhat flat and wide bottom, like a glacial cut valley. However it is not glacial cut, and it defies geological explanation for that. Medano Creek is another. Up to 400 yards across and 3" deep. S and A seek out free and less expensive things. Snowmobiles? hahahaha! We have a little experience with snow! You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

I meant to comment on the opposite flowing streams! How weird is that! Posted by Sia on November 29, 2025, 5:01 pm, in reply to "Whites low altitude betray their danger" ADMIN

Yes, of course you do! LOL. But snowmobiling can be extraordinarily dangerous if you don't know how Posted by Sia on November 29, 2025, 4:44 pm, in reply to "Whites low altitude betray their danger" ADMIN go off of groomed trails, flip machines, crash, or go too fast. Every year people die hitting trees at high speeds, go flying off of cliffs because they went off of the trails, cross highways, dress improperly, or get lost. Usually it's kids who die from mistakes driving and adults who are drunk and lose control. We own 3 snowmobiles so have lots of experience driving them. But if you have to rent them, it is quite expensive, that's why I said skip it since their budget is tight. Not because I thought they couldn't handle it.

Snowmobilers sometimes trigger avalanches and pay with their lives Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on November 29, 2025, 9:10 pm, in reply to "Yes, of course you do! LOL. But snowmobiling can be extraordinarily dangerous if you don't know how " That's one serious difference between snowmobiling here and there. Same danger goes for back country skiing. Imagine snowmobiling up Washington? Every snow storm we get leaves a layer of snow. Anywhere from six inches to several feet. Some are really unstable, and when additional accumulation builds up on top, the dry slab crust is not only dangeroudly avalanche prone, but very heavy, like blocks and slabs of concrete. When snowmobiles became popular, people would race them up a slope. But our slopes tend to be steeper and much longer with more elevation gain. Sometimes they would go into a tree-free bowl and race up slopes of the bowl, literally cutting out the slabs of the avalanche that would bury them as soon as they weakend it from below. A big slab would lurch, then suddenly the whole thing would go. Being in the trees, in the forest is no safety. A big avalanche will plow into a forest and take it with. Imagine all those churning logs, trunks, and branches grinding up! A rolling crocodile or alligator could not tear apart and dismember you any better. Your gentler, rolling hilly country would be wonderful for snowmobiling. Our here at Jackson Hole is a run called Corbet's Couloir. Every year the ski area hosts a Kings and Queens event for the most outrageous entrance and descent line of Corbets. That can range anywhere from a ten to thirty foot drop, onto a 55 degree angle slope. If you fall, you wil slide all the way down the couloir totally out of control, leaving a yard sale as your poles, skis, and sometimes clothing is ripped off by friction of the snow. Answer to your question. Yes, I did this. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

That's insane. Posted by Skye on November 30, 2025, 12:03 am, in reply to "Snowmobilers sometimes trigger avalanches and pay with their lives" Valued Poster You did Corbet's?

You're surprised? He was an amazing at skiing. doing dance gymnastics stuff on slopes Posted by Sia on November 30, 2025, 12:13 am, in reply to "That's insane." ADMIN

Very different Posted by Skye on November 30, 2025, 1:31 am, in reply to "You're surprised? He was an amazing at skiing. doing dance gymnastics stuff on slopes" Valued Poster I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, since I know he has done some extreme and dangerous mountain climbing... however, he had to be in complete control and very careful in that type of climbing. Going off this type of slope just doing crazy stunts and aerials is just, well... insane! I'd guess you'd have to be young and crazy, so maybe he did it when he was quite a bit younger!

Skates to skis Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on November 30, 2025, 11:37 am, in reply to "Very different" ADMIN My HS sport was figure skating, or rather artistic skatimg. I had to do patch- the 8 figures, but I learned all kinds of footwork, spins and jumps, up to successfully landing double axel, triple salchow and toe loop. In the early 70's, in my 20's I switched to skiing and was a developer of ballet skiing- application of artistic skating to skiing. We used short skis and long poles. It did not become an Olympic event, and is pretty much dead. Name changed to accroski for a while. I was an all around freestyler, doing ballet, mogula and aerials. I skied Corbets quite a few times. My favorite run at Jackson Hole. This is from 8mm and VHS 8mm as an older fellow, and back in my prime, ballet and moguls. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

Awesome Posted by Skye on November 30, 2025, 11:57 am, in reply to "Skates to skis" Valued Poster We lived in Texas when our kids were young, and we got them into roller skating... since you don't have much ice in Texas. But they did the jumps, spins and dance on roller skates, many of the same things you see the ice skaters do. Our oldest daughter got many trophies. She was a natural. I'm curious though... how many people have been hurt on that Corbet's run? Seems like you could easily run into a wall or fall on a boulder??

You can't ski from the lift to Corbets Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on November 30, 2025, 5:05 pm, in reply to "Awesome" Without some sidestepping up above the lift shack. When you get off the lift, you have to immediately stop, then side step up behind the the operator's control shack, then traverse along the top of the ridge, occassionally sidestepping or skate stepping into a higher track, until you reach a narrow trail and traverse that to the edge of the cliff system Corbet's cuts through. You have to know exactly where it is. That prevents people from entering it by accident. The initial plunge stops most people. It is vertical anywhere from ten feet to ten meters, and the cliff many Kings and Queens contenders jump from is 30 meters- about 90 feet. The landing is about 55 degrees and remains that angle for the next 300 vertical feet, before it joins another run under the lift and flattens out to a blue square. If you fall, it's unlikely you'll hit and rocks. You plunge into the bottom of the couloir and slide down under the lift onto the flatter run. I never had that experience. Never fell in it. My initial aerials were limited to gelandy, back scrarcber, and a couple times did helicopter. Never flipt there. Too much could go wrong and you can't rely on timing if you undercorrect or overcorrect. During Kings and Queens the area grooms and softens the landing area snow. Reduces risk of injury and out of control fall from there down. But the softer snow makes your landing stick a little, and many people fall there from that. A harder run imo is Al's Run at Taos. It is a 2,800 foot unbroken steep drop of black and double black diamond deep tight moguls, with two chairlifts, one on each side. Riding are members of the PSIA Demonstration team, and you know they're critiquing you. I could never ski that whole thing without taking a couple breaks. I was always aware of where I was when doing ballet on a green slope, to not frighten or intimidate beginners. I needed to practice, and chose out of the way parts of the slope. At Taos when I did ballet, I occasionally heard disparagement from a lift where people could see me. On mogul runs, I made sure the run was clear before taking off. That's also part of your prep, as you study a fall line you intend to ski. Same reason as above- don't want to frighten, threaten, or intimidate somebody struggling to ski moguls. Never was disparaged skiing moguls, even though ballet skiing is much harder. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

I can't remember where it was... Posted by Skye on November 30, 2025, 7:50 pm, in reply to "You can't ski from the lift to Corbets" Valued Poster but I remember being on a chair lift and passing by a spot called "Lovers Leap" I think it was... Anyway, it looked like a sheer drop off or canyon from where I was, and I could see the skiers just dropping out of sight. Crazy... lol Too bad they didn't make the ski ballet an Olympic sport. THAT is very cool to watch.

Imo the IOC pooed the scrootch by dropping ballet Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on December 1, 2025, 1:10 am, in reply to "I can't remember where it was..." It was thw most difficult and demanding of the three freestyle disciplines A gymnast, Frank Bare entered aerials and is responsible for introducing the twisting flips. The moebius was a back or front flip in layout combined with a helicopter. Somewhere the name changed to a Rudy. For Bare, who was called Air Bare, the SHOWLPLOA stop was the hardest part of his aerial. He could barely ski! Aerial were the only event he did. The X Games was responsible for slopestyle and halfpipe events. I never did those. I can't see ruining a pair of skis on a handrail. Halfpipe is more interesting. Halfpipe developed from a few ski areas that had pistes= natural half pipes across which you could ski and get air from side to side. Nothing like the skiers now. Snow boards changed things again. Freestyle was always rebellious. Lover's Leap is at Vail. It looks hard, but its bark is louder than its bite. You go over that crest, and it's kind of a disappointment. There is an occasional rock or small cliff. Killer name. For a long time Mach I at Breckenridge was the ultimate test piece. Very steep, deep, tight moguls that tore apart all but the very best mogul skiers. Vail hosted the very first "freestyle" competition, which was called Hot Dogging, and featured on Wide World of Sports. It was a mix of experienced and inexperienced skiers attempting to ski a mogul field. There were spectacular wipe outs by the inexperienced dude. The experienced skiers did really lame tricks like wheelies, jet turns, royal christies, outriggers, and worms. The Hot Dog was more of a drunken brawl than a competition. Anything went. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

I'm not a skier, so didnt know how to describe what he used to do. Posted by Sia on November 30, 2025, 2:29 am, in reply to "Very different" ADMIN They were air flips and stunts. He shared videos of his stuff a few years back and you're right, he was pretty young then.

We always snowmobiles up Mt. Washington. It’s gorgeous up there! Posted by Sia on November 29, 2025, 10:32 pm, in reply to "Snowmobilers sometimes trigger avalanches and pay with their lives" Not straight up of course. The trails wind around gaining altitude safely.

And to you, Sia! Posted by greenman on November 27, 2025, 3:55 pm, in reply to "Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! " Valued Poster Had a nice dinner with my ex and her mom (how many people could type that sentence seriously?) at the very nice assisted living place her mom is at. First-rate meal. RESIST!

One of my sisters had dinner with her own husband and her ex and his new wife Posted by Sia on November 27, 2025, 10:23 pm, in reply to "And to you, Sia!" along with a mishmash of their individual kids for several years so that their kids didnt have to choose one parent over the other. They got along well and kept it up long after the kids were grown. Now both are widowed and they still have dinner together with the same group of kids. But, I get your point. Another sister as well as my brother would have chewed off their own arms rather than be in the same zip code of their exes.

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