While I was in Amarillo, TX visiting family and friends some of my High school buddies invited me to go skiing with them in Angel Fire and Taos, New Mexico. We all began at Danny’s house Sunday afternoon and figured out how to cram 5 grown guys, all of our luggage, skis and snowboards into a small SUV!

It was about a 4-5 hour drive that we broke up with more stops than my family with 4 kids would need in a 12 hour drive! We did stop in Santa Fe to do some shopping for ski gear.

Finally we got to the hotel and got out of that cramped car. With not quite a good night’s sleep we got up to make the 45 minute drive to Taos the first day. All of my pics are from here because the camera wouldn’t hold a charge the second day.

I started out with my brother’s snow board gear. I made one run down the slopes with it and after crashing ever 20 feet and finally landing on my tailbone so hard I thought we would have to call the slope patrol to use the snowmobile and stretcher to get me down I decided to put that board away and go rent some skis, which I am much better at. I am glad I did this because once I got his boots off my feet I realized that my feet were so crammed into his boots that they were getting no blood flow. It was a painful walk back to the ski lodge to rent my skis. Finally they got the blood flow back and felt ok again.

So I got my skis and hit the slopes. I still was hurting really bad from the tailbone crash but I didn’t plan on falling now that I had my skis so it was no worries.

This is Evan (sitting) Danny (in white) and Joel (in blue)

This is Chris (also sitting)

And this dude is ME!

Once I caught up with the gang we hit the terrain park where they have all the jumps and obstacles you can slide and grind over. We hit the jumps way slow at first and then I told them I would go ahead and make the big jump. Chris took the camera and filmed my demise. I got some great speed and hit that jump and launched myself into the air and shortly after takeoff realized I was now going sideways through the air. Somehow I think I even lost my skis in midair. I landed firmly on my side with pieces of my ski gear smeared all over the taunting jump. I slid on my face about 20-30 more feet till I slowed to a stop and after taking a minute to regain my senses I slowing started putting myself together.

Now with a busted tailbone and bruised pelvis and right side I decided take a break from jumping for the rest of the day. Joel was a speed demon and it took everything we had to keep up with that guy. Danny and Chris and Evan all snowboarded and were all over the place. It was an awesome day.

 We had to stop to refill our bellies!

Not sure what Chris is doing here?

The challenge began the second day when once again we didn’t get much rest and with my body still sore from the previous day’s torture we started all over again. This time we hit Angel fire. It was so much busier we thought we would never get on the lift. But we made it and Chris and Evan took off to go hit some good snowboarding areas while Danny, Joel and I hit the terrain park and went back to practicing our jumps and grinds. We got pretty good and Joel and Danny landing some serious distant jumps. I grinding the half-moon rail and survived. It was awesome. We hit a few more runs and jumped into the forested areas for a little challenge. By the end of the day I was wore out. But Joel still insisted that we hit the black diamond called “The Glory Hole”. It was pretty intimidating but Joel knew it had to be conquered. So even though from the top you could see the bottom and the 1,000 foot decent seemed only a few feet out from the start, practically like skiing down the side of a building but don’t forget to add in the moguls just to keep you on top of your game. Danny jumped down it first and took that Glory Hole like he owned it. Then Joel and I dropped in and began negotiating the moguls on our way down the slope with our speed continually increasing. It was so awesome. I did crash once but got right back up and finished that slope. Once at the bottom and looking back at where we had begun it was once again crazy to think we just descended that. Thanks for the push Joel!

Joel on the Mountain

Danny on the Mountain

Vern on the Mountain

Joel and I got to the bottom of the slope in time to make the very last lift for the day and got in one more run. I was completed wiped by the time w got to the bottom. Evan and Chris had been snowboarding all over the mountain while we were jumping in and out of terrain parks and forested areas. I think we all got our fill of snow and slopes these two days.  Once we got all of our gear packed in we crammed back into the car and with all of our muscle cramps began our journey back home.

Evan knew of a great place to eat called Las Cosinas, I might be spelling that wrong, but it was great. He knew all the people there from when he lived nearby. We had a great meal and then loaded up to finish our painful drive home.

I am writing this blog a few days after the trip and still feel the twinge of reminders in my muscles that I am incredibly out of shape.

Thanks guys for the awesome trip!

Tags: LOUD Skiing