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astronicht · 8 months

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whumptober day 2: thermometer

hockey rpf | nolan/travis | canoe tripping AU | 2.3k, rated T

Nolan used to work as a promotional contractor for a snowmobile company, one of the big ones. He’d spend all winter taking executives and investors out on three-day snowmobile trips in Colorado and Utah and BC, and then all summer at home with his mom watching Deadliest Catch and Treehouse Masters. Sometimes they ate weed gummies and Nolan gave his opinion on Pinterest boards.

His point was, no matter what his buddies who are hunting guides or fancy whitewater kayakers or Montana Forest Service think, taking a bunch of strangers with little to no winter wilderness survival experience who can’t be outright insulted or bossed around is pretty fucking dangerous. As such, Nolan is not going to get in trouble in the fucking eastern provinces. This is Ontario, for fuck’s sake.

He’s soloing his buddy’s nice Swift canoe with a little one-person tent and the sausage jerky his mom freeze-dried, also courtesy of pinterest somehow, and some rice and stuff. No gun because he’s in a Provincial Park for most of it, and the only people who can hunt here are the nation down at Golden Lake, and then usually only when the government asks them to do some culling the wolves haven’t managed over the winter.

He’s already thrown up the sausage jerky, but it took him half a day to realize it wasn’t just queasiness but a fever — probably, he has no way to tell. Nolan just has the shakes and a sharp pain in his abdomen, the bad-news kind, which meant a kind that Nolan was not already used to from his job before the snowmobile thing. It had started at his naval but moved right towards his hip, deep in his gut. He’s trying to remember which side your appendix is on.

Midafternoon in September is golden-green on the lake, which is called Otter Slide, and it’s cool and beautiful. The lake is all black water under the tree line, but swallowing the sky further out. Nolan remembers being young on the lake back home, watching boys in the shallows, watching girls pick up leeches on sticks and put them on logs, everyone’s jeans rolled up. He feels really bad. Even his sweat smells wrong. He was supposed to paddle westwards today, do an easy but long red-line portage, get further away from people.

He focuses. In the park Nolan dutifully gets campsite permits and camps in the marked spots, though not usually the actual site where he booked, so he knows there are a few other sites on the lake, marked from the water with an orange sign on a tree. They were all empty last night, Nolan gloriously alone on Otter Slide until the pain started, sudden and sharp. He hates pain that comes from nothing; he’d rather tear his rotator cuff again than get the weird senseless shit.

Someone appears on the lake: a speck of a red canoe coming from the eastern portages. Shit, he hopes they’re not booked at this campsite tonight, but they glide on to a campsite on the peninsula which earlier in the season would’ve been covered in blueberries. Maybe if Nolan ate blueberries instead of jerky he’d be okay.

It’s a man he thinks, though he can’t be sure. It’s someone who can solo a canoe just fine, which is a nice change from the paddling Nolan saw near the Outfitters on Opeongo. Nolan thinks his Otter Slide neighbor maybe looks his way, sees the Swift canoe bobbing where Nolan didn’t even haul it out last night, already feeling kind of shitty. The neighbor brings a pack up and then comes back down for the canoe, flips it expertly, walks it on his shoulders up the incline. He is not wearing a shirt. So, there, it’s not like Nolan is even fully alone. It’s midday, it’s a mild September, frost not coming for another week. Still. He’s not stupid about being in the bush. If he’s not feeling better in the morning, he’ll fucking pack out to the nearest highway.

It’s about 6PM when he wakes up scared. He thinks he can’t breathe in the tent but then it’s cold outside, gloomy under the trees but still day on the lake, sky blue-pink pastels, water welcoming black with ripples like fish scales picking up the bright dusk. Either there is something really wrong in his gut or something really bad in the fancy dried meat. Maybe they fucked it up somehow. Nolan’s mom’s friend helped. What if she fucked it up somehow. He thinks about blueberries again.

Around 6:40 the sky isn’t lighter and it’s not getting better and he realizes he’s been hunched and shivering on the dirt outside his tent, where it’s safe to wretch, for forty-five minutes that have slipped away like nothing. Okay, alright. He’s not thinking about anything, really, it’s some little animal part of him that scuttles bent-over down the smooth glacial stone towards the water. It’s good that the Swift is already in the water. He can just crawl in, an animal with something terribly wrong inside it going to its burrow. It fits around him. The water rocks.

A voice says, “Howdy,” warily. Someone’s put their bright headlamp on even though the sky is still golden pink over the lake and it’s right in Nolan’s eyes. He shuts them. He’s in his boat, for some reason, curled around his abdomen. He doesn’t know how he paddled; he’s sitting in the stern of the canoe but up by the thwart, which isn’t right at all for soloing. This guy is going to think he is so stupid. “You’re the guy in the Swift from across the way, huh?”

It’s a man’s voice, talking slow and deliberate. “You got a problem?” the guy asks carefully, but like he’s going to handle Nolan however Nolan needs to be handled. Nolan wants to laugh.

“I think,” Nolan says, trying to also be cool and deliberate. He can’t really breathe deeply anymore or the pain will make him throw up again though. “I think…” he looks up into the glaring headlight. “Someone poisoned my beef jerky. Or my appendix is doing bad.”

“Aw shit,” says the guy, and gets him out of the canoe and into a tent, a process which means Nolan nearly pukes on the guy’s books twice. He’s got a shirt on now, the guy. It smells like sweat and campfire, which is not a nice smell, but it’s exactly like Nolan smells. It’s a two-person tent being used as a single, and the guy switches on a little solar lamp that casts a blueish light over everything. Nolan hadn’t realized it was getting dark.

“Do you have a thermometer?” Nolan mutters. “I just want to know if I have a fever.”

“Buddy, I think we can bypass the thermometer. Can you show me where it hurts the worst.”

“Do you have one though,” Nolan says.

“...Yes,” the guy says.

Nolan nods, feeling sweat break out on his upper lip. “Cool,” he says. His hair is plastered all over his face. Maybe he should do something about that? “It’s about here.” He gestures.

The guy nods. “Alright. I’m going to do something that’s going to suck, and I just need you to tell me if when I let go it hurts more or less, okay?”

“Can I take my temperature first.”

The guy stares. His mouth is actually a little parted. His hair looks like it’s been flattened under a toque for a week and his stubble is gross. Nolan likes the way his teeth glint with his spit.

“Yeah,” he says. “I’ve got it, hold on.” He fishes around in a plastic bag — like a grocery bag — that seems to contain his toiletries, which he had to fish out of a drybag that he appears to be using as a pillow. Nolan eyes the rest of the plastic bag and wonders if Pepto Bismol could help him now.

The guy sees him looking and says, “Hey, look, I get heartburn. It’s—right, thermometer, I’ve got you, I’ve got you, don’t look at me like that.” He takes the little plastic cover off the thermometer for Nolan. It feels like a man lighting Nolan’s cigarette. He opens his mouth and the guy — coachable — carefully pops it in. “Put it, uh, beneath your tongue,” the guy says.

Nolan opens his mouth to demonstrate. The guy looks a little wide-eyed, but he looks.

The thing that was going to suck does indeed suck. The guy places his hand on Nolan’s side, over the worst of it, and presses down a little. Nolan assumes this is the sucking part until the guy lets up the pressure and says, “Sorry—sorry— okay, better or—aw, shit,” as Nolan grunts around a scream and bites down on the thermometer hard enough to crack the case, but not break it.

It trills happily, an odd sound when he’s been in the woods for fifteen days with his phone on airplane mode. Oh, his phone. Right.

“Worse when I let go?” the guy asks tentatively. “Not to uh, assume there buddy, but uh,”

“Worse,” Nolan says, letting the thermometer tumble out of his mouth to talk. The guy picks it up without hesitating even though it’s covered in Nolan’s saliva.

“37.9, mild fever there baby, good call,” the guy says, and Nolan nods, satisfied. He’s lying on his back and wheezing. “Also I think you totally have appendicitis.”

Apparently the wait time at the Whitley Bay ER is usually minimum two hours, even if you get there at 5AM on what is apparently a Tuesday. The guy, whose name became Travis a couple hundred meters through the first night-black portage to Lake Opeongo with Nolan’s Swift — “It is so much lighter, we’re taking your fancy canoe” — talked to a few people when they got in and suddenly Nolan had an IV in his hand and someone taking him in for imaging.

“I’ll do your paperwork,” Travis had said as Nolan boggled and was wheeled away.

“You don’t know my name,” Nolan told him.

“Baby, I know your name,” Travis had said. Nolan narrowed his eyes. “You told me, I promise.” Travis said. “I promise.”

He had said that a lot, over the night, his hand on Nolan’s arm on his good side. There were three portages to Lake Opeongo. The stars had throbbed through the pines and both of them had forgotten to be unbothered by the concept of black bears and were fucking terrified anytime something moved in the big black woods of quiet Ontario, because Nolan was a small hurt thing.

“I promise,” Travis said, “I promise.” In the distance, very far off, wolves were beginning their autumn calling, and Travis had promised lots of shit. Between portages Nolan had laid in the belly of the canoe, rocked like a child. Even when he retched over the gunnel a couple times, Travis never so much as let the canoe tip.

He is woken up to take antibiotics. He still smells very strongly of campfire and clothes he has not changed in five days.

There is a pack of grocery store blueberries on the bedside table, and also Travis. He’s in a new outfit, clean clothes over unshowered man.

“I went to Walmart,” Travis says proudly. He must have bought the blueberries there, and the clothes. His shirt is advertising an anime. Nolan does not think Travis knows this. Maybe he can convince him to watch it. “They wouldn’t let me sleep in here and it’s only like an hour to Huntsville. One way.”

Nolan stares at him.

“You doing better, babe?” Travis says, unbothered.

“No,” Nolan says pointedly, scowling. He is scheduled for surgery.

“You feeling better than when you showed up on my doorstep telling me you’d been poisoned by wild mushrooms in your beef jerky recipe, and then we spent all night packing out to my pickup at the Opeongo put-in? You were a trooper, babe. You did so good. Your appendix was so burst, I saw the pics.”

Nolan frowns. “I don’t think there are mushrooms in there. There could be though…”

“Let’s not go back down the mushroom road unless we have to,” Travis suggests, a little hastily. Nolan does not remember this part very well.

It’s silent for a minute. Nolan wonders if he can get Travis to feed in one blueberry or if the nurse would know.

“How’d you know it was appendicitis? You’re not a doctor,” Nolan challenges. “What do you do.”

Travis blinks, lights up a bit, dims again as he apparently decides to cut down on the explanation. It’s fascinating to watch. Travis picks at one of his cuticles and says,

“Yeah! Well, I didn’t know for sure, man, but it was that or something else worth getting checked out, so. What I do. Not much work around here, but uh I’ve done a few things. Nowadays— okay, you ever heard of a show called Treehouse Masters?” He looks so hopeful, wide-eyed in his Attack on Titan t-shirt and scruffy stubble. “They stopped airing it a while back, but….” Travis lets the sentence trail away, gesturing like he can stuff the meaning into the air around Nolan’s head.

“No,” Nolan says avidly, and watches hungrily as Travis deflates. He needs to text his mom. He needs to tell her about Travis from Treehouse Masters.

“Okay, forget that— I’m a carpenter, or whatever.” Cabinetry specialty? Nolan does not ask. “But before that I was a nurse.”

Nolan grunts, mildly surprised.

“Yeah, school and everything. Hey, want me to feed you one blueberry. Or, shit, you’re totally fasting for surgery. No blueberries yet babe. But I’ll save ‘em for you, promised didn’t I?”

“What if I just hold it in my mouth,” Nolan suggests. “I’ll spit it out when I’m done.”

Oh, maybe they have him on something in this IV. Indoor thought.

Travis is opening the blueberry box. “Yeah babe, sure. Here, just hold it on your tongue like an ice chip. Open up, babe.”

Nolan opens up.

—

Spent actual real life time plotting the tripping route for this one and then fucked it up anyway.

#hockey rpf #my fic #tknolpat #whumptober ‘23 #gotta just post this baby no edits on 2nd half lfgggg i guess

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radiojamming · 6 months

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sorry the what hotel experience that closed breakfast at 5:30am?? Deejers I must know More

HI GLADIE :D

So my mom and I once went up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in January for funsies and stayed at a pretty cute hotel in St. Ignace. The thing was, it was snowmobile season up there, so on our first day, the place was super deserted and we p much had the run of the whole thing, and then the next day it was P A C K E D with snowmobilers and one team of dog sledders. The vibe was absolutely bonkers for the whole weekend, because some of these snowmobilers acted like frat boys and apparently there was a snowmobiling celebrity there? I didn't know there were snowmobile celebrities???

Anyway, yes, the hotel stopped serving breakfast at 5:30 in the morning. On Saturday morning, we went down to get something and the very Stepford-smiley receptionist told us they'd stopped serving, even though the sign in the dining area said breakfast was done at 8:30. Naturally, we had some questions, but the response was just, "We are so :) so :) sorry. We concluded :) breakfast service :) at 5:30. :) Can I recommend a restaurant?" (NB: Like 75% of the restaurants in the area are season-dependent and only open in the summer. We ended up getting McDonald's.) My closest guess on why they stopped serving so early is that snowmobilers are a hungry group and might have attacked the continental breakfast like locusts. Or maybe the dogs ate it all.

Other interesting features of this hotel included:

Open-face radiators mounted on the walls in the lobby and in some hallways so you could bask in front of them like lizards.

Multiple signs around the whole building either demanding guests don't feed the seagulls, or reminding guests that seagulls are violent and vicious and won't hesitate to hurt you.

Mounted deer antlers in some rooms, and pictures of hunters posing with dead deer in others. (That's the UP, babeyyyy!)

An indoor pool that was closed due to an undisclosed "pest problem". (Hot tub was open tho)

An inexplicably modern and well-furnished laundry room that looked like it was from a completely different hotel.

An awesome housekeeping staff person who knew so much gossip about the rich people on Mackinac Island.

A neighborhood tuxedo cat that would just wander on in to the lobby when he felt like it.

Magazines from the late 1970s that no one had ever bothered to throw away.

And honorary mention to one of the nearby restaurants/bars that was connected with the hotel where my mom and I went in time to watch a ton of Yoopers going bonkers over a Denver Broncos game; some were wearing jerseys or hats. We're nowhere near Denver. None of these people were even from Colorado.

Anyway, it was a really great weekend.

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franklupelchiaro · 6 months

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The Best Winter Destinations in the United States in 2023

As winter approaches, the United States transforms into a wonderland of diverse landscapes and thrilling activities. Whether you seek powdery slopes, serene hot springs, or sun-drenched beaches, the country has it all. Here’s a guide to the best winter getaways in 2023, offering something for every type of traveler.

Dunton, Colorado:

For a relaxing winter escape, Dunton’s hot springs and wooden lodges offer a serene retreat. Dating back to 1885, the area’s mining history adds a touch of authenticity to the experience, making it an ideal spot to unwind.

Lake Tahoe, Sierra Nevada:

Lake Tahoe, nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, offers a mesmerizing winter scene with its frozen alpine lake surrounded by snow-covered pine trees. Boasting an average snowfall of 400 inches, it’s a top-notch ski destination. Beyond skiing, enjoy activities like ice skating, sleigh riding, and tubing.

Asheville, North Carolina:

Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, Asheville provides a captivating winter landscape. Drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, embark on bird watching tours, or enjoy a cozy bar hopping experience in the town.

Sedona, Arizona:

Escape bone-chilling temperatures in Sedona, where milder winters offer a unique desert landscape cloaked in snow. Hike through crimson rock formations, take a hot air balloon ride for a bird’s-eye view, and explore Tlaquepaque Village.

Minneapolis, Minnesota:

Minneapolis, often overlooked, comes alive with winter festivals like the Great Northern and the USA Pond Hockey Championships. The city’s culinary scene thrives in winter, offering tasty delicacies and hot dishes. Explore the hidden winter wonderland with activities like ice skating and snowmobiling.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming:

Jackson Hole’s picturesque setting, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, makes it a haven for winter sports enthusiasts. With an annual snowfall of 458 inches, it’s a paradise for snowy adventures and ecotourism, allowing you to witness impressive wildlife in untouched wilderness.

Vail, Colorado:

Surrounded by alpine slopes, Vail beckons with exciting ski adventures on Vail Mountain. The powdery trails also cater to snowmobiling and snow tubing enthusiasts. Stroll through Beever Creek Village’s classic wooden houses, illuminated with warm lights, and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate.

Kauai, Hawaii:

For a warm winter getaway, head to Kauai, Hawaii’s picturesque island with year-round sunshine. Enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, whale watching, and beach hopping, surrounded by jungle-clad mountains and brilliant blue oceans.

Salt Lake City, Utah:

Nestled in the Wasatch Range, Salt Lake City is a winter haven with storybook houses adorned in white snow. World-class skiing at Deer Valley Resort is a major draw, but if the outdoors isn’t your calling, the city offers diverse alternatives. Indulge in shopping, relax in hot tubs, or savor local cuisine.

New York City:

Experience the vibrant winter vibes of the Big Apple, from Rockefeller’s Christmas tree to open-air holiday markets like Bryant Park Market. Whether you prefer ice skating, cafe hopping, or holiday shopping, New York City offers a mix of indoor and outdoor winter delights.

Burlington, Vermont:

Embrace the freezing winter in Burlington, where European-styled buildings and twinkling lights create a charming atmosphere. Explore Church Street, a four-block pedestrian market, and indulge in the town’s hospitality. Venture out for ski trips to nearby resorts for added winter excitement.

Anna Maria Island, Florida:

Escape to Anna Maria Island for a sun-soaked winter retreat. With powdery beaches, palm-fringed shores, and laid-back beach vibes, it’s the perfect destination for beach hopping, swimming, and witnessing dazzling sunsets.

Originally posted on frankchiaro.net.

#Frank Chiaro #Frank Lupel Chiaro #Travel #Winter

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mickeyisprocrastinating · 1 year

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Tragic News: Ken Block, Iconic Rally Driver, Passes Away in Snowmobile Accident

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ken Block, a renowned rally driver and pioneer in the motorsports industry. Block, who was also a devoted husband and father, passed away today in a tragic snowmobile accident.

The Hoonigans, an organization founded by Block, shared the news on their Instagram account, stating: "It's with our deepest regrets that we can confirm that Ken Block passed away in a snowmobile accident today. Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband. He will be incredibly missed. Please respect the family's privacy at this time while they grieve."

Block was known for his impressive driving skills and innovative approaches to rally racing, and his influence on the industry will not be forgotten. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Here are the top 5 Ken Block Gymkhana series videos:

Gymkhana TEN: The Ultimate Tire Slaying Tour

This video, released in 2018, features Block behind the wheel of a specially modified Ford F-150 Hoonitruck, as he takes on a tour of iconic locations around the world. From the streets of downtown Los Angeles to the snow-covered mountains of Colorado, Block's tire-slaying skills are on full display.

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Gymkhana NINE: Raw Industrial Playground

In this 2016 video, Block takes on the abandoned industrial playground of Buffalo, New York in his Ford Escort Cosworth Group A rally car. The raw, gritty setting provides the perfect backdrop for Block's impressive drifting and handling skills.

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Gymkhana EIGHT: Ultimate Exotic Playground; Dubai

In this 2015 video, Block takes on the glitz and glamour of Dubai in his custom Ford Mustang Hoonicorn V2. From drifting through the city's streets to tearing up the sand dunes of the desert, this video showcases Block's impressive driving skills in an exotic setting.

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Gymkhana SEVEN: Wild in the Streets of L.A.

This 2014 video sees Block taking on the streets of Los Angeles in his Ford Fiesta ST RX43 rallycross car. The high-energy setting and impressive driving skills make this video a must-watch for fans of the Gymkhana series.

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Gymkhana SIX: The Ultimate Gymkhana Grid Course

Released in 2013, this video features Block behind the wheel of his custom Ford Fiesta ST, as he takes on a challenging gymkhana grid course. With a variety of obstacles and tight turns, this video showcases Block's impressive driving skills and precision control.

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#ken block #rally #carswithoutlimits #gymkhana #rip #Youtube

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cityofdreamsrp · 1 year

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THINGS TO DO: LET’S EXPLORE ASPEN, COLORADO!

Aspen is a glorious winter playground where the rich and famous look for excitement on their adventure-filled getaway. The beloved mountain town offers an abundance of snowy outdoor adventures and ample indoor coziness. Looking for ideas on how to fill the free days in your vacation? Look no further! ( x, x, x, x, x, x )

RIDE THE ALPINE COASTER:

Snowmass Mountain offers an alpine rollercoaster at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola. For winter thrills off the slopes, look no further than the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster. Riders will wind their way through over a mile of forest on an elevated track at speeds of up to 28mph. These activities are fun, thrilling breaks from skiing for all those at least 38” tall. The alpine coaster zips through the trees on Snowmass Mountain and gives gorgeous views amongst the National Forest.

GO TUBING:

Aspen Snowmass is thrilled to offer tubing facilities at Snowmass for the winter season. The multiple lanes are lift-served and carved into The Meadows at Elk Camp, with lighting facilities to illuminate the runs at night.

GO PARAGLIDING:

Leave from Aspen village and will bring you up to Snowmass for an experience of a lifetime. You can glide over the slopes and get a birds eye view over all of the Aspen ski areas.

SNOWMOBILE TOURS:

These Snowmobile tours through Snowmass will have you explore Aspen’s high country and take you through your favourite ski slopes and some of the lesser known areas of the mountain. For the more adventurous this tour will have you exploring off the beaten track trails along the backbone of Aspen Mountain. You will even be able to get to places skiers are not allowed into!

SNOWSHOE TOURS:

Weave in and out of serene spruce and fir forests as you take in majestic views from Richmond Ridge at Aspen Mountain or along a babbling creek at Snowmass with a knowledgeable Naturalist on this guided snowshoe tour. Learn about Rocky Mountain winter ecology, animals, and more as you discover the area and enjoy the silence of a snow-covered forest. Once you get the hang of it, guests can explore alone or with company.

SNOWBIKING LESSONS:

Experience the rush of sliding down the ski slopes on a Snowbike. Create a memorable experience for every member of your group with this customized offering. Your Snowbike Private Lesson includes a snowbike and lesson. For those first time skiers and riders, learn to safely and quickly navigate down the ski slopes. Now you can experience the iconic Aspen Snowmass ski culture, take in the breathtaking views of the Valley, and learn a whole new sport in just a few hours! Want to challenge yourself to learn a new sport on the slopes? For the experienced skiers and riders, Snowbiking can be learned in just a few turns! Weave through the trees, brave the steeps, and cruise the groomers from a whole new perspective. Once you get the hang of it, guests can bike alone or with company.

SKII & SNOWBOARD LESSONS:

Ski or ride beyond your greatest expectations and customize your day with one of our industry-leading instructors. Enjoy priority lift access, personalized coaching, flexible meeting times and locations, and complimentary overnight ski/board storage and transfer between mountains. Lesson valid for up to five guests of your choosing. Once you get the hang of it, guests can skii & snowboard alone or with company. DON’T FORGET TO JOIN US FOR SKII DAY FEBRUARY 20TH!

EXPERIENCE ULLR NIGHTS:

On select nights during the peak of winter season, we honor of the Norse God of Snow — Ullr — with Ullr Nights, a nighttime, winter wonderland party at Elk Camp on Snowmass. Friends and family take an evening gondola ride up to Elk Camp Restaurant and Elk Camp Meadows for outdoor winter activities with s'mores and hot chocolate by the bonfire. Enjoy an à la carte culinary celebration from 5:30pm to 7:30pm sure to please any palate.

SNOWCAT CHAUFFEURED DINNER RIDES:

For a magical Colorado dinner experience, embark on a snowcat journey to Aspen Highlands’ Cloud Nine or Snowmass’ Lynn Britt Cabin. Both restaurants are highly popular and well known for their atmospheres. Cloud Nine is an infamous restaurant in Aspen known for its Veuve Clicquot parties every single day. Lynn Britt cabin is a family-friendly option in a cozy Western-themed cabin. The snowcat rides allow non-skiers to enjoy these mountain-top experiences in iconic restaurant locations.

ICE SKATING UNDER THE LIGHTS:

Aspen and Snowmass boast both indoor and outdoor skating rinks. Walking distance from the Aspen Mountain Gondola is an outdoor skating rink, or for indoor skating visit the Aspen Ice Garden or Aspen Recreation Centre.

TAKE IN THE SIGHTS ON THE SILVER QUEEN GONDOLA:

What better way to see the sights than the Gondolas at Aspen and Snowmass mountains? The ride is a truly beautiful experience that for the non-skier allows you to witness the mountain beauty that skiers and snowboarders do. Both Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Mountain have mountain-top restaurants and bars with outdoor seating to enjoy the views after your Gondola ride. You can also take a stroll on the trails at the top of Aspen Mountain to take in the panoramic views. The ride itself lasts about 15 minutes.

MAROON BELLS & MAROON LAKE:

The Maroon Bells area is one of the most visited and hiked scenic areas in the White River National Forest. The picturesque Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak are two of Colorado’s 58 14ers (mountain peaks that exceed 14,000 feet). The Maroon Bells are a challenge to hike in the summer months, even for the most experienced climbers. In the winter, they are best viewed from a distance at Maroon Lake. The crystal-clear lake is accessible by Moon Creek Road. When the weather is good, you can drive up or take the shuttle; in the winter, you’ll need to get creative. Cross-country skiing, snow biking, snowshoeing, or hiking with crampons will get you to Maroon Lake. If you want to ride, the T-Lazy-7 Ranch offers a Maroon Bells snowmobile tour. The 2-hour tour takes you through the breathtaking backwoods scenery of the White River area. Single and tandem snowmobiles are available, and driving instructions are provided.

SHOPPING:

Enjoy a stroll through the downtown area, where you could easily dine, drink, and shop for days. Aspen’s understated elegance is evident everywhere, particularly in the storefronts. The epitome of elegance, the Prada Aspen, is only one of many luxury shops. For amazing deals, stop by The Little Bird, a consignment shop where you can find Gucci, Chanel, and other designer names to fill your closet. For the discerning shopper, Pitkin County Dry Goods carries casual clothing that makes an elegant statement.

VISIT THE ASPEN ART MUSEUM:

Immerse yourself in Aspen’s rich arts and culture scene by strolling through the free Aspen Art Museum, which puts on rotating contemporary art exhibitions. With an exterior finish reminiscent of a woven picnic basket, the 33,000-square-foot, three-story museum building—designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban—is a work of art in its own right. We recommend timing your visit to align with lunch so you can grab a bite at the bright, airy rooftop cafe.

VISIT THE WHEELER OPERA HOUSE:

The stunning 133-year-old Wheeler Opera House—an elaborate, lovingly maintained Victorian-era gem—has a full calendar of comedy shows, dance performances, festivals, concerts, and other events. The Aspen Historical Society also offers guided tours of the iconic building, which has maintained its status as the community’s artistic hub for decades.

HELP OUT THE LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER:

Had to leave your pet at home? The Aspen Animal Shelter has a feel-good solution for you. The for-profit, no-kill organization’s Rent-a-Pet program allows visitors to borrow dogs from two hours to an entire weekend. Not only does it provide exercise and socialization skills; it increases adoption rates. Dogs are paired to match personality and athletic ability. If you’re a cat person, you can volunteer to hang with adoptable felines, as well.

TAKE A MOONLIGHT STROLL:

One of our favorite things to do is walk (or snowshoe!) by moonlight (or headlamp). Try the 21 miles of groomed trails around of Ashcroft, but wherever you go, be sure to let someone know, and take plenty of layers and a map.

#codgoestoaspen #cityofdreamsevent

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