Ideal vacation for my 50th birthday—but it probably won’t happen

If I could, I’d like to go skiing in Steamboat Springs next Valentine’s Day weekend.

I doubt if it will happen though.

My experience with skiing this past winter in Breckenridge has soured me on skiing at least for a while. It was a disaster from day one. First of all, my townhouse did not come with a phone and I did not think of bringing along a plug for my cellphone. So I had to buy a plug for my cellphone—which cost me $25. L

Then I discovered the management had not put a map of Breckenridge in my room with a listing of all the places to go for dining, entertainment, activities and the like. Also, I didn’t know where I could pick up the free bus (it was across a busy street, via a treacherous walk down an icy flight of steps) or the gondola up to the top of the mountain on the west side of town. For that matter, I felt disoriented—not knowing which way was east or west come sunset during my first day.

That disorientation may have been connected with the splitting headache which I had the next day. I awoke with a sharp pain which seemed to cut my skull in two—guillotine sharp. I was slated to participate in the local winter carnival’s “Dating Game” that evening, but I had to balk out due to my feeling unwell.

There were a few highlights; the most notable joining in the winter carnival parade. I got to ride on one float in a kayak (!) and took this self portrait of myself. Later we watched a bonfire in the town square and even fireworks. If only the rest of my adventures had been that successful. 

Oh, I made a few mistakes of my own. I forgot to pack a ski bag and a boot bag. Ski bags are long--about to three to four feet in length. Boot bags look like bowling bags, only they’re bigger and less rigid. You needn’t carry ski boots in them; I’ve carried camera gear, books, magazines and maps among other things. But when I took ski lessons, I had to lug my ski boots—and my skis on my shoulders—which was very painful.

That pain was compounded by the tailbone fracture which I suffered during my ski lessons.  I was “promoted” from the beginner classes to the intermediate classes without having taken a single beginner class—and failed from the beginning. I fell every time, I had trouble keeping my balance when making turns and almost nearly hit a tree on one occasion. Moreover I had to pay extra money for being promoted from beginner to intermediate. I wonder if I’m exaggerating when I say that I survived that nightmare.

So I don’t think I’ll be back on the ski slopes for a while. I might try mountain biking, horseback riding or kayaking next time I go on vacation—they sound safer.