A Day Riding Wolf Creek Ski Area

April 28, 2022

My (in)Experience Riding

Before I get I get into telling you about my day riding, let me talk about my experience so far with snowboarding. It has been smaller places like Perfect North Slopes and Paoli Peaks in the beginning. Afterward, I advanced to Snowshoe Mountain, WV and thought I was doing well. This was in the early 2000’s.

Turns out I have osteoporosis. I found this out after I broke my wrist in 2005, and then my foot in 2013. Yes, both breaks were while snowboarding. I thought my days on the slopes were over, that was until I talked with some friends out in California over the summer. They invited me out to go snowboarding, so I went. Unfortunately the weather had other plans and most of the snow on Mt. Shasta had melted by the time I got there. The warm weather over the next week did not help either.

Then came an invite to Mt. Hood in Oregon. This was bucket list. This I did. Happily. Being on a mountain again was good for my soul. It reenergized me and cleared my head. I rode Timberline Lodge and dare I say only after 4 runs, I felt great! You can find Timberline’s trail map HERE if you are interested in looking. I’ll tell you all about that experience later.

A day riding at Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood, Oregon — Getting ready for my first run down the trail at Timberline Lodge!

After I arrived back in Kentucky, my dear friend in Kansas City saw my social media pictures and asked to go to Colorado for the end of the snow season. I immediately screamed YES!! Of course I will go!! Getting a taste of the mountains again was something I had longed for.

Map of Wolf Creek Ski Area — Wolf Creek Ski Area Trail Map

Prepping For The Day Out

Not really knowing what to expect I was a bit intimidated. I forged on with the trip. Remember I haven’t REALLY rode for about 9 years. Wolf Creek Ski Area did not disappoint. We started out slow on Friday with about 5 runs to get acclimated to the altitude. Acclimating is something I’ve not had to do before although believe me when I say I felt it. All of it.

Walking onto the ski area at Wolf Creek in Colorado

Parking lot and lodge at Wolf Creek in Colorado

The Second Day Riding

The next day it was ON! We rode a total of 15 runs for the day. The longest run we took that day being a little over 1.6 miles. On The Snow.com will tell you lots more about this area. Wolf Creek is in southwest Colorado between Pagosa Springs and South Fork. Wolf Creek is also called a “small” area although it is large enough to stay occupied all day and never really hit the same slopes more than a couple of times if exploring is your thing. Which for me it is, until I find a run I really want to conquer. With speed. The trails higher up were not sloppy at all. Also being the end of the season weekend, this meant the trails weren’t crowded.

photo from a day riding at wolf creek ski area

another view from the trail at wolf creek ski area

Sorry so grainy but you get the point!! L)

Takeaways From A Day Riding

All things considered, this was a spectacular day. The sun was shining (which also led to a sunburnt face…always wear your sunscreen people!!) the wind was howling through the tree line towards the ridges of the mountains. I was able to get through the day with just a hoodie I picked up in the shop and a medium pair of snow pants. If you want to know more details of what I wore and the trails I rode, just ask! Thanks for reading!

A view from the Treasure Stoke Lift

Tell Me Something Good Cancel reply

About The Blue Widow Chronicles and Me

The Blue Widow Chronicles began after my husband, Eric, died suddenly in 2020. I became a widow overnight, and the writing became the place I went to make sense of a life that no longer made sense.

What began as writing through grief has grown with me.

Over the years, I’ve written my way through widowhood, PTSD and trauma, solo travel, love after loss, losing Greg to suicide, starting over, complicated relationships, and the ongoing work of figuring out who I am when the life I once knew no longer exists.

This isn’t a blog about having grief figured out. I write from wherever I actually am—sometimes healing, sometimes questioning, sometimes rebuilding, and sometimes admitting I have no idea what comes next.

Odin and Freija frequently find their way into these pages too, along with the people, places, memories, and ordinary moments that remind me life continues even when it looks nothing like the one I expected.

What You’ll Find Here

The Chronicles are personal essays about grief, trauma, identity, love, relationships, travel, rebuilding, and life after loss. Some were written from inside the experience. Others look back years later with a perspective I couldn’t have had when everything was happening.

There are more than five years of stories here. You don’t need to read them in order. Start wherever something speaks to you.

Beyond the Pages

Some stories can be told publicly. Others need a smaller room.

Beyond the Pages is the more intimate side of The Blue Widow Chronicles on Patreon—a growing private library of previously unpublished journal entries, deeper reflections on the Chronicles, member-only writing, and guided writing resources.

Membership is $5/month and includes access to the complete growing library.

Come further in —Beyond the Pages