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| Looking northeast out of the new tunnel @ the lot |
We went up to Monarch yesterday afternoon for the open house celebrating their base lodge expansion. Monarch is very much a small gem here in Colorado and the feel is more family like then then the mega resorts.
Got up there about 3 pm and the lot had a good crowd of vehicles. The mountains are majestic...but pretty much bare and these are some of the highest 14ers in the state. Monarch is one of the highest ski areas with a base at 10,790"
Although the lodge is larger it still has the feel of the ski areas of the mid-west mainly Minnesota and the UP.
In the corner, where the crowd is there was an assortment of local micro brewers, distillers and wineries.
The beers from Eddyline, Elevation and Amica were great as always. In fact Eddyline's Boaters Beer was my go to brew during the summer.
The brandy from Deerhammer Distillers (Buena Vista) is very good and is distilled from wine made in Salida...very local. Didn't try their whiskey, a white whiskey (moonshine craze) don't know if it measures up to the shine from under the counter in a previous post on shopping in Salida.
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| Looking into the new tunnel from slope side |
The expansion and tunnel will make moving around the through the base much more convenient.
But we need snow. Monarch got 13" last weekend, but have had to delay their opening which was originally scheduled for next Wednesday.
Looks like beyond the snow, everything is ready to go for a great year.Family is coming in for Thanksgiving, so Marlys is going to set up the XMAS decorations This is a multi-day challenge to accomplish.
Marlys is also refurbing (polish off the rust) the old kerosene lanterns we have acquired or have been acquired for us.
We may also work in a trip to the "Peg" (Winnipeg). I know its the wrong way to go during the winter.
