9/7/2016
We kicked the day off rather lazily, not getting out of the room much before 10am. We packed with every intent of hitting a couple of trails that we’d passed on yesterday.
We had breakfast down in the village, and followed it by walking up the big trail map to confirm we were about to set out on the correct pathway. While on our way to the aforementioned map, we spotted a folding sign proclaiming that the summer adventure center was open. On a whim, we went down to the center and properly investigated what was available for the adventuring season, as we were under the impression that most things were shut down during the week.
We were pleasantly surprised to learn of 4×4 Jeep tours and, on the same whim that brought us to the office to begin with, signed up for the 11:15 tour. We had a delightful talk with the attendant, Cheryl, before wandering down to a small toy store in the village. Nicole had a quick talk with the proprietor and learned she was also from Kearney while I wandered the rest of the store. After getting my fill of looking at stuffed animals and slightly overpriced toys, I returned to my wife’s side and we bid the lady farewell.
We returned to the adventure center and patiently waited for the driver of the jeep to arrive and the tour to begin.
J.B. was a delight as he took us up the mountainside and gave us a pinch of history of Beaver Creek. We learned the resort town is barely older than us, and hosts the Birds of Prey downhill skiing competition every December as well as a multitude of other facts.
The ride upward was delightful and scenic, though, and I didn’t want to admit it (or as Nicole put it “being macho”) I regretted not grabbing my hoodie as the temperature fell as we climbed higher. We passed the original goal for yesterday’s hike and continued higher, right up to where the Birds of Prey run starts. We got out of the jeep, soaked up the sun for a little bit and enjoyed the majestic view from 11,000 feet up.
From there we started back down the mountain, pausing once more to get out of the jeep and get a good view of one of the steepest (43degree angle drop) of the Birds of Prey course. It was enough to set my vertigo off a little bit just standing a handful of feet from the precipice. We snapped a few more photos and finished our trek back down the mountain, coming back along the same trail we’d hiked up the day before.
Safely at the base of the mountain once more, we thanked J.B. for the delightful trip up and made our way up to a chapel he had pointed out on our way up the mountain.
The chapel, Beaver Creek Chapel, serves a multitude of faiths (at staggered times) and is blessed with a simple elegance that is the source of, and enhances, its beauty. We explored the chapel, had a quick talk with someone attending it (pastor/clergy?) who also happened to be from Nebraska and told us about some fellow from Kearney to set up a computer scholarship.
It seemed to be the day of meeting people from Nebraska.
We bid him farewell and retreated back into the village. We spent some time finding something to eat that would suit both of us, and settled on Coyote Café.
The pomegranate sangria was delightful.
The chicken and spinach tacos were pretty good too.
And the sunshine was adequate.
We finished lunch and retreated back to our room to prepare for our spa treatment. We changed footgear, gathered our swimsuits and went down to the spa.
We were given a quick tour, and explanation of the water ritual that we were encouraged to indulge in before our massages. We changed and took to the water ritual to help relax.
The first of five stages was a co-ed warm bath with three waterfalls designed to help soak away and gently massage out tensions. Nicole and I parted ways after that first room.
The second was a mineral pool, just as warm as the first, and designed to soak away any remaining tensions.
The third step was a cleansing “rain shower” to rinse off and cool down before going into the fourth stage.
The fourth step was a steam room with atmospheric lighting to help further relax and cleanse the senses.
In the fifth room was a reclined stone bench that was warmed to the touch.
The entire experience left me feeling relaxed and slightly dreamy and all in all good. I am, however, further convinced that the resort needs to work on its signage as I followed the “Exit” sign and ended up in a maintenance hallway between the women and men’s locker rooms.
I changed out of my swimsuit and joined Nicole in the couple’s room to wait for our masseuses.
A short time later and we were led by our masseuses (Britany for Nicole, Aurora for myself) to the couple massage room and treated to a Swedish massage and foot scrub that left both of us feeling quite delightedly relaxed and good.
After a complimentary sparkling cider (as neither Nicole nor I desired champagne), we changed back into our street clothes and returned to our room to change footgear once more.
We rested up briefly before setting back out and hitting a delightful, quiet, and short trail (5 Senses Trail) that brought us around to a pair of ponds with muskrats swimming throughout it. We came back to the village and grabbed a pizza from Blue Moose Pizza (was delightful and tasty) then wandered over to get Gelato for dessert.
As the day drew to a close, we returned to our room, changed, and enjoyed the Jacuzzi by the pool. The warm water was wonderful, the cool night air, a little less than wonderful.
With the day closing, we came back to the room to relax and prepare for tomorrow.
The day trip to a couple ghost towns.
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