Journey Of Lessons From “The First Grader”
One thing I love about movies is the ability to travel to a far away land, to somewhere you want to visit, or to somewhere you’ve only dreamed of. I also love it when a movie inspires you, challenges you, and makes you think.
I saw one of the best movies, actually, the best movie I’ve seen this year at a special screening at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. The movie is a multi-fold journey: journey of man, journey for education, journey of a nation, and the journey it takes you on as it inspires you to follow your dreams.
Courtesy: "The First Grader" Photo credit: Kerry Brown
The movie is called “The First Grader” and it’s based on a true story of a man wanting to read a letter. Sounds simple right? Well the man, Kimani N’gan’ga Maruge, is an 84 year old Kenyan who decided to take the Kenyan government up on its offer in 2002 of free education for all. In the movie we’re taken to a small village in the Kenyan bush where the past entwines itself in the story of this man simply wanting to learn to read so he can read a letter. But the letter isn’t just any letter. It’s a letter from the President of Kenya and the past is the horrors, imprisonment, and torture Maruge endured in detention camps because he fought for the Mau Mau rebellion against British occupation in the 1950s.
The trailer will draw you. Watch it and you’ll want to see more. ”The First Grader” is out on DVD today.
A big part of my love of travel is quite simply the journey and the things you learn, the education along the way. I have not been to Africa….yet. And this movie makes me want to go all the more.
The journey of how I found out about this movie involves my young friend and actress Madison Moellers and her mom. They saw it a couple of months ago and immediately gushed about great it is and said I had to see it. They know I love movies, especially ones like this.
There’s more to this movie than just a movie, or the lessons and history it teaches. It gave birth to an organization, End Malaria Now, to help fight the number one killer of children in Africa under the age of 5. It’s not starvation or AIDs or another disease. It is the bite of a mosquito. Every 45 seconds a child in Africa dies from malaria. ”The First Grader” producer Richard Harding saw that first hand and told me the story as we drove from Denver International Airport to Estes Park for the special screening of the movie and benefit event in mid-December. While filming, Richard spent some time at a malaria hospital. He enjoyed the kids so much that a few weeks later he went back to take them toys. When he went in, he noticed the kids were gone. Initially thinking the kids had gotten better and returned home, he was then told by the hospital staff the children had died. A bed net could have saved their lives. Most bites from malaria carrying mosquitoes happen at night. So Richard founded End Malaria Now. Just $10 covers a bed net for a family, logistics of getting it to a family in a rural area in Africa, and the training of how to properly use it.
But let me back up for a second. Madison and her mom saw “The First Grader” at a SAG screening in LA. During the question and answer session, Madison asked Richard and his producing partner Sam Feuer if the kids in the movie actually went to the school that is used in the movie. The answer is yes. It is a real school and none of the children are actors. Only one of the children in the movie had ever even seen a tv and that was on a trip to the big city of Nairobi and the child saw it through a window. The crew couldn’t just descend on this school and start shooting. Instead director Justin Chadwick orchestrated the introduction of crew little by little and each taking a role as teacher before filming started. Imagine being a child in Africa never having seen a TV, a camera, and let alone even have a remote idea as to what a movie is and then…the first movie you see, you are in it. Yes, the children in the movie have seen it (with a few scenes edited out to make it age appropriate).
Madison Moellers & Richard Harding at End Malaria Now benefit at The Stanley Hotel
Madison is a young philanthropist and immediately told her mom she had to do something to help those kids and other kids in Africa. In addition to her involvement with Stand Up 2 Cancer, she got involved with End Malaria putting together (with the help of her mom of course) a star-studded benefit in LA which she “Rule of Engagement” star Patrick Warburton to co-host with her and then a special screening of the movie in her hometown of Estes Park with producer Richard Harding attending. I should tell you these events came together in less than two months. The day before the event at The Stanley Hotel, Madison was honored in Atlanta at the Carter’s OshKosh B’Gosh “Charity of Spirit” luncheon. She was given a check. This eight year old chose to donate the bulk of it to End Malaria Now. Her donation is helping 200 families and saving hundreds of lives.
At the screening in Estes Park, I was immediately struck by the diversity in age of the audience and how intrigued the middle and high school kids were by the film. Filled with questions, the kids and rest of audience got a chance to meet a movie producer, ask questions about a film, and help others. Richard has a goal of raising 200,000 bed nets for families in Kenya and Sierra Leone, where he was born.
With Madison Moellers & Richard Harding
In one sentence Richard can sum up the lesson of “The First Grader.” He told me, “He [Maruge] wanted to inspire others to fulfill and live out their dream.” Sadly Maruge did not live to see the final movie, but he did get to address the United Nations on the need of better education for children in Africa.
So the journey of “The First Grader” continues long after the movie ends and trust me it will stick with you. A maker of movies, a maker of dreams and stories on film, needs your help to fulfill one of his dreams. In the motto of End Malaria Now: ”Make a difference in a small way. Donate a net….Save a Life…and End Malaria Now.” I did and hope you will too.
Photo Credit: Daniel Gambino
No comments yet.
3172No trackbacks yet.
A Gem Of A Lake & Estes Park Eats
about 2 weeks ago - No comments
The first time I went to Estes Park, Colorado, I fell in love with the quaint mountain town. It’s much more than just the Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s a destination that’s family friendly, perfect for the outdoors lover, and if you are like me and need that getaway spot where you can escape the world…then Estes Park is for you.
While Ed’s Cantina is always going to be a must stop for me (great margaritas and guacamole – I know, not your typical mountain food but those mean vacation to me), each time I go to the town, I love exploring the Estes Park dining scene.
So I went on with some friends what I’ll call an explore galore of spots you should check out for lunch or dinner in Estes Park.
Our first stop for lunch was Nepal’s Cafe, a local’s favorite for when you craving Nepales and Indian Food. It’s right along the Big Thompson River. Owners Hem and Durga wanted us to try it all so they did a smorgasbord of some of their best dishes.
We started with papad dom which is flat bread with sweet sauces.
Then tried Kothe Momo. It’s fried dumplings filled with ground chicken and mixed vegetables.
Next the Chat Samosas that is a crisp pastry stuffed with seasoned potatoes, peas with yogurt and fresh vegetables.
Here’s the Lamb Korma. It is lamb cooked with yogurt see Ted spices, herb and mild cream sauce. I have to admit that I’m not a lamb eater so I didn’t try this dish.
The Shrimp Chilis is hot and spicy sauté shrimp fresh chili, onion, green and red bell pepper, fresh tomatoes, and cilantro.
Of course we had to have naan and tried the Garlic naan, tandoor bread made of flour with garlic and butter, and the Nepal’s naan, tandoori bread made with sesame and hot spices with butter.
And lastly we tried the Chicken Tandoori that is chicken in spiced yogurt with herbs and spices baked in clay oven served on bed of onion, green, and red bell peppers.
After that lunch, we needed to work off some calories. So my friends, who are Estes Park locals, took me to their favorite hike. Gem Lake is a local’s favorite. It was late afternoon when we arrive and perfect for catching some great views and scenery.
The Lumpy Ridge Trailhead is north of Estes Park off of Devil’s Gulch Road. From US 36 in downtown Estes Park, drive north on MacGregor Avenue. Shortly after crossing US Highway 34, MacGregor Avenue turns into Devil’s Gulch Road. Continue on bypassing the gateway to MacGregor Ranch area. Less than a mile away, you’ll see the trailhead marked with an NPS sign.
It’s a fun family hike with a wide path and gentle incline to start, but as you wind through the trees the path narrows and the steps get bigger. Kids will loving looking for wildlife and the unique rock formations along the trail.
One of the biggest surprises to me along the trail is that there is a privy, or bathroom, that is about 10-15 minutes from the top.
It is a good break spot before you tackle the toughest part of the hike. The big stone steps are definitely the thigh burner part of the hike.
Gem Lake is shallow. It is a granite bowl that captures rain water. The granite is 1.8 billion years old and has been sculpted by wind and chemical erosion. There is a sandy area at the lake that locals call “The Beach.”
I was fascinated with the trees. They are weathered too so you’ll find some unusual twisted and braided tree formation.
The hike is 1.8 miles from parking lot to Gem Lake. Round trip it is 3.6 miles with an elevation gain of 910 feet. It is free access to Gem Lake but it is part of Rocky Mountain National Park so no dogs are allowed. As with any hike, go prepared. You’ll want hiking shoes or tennis shoes. Definitely take along water and even some snacks for kids. You might want to take a jacket too as temperatures and weather conditions can change quickly, even in the middle of summer. Make sure you stop and have a few moments to soak up the view.
Take the Gem Lake hike with me in my “Explore Colorado” segment that aired on Good Day Colorado on Fox 31 Denver.
I guess you can say we worked off the great food from Nepal’s Cafe and worked up an appetite for dinner at Nicky’s Steakhouse. It’s on the river and has been open since 1967. They have great steaks and seafood including Colorado trout, along with an extensive menu of Italian and Greek cuisine. There were four of us and we definitely splurged!
We started with the Escargot in Mushroom Caps that were definitely not low-calorie but they were divinely delicious.
Since Nicky’s is known for Greek food I had to try the Greek salad and Spanakopita, which is spinach and feta pie.
For my entree I wanted to try their Italian cuisine but didn’t want anything heavy or a huge plate. So they made a special small plate of pasta with feta for me. That also allowed me to taste everyone else’s entrees.
Including Nicky’s Shrimp Scampi, Prime Rib, and Dolmades, which are grape leaves stuffed with rice and mild spices and topped with egg and lemon sauce.
Somehow we saved room for dessert and tried three different ones. Of course the Baklava was tops on list. We also had the German Chocolate Layer Cake and Caramel Apple Granny.
After a fun day of food and hiking, I hit the hay at Timber Creek Chalets. I adored my cabin. It’s definitely mountain rustic and just a few minutes away from Elkhorn, the main street in Estes Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park. The cabins and chalets are perfect for families or groups and are very affordable. It is pet friendly and I loved the added touch of an overflowing welcome basket. You escape to nature at Timber Creek Chalets.
Here’s a tour of my cabin at Timber Creek Chalets.
After a great night’s sleep, I headed over to run on the Lake Estes Trail. In a matter of minutes I saw elk on the trail, including one that was not so happy that I was there. I actually didn’t get that close and there was a railing between him and me, but the elk charged me until I was out of his territory. The elk in Estes Park are incredible to see but just don’t get too close.
With the steam coming off the lake it was a peaceful, beautiful morning going around the lake.
I loved seeing two guys in a row boat too.
It was time for post workout breakfast so we headed to Mountain Home Cafe.
As soon as I saw Huevos Rancheros on the menu, I was sold. I was in breakfast heaven with that dish!
Some of the other dishes were the Veggie Omelette
Corn Beef Hash
Swedish Roll Up Crepes
And they are known for their Baked Oatmeal.
I did take a bite of each one. I love it when friends share so we can all sample different dishes. All of it was delicious.
We headed over to Elkhorn to catch the Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival parade. It was such a well organized parade with Scottish and Irish clans, dogs, military, and bands. It was incredible to see the patriotism. Every time military passed by there was a standing ovation. My eyes weld up every time.
Then off to festival to catch some Celtic music, games, food and fun. The first band we saw was Albannach. Yes that’s me with Jamesie, the wildly entertaining drummer.
We headed over to the highland games to catch some of the boulder throwing, sheth toss (toss bale of hay with pitch fork), and hammer toss then caught a few rounds of jousting.
The Scottish Irish Festival is September 6th through 9th. You’ll see plenty of Men In Kilts like I blogged about.
We ended the Saturday with a great dinner at Orlando’s Steakhouse.
Their homemade bread was so good that you have to be careful not to stuff yourself on the bread. We ordered the sauteed mushrooms as an appetizer. They were a perfect compliment to the bread.
For my entree I had the 4oz Filet Mignon with polenta. Each entree is served with a salad.
It’s a steakhouse, specializing in steaks, but they do have chicken and fish options.
Of course we couldn’t pass up dessert, especially since we were celebrating a birthday.
My last stop of a weekend eating my way through Estes Park was for Sunday breakfast. We headed to another mom and pop breakfast spot, Notchtop Bakery & Cafe. It’s the only cafe in Estes Park that has an in-house bakery producing chemical free baked goods. Their motto is “honest food for honest prices.”
I had the Veggie Burrito with two eggs, bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes, and black beans on veggie red chili. It’s $7.95 and a fantastic way to start the day.
Breakfast dishes range from $3.95-$7.95, which is so nice to find wonderful healthy and yummy food that is not expensive.
You do have to try one of their treats. There’s a plethera of delicious goodies to choose from, including gluten free options.
The Lemon Poppyseed Muffin, Strawberry Rhubarb Scone, and Cinnamon Roll are sweet bites of heaven.
See you soon Estes Park!
Golfing for Kids in An Oasis in the Desert
about 1 month ago - No comments
I went to Palm Springs in early March to attend the Patrick Warburton “Golf for Kids” Celebrity Golf Tournament to benefit St. Jude. A couple of friends joined me as we flew out early that Saturday morning. I had actually never flown in to the Palm Springs Airport. I love that it’s an open air airport, kind of like open air malls with shops and restaurants.
We headed over to the tournament’s host resort, the JW Marriott Desert Springs. They are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year with $25 million in renovations including upgrades to their famous Palm Course and opening new restaurant Rockwood Grill and outdoor lounge area Blue Star Lounge.
Surrounded by lush golf courses, tropical flowers, swans, and even flamingos, you feel like you are in an oasis in the desert.
I loved that friendly Lobby Ambassador Carol greeted us as soon as we walked in to a lobby that brings the tropical oasis outside indoors, complete with exotic birds scattered throughout.
Luckily we were able to check into our room early. My friend Lisa and I shared a room that had a great view of the Par 3 course.
Here’s a tour of our room and some of the grounds.
Before heading over to the golf tournament, we grabbed a bite to eat at the poolside Oasis Bar & Grille. I had a fabulous grilled chicken salad with a lemon vinaigrette. It was a perfect welcome to California lunch while sitting under an umbrella enjoying a beautiful day in the desert.
Lisa and I headed over to Classic Club for an afternoon of meeting celebrities and enjoying a little golf.
My "assistant" Lisa hard at work!
WIth rock legend Alice Cooper
With Actor Bruce McGill
While chatting with some of the celebrities, I found out why they got involved in Patrick Warburton’s Golf for Kids benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
After an afternoon of golf we did manage to sneak in a little pool time at Desert Springs resort. Then we enjoyed a great night of comedy and fun there. Patrick Warburton got some of his funny friends to participate including Greg Fitzsimmons, David Spade and Mike Wilson. As part of the Golf for Kids tournament there is a jam session on Friday night and comedy night on Saturday night with golf Saturday and Sunday.
With Patrick Warburton right before Golf for Kids Comedy Night
It was a super quick trip for me, but I did manage to get in a great morning run that Sunday morning exploring some areas around the Desert Springs resort. Check out my Running in the Desert blog entry that is part of my fitness blog.
I’m already looking forward to going back to the Golf for Kids tournament next year. Even the celebrity musicians raved about the jam session so I don’t want to miss that! I also can wait to see all of the renovations at Desert Springs and spend more time enjoying the resort.
Taking On Mary Jane
about 1 month ago - No comments
I’ll admit it – skiing black runs, double black runs, and moguls intimidate me. But I’m up for the challenge of trying to master them…with a lesson. Mary Jane at Winter Park is known as the moguls capital of the United States. So I headed there and met up with instructor JT Thompson.
I had visions of me turning into a giant snowball tumbling down the mountain or having yard sale after yard sale as I crashed repeatedly trying to get through the bumps. If you don’t know what a yard sale is, well it is a ski term for your skis and poles going in all different directions on the run when you fall.
JT said first lesson is B over B. That’s booty over boots. Then, on the chair lift, we practiced lower leg steering and just moved our legs to warm up. Off the first lift, we skied for a little bit as JT worked on balance and getting me to stand up straighter. One of the drills was picking up one leg and tapping it down while skiing on the other leg. Then we practicing smearing the snow, or getting more ski in contact with the snow, instead riding the edge.
We headed over to my first moguls run, where Jabberwocky and White Rabbit runs join together.
The small moguls run is called Jabber Rabbit and the bumps? Well, they’re classified as baby bumps. Instead of heading down, JT took me across to work on absorption and getting the feel of skiing uneven terrain.
Made it down my first moguls....well baby bumps!
JT’s teaching technique is in the bumps, then out of the bumps. As we skied over to my next moguls run on Allan Phipps, he continued coaching me on form. My friend Catrina ripped it up going the bigger moguls on Ingledive Run. She’s been skiing for years. It gave a great visual of how you’re suppose to look skiing down moguls. I did a few of the smaller moguls there and then we headed over to Mary Jane.
Known as Colorado’s Lady, moguls skiers love Mary Jane. Elevation at its highest point is 12,060 feet at the summit of North Cone. From there it’s a 3,060 foot vertical drop down to Winter Park Base. I got off the lift at Lunch Rock, which is an elevation of 11,200 feet. We skied over to Wildwood Glades, my first Mary Jane moguls.
At Lunch Rock with Parsenn Bowl in background.
JT’s goal was to keep me upright all day or in other words, no falls. So on the bumps for the first couple of runs, he actually skied most of the time right next to me and holding my arm. It was super helpful to navigating the moguls. On Mary Jane, he stayed close but let me tackle those on my own.
I still can’t believe I didn’t fall during my first moguls. If you haven’t skied moguls, give them a try. But take a lesson. Another piece of key advice JT gave me is think knees up to chest, not chest down to knees. Staying tall is the trick to mastering moguls.
Check out my “Explore Colorado” segment that aired in Good Day Coloraod on Fox 31 Denver.
After an afternoon of skiing we headed over to Hernando’s Pizza Pub. It’s a locals favorite and find for a vacationer. My favorite is the Mediterranean Pizza with spinach, feta, red onion, sausage and pepperoncinis.
The pizza is fantastic and the dollar bills all over the walls add character. Great food and atmosphere. Make sure you take a dollar bill with you so you can leave your mark at Hernando’s.
Breakfast at The Blvd
about 1 month ago - No comments
If you want to be treated like a celebrity in LA, just head to The Blvd at the Beverly Wilshire where everyone is treated like a V-I-P. As soon as I walked in for breakfast Saturday morning, I knew I was in for a treat.
Shortly after being seated, Mark came over and said “Good Morning Ms. Broome.” So nice to go to breakfast and they know your name. I love the whimsical and fun cover of the brunch menu and the categories for food like “Break An Egg,” “Slim Down,” and “Sweet Corner” for breakfast and “Flour Power,” Protein Boost,” and “The Afterparty” for brunch dishes.
When I was ordering, Mark said, “Have something you wouldn’t normally have at home.” I took him up on his advice and ordered the Huevos Rancheros with eggs over medium, soft corn tortillas, guacamole, chorizo, beans, salsa, and fresh green onion. Huevos Rancheros is one of my favorite breakfast items to have and I loved the LA twist on it.
I wanted something a little refreshing to drink and decided to try the Muddled Blvd Lemonade. I went for the orange one, but they offer lemon and lime. You can add Ultimat Vodka if you want too. It was very light and not too sweet, just a perfect refreshing drink.
In Room Dining Manager Jakub Skyvara came over to say hello to me and said I had to try The Blvd signature French Toast. I commented how I had just posted a picture of the World of Bloody Mary’s on the menu. Jakub said I had to try one. So of course I said okay.
Mark selected the Japanese Bloody Mary for me. I have to admit I was a little skeptical about a Bloody Mary served with cucumber, octopus, and hamachi sashimi.
Here’s the big twist with this Bloody Mary – it’s made with sake instead of vodka. I tried it and the Japanese Bloody Mary is out of this world!
I didn’t eat all of the Huevos Rancheros because I was saving room for the French toast. The presentation simply made my mouth water! It was perfectly drizzled with grand marnier syrup, strawberry and vanilla compote, and very light powdered sugar. Honestly, this is the best French toast that I’ve had in ages. It’s light, fluffy, and yummy. A delicious breakfast treat is a great description.
The atmosphere of The Blvd is lively and bustling, yet at the same time you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast and not feel rushed or like you are scarfing down your food. Definitely a great accomplish. But one of my favorite things about The Blvd is the staff. Everyone that came over to my table was incredibly nice, and like Salvador took that extra second to have a chat with me. That’s customer service you can’t buy, but it makes the experience much more enjoyable and memorable.
When you’re in LA, cruise over to The Blvd for a breakfast experience.
Here are the recipes for their signature French Toast and Japanese Bloody Mary.
The Blvd French Toast
Ingredients
· 1 loaf challah Bread
· Melted butter, to oil griddle
· 6 eggs
· 1/2 cup heavy cream
· 1 orange, zested and juiced
· 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
· 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
· Orange Bourbon Butter, recipe follows
For the Orange Bourbon Butter
· 1 pound unsalted butter, softened
· 2 tablespoons orange flavored liqueur (recommended: Cointreau)
· 2 tablespoons bourbon
· 3 tablespoons orange zest
The Blvd Japanese Bloody Mary
2 oz Ultimat Vodka
1 oz Sake
1/2 oz Dry sherry
4 oz Tomato juice
Pinch Black pepper
Pinch Celery Salt
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Build ingredients over ice in a high ball glass, float sherry on top to finish, add pepper and salt to taste.
Garnish with a celery stalk and a skewer of cucumber, octopus, and hamachi sashimi.
Ski With An Olympian In Steamboat
about 2 months ago - No comments
Two years ago if you told me I was going to ski with an Olympic skier, honestly I would have laughed. This is my second ski season in Colorado and not only did I get a chance to ski with an Olympian, but I got to ski with the first American man to medal in alpine skiing in the Olympics. Billy Kidd won the silver medal in slalom in the 1964 Olympics, missing gold by only 0.14 seconds.
In the ski world, Billy is a legend. On the slopes of Steamboat, he’s a rock star. Billy is also one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Here’s why – during ski season he skis almost daily with anyone who wants to ski with him….and you can ski with him for free. He truly enjoys sharing the sport he loves. As I witnessed as we skied down the mountain, he also loves chatting with folks, especially the kids, or future Olympians as he calls them. Steamboat has produced more Olympic skiers and boarders than any other city in the united states. So it wouldn’t be unusual to see an Olympian-in-training on the slopes there.
As I approached the first run in my learn to ski like an Olympian lesson with Billy, the first words out of my mouth were, “Hey Billy wait for me. This is the green run?” We shot the story in mid-January. Since then I’ve done some skiing and gone on to ski the back bowls of Vail for the first time and my first ever moguls on Mary Jane at Winter Park. So I’m getting better. I’d consider myself an intermediate skier now, but in mid-January I was definitely beginner/intermediate and very nervous to ski with an Olympian. The first run with Billy was actually a blue run and he immediately started giving me great tips. Straight out the gate he focused on pole plant technique for turn. He taught me to do a pole plant first with just a flick of the wrist and allow that to lead you in to the turn. As I got better and faster with turns, jokingly he compared me to World Champion skier Lindsey Vonn.
Here’s the second big brake through in skiing for me. Billy told me to stand like a world champion. Forget worrying about looking cute on the slopes. Who cares! World champions don’t. Here’s the champion stance: feet apart, knees bent, and arms out. Yes, you might feel a little like a bird or like Leonardo DiCaprio, standing on the bow of the Titanic shouting “I’m king of the world.” But stand like a champion and you’re on your way to becoming a good or even great skier. 
As we skied follow-the-leader style down the mountain, we laughed and I learned as Billy was constantly looking back to analyze my form.
Other tips he gave me: The faster you go, the more you want to keep your hands forward. They’re out and forward as you go into a tuck position, not hands pulled up by shoulders as I was doing in tuck. If you need to slow down, just make lots of turns. If you find yourself getting off balance or out of control, simply think pole plant. It will bring you back to neutral.
Once we go down the mountain, of course I felt one step closer to going for the gold! I definitely have a golden memory of a very special adventure – skiing with an Olympian. You can ski with him too but instead of being in his signature cowboy hat, Billy will be in a helmet. He almost always skis with a helmet. He jokingly told me he needed the aerodynamics of his cowboy hat to keep up with me. Meet Billy at 1pm at the top of the Steamboat Gondola for your Olympic-size adventure. Check out my “Explore Colorado” segment that aired in Good Day Colorado on Fox 31 Denver.
I’m really looking forward to taking a ski powder lesson with Billy Kidd and experience Steamboat’s Champagne Powder. Shortly after my “Explore Colorado” segment aired, Billy sent me an email. Here’s part of what it said:
“And I didn’t realize how much you really ski like Lindsey Vonn until I saw the video and could analyze it in slow motion and instant replay. You may want to recalculate your Olympic goals and join Lindsey on the World Cup circuit next year in preparation for the 2014 Olympics.
I look forward to coaching you more next year in Steamboat. Clear a place in your trophy case for your Gold Medal – in Powder Skiing!”
Oh my Olympic Dream lives on! See ya in the powder at Steamboat.
Three Chicks Cross Country Ski….And Yes I Hit A Tree
about 2 months ago - No comments
A few weeks ago I went cross country skiing with my friends Austyn and Melissa. Austyn and I were first timers and Melissa had only been a couple of times. On a beautiful afternoon we headed over to the Breckenridge Nordic Center. I am going to say right off the bat – we should have taken a lesson!
Well the three of us rent gear at the Nordic Center and head outside. We did get a quick lesson in how to put on the skis before we took off. As soon as we go the skis on, Austyn fell and we hadn’t even skied! Of course we busted out laughing.
No worries, she would roll with laughter later at me. So off we went trying to glide through the snow and laughing the whole time.
The Breckenridge Nordic Center has 30 kilometers of groomed cross country ski trails. A few minutes in to our cross country ski adventure we realize that none of us had picked up a map. We decided to follow the signs and ask others along the way. We just did a loop that kept us close to the Nordic Center as we skied for about an hour.
Shortly after our stop at this scenic creek, I wiped out.
But neither Austyn’s fall nor my wipe out are the funniest part of our cross country skiing outing. This is one of those adventures where the video tells the whole story. Watch, enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery, and of course laugh….especially when I hit a tree. Yes, I ran into a tree while filming us cross country skiing. Next time I’m taking a lesson!
Heavenly First Run In Vail’s Legendary Back Bowls
about 2 months ago - No comments
Vail’s Back Bowls are seven miles of some of the most legendary, epic, and awe-inspiring ski terrain. After hearing skiers describe skiing the back bowls as heavenly and almost like a religious experience, I put it on my bucket list.
I’ll admit, I was extremely nervous about doing this. I was second guessing my abilities but my guide/instructor Chris Lai quickly eased my jitters.
My friends Catrina and Sierra came along on my first visit to Vail’s back bowls. Both are excellent skiers. My friend Sara, who works for Vail and is a great snowboarder, also came along. If you’ve never skied the back bowls go with a guide or instructor for your first time.
Catrina, Sierra, Chris & Sara take me on my first Vail Back Bowl adventure.
So off we went and I quickly found out the adventure of skiing Vail’s back bowl beginnings with getting there taking a series of chairlifts and catwalks. Back bowls are in bounds and are not back country. They are a mountain with a gully and some sort of curvature to the terrain.
As Sierra, Chris and I rode the first lift I had tons of questions. Let’s just call it nervous chatter on my part. Yes, my nervous giggle was in full swing on the lift. Sierra said something about a yard sale. So of course I had to ask what that means. Chris quickly tells me, ”Where there skis don’t end up underneath them anymore. Along with their poles, their hat, their googles, maybe their gloves all over the slope.” I absolutely did not want to end up that way, so a little praying for no yard sale happened on the lift.
Our first stop was at Sundown Bowl. It’s a little more difficult to get to than some of the others and it’s Chris’ favorite bowl. We didn’t ski it but just enjoyed the view of the bowl and Forever Run in the distance. Chris told me when you’re on that run you feel like you are skiing forever. It got it’s name from the founders of Vail skiing there and one of them commenting that it’s going to take forever to get back up the mountain after they skied down.
Chris gave me a lot of tips to skiing back bowls and we talked about how the sun and wind affects the conditions. By analyzing how the sun and wind are affecting the bowl leads to finding the best conditions.
Chris also gave me a quick ankle bend lesson before we headed off on a catwalk to Over Easy. Yes it’s a green run, but it was a nice warm up. One of the funny things about me is that when I conquer green runs, I think I am Lindsey Vonn. Boost that confidence a little on the greens and I think I can competition with the best female skier in the world. Yes, it’s okay to laugh at me but I would love to ski the run on Vail Mountain that is named after her with her.
We made another stop at Blue Sky Basin Overlook. It was here that I decided to get a closer look at the extreme terrain by trudging into the powder. As I tried to get out of the powder, I became a total dork doing a powder dance.
Once out, we took another catwalk and I got a ride. Chris looked at me and asked me if I had every water skied. I thought it was odd that he asked me that but I said yes. The he said, “I know you can make it, but hold on to this.” He extended his pole and then pulled me along on a flatter part of the catwalk.
My friends Catrina and Sierra were having a blast doing tricks on the catwalks like 360s and going up on the sides. Somehow we get separated for a few minutes so they hit some moguls before we got to China Bowl.
At the top of China Bowl, Chris gave me great advice to focus on him and the line were taking. I trusted him and knew he would get me down this bowl that is expansive and well, huge. I immediately loved that it wasn’t crowded. I also learned the back bowls are actually a great ski area for families or groups with a variety of ski levels because of the variety of runs and terrain within the bowls.
We took a little break to soak up the scenery and for me to take some fun photos of my Jen’s first Vail back bowl adventure crew!
It's all about the shot for Catrina & Sierra!
Time to rip it up Sara!
Yes Chris you are King of the Back Bowls!
Before we headed down, Catrina said this to me, “It is just you and the mountain.” I took that to heart and started down Poppy Fields Run in the middle of the bowl. We were actually skiing down a meadow.
To me it felt like I was skiing on top of the world as we traversed back and forth across the bowl. There was one area where it got a little steeper but Chris kept me going.
About half way down looking back up China Bowl.
About halfway down we stopped and Chris pointed out Mount Holy Cross. Remember I said early that some skiers have described skiing the back bowls as a religious experience? That was mine. Just a heavenly moment of peace in what can only be described as God’s Country.
Near the bottom I got to fly on skis as we did a tuck and go with the walls of the bowl shooting up beside us.
From there we headed over to Blue Sky Basin. After more catwalks and a chairlift ride, we came up to the point where we could either take Steep and Deep or Cloud Nine. Both are blue runs. We decided Cloud Nine.
It was definitely fitting since I was on cloud nine after just completing my first Vail back bowl without turning into a giant snowball or even falling.
In Blue Sky Basin, we stopped at a spot that gave us an incredible view of Vail Back Bowls.
That's China Bowl.
I did get another water ski ride on a catwalk and we started having a lot of fun on the flats. Catrina and Sierra jumped on the water ski train. Yes, Chris pulled three of us for a bit. Then Catrina and Sierra decided they wanted to do tricks, including both of them skiing between my legs while filming video. We were having so much fun that I didn’t realize I was skiing down my first natural half pipe until we were half way down it.
Before skiing back down to Lionshead Village, we stopped by Ski Patrol. I wanted to ask Vail Ski Patrol Supervisor Chris Reeder a few questions about what they do to maintain the back bowls.
Vail has 60 trained professional ski patrollers monitoring conditions, skiers and boarders. Vail budgets $100,000 just for explosives to bomb any potential avalanche areas. Every morning, ski patrollers are out there a couple of hours before lifts opens assessing conditions and bombing where necessary.
While at Vail Ski Patrol headquarters, I got to meet two of the three Vail Ski Patrol Avalanche Rescue Dogs. While avalanches in bounds at ski resorts are rare, ski patrols train with dogs because they are first responders to any avalanches that happen in the back country adjacent or close to resorts. Vail has three dogs – Henry, Mookie, and Rocky. My favorite is the oldest one of the three, Henry. You can actually follow the three dogs on Twitter. Just click on their names for their profiles.
Vail Ski Patrol Avalanche Rescue Dogs Henry & Mookie.
An doggone great day!
This was my best day of skiing ever. With the bluebird ski, fresh powder, and a day of firsts and challenges, surrounded by friends, skiing my first Vail Back Bowl as simply epic.
Check out my “Explore Colorado” segment that aired in Good Day Colorado on Fox 31 Denver.
Let’s Go To Echo!
about 2 months ago - No comments
It’s been a record-setting season for Colorado’s newest ski resort, Echo Mountain. The six-year old resort is only 35 miles from downtown Denver. Echo Mountain has received some of the best snow in Colorado this season, including a 55 inch snow dump in early February. For the season so far, over 200 inches of snow has fallen and there’s still a few weeks to go!
I check out the ski area in December as one of my first ski outings of the season and asked a couple of friends who are advanced skiers to come along. It was a first trip to Echo for all four of us. My friend Melody has been skiing since she was about 4 or 5 years old. Catrina competed when she was younger and now coaches kids in Team Summit. Kelley is a heli skier, which means she does off trail, downhill skiing that’s only accessible by helicopter.
Four chicks about to tackle Echo Mountain
Echo isn’t huge, but with easy access from Denver, we found it to be a great spot to take in some runs. The past few years it’s been a hot spot for boarders, but quickly gaining a reputation as a great spot for skiers. There are 16 trails in the ski area. Best part of all Echo Mountain is affordable with adult daily lift tickets at $49 and season passes are available. They also offer night skiing five nights a week, staying open until 9pm, and have a race league on Monday nights. With the ski area nestled in the Foothills near Evergreen, the view of the Rockies is beautiful.
After a couple of runs we hit the terrain park. There are currently 68 features open in the park. Now I just skied in between the features. Kelley did too, even though she can easily conquer them. Catrina rode a few rails and caught some air with jumps. Melody got a little coaching from Catrina on jumps and attempted to do several of them.
We had a great time spending a couple of hours one afternoon exploring Echo. We topped it off with a few munchies and some hot cocoa. Topped with marshmallows, hot chocolate is always a fitting end to a great afternoon on the slopes.
As we headed back to Denver, I pulled over to snap a shot of Echo After Dark. I want to go back and try out their night skiing.
Check out my “Explore Colorado” segment on Echo Mountain that aired in Good Day Colorado on Fox 31 Denver.
Around The World At Keystone
about 2 months ago - No comments
When I went to the Keystone Winter Culinary Festival last year, I had no idea the caliber of Keystone Resort’s cuisine. If you are looking for a wonderful weekend that combines food, wine, and skiing then this weekend at Keystone is for you. The Keystone Winter Culinary Festival starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday. It is traditionally the first weekend in March.
Last year I started my Keystone food adventure at Ski Tip Lodge. If you are a foodie, this restaurant needs to be on your list. The Ski Tip Lodge is actually where Keystone began as a stagecoach stop in the 1800s. It’s been transformed into a bed and breakfast with incredible food on the menu. A rotating four-course menu is offered 7 days a week with 2 seatings during ski season. Reservations required. You can make yours by calling 800-354-4386.
The theme of the dinner I went to was “World Celebration of Wine.” Executive Chef Kevin McCombs took us on a journey around the world stopping at each continent.
There was an assortment of mouthwatering homemade breads arranged on the table as a centerpiece. It was a centerpiece that was scarfed down quickly.
Courtesy Saveur.com
We started our around the world trip in Asia with a lychee glazed Asian pear with hamachi over sushi rice served with Marumoto Brewery “Hou Hou” Sparkling Sake from the Okayama Prefecture in Japan NV. The light, fizzy sake with flavors of pear, melon, and almonds is a great alternative to bubbly. I wanted to show you a picture of the bottle because the light blue bottle is just fun and festive.
Our stop in Africa was with almond encrusted black cod and ginger marinated rock shrimp with apricot bread pudding and carrot beurre blanc. It was served with the 2008 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in Walker Bay, South Africa. I loved the pear and lime aromas and flavors that dominated this chardonnay.
The Australia stop was nice and light. It was Rocket and tango tossed in a passion fruit vinaigrette with fresh avocado, grilled banana, cucumber relish, and toasted macadamia nuts. It was served with 2010 Brokenwood Semillion from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales. The lasting flavors of lime and apple blossom in the wine were brought out by the fresh flavors of the salad.
We were off to South America with pasilla chili glazed Angus beef tenderloin served with sweet potato chips, corn salsa, and black bean emulsion. It was served with the 2007 Concha y Toro “Terrunyo Block 27″ Carmenere from the Peumo Vineyard in the Cachapoal Valley in Chile. The powerful, yet elegant, red wine was the perfect partner to the tenderloin.
We stopped in Antarctica to cleanse our palette with lemon mint vodka sorbet. I’m not a big vodka drinker but this was refreshing and delightful.
Next to North America for char grilled North American elk loin served with rosemary infused potato puree and bourbon spiked huckleberry glace. The elk loin was paired with the 2006 Marietta Cellars “Angeli Cuvee” from the Alexander Valley in California. The layers of blackberry, dark chocolate, toasty oak and rich spice evolve as you sip this wine.
And finally to Europe to a poached pear crisp served with caramelized pears, hazelnut ice cream and Xante caramel.
It was paired with Xante Pear Liqueur from Sweden. It’s a cognac-based pear liqueur so you get light pear combined with strong cognac flavors.
The next day to work off a night of fabulous eating I headed up the mountains with friends for ski biking. That’s biking on snow. Keystone is one of the few resorts that offers ski biking. Check out my blog Go Biking On Snow! for that fun adventure.
Then off to the Keystone Winter Culinary Festival’s premiere event, The Grand Tasting. We took the gondola up to Alpenglow Stube for a night of sampling local specialities from Keystone’s award-winning restuarant including Ski Tip Lodge, The Keystone Ranch, Bighorn Steak House, Alpenglow Stube, and others.
One of my favorites of the night was Bighorn Steakhouse certified angus beef shoulder tender served with sweet potato gaufrette, jicama plum relish, and red chili demi-glaze. It was paired with Alamos Malbec from Argentina.
At this event you definitely want to save room for dessert. Executive Pastry Chef Ned Archibald goes overboard with decadent desserts, chocolates, and scrumptious sweets.
If you miss this festival, The Taste of Keystone during Labor Day weekend is another culinary adventure to go in Keystone.
Gone Fishin’….Ice Fishing That Is!
about 2 months ago - No comments
Ice fishing is huge in the Great Lakes, northern plains, Canada, and gaining popularity in the Rockies. I went ice fishing for the first about a year ago and had a ball. So when my friend Dave Bryant of Lake Ice USA said’ “Jen, let’s go fishing,” of course I said yes. This time seventh grader Forrest and his dad came along with Dave, his fishing buddy Bill Miller, and me. We headed over to Conifer, just west of Denver. They have great fishing spots at Lower Lake Ranch.
On a beautiful day, I arrived at the ranch and headed out on one of the lakes with Dave, Bill, Forrest Sr, and Forrest Jr. Dave and Bill had all the fishing gear already in sleds out on the lake. One note, go ice fishing with a guide or someone with lots of experience. You don’t want to walk out on an ice covered lake without someone who can properly access that the ice is thick enough. The lake we were on had about 12 inches of ice and was safe to stand on.
The fishing crew except for Forrest Sr. who was taking picture.
Before we could fish we had to drill holes. Of course I had to drill one with the power auger. As I got close to finishing my hole, the auger took me down but Bill was there to quickly take over. I had to do another drill and stayed standing on that one. With each hole, Forrest Jr. came behind us and scooped out the floating ice of the hole.
Once the holes were set it was fishing time! It was game on for Forrest Jr. and me as we engaged in a little friendly ice fishing competition. It wasn’t long before Forrest had one on the line. But it got away. That’s when Dave reminded us it’s called fishing, not catching. With Dave coaching how to ice fish, Forrest was soon reeling in a rainbow trout.
So it was my turn to sit and wait and fish.
I used a Vislar to track the fish and got one on the line. But just like Forrest, my first one got away.
Dave came over changed some things on my line and within a few minutes I caught a trout.
Forrest thought it was really funny that I wouldn’t kiss the fish!
So we fished some more and Forrest quickly racked up the fish as he moved from hole to hole. In total, he caught seven in less than an hour and half and I caught one. We had such a good time.
I really loved something Dave told Forrest. Dave said, “Fish like every fish is your big fish, and do everything in life like it’s a big fish.” Great advice!
Dave does a lot of free workshops with Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Wildlife Experience. Lake Ice USA also works closely with Wounded Warriors USA. Dave and Bill have taken over 200 wounded warriors ice fishing. When I lived in San Antonio, I went through the rehabilitation training wounded warriors go through at BAMC. Anyone who works with wounded warriors is special in my book. I’m looking forward to going out on one of the Wounded Warriors fishing trips with Lake Ice USA soon.
Check out my “Explore Colorado” segment that aired on Good Day Colorado on Fox 31 Denver.
