After hiking out of the Holy Cross Wilderness, my brother and I packed up the car with our dirt-encrusted belongings and headed to Vail. After spending multiple days working up a sweat and not showering, I was apprehensive to check into our extremely nice hotel. I usually try to look non-homeless when I travel, because the chances of receiving perks and upgrades are much greater if you look rabies-free. However, Colorado is Colorado and being surrounded by career ski bums is part of the charm, so I just went with it. A shower, bed, and beer were near the top of my to-do list, but something else jumped out first:

Best cheeseburger (and french fries and chicken nuggets) evarrrr. So, now smeared with ketchup, grease, and the stench of extreme poverty, my brother and I set forth to the Sonnenalp Resort. Luckily, I paid for our room in advance, so they couldn’t turn us away. Plus, I’ve stayed in that hotel many, many times. I love it there. Sonnenalp tips: Order the hot chocolate and eat the breakfast. Maybe it’s memories from prior family trips, but I crave those two things.

After catching up on personal hygiene and getting a solid 9 hours of sleep, we decided to check out the mountain biking scene. I’m pretty competent at outdoor things, but I usually play it safe in the beginning. I tend to check out my surroundings, focus on not leaving remnants of my person behind, and then, once I’m comfortable, push myself a bit more. Mountain biking was no different. However, my brother just goes for it. This is what happened last time he took someone mountain biking.

During our first run, my brother described my mountain biking prowess as, “You are like a loogie slowly sliding down a window.” I would have preferred, “You are graceful and cautious and totally badass.” Oh well. However, I didn’t end the day unscathed; I never fell, but I think my pedal attacked me:

Bike pedals: they are evil, leg eating bastards.

Anyway, we spent the rest of the trip exploring, walking around Vail Village, exploring bars, and walking around bars in Vail Village.

I really love being in the mountains, so much so that I think I should move to one. Anyone out there live in the mountains and want to give me a job? Anyone?

(Speaking of, my freelance career has gotten insanely hectic over the last few weeks. I am turning into a lifeless hermit, so I apologize if updates are a littttle bit slower. I’ll figure out a balance at some point, but for now, it’s okay. My sister and I are planning a Europe trip this fall that may take us from London apartments to Paris hostels to Tuscany Villas to Rome hotels. Money is nice. Exactly.)

Related posts:

1. The Time V Barrel Rolled Down a Mountain in Front of Ashlee Simpson
2. Vail, Colorado
3. Backpacking in the Holy Cross Wilderness, Part III
4. Backpacking in the Holy Cross Wilderness, Part I