Skiing in (the Original) Sierra Nevada

Growing up in California, for me "skiing in the Sierra Nevada" meant Tahoe.  Growing up in Spain, for Eric "skiing in the Sierra Nevada" meant southern Spain and views of the Mediterranean from the peak. I'm quite sure that Tahoe has its charms (the lake, for one...) but I have to say, the original Sierra Nevada mountains are pretty great. 

Eric came here to ski with his family in the '90's and loved it, so we decided this would be a good place for the kids' first ski experience. Eric was hoping for good snow and warm weather, so that the kids could have good skiing without being too cold. He must have been good the last few months, because he certainly got exactly what he hoped for. Both yesterday and today it's been perfectly blue and sunny and warm (well, relatively warm--probably in the 50s down where I am and the 40s up on the peak). And just a week before we got here a big storm dumped feet of snow (in perfect timing for our arrival.) 

From the top, you can see the Mediterranean Sea, and apparently on a really clear day, even Morocco. The kids got to see the Med yesterday, as they got good enough to go high enough to get a view. In the picture below you can't really see it, but it's a thin line behind the far away mountains.

The other really nice thing about this area is that the mountains rise so steeply and quickly that even though the peaks always get enough snow to open the resort, just twenty minutes drive downhill it's warm and sunny and snow-less. So where I am in our apartment at the base, it looks just like southern California, even though the kids and Eric are in a snowy wonderland. I can definitely see why the area enchanted Eric when he was young. Also, Granada and the majestic Alhambra are only a fifteen minute drive further down the mountain.

Anyway, today marks the kids third day skiing, although both yesterday and Tuesday they really only skied several hours each, so it's really more like day two. And they are totally in love with it. Both of them wanted to wake up as early as possible today so that they didn't miss a minute on the slopes. They're still learning, of course, but Eric says they have gotten good enough that it's mostly fun, they're usually in control, and they rarely wipe out. I'm so glad for all of them that they're having so much fun. Eric skied every year with his family, and I think it is nice for him to be able to share the tradition with our kids. At this rate, wherever we end up permanently will need to be near mountains, as the kids are currently saying they want to ski every week...

I realize that what I really need is a video, but the only ones Eric took yesterday are too long for me to post here, so instead here are two pictures. Anyone who wants more documentation of my kids barrelling down a mountain can ask and I'll send you more when we get home :)


The big challenge for us I can see in the future, is going to be keeping Justin's porcelain skin from burning while skiing. The goggles protect his top half, and we've slathered him in sunscreen, but he's still got pretty pink cheeks. Okay, they're red. So if any of you are pro skiers who happen to have porcelain-white skin like my red-headed boy, please pass along any tips! Rebecca's got a bit of pink, but nothing like Justin...just enough to make her look rosy-cheeked and sun-kissed :)


Both kids love this area, and the apartment we're staying in (it is really nice, I must agree) so we are thinking of coming back here for another ski session or two in the next little bit. Hopefully at some point I can tear them away from the mountain long enough to check out the Alhambra, too...

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