Saturday, 10th December

I woke up at 7.30am, but I was awake earlier as I was very excited about the coming day of skiing. We had grape nuts and a banana for breakfast before hitting the road at 8.30am and driving to the ski fields. It was a 20 min drive.

I bought a 2 day lift ticket for $100 and we headed up. The first run was magic – the snow was soft and we skied for some time before we made it to the bottom again. It was a good warm up for the day.

We skied most of the mountain. The highlight was hiking for 30 mins in the thin air to reach the chutes over the top of the mountain. We found some knee deep powder that was a little heavy, but still fun to get stuck in!

We ate lunch at THE BAVARIAN LODGE & RESTAURANT

Nestled at the base of stunning Kachina Peak above the European-style village of Taos Ski Valley, The Bavarian Lodge & Restaurant offers guests the comfort and charm of an authentic alpine ski alm amid the majesty of New Mexico's storied Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

The gourmet menu features refined German dishes that are hearty but never heavy, a perfect way to enjoy a midday respite or replenish your strength after an active day on the ski slopes or the hiking trails. Choose among such offerings as Sauerbraten, Wienerschnitzel, or Käsespätzle, accompanied by a selection from our fine wine list or one of our specially imported beers from the Spaten Brewery in Munich. We also feature a full bar. For those who prefer a more American meal, we offer salads, sandwiches, and burgers.

I ate a sausage and a bun with a salad that was filling. There were also some birds that were friendly!

We skied a handful of runs in the afternoon before we decided to call it a day as the conditions deteriorated quickly.

On the way home we stopped at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. It was another 200 feet plus higher than the bridge I jumped off in Arizona… and it was scary!!!

Back in the house we showered and then headed into town to pick up some food for dinner. We cooked some pasta with a tomato sauce and sausage. It was filling. After two beers I was seriously spent – both from the altitude and the skiing.

We milled about in the evening, chatting and then the others headed off to catch up with sams mate who lives down the road. I skyped mum and had a good long chat to her before retiring and headed off to bed for a much needed sleep.