We’ve been on an “unplanned ski hiatus,” to quote the Grill-Meister, partly because 2019 was the year of two foot surgeries, partly because we’ve been super-busy and couldn’t fit skiing into our winter trips to Little House in the Rockies for the past few years.
But today, we got back into the swing, or should I say onto the lifts, at Monarch Mountain. It was a gorgeous day and a gorgeous drive from our little cabin toward the Collegiate Peaks.
We took the green runs…and the gondola, which didn’t have the safety bar you pull over your head…ay-eee! I held on TIGHT.
The Grill-Meister was ready to hit the slopes.
Just before our first run, we took a mountaintop selfie.
A little rusty but none the worse for wear, we enjoyed our return to the slopes and emerged with a fierce hunger. Time for the apres-ski meal! Lucky for us, Salida was close by, and Amica’s Pizza beckoned to us from the street.
The bar after the rush 
Cool art is everywhere 
I love the bird cage with the plant! 
The dining area; the red walls create a lively feel 
A huge pizza oven – no wonder the crust was so perfect!
What a cool place! Pizza after skiing is a great choice! And it’s even better if you can find it in a mountain town like Salida, which has art galleries galore. Guess what we did after our meal?
All in all, it has been a wonderful day in a sunshiny winter wonderland that also has pizza and beer.
