Making Snow Angels | Ski Trip To Mt. Cranmore | North Conway, NH

I went skiing for the first time this past weekend in North Conway, New Hampshire. My friends, my husband, and I booked an airbnb close to Mount Cranmore for a weekend mountain trip. Although I had never skied before, I had taken one snowboard lesson back in 2004. Coincidentally, it was at the same exact mountain! You can check out the Cranmore Mountain Resort here.

While my friends were out on the slopes, my husband and I were renting our gear. I was excited to check skiing off of my life goal list. With my rented skis strapped onto my feet and a helmet firmly in place on my head, we made our way to the beginners bunny hill. Before I knew it, Matthew was taking a lift up to a slope and I was on my own. Finally mastering my movements forward, I realized I didn’t have any idea how to turn. Youtube on my phone wasn’t very helpful. So I asked a young woman who appeared confident on skis and it turned out that she was an instructor. She offered to take me down the mini slope and teach me how to turn. She skied down backwards and I followed her successfully (although very slowly) down the hill. I did it! A special thank you to the kind stranger, Sammy, who gave me my first mini lesson on skis. I love the kindness of strangers.

Confident with my new ability, I went down the slope again with my new friend Taylor and then I conquered the next bunny hill with turns twice. -I was working my way up to going down the straight hill when my friends and I stopped for lunch. During lunch they convinced me that the greenway at the summit was “flat all the way down” and “just like the bunny hill with turns.” So I upgraded my pass to make the lift and up we went.

In other words, I fell down the mountainside. I did not know how to ski down a slope or how to get up. Within the first two seconds I was on my back and skidding down the ice as if I were using my borrowed ski coat as a sled. I tried again and again and again. It was very icy and very steep and very narrow. I was terrified. Although I had done a good job with the “s” turns down the bunny slope, I was in for a rude awakening. I went from “I can do this. I think I found my new sport,” to “What was I thinking?!” After falling down the first half of the mountain and making myself fall to avoid skiing into others who were also on the ground, I made it to the half way. At that point I knew I had to change my mindset. If I fell, I had to get back up and stop grumbling to myself in frustration. A kind French gentleman helped me up and told me for first time skiing that , “non, this mountain too big. Little hill next time. Little, little hill,” he emphasized by simulating a mini hill with his hands. Gotcha. But I still had to get down.

To be quite honest with you, I was cranky as could be. I was cold, my gloves were soaked, I had pulled a muscle in my shoulder, and I was simply terrified of this mountain slope. It was way steeper than I had imagined it would be. I felt very tricked by my friends, who honestly thought I had mastered turning enough to make it down. Half way down the mountain we hugged it out. And the good news is that I didn’t fall once the second half of the slope! It wasn’t as steep and it was much wider and not as icy. Regaining my confidence, I went up to the “Beginner’s Luck” slope twice (and didn’t fall once) before calling it a day.

We made it back to the cozy airbnb cottage for chicken farm, chili, hot coco, and games.

The next morning we explored more of North Conway. The Christmas decorations were still out on most of the buildings and the blanket of the snow made it feel like we went back in time to late December rather than the beginning of February. North Conway is an adorable little town with the cutest historic train station and scenic train rides, cute cafes, ski shops, restaurants, and boutiques. I would love to see it again around the holidays or even in the summer and fall.

Am I the only one that still gets giddy when they see an old Five and Dime or a historic General Store?

Back in the Airbnb, we spent some cozy time in front of the fire. When we move out of our apartment and into a house I truly need one of these in my life, especially if we stay put up here in New England.

Before driving home, we took a northern detour to Mount Washington, a forty minute drive from North Conway. Matthew took these photos with his drone.

One of the silly things I wanted to do during this trip was make snow angels in front of the Omni Mount Washington Resort. This grand historic hotel has been on my list for a while. Coming around the corner, the view did not disappoint. Nestled between the mountains it looked like a fairytale. I felt like Amelia arriving in Genovia for the very first time in The Princess Diaries.

Matthew documented our snow angel making with his drone in a few short videos that you can watch on Instagram @LiveLovelyTravel.

I haven’t made a snow angel in years. It was cold, but I couldn’t stop myself from laughing out loud. I’m working on being more lighthearted this year and snow angels were the perfect antidote to the stress I’ve been feeling. This moment became my new life goals.

You can see more of Matthew’s drone photography on Instagram @WorldsofDiscovery.

It was a wonderful winter weekend. It still amazes me that in February we don’t have any snow, but when we drive just four hours north to New Hampshire there are white covered mountains. It almost feels like a different world, yet it is so close to home for a weekend trip. Overall, I know that I need to practice, practice, practice when it comes to skiing. I think I mastered the snow angels; we did make them outside of the Omni after all. I’m definitely not giving up when it comes to skiing. Perhaps maybe, I did find my new winter sport.