Day 16: Mon 6/27: Purgatory Ski Resort near Durango, CO

About to do the zip line called the Purgatory Plunge ;)

Day 16:  Mon, 6/27: Purgatory (Durango Mountain Resort), Durango, Co

This is our 3^rd consecutive year doing these 40+ day RV summer trips and usually one of our absolute favorite days is going to the summer ski resorts for alpine slides, ropes courses, ziplines, etc.  Today, we had a wonderful time playing at Purgatory Ski Resort, now formally known as Durango Mountain Resort.  All four of us rode the fun zipline and the fast, exciting alpine slide.  When Andrea and Sam were racing on the alpine slide, Sam leaned too much and crashed at full speed on the course and got a nickel-sized burn on his elbow.   We all did the mechanical bull.  Ryan and Sarah learned very quickly and each said, “I shouldn’t ride at the rodeo.”  As usual, Andrea did the best at this.   Ryan climbed the rock wall many times—conquering the beginner and intermediate routes and trying his best at the advance route.  Sarah shot up really high on the bungee trampoline and enjoyed that sinking feeling in the stomach.  Although this was a small ropes course, we all loved the 9 different challenges.   The kids also ran in the water runners, which are basically hamster balls that humans run in in a pool about 1 foot deep of water.  Andrea and I loved watching them try to run inside the balls across the pool and then trying to run into each other in their balls.  They would constantly fall as they were running—it was hilarious to watch and for them to do (both times).  Sam took the chairlift up and mountain-biked down 3 different trails about 5 times.   All four of us biked down the incredible Divinity Flow Trail (intermediate rated).  This trail has great berms, bridges, forest runs, and steeps.  The kids were great.  Sam rode one last time up the chairlift to mountain bike down and saw a beautiful doe about 30 feet away.  He also saw a wild turkey about 10 feet away and many marmots (cute, chubby overgrown squirrels J ).   We had an awesome day of fun, challenge and adventure.  Sam and Andrea are most proud of the kids riding the intermediate mountain bike trail!

Ryan and Sarah on the Water runners. 

Sarah and Andrea on ropes courses

Andrea was the best of the four of us riding the mechanical bull.  Look at her face to see how much fun she was having!

That is pure joy (not fear :) ) on Sarah's face.

The Rocky Mountains around here are gorgeous.

Sarah about to fall on water rider

Ryan and Sarah on ropes coures

Ryan was a beast on the rock climbing wall.

Ryan on alpine slide.

Sarah on bungee trampoline