“My favorite thing about this mountain is the accessable powder stashes in Mirkwood.”
Monarch Mountain and Great Sand Dunes National Park
Snow-laden mountains and sand, this must be Colorado. Monarch Mountain is a lesser-known ski area just west of Salida, Colorado. We got to it on a 10″ powder day. The terrain is varied from fun double diamond steeps and glades to groomed cruisers. A hike-to-area called Mirkwood offers the best advanced level skiing.
The Great Sand Dunes National Park is an hour and a half south of Salida, it’s like going to another world when you hike out onto the dunes. Well worth the trip. Wear shoes that are easy to empty out and if sand gets between the outer of the shoe and a Gore-Tex membrane it will ruin the shoes. Wear a shoe that is not Gore-tex or something similar. Wear a buff over your face if it is windy, sand can kick up quite a bit. Old sunglasses can keep the new ones from getting sand damage.
Once you are done, grab a soak. The San Luis Valley has a number of hot springs options.
Local hot springs: