Trains, planes, and automobiles (or maybe just skis).

I was going to write about more weighty matters, but I've been utterly consumed by trip planning over the past few days. When travel opportunities arise, I find myself incapable of doing anything but dreaming of jetting off to exotic locales, searching for the sweetest deals on lodging, airfare, and extras, and learning about all the little-known secrets a potential destination has to offer. Needless to say, since Steve and I started talking about getting away for New Year's Eve, I've been completely obsessed. Luckily, Steve has tolerated my madness quite well, taking the well-advised attitude that my insanity means less work for him.

Our initial plan was to go to Whistler, since we get discounts on skiing and lodging there via our Copper Mountain/Winter Park ski passes. Alas, we came up with this idea a wee bit late; the entire town of Whistler apparently was booked for New Year's Eve back in July. After a few dozen e-mail inquiries, I did find a cute little place for a great price. It also looked like I could get a mileage seat for one of us and a cheap ticket for the other (because I need a few more miles to keep premier status for next year on UAL). Things were looking good, and we figured to do the six-night trip for around $550 per person including transportation, lodging, skiing, food, and (of course) beer.

But the best laid plans . . . . .

First, the couple we were going with got engaged (damn them! :-)) and now have to visit family over the holidays. Then, just when it looked like other friends were going to join us, or that I'd figured out an alternative to bring the trip without our budget even if we went alone, it turned out that there are no more mileage seats available, and the cheap fare I'd been monitoring on United has evaporated.

We also flirted briefly with the idea of going to Hawaii, even putting a mileage seat on hold. Unfortunately, I have now learned that if you want to spend the most possible money on Kauai lodging, you should travel between December 26 and January 7.

Then, while I was moping on the phone to Steve this morning, he mentioned the idea of a hut trip. A quick look at the online availability chart confirmed that the 10th Mountain Division huts have all been booked since early fall, so it looked like our plans were foiled once again. All of a sudden, the idea came to us. . . what about a yurt?

A few google searches later, I discovered a yurt system I'd never heard of before on the New Mexico border, between Alamosa and Taos. I checked the availability chart on the website, and lo and behold, there appeared to be two huts open over New Year's. I called and got a machine, and left a message fraught with urgency. Then I sent an e-mail filled with exclamation points. Then I waited, and waited, and called again. This time, the phone line was busy, and my repeated dialing over the next two hours met with nothing but busy signals. I began to get nervous . . . perhaps a New Year's Eve adventure was not in the cards for us?

At last, I was talking to a very nice man at the Southwest Nordic Center. He confirmed that a yurt was ours for the taking, and took my booking information. Joy! Success! Perhaps now some lawyering could be accomplished!! But just as I finished relaying my accomplishment to Steve, the phone rang again. It was Nice Yurt Guy, informing me that he'd made a terrible mistake in his booking records and there was no yurt open for our dates. I nearly began sobbing, but remained calm and asked him to work with me to figure out an alternative. Finally, after consulting calendars and maps, we came up with a solution!

Steve and I now have (confirmed! reserved! paid for!) a wonderful three-night yurt-to-yurt trip on Cumbres Pass, staying the first night at the Flat Mountain Yurt, about 4.5 miles from the trailhead, then skiing to the Trujillo Meadow Yurt four miles away on day two, spending two nights there (including New Year's Eve), and skiing 4.1 miles back to the car on our final day. The yurts are simple but cozy, warm, and well-appointed, and the area sounds gorgeous! Plus, the whole trip will cost us only slightly more than a single night's lodging in Whistler, even if we don't find anyone else to join us.

I'm going to visit a friend in LA in December, so will keep my premier status on United and get to hang out with a good buddy to boot. And we probably will still make it to Whistler this season, most likely in February, when the snow will be better, the crowds lighter, the mileage seats available, the pass-related discount bigger, and the accommodations MUCH cheaper! So my diligent research will pay off after all.

Now, if only we could find the time (and some extra cash) to get to Hawaii.........