The Hazard Chronicles

I am sure that a few years from now when I go back and read this in its printed form it will feel like all these trips just run together. We ski a lot. I get it. What's new? And in the summer time we climb a lot. We camp and we backpack and we go on long road trips and we stay in a lot of hotels and we eat a lot of pizza. During the week we go to school, go to work, go to see plays and movies, go to the gym, do our individual extracurricular activities, and eat a lot of pizza. It's who we are. And if there is anything we can take away from all that, it's that we DO things. That's our lifestyle, and I love it. But reading it, post after post, can make it seem somewhat routine.

On a day-by-day basis, however, it doesn't seem repetitive at all. Because each trip has its unique highs and lows. Just as each climb, each ski run, each play and each delicious bite of pizza (I really like pizza) is a little bit different. I don't believe these things will ever feel old or ordinary. A big part of this, I think, is in the word WE. These activities are all awesome in their own right, and open doors to great adventures. But once people- friends, or family- are introduced, these adventures transform into something even greater. Because seeing a sunset is a sublime experience. But sharing a sunset with those you love is unmatched in its transcendence and significance, and there will never be enough sunsets in a single lifetime to satisfy the desire for yet one more. 

Anyway. This week we went skiing. And we saw a play. We stayed in hotels, and we ate pizza. It was a good week. That's all.

Have a good week!

Jersey Boys. Fun show. Evelyn is currently taking a "History of Rock and Roll" class and it was neat hearing from her about the influence of Motown on the music scene.

Jackson was cleaning the fridge. I opened it to get something out and was surprised to see Addy just chillin' (get it?), reading a book on her phone. I'm not really sure what is going on here, or why. Was she hot? Is she training for winter sports? Is she just a strange child? The questions are endless.

Big Sky, Montana. This place feels like two different mountains. The lower lifts are cruisy and fun and feel very tame and "resorty." It's hard not to smile, or even laugh, as you ski these runs. The higher you go, however, the wilder and more serious it becomes. We were gifted with amazing big mountain conditions, and a contingent of us spent much of our time trying to maintain composure on some of the steepest terrain we have ever skied on. And then, back to the lodge for more sunshine and rainbows before heading out again. What a place!

The storm started two days before we arrived. We came out of our hotel the first day to calmer conditions, but almost two feet of fresh powder over night. By our third day we had bluebird conditions with nearly unlimited visibility, but a week's worth of accumulation on the ground to enjoy. I seriously don't think we could have hit the window any better. At Big Sky, winter lives on. It was perfect.

What are you putting on your foot?! I normally don't pay much attention as people are getting ready for the day, and I only vaguely remember buying these relics for Evelyn a few years back. She liked the rear entry or something. But seriously, these boots should have been retired about 25 years ago. I think an upgrade is in order, but I'm not sure she will allow me to take these away. "They work fine, Dad." Uh...right.

Us, on a warm-up run. These bumps through the trees were a family favorite.

The four of us (Me, Ev, Addy, Jack) took a few laps off the Headwaters/A-Z ridge. It gets obvious pretty quickly that the game has changed once you start walking up this ridgeline. The prolonged exposure can be nerve-wracking, and you find yourself needing to pull out skills like route-finding or slough management that aren't super typical for in-bounds skiing. In fact, the actual skiing was probably the easiest part. The lines are super committing, steep, and fast, and there are some true "no-fall" zones along the way. We were all up to the task and had a great adventure together.

Tired but very satisfied

Lindsey took a time-out from skiing to lap the elevator for about three hours. To each their own.

Party on. Five days in a row. Good week.

Addy: "To family, adventure, and skiing!"

Also Addy: "I heard somewhere that if tears come from your right eye it means you are happy, and if they come from the left it means you are sad. I can't stop crying out of both eyes though! I am happy we came, and sad that it has to be over. My eyes are so confused!"

The day after we got back home the four of us went up for a quick day at Silver Mountain. It's fun skiing as a smaller group and comes with a lot fewer conflicting priorities. Spring skiing at its finest. What a great day.

Silver Mountain Pizza. Addy is the Wildcat (look behind her). 

Well, that's it. Bye now.