The Hazard Chronicles

What a weekend we have had! Crazy roads, lots of family, difficult goodbyes, and some AMAZING skiing were all packed into the last few days. Here's how it went:

Wednesday: Worked half day- got a nice early start and clear weather all the way down to my parent's house in Rexburg. Arrived in time for some evening conversation. They are leaving in a couple of weeks for Germany (LDS mission) and we probably won't see them again for about a year-and-a-half, so we wanted to maximize the time we had together.

Thursday: Woke up early(ish) and, after a quick breakfast, got on the road headed for Grand Targhee ski resort. Conditions looked pretty yucky, but we were determined. That is, until we saw a gate across the road with a cop guarding it. Road Closed. Ugh.

Making the best of things, we turned around and played a little closer to home. The morning was spent at the local climbing gym, and the afternoon was full of tow-sledding (screaming around icy neighborhood streets at 40mph with kids in a sled tied to the back of the car). Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa, Rachel and I were both blissfully unaware of this last part until after the fact. No worries- the kids loved it and nobody broke anything, so it was all good. The movies they took were terrifying though!

Addy really likes finding a climb that is hard enough to become a "day project" for her. It usually takes her several tries to figure out the moves and do it cleanly. She often gets frustrated and cries when she makes mistakes- which makes it that much sweeter when she finally sends. I have to say, I really love the conversations her and I have during these moments. I guess I am part coach/part cheerleader to her, but it feels to me like I am able to step away from the "dad" role for a while and just offer support as a friend. It's good.

Left: Just getting started. Right: at full speed. Look carefully- there is a kid behind all that snow that is probably having the adrenaline rush of their lives.

Friday: Woke up early again for a second try at Grand Targhee. We got to the same place as before and the road was still closed, but we were not so easily deterred today. We decided to take a long detour up and around the closure, only to find that after 45 minutes of driving, that road was closed too. There were no cops around though, so we drove around the barricade and soldiered on. Sure, the drifts were high and it was impossible to differentiate between "road" and "potato field," but our front wheel drive minivan has always been up to the task- after all, we had come to ski! After a tense 30 minutes things cleared up a little and we were finally able to make it to the resort.

I have to say, personally, I think it was worth it. I have never skied such amazingly deep and dry powder in my life. Knee-to-waist deep, and light as air, I floated down a number of runs feeling halfway like I was actually flying. 

Unfortunately, not everyone shared in my ecstasy. It could have been the sub-zero degree temperatures. Or maybe it was the 35 mph wind and heavily falling snow creating whiteout conditions. Okay, let's face it- it was a blizzard by any definition. But still, all that new snow and cold weather made for some pretty awesome skiing. Rachel and Addy were game, and we got a few runs in together before meeting up with the other kids who were huddled together in the car with the heater on full blast. Calling it a day, we made the slow drive back home in mostly-good spirits.

This is the only picture we took that day while we were at the lodge. This was taken right before Addy, Rachel, and I headed back up the mountain and the others retreated to the warmth of the car.

That night, my brother and his wife surprised everybody by showing up and spending New-Year's eve with us. We had great food and fun games. I think it was the first time all the kids stayed up until midnight. Playing Bingo for money was probably their favorite part of the whole trip, and the adults enjoyed each other's company into the early hours. What a day!

Saturday: Rest day. After the previous day's adventures and nighttime festivities, most people took it pretty easy. Board games. Legos. Movie theatres. I think a little sledding. I went back to the climbing gym and, instead of belaying kids most of the time, climbed for myself and sent the entire gym in one two-hour session. That was kind-of fun. This was a good day for everyone, but nothing super specific stands out.

Jackson spent most of the day building a Lego city

Sunday: Another early start saw us on the road to Jackson Hole. Unlike previous days, the weather was absolutely perfect. We got to the resort and...well...there aren't many words to describe the day. "Amazing" would be an understatement. I am pretty certain that most people in our family would say this ranked as one of the best days of their lives. Certainly, it was the best ski day we have ever had as a family. The premium resort had something for everyone- steep chutes and big faces for me and Jack, long groomers for Rachel and most of the kids, multiple terrain parks, short lift lines, and plenty of space to explore. Everyone skied continuously until the lifts closed, with just one 30 minute break where we all came together for a quick lunch. The weather was perfect. Nobody got cold. No issues with gear. Basically, it was everything you could ask for in a ski day, and then some. The only regret was that we couldn't stay longer- but I can already see an extended family vacation in the making.

I spent most of the day with Jack. He is a good skier and doesn't shy away from a challenge.

Rachel and I got a little time together also

Can I just say that we have some really cool kids? I am so glad we can all have awesome days like this together.

Monday: A casual breakfast that went by too quickly was followed by a clean-up of the house and loading of the car. After such a great trip we were soon to be on the road back to real life. First, however, we had to say our goodbyes. Everyone loves visiting Grandma and Grandpa, and their absence will be felt over the next 18 months. We are all excited to hear about their experiences in Germany and throughout Europe- but we will also be excited when they get home and we are able to sit around the kitchen table again all together while we laugh and eat and play games and tell stories. It was a great weekend.

Have a good week!