The Hazard Chronicles

This last weekend we went skiing in Utah.

Though true, that last sentence was possibly the most reductive and inaccurate statement I have ever made.

Yeah- we went skiing. But it was way more than that. The skiing itself was amazing, and we each had our own victories. We also have a lot of "remember that one time..." stories that will be live on long after the feeling of wind in our hair and adrenaline in our veins has settled. Maren and I will remember the intimate hillside talk we had. Addy and Evelyn will laugh about a certain wipeout experience. Lindsey is still talking about the stories we told in the car during our drive, and Jackson will always know that he capable of overcoming his own fear. 

From chatting about school and friends on the lift, to encouraging each other to "do hard things," I feel like skiing has been a really positive thing for our family. It isn't just about sliding down a hill on a couple of sticks. Along with climbing and biking and camping and running, it is more a lifestyle thing. A way of thinking about the world. An attitude. A way of being. 

Anyway- I don't think I can say a whole lot more about that. A blog post is fine for sharing pictures and telling stories, but unless your last name is Shakespeare, Dickinson, or Poe, it is extremely difficult to communicate that level of emotion in just a few words.

And so, without further ado...here are some pictures and stories:

Before the stories, can I just make a remark about how absolutely beautiful this canyon is? Wow! We went to two different resorts (Alta and Snowbird) that are right next to each other, and skiing aside, the views were absolutely stunning. At several moments I found myself just standing in the middle of a run, oftentimes alone, and just taking in the majesty of the area. It is easy to feel small in the mountains and it lends perspective to other things in life. To borrow words of Dickinson, when in places like this, "I'm kneeling-still." (Ah, Teneriffe!)

This is kind of a funny story: Lindsey was shedding layers and wanted Rachel to carry a spare neck gaiter. Rachel told Lindsey to put it in her own pocket, to which Lindsey replied "I can't! That's where I keep my peas!" She wasn't kidding either- she actually had a pocket full of peas. We have no idea where she got these peas from, but she apparently carries them to snack on throughout the day. Go figure.

Along with skiing, our family has gotten pretty good at tailgating. Sometimes it is with tables, chairs, and camping stoves. Sometimes it is a little simpler, like here, where we are eating chips and hot dogs. Either way, these scheduled lunchtimes have been a fun way to regroup, maybe change up partners, and catch up with the latest happenings on the hill. 

This picture is only notable because of "Bananas." That is all I know. Apparently, Evelyn liked the name of the run when she saw it on the map. They set off to find it, and that simple search turned into an expedition-sized quest that led them all over the mountain and on all sorts of adventures. Bananas, it must be said, was one of the favorite runs of the day. Worth it!

These two were skiing together. Addy fell and her ski came off. Evelyn took off down the hill, chasing it with an abandon that is uncharacteristic to her more cautious style. The ski must have gotten scared, because it saw Ev and kept on going, and going, and going. More than a quarter of a mile it slid before Evelyn was able to catch up with it. Addy, meanwhile did most of the run on one ski. Suffice it to say, it was a happy reunion!

Jack and I split off for a while to do some of the steeper runs- and when I say steep- I mean STEEP! Below is a photo showing two of our runs. We also did one off the other side, and one a little further down. Icy conditions made for big drops and mandatory turns over no-fall zones. On the first run, the guy who dropped in right before us actually missed one of these turns, went off the edge, and slid down the mountain a couple hundred feet. He ended up being carried home in a stretcher and won't ski again until next year. Watching that accident made us hesitate a little bit, but we were both confident so we went for it. And we both agree that these were some of the best and most memorable runs of our lives. 

This trip wasn't just about skiing. We also got some time with extended family, and we all enjoyed the comedy show we went to on Saturday night. Here is Maren and Adrian with their fabulous hats.

Alright- that's about it. Have a good week!

This is a good place to mention that on these ski days, ALL of us opened and closed the lifts. About 20 minutes were spent on a lunch break, but the only other breaks were on the lifts ready to carve our next run. After Adalie plopped in the snow we asked if she wanted a break. She held up a hand and responded, "Give me 30 seconds and I will be ready to go!" I can honestly say that every one of us loves this amazing sport, and we will be creating memories together for many years to come.