Vacation always makes me reflect on my life. Nearly every time I've been away from home (particularly with Shawn) I've ended up making a goals list or rethinking something in my life. This vacation was no different.
We returned last Thursday from a week in Montana. I'll have to be honest and say I was a tad apprehensive about this trip. Shawn and I (and Cade) have always vacationed somewhere warm. But this trip was definitely a cool weather trip. We were headed to Big Sky, MT to ski. Mind you, Shawn and I don't ski. I think between us we'd downhill skied 2-3 times in our life. I've cross country'd plenty, but I never got the hang of downhill and consequently it was never any fun.
We met Jane and Esther at the Airport and together we flew to Billings. From Billings we drove a couple of hours to Big Sky and got settled in. The next day we decided to explore, get our bearings and plan. After checking out the slopes and town we sorted out the plan for the next day. Shawn and I rented Snowshoes at
Grizzly Outfitters and hit a trail she had read about in a local magazine. Getting to this trail was crazy. We had to drive down a hill so steep that I was afraid we wouldn't make it back up. It was also covered in packed snow. Crazy. Once we found the trail we hiked in. It was fun, and quite a bit of work. I was huffing and puffing like crazy. It began to get dark and we decided we'd better head back to the truck - - the way back was SO much easier. Turns out we'd hiked up the whole way in. No wonder I was panting like a dog.
That evening Mark and Mike joined us. It was nice to have them as they're both so easy going and fun. It is too bad they weren't able to stay longer but it was great to have them with us, even if for a few days.
The next morning we all headed to
Moonlight Basin. First we all trekked to
Grizzly Outfitters (we ended up spending a lot of time there) for Skis and lift tickets. We got everybody all set and we were off! We got Esther and Cade signed up for ski school. Mark and Mike spent some time pushing Esther and Cade around on skis which was awesome. They were shortly released and freed to ski as they chose and Jane skied a bit as well. We pushed them around the Madison Base area where they had a magic carpet so the kids could ride up a small pseudo slope and come right back down. We had a couple hours until ski school started so we pushed them around, ate lunch etc. I think school began at 1(?). Once it was time to start, Cade had decided he'd had enough. Esther was a super trooper; she continued on to class and got a sticker for turning! Cade and I went back to the Condo while Shawn joined Mark, Mike and Jane to ski.
The next morning, Shawn woke up and went for a run to Grizzly Outfitters to pick up a couple of lift tickets. Mark and Mike skied at Big Sky, while the rest of us went back to
Moonlight Basin. Again we pushed the kids around for a while. Esther the trooper when to ski school (where she earned her stopping sticker). This time Cade met his instructor, but again it was just too much for him. I don't think he wanted his parents to leave. The instructor assigned to him was way type A and loud which may have helped push him into his shell too. Anyway, he DID NOT want to ski, and DID NOT want to go to class. We knew there was a sledding hill nearby so we thought we'd try that. Shawn, Cade and I walked to the hill, but there were no sleds. So Shawn walked back to Madison to see about a sled, while Cade and I traipsed around the ski hill. Once Shawn returned we learned that sledding hill was closed. (Bad timing there) So we again made the best of it and had lunch at the base area (and the adults had a beer). It didn't take long and Esther's class was over and Jane was ready too. So we drove back to the Condo. Once there Shawn and I agreed to try cross country skiing at a nearby place called Lone Mountain ranch. Jane agreed to watch the bambinos. So Shawn and I again headed to......
Grizzly Outfitters for x country skis. Once equipt, we drove the 2 miles to the ranch, paid our access fees and were off. I gave Shawn my Rod Hammer (my elementary Phy Ed teacher) 2 minute technique lesson and we were off. Shawn picked it up really fast and we both enjoyed it tremendously (even the EXPERT hill we descended). Shawn then went back with Jane that same evening for another run around - - so we all got a bit of exercise in.
The next morning Mark and Mike left early, leaving only the parents and the 4 and 5 year olds. This morning Cade went to Mountain Kids camp, while the adults and Esther skied in the AM. Esther, that super trooper 5 year old skied down with the adults. It was pretty cool. I have to say that I was TREMENDOUSLY (I can't capitalize that more) nervous about downhill skiing. I'd not had much experience at this and I had boat loads of anxiety. Once at Madison Base area, Shawn and I left Jane and Esther and headed up the Six Shooter lift. By the time we got down to the lift I was beginning to really enjoy this downhill ski thing. It was fun. I was able to snowplow as well as move from side to side and stop hockey style. It was really fun! Shawn and I did a couple of runs and then hit the restaurant to eat and have a beer. I don't think Shawn enjoyed it as much as I did.
The following day Cade and Esther went to Moonlight Kids (which they both enjoyed. Jane and I skied in the AM while Shawn choose to workout at the Lodge. This time skiing I felt like I got better with each run. To be fair the first run felt treacherous as there were icy parts and then lots of powder - - which made for quite a contrast. At noon-ish Jane got Esther for a ski lesson and Shawn and Cade swam in the outdoor pool (and Hot TUB!) I made a few more and different runs and continued to enjoy this downhill thing more and more.
The final day in Montana Jane and Esther skied, Shawn and Cade swam and I sat in the lodge and read a book in the morning sunshine. In the afternoon the kids went to Moonlight Kids and the adults decided to explore Big Sky Resort.
All in all this ended up being a good vacation - - although I'm sure our next one will be to somewhere warm. The people of the Big Sky area and employees of Moonlight Basin were just such cool laid back people. There was always a friendly genuine hello and often conversation. It struck me immediately on Monday morning when I returned to work where the norm is to listen to head phones on the way in, not make eye contact in the elevator or on any of the floors or hallways. Totally Unfun.
Here’s the score on what we rented from the good fellas at
Grizzly Outfitters:
5 pairs of downhill skis
5 pairs of downhill ski poles
5 pair of downhill ski boots
2 pair snowshoes
2 pair snowshoe poles
2 pair cross country skis
2 pair cross country poles
2 pair cross country boots
After throughly testing the machine throughout the top floor of Dicks Sporting goods in Bloomington, riding the bike to and into the elevator, riding out and a another lap of Dicks 1st floor; he was convinced. After Mom and Dad paid for the orange beauty he rode it through the front doors, to the car in the parking lot. This now reminds me of his Uncle Pauls first car. Ask him about it, he loves to tell the story. Also ask him about Tang cake.
