Idaho Ski Trip -- Day #9

Today we woke up at 5:45, had a quick breakfast (cereal, an egg, a cinnamon muffin, a doughnut, milk), loaded up, and were heading for home by 6:35.  We drove without stopping to Grand Island, Nebraska, where we got fuel and went to the bathroom in less than 20 minutes.  Afterwards, we made and ate lunch on the road (peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich, nuts, an apple, IKEA cookies, water), then drove on non-stop to Kingdom City, Missouri, for our final fuel and bathroom break.  At 8:20, we pulled in our driveway, a beautiful site for a somewhat-homesick girl.  I immediately went out to see and feed my baby girls (aka my horses, Pearl and Blondie), then came in for unpacking, organization, supper (pasta, homemade bread, juice), a shower, and now a very late bedtime.

I truly enjoyed this trip, as I do every other one I have been blessed to go on.  I am thankful God gave us the time, ability, and finances to take off for nine days.  We skied for six days in a row, four in sunshine, which is a new record for us!  We tried new foods, skied at four new resorts and one "familiar friend", reveled in the beauty of God's amazing creation, and enjoyed quality family time.  I thank our Lord for keeping us safe and healthy, especially since we logged over 3,000 miles on the road.  As I said above, I enjoyed this trip, but since this was the first time all four of us left since getting horses, I think I really gained a deeper appreciation for the simple pleasures of home.  Getting up each morning and going out to feed my girls, sleeping in my own bed, having everything in the familiar locations -- these and many more things mean more to me than ever before.  I have been given a gift of gratefulness and I will never look at my life at home the same way.  Even when things get very hectic and stressful (hello, tomorrow!), I know that I will be able to remain peaceful and calm (mostly).  I will remember the wonderful memories of yet another lovely trip, but I will also be content and happy in "daily life".  I encourage you to take a broader look at your life.  Even if you're feeling down and stuck in the same old routine, look up at the world around you.  Be positive and count what Jesus has given you, not what you don't have.  Maybe you can't take that vacation to some exotic location, but you CAN be a light for the Lord in your everyday life.  Remember whose you are and that He loves and cares for you beyond comprehension.  It is the amazing Father God who gave me a new perspective on life through a nine-day ski trip.  He is who I cling to day in and day out, no matter what.  And when I fall, He's there to pick me up, help me, and forgive me.  He will do the same for you if you believe and trust in Him.  It is my sincere hope and prayer that you already or will experience this.  Thanks for reading, have a blessed day, and until next time....!

~Anna

Idaho Ski Trip -- Day #8



Today was our last day of skiing!  We woke up 7:00, had breakfast (blueberry yogurt, a biscuit, a banana, an egg, cranberry juice, and water), loaded the car and checked out, and headed for Snowbasin (in Utah).  The weather was just like yesterday -- no sunshine, snow, and poor visibility at the top.  The cloud cover was just a touch too low...we would get off the lift and ski for 400 or 500 feet before we could see anything.  It's not as fun to ski in conditions like that because you have to go very cautiously and slowly due to the horrible flat light, but we all stayed safe, which is important.  Snowbasin was the site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games' downhill, combined, and Super G ski races, and we got to ski on parts of the women's and men's downhill runs.  Since it was a Friday, there were quite a few people to share the slopes with compared to the last several days, plus it was a powder day!  It was fresh, soft, and wonderful to smear through, often up to our knees!  Two of the main lifts at Snowbasin are gondolas, which was definitely a factor in staying warm and dry.  The temperatures were also higher than yesterday, which helped.  Two of my favorite runs were Moonshine Bowl, a wide black with a nice pitch, length, and untracked powder; and Philpot Ridge, another black with some great bumps at the end, giving me awesome air (more than I expected!).  It's always important to remember what skiing is all about -- having fun, getting exercise, and enjoying the winter season that God gives us.  For me, that includes mixing up the routine, always trying something new, and pushing myself to be a better skier (all while being safe, of course).  Just like everything in life, you shouldn't ever stop learning.  Lunch was at the John Paul Lodge -- a turkey sandwich with chips, water, and part of a Rice Krispie treat.  Snowbasin is owned by Sun Valley, so that elegant atmosphere carries over here, as evidenced by the décor, real china and silverware, and beautiful, big lodges.  At the end of the day, we did a bit of shopping (and saw members of the Australian Aerial Ski Team in the shop!), loaded everything in the car, and headed east on I-80.  We stopped in Green River, Wyoming, for supper at Taco John's (chicken taco salad, peanut butter-banana smoothie), then drove on to Laramie, Wyoming, to spend the night in a Quality Inn & Suites.  We would have gone farther, but the interstate wasn't in great shape (icy spots).  Thankfully, we got in safely and will be home tonight (I'm posting this a day late, in the car).

Grizzly Men's Downhill

Below the heavy cloud cover

Matthew and me at Snowbasin

On our way home

~Anna

Idaho Ski Trip -- Day #7

Today we woke up around 7:45, got ready, had breakfast (a little cereal, part of a blueberry waffle, an apple, half of an oat-bran muffin, water), and headed up the Little Cottonwood Canyon to Snowbird.  My parents went there several times in the early 1990s, but Matthew and I had never been there.  Our streak of good weather ended today, unfortunately -- it snowed nearly all day, never got above 20 degrees, and at times was quite windy.  Visibility was difficult sometimes, especially the "flat light", where you can't see contours.  That makes for slow, careful skiing if you want to stay safe.  We did ride the Little Cloud quad once, but at the top you could hardly see 75 feet and snow was blowing hard, so we didn't do that anymore.  We also rode in a tunnel on a magic carpet, which was very cool.  That took us through the mountain to Mineral Basin, where we took a few runs before heading back to the summit and down the other side.  Our last runs for the day were off of the Wilbere double, where we found some nice, semi-untouched powder.  Skiing in the weather conditions we had today isn't exactly fun, but fresh, soft powder is sure nice.  We had several inches of it to enjoy.  Lunch was at the Mid-Gad Restaurant and Grill -- warm veggie chili with a parmesan breadstick, followed by all of us sharing a peanut butter Rice Krispie treat.  After our fifth day of skiing and a little shopping, we headed back down to our hotel for showers and supper at Pace's Dairy Ann Drive-In.  Originally from 1957, it is no longer a drive-in but still has the traditional "diner fare" -- burgers, onion rings, fries, and milk shakes.  We so rarely eat that kind of food, it was a tasty treat to wind down from a day of skiing.  Tomorrow is our final day of skiing, followed by starting the long drive home.  Hopefully we will have better weather tomorrow, but even if we don't, it has been a great ski trip!

Entering the tunnel at Snowbird

Hard snow and poor visibility at Snowbird

Snowbird at the end of the day -- now it gets clear!

~Anna

Idaho Ski Trip -- Day #6

After getting in bed after midnight last night, we slept in until about 8:30, which was necessary and nice.  We got ready quickly, had breakfast (cereal, strawberry yogurt, an orange, an oat-bran muffin, milk, and cranberry juice), and headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon to ski at Solitude.  We had skied there about nine years ago; it's always fun to return to a familiar spot.  For most of the day, we had glorious sunshine, no wind, and temperatures higher than anything so far on the trip (upper 20s to lower 30s).  For the final hour or so, we did have clouds and substantial winds because a storm is moving in, but to have the weather we've had for four days of skiing is phenomenal!  The snow was pretty nice except for being thin in multiple places.  That created an adventure in skiing down some runs -- we had to weave around rocks and grass, but it made us pay attention!  My favorite run was Woodlawn, a black, one of the longest at Solitude.  It started with some moguls and steeps, then narrowed into a lovely spruce-filled canyon traverse.  It was so long and lovely.  I wish we could have done it more than once!  Lunch was at the Roundhouse Restaurant (yes, same name as the one at Sun Valley), a scrumptious chicken pot pie and a shared oatmeal-raisin cookie.  We skied until the 4:00 closing, loaded up, and headed back down to our hotel.  After showering, we headed into downtown Salt Lake City to admire the capital building and Mormon temple.  Supper was at Cucina Toscana, a very upscale fine-dining Italian restaurant.  We've never eaten at a place quite this unique!  For starters, they asked us what kind of water we wanted (tap or sparkling).  Their staff, all native Italians, were constantly around to refill cups, clear dishes, and take excellent care of us.  I had the ravioli toscana, spinach- and ricotta-filled ravioli in a butter-sage-tomato sauce.  It was delicious.  For dessert, after the complimentary hot chocolate and biscotti, we shared a few flavors of gelato (lemon, chocolate, pistachio) and a chocolate panna cotta (an eggless, fluffy mousse-type dessert).  I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for authentic, amazing Italian fare in Salt Lake City...but it is a splurge (financial- and food-wise), so make sure you've earned it!  We really loved it.

Woodlawn, my favorite trail at Solitude

A picture of our WHOLE family after lunch

Solitude -- I love this sign!

~Anna

Idaho Ski Trip -- Day #5

My mom and I got to sleep in until about 8:10 (which felt great) while my dad and brother did a business-related trip.  We had breakfast (cereal, mini blueberry muffin, banana with peanut butter, mini doughnut, orange juice), did some work in our room until my dad and Matthew got back, then loaded the car and checked out.  We headed up an amazing mountain road to Bogus Basin, Idaho.  It never stopped twisting back and forth as we gained elevation.  The changes in landscape were so neat -- we went from arid, sagebrush-covered hills to deep snow and evergreen forests in the mountains.  By 11:45, we had our tickets and were skiing.  Bogus Basin is a wonderful ski area with high-speed quads and very nice runs.  The temperature was slightly warmer than at Sun Valley, but much windier, so it felt colder.  We had sunshine for part of the day, followed by high overcast clouds with occasional sunshine peeking through.  Since it was a Tuesday afternoon, there was almost nobody there.  We joked that we had our own personal ski area!  Lunch (chili in a toasted sourdough bread bowl) was at the J.R. Simplot Lodge, named in honor of the man who purchased Bogus Basin to prevent it from falling into financial ruin.  After a nice, easier day of skiing (about four hours), we drove back down the mountain to Boise, where we got fuel and went to the bathroom.  Driving through Boise was very enjoyable.  We went on several residential streets, where my mom and I admired the architectural beauty of amazing historic houses.  Finally, at 10:30, we arrived at our Comfort Inn & Suites in Woods Cross, Utah, to spend the night.  We ordered a pepperoni pizza from Papa John's for a quick in-the-room supper, and now it is time for much-needed sleep.

Riding the Morning Star triple chairlift at Bogus Basin

Pretty views from Bogus Basin

On the way down to Boise

~Anna

Idaho Ski Trip -- Day #4

Today we woke up at 7:25, got ready, had breakfast (cereal, a biscuit, an apple, cinnamon roll, milk), loaded the car and checked out of the hotel, and drove to Sun Valley for our second and final day.  It was another beautiful, sunny day with not too many people.  It was -4 degrees at the base when we were gearing up!  By mid-morning, clouds had moved up the valley and were everywhere below us but we were skiing above them in clear conditions.  It was like being in an airplane.  For me, today was much better in many ways.  I was comfortable, happy, and at home on my skis.  I was able to work on some things I had been working last season, and I feel I made good progress.  My favorite runs were wide, mogul-filled bowls, such as Easter and Lookout Bowls.  I skied both of them non-stop and felt fantastic.  Moguls are such a different workout than just a blue cruiser -- they work your whole body and test your fitness, endurance, strength, and stamina.  I just had a blast.  Our lunch was at the Seattle Ridge Day Lodge.  I had the mushroom caprese -- mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, basil, arugula, tomatoes, and a pesto on delicious grilled flatbread.  We shared oatmeal-raisin and chocolate chip cookies, too...and plenty of water to stay hydrated!  We skied until about 3:45, basically taking every run on the place over two days.  Sun Valley was a wonderful experience and I would definitely recommend it to other skiers (but not beginners).

After loading our gear in the car, we drove to Twin Falls, Idaho, to meet some business people for dinner at Elevation 482.  The restaurant is 482 feet above the Snake River, hence the name, and has very "trendy" dishes.  We shared clams for an appetizer; followed by a spinach salad laden with dried cranberries, nuts, tomatoes, onions, and a vinaigrette dressing; and local red trout served with an Idaho baked potato for the main course.  Eating healthy is important anytime, but especially on a ski trip where your performance on the slopes and how you feel at the end of the day depends on what you consume.  After dinner and conversation, we drove to a Comfort Suites in Boise to spend the night.

Our view early in the day 

Clouds moving into the valley

One of the bowls we skied

~Anna

Idaho Ski Trip -- Day #3

Today we woke up at 7:15, got ready, had breakfast (a banana with peanut butter, biscuit, scrambled eggs, muffin, and milk), geared up, and took a very short shuttle ride to Sun Valley.  We have never skied here before but definitely love it after the first day!  Everyone was very kind and welcoming.  The weather, although cold (0-20 degrees all day), was beautiful sunshine, so we couldn't have asked for a better first day of skiing.  We logged about 30,000 vertical feet of runs today, traversed all over the mountain, rode nearly every lift, and enjoyed the amazing views.  Since it was clear today, we could see for dozens of miles.  Our lunch was at the Roundhouse Restaurant (the original part is from 1936), a lovely spot with 360-degree views of the mountains and wonderful, unique menu items.  We shared the elk carpaccio for an appetizer -- thin slices of elk meat topped with spruce, apple, currant, radish, and rye bread pieces.  For the main course, I had the pulled turkey sandwich -- white turkey chunks, roasted pears, endive, and gooey goat cheese on a ciabatta roll, served with a mixed-greens salad topped with a vinegar dressing.  The food is somewhat expensive, but the portions are generous and extremely tasty.  After lunch, we skied until about 3:50 (Sun Valley closes at 4:00), just enjoying our snow and family time.  We haven't skied since March, so it takes a bit of work to get back in the "mode".  Fortunately, Sun Valley does a beautiful job of grooming, and we nearly had the place to ourselves, so it was a perfect ease-in to the 2016 skiing season.  We went on such a wide variety of terrain and loved skiing at a new place.  After skiing to the base, we went in a store to get hatpins (Matthew and I have one from almost every place we've skied at) and a few other items.  Then we walked back to our hotel (it's SO close to the ski area), went out to look at one of the first chairlifts in the world (a single), came back to the hotel to shower, and headed to supper at Jhony's Peruvian Restaurant.  We hadn't ever tried Peruvian food, but it's always good to branch out.  I had their specialty, part of a rotisserie chicken (so flavorful with herbs) served with Idaho fries and a salad.  Then we all shared flan (light and fluffy) and a cinnamon mousse (similar to a pudding) for dessert.  Our waitress was very helpful and friendly, and we enjoyed talking with her about her home country of Peru.  Now we are back at the hotel and ready for a good night's rest.

Our view this morning

Beautiful views at Sun Valley, Idaho

Matthew and me at the Roundhouse Restaurant, where we ate lunch

~Anna

Idaho Ski Trip -- Days 1 & 2!

Friday, January 8, 2016

Today we headed toward Idaho!  It is the first trip all four of us have taken since March 2014, so we are all looking forward to a refreshing, enjoyable, relaxing time together in God's amazing creation.  After working this morning, we got everything loaded in the car and were on the road by 1:00 p.m.  Lunch (cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese, nuts, cheese stick, strawberry Greek yogurt, and water) was on the road.  We drove until 6:30 and got fuel and supper in Percival, Nebraska.  Supper was grilled chicken wraps from Wendy's.  After that, we got to Kearney, Nebraska, just a bit after 9:30 and checked into our Quality Inn.

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Today was a very long day.  We got up at 6:00 a.m., had a quick breakfast (strawberry yogurt, a biscuit, a cherry pastry, and apple juice), and were heading west in the darkness by 7:00.  We passed the exit for Elm Creek, Nebraska, which is where a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holding facility is.  My first Mustang, Diego, lived there for about two years before we adopted him at an auction in Nevada, Missouri.  Our next stop was Cheyenne, Wyoming, for fuel and a bathroom break.  A few hours later, we fixed and ate lunch in the car again (peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, cheese stick, nuts, pears, milk, water).  Shortly after lunch was a very special event for me.  We drove right by the Salt Wells Creek Herd Management Area, one of many in these western states.  HMAs are home to many species of  wildlife, but primarily wild Mustangs.  The reason Salt Wells Creek is so special is that my current Mustang, Blondie, was born there!  She lived about 18 months on that desolate, rugged terrain before being rounded up, living in Colorado for several years, competing in the Extreme Mustang Makeover-St. Louis, and finally becoming my precious baby!  It was so touching to drive right by the land where my girl grew up...really, it's an un-explainable feeling of so many emotions.  I'm sure my fellow Mustang friends understand!  Thirty-five miles later, we passed Rock Springs, Wyoming, where Blondie initially lived while the BLM administered veterinary treatment and got her papers in order.  Driving by on I-80 at 75 or 80 miles per hour doesn't allow much viewing, but it's still fun to be in the vicinity of where Blondie was.  We needed fuel in Evanston, Utah, again, so we stopped there.  I drove from there to Twin Falls, Idaho, where my brother Matthew finished the LONG trip up here -- 75 miles to Ketchum.  We arrived just before 8:00 p.m., checked into our Best Western, headed out for supper at Despo's Mexican Restaurant (huge portions but excellent food; I had a chicken enchilada with rice and black beans), and finished the day with showers and much-needed rest.  It is a very long way to drive, even over one-and-a-half days like we did, but I am grateful to God for getting us here safely and at a decent time of evening.  Now we get to MOVE and ski for a few days at new places!

Salt Wells Creek HMA (where Blondie was born)

~Anna