Riding the Orange Bubble Chair

We haven’t got a lot of snow yet this season, but I don’t mind as it gives us all a chance to get our legs back under us riding the groomed runs. Here’s a few pics and videos of this early season.

Tory and Tegan on the Horizon

Fall means canyoneering around here, so we headed down to the North Wash area of Southern Utah. It’s located between Hanksville and Lake Powell – essentially BFE. Heather, Josh, and Sirisa, as well as Babbie, Brad, Tai, and Aspen showed up too – But the first morning was just us. We took the kids through a canyon called Lucky Charms – a perfect little slot for kids.

Tory got on rope and let me lower him down a 30ft rappel. He was a little nervous at first, but was determined to do it. And he liked it!

There aren’t more shots simply because lugging the camera through skinny, sandy, hands-on canyons is a pain. We need to get a little point and shoot for these kinds of things.

This image was included in the previous post, but it’s so special to me that it deserves it’s very own post.

After we had a lunch and cocoa break I asked Tory where he wanted to ski. He said wanted to try 9990*. I asked him quite a few times if he was sure – that it was steep – but he said he was ready. And sure enough, he was.

I took this picture posterity, then put the camera away to help guide him down. Turns out I could have kept it out – he did just fine.

9990 is a lift that accesses the steepest area of the Canyons.

Tory finds some fresh.

Hard to believe it’s April 10 and we’re still getting mid winter quality snow. Even though we’re wishing spring would come, these extra powder days at the end of the season are a great opportunity for Tory to get better and more comfortable in the deeper stuff. Earlier in the year he wouldn’t have been ready to charge through this stuff but he’s now more confident and not afraid to fall. Or get buried, apparently.

He made a lot of progress this ski season and we’re super proud of him. A day skiing with him is as awesome as a powder day on our own. I really can’t wait to see where he takes it next year.

Saturday ski buddies

We try to get Tory out 2 to 3 times a week skiing – at least once during the week and the weekends. Saturdays have been the best this winter when he gets to ski with his bud Evan.

Tegan actually got second, but gave it up to Mittens for their solid effort.

On Saturday Kari participated in the annual Wasatch Powderkeg race at Brighton. It’s an uphill/downhill type race in the Wasatch backcountry – 6 miles of climbing and skiing. Babbie and Brad participated as well – everyone was a little tired but had a good time. The kiddos and I were there to watch them finish.

Tegan's very first ski run

Keeping with the tradition of nudging Tegan into things a little too early, we took her up for her first ski in mid January. Luckily the Canyons now has a magic carpet in the beginners area (used to be a t-bar) to make things easier.

She wasn’t sure at first, but after a couple of ‘runs’ between mommy’s legs she broke out with the smiles. Baby steps, my friends :)

Tory and Ana tearin' it up down High Meadow.

Saturday’s are days when Tory and I get to ski together, and today was a little extra treat, a random encounter with another dad, Gary, and his daughter Ana – a little older, and slightly better skier.

Tai and Tory run the edge. Click for quite a few more.

Fall means Canyoneering in Utah, at least in our house, and while we’re still very limited in what we can do with the kids, it’s still important to get them down there and exposed. Babi and Brad, Tai and Aspen came down for a couple of days as well, and all the kids had a fun time cruising around on the rocks at camp.

The first couple of days Kari and I and the kids hiked around by ourselves. We explored the Grand Wash the first day and hiked up Cottonwood Wash the next. It was a real struggle getting the kids to even enjoy themselves walking up the wash. The first couple of miles aren’t very interesting and there was much whining and gnashing of teeth. Many times Kari and I looked at each other and wondered if it was worth it. But then we got to a more interesting part of the canyon; Once Tory had something to climb around on the day got much better.

The third day Brad and I actually got out and did a full canyon from top to bottom. We got dropped off at the top and descended Burro Wash. Rain threatened the entire day which added an edge to an already exciting canyon.

Over all it was a great trip. It’s a ton of work right now with the kids, but it will pay off. The kids love the desert now, and I can only hope it continues.

Chowin' in the Uintas - Ruth Lake campfire meal.

While we’ve done a lot of car camping this year, there’s always something a little different about packing it in. We did it once last year, and while it didn’t turn out to be the greatest of trips, we thought we’d try it again. The kids are another year older, and another year independent-er. This means, in outdoorsy terms, that Tory can walk on his own a lot farther.

It was a fun, spontaneous trip that the kids loved. I’m really glad they love the outdoors as much as mom and dad do.