Monday, 15FEB, & Tuesday, 16FEB, were spent dealing with sick
grandkids; & Dan getting ready to go on a ski trip w/Joe on Wednesday.
Wednesday late afternoon Corrie took Dan
& Joe to the New Orleans airport to catch Air Alaska to Seattle so they can
go skiing. The last time they made this
trip was JAN/FEB of 2012 (see below BLOG link).
Their intention was to do it every year. But because of different factors (Dan’s
injury, bad snow years, Joe’s job), this is only their second time. By the time they get to house in Sultan, WA,
& open it up, it was 1AM.
Thursday, 18FEB, morning Joe & Dan rented ski equipment
& purchase a few equipment items they don’t have (like a helmet for
Dan). Then it was off to Dan’s cousin
Steve & wife Bonnie’s in Kittitas, WA, for the next two days. Why?
Because the closest ski area to Sultan (Stevens Pass) has lots of snow
but is now experiencing rain. So after
Dan checked the ski area reports & the highway patrol reports, he believes
that the White Pass Ski Area & the Mission Ridge Ski Area will not have
rain for the next two days. Since Bonnie
& Steve’s house is outside of Kittitas, it is centrally located between
White Pass & Mission Ridge; what better time to visit relatives (ie
freeload)? See below BLOG link for our
last visit with them.
Early Friday morning Dan & Joe made the drive to White Pass
for their first day of skiing. Even
though Dan skied for many years in western WA, this was his first time at White
Pass. No rain but it snowed the entire
time, & every now and then the wind would kick up making the chair ride pretty
brutal. All-in-all a great first day
skiing. Then back to Steve &
Bonnie’s for home cooked meal.
Saturday morning if was off to Mission Ridge Ski Area outside of
Wenatchee, WA; a ski area they skied during their trip four years ago. Luckily they got one of last parking
spots! The place was so crowded, that it
took 45 minutes to get on the first chair.
But after that the crowded lift lines disappeared. Fantastic day - beautiful sun, beautiful
snow. As they did last ski trip, they
tried to hook-up with niece Tessa Morris; but she was working ski patrol &
couldn’t get free. Late in afternoon Joe
hooked up with nephew Dash Morris for couple of high speed runs on the back
country slopes (ie out of bounds, w/no ski patrol). Then it was an exhausted drive back to Sultan.
Sunday, 21FEB, they took a break from skiing (good timing – cold,
cloudy & windy). The day started
with breakfast at the Sultan Bakery. Joe
then took off to hike at Wallace Falls State Park outside of Gold Bar, WA,
where Dan & Rebecca hiked back in 2009 (& Dan across a bear).
Dan used his day of rest to straighten out numerous small evergreen
trees that appear to have been blown over by some high winds on the property? That evening they met Dan’s brother Shawn
& wife Cindie (last visited with 11OCT15) for dinner in Lynnwood.
Monday morning it was off to Stevens Pass Ski Area to ski with
cousin Sheila Harris & beau Alan. Since
Alan had a morning dental appointment, Sheila hitched a ride with neighbor
Hans. Skiing started out great w/Sheila
& Hans taking Joe on black diamond runs thru the trees; while Dan stuck to
the blue runs. Around 11AM heavy snow
started falling & they end up skiing in white-out conditions – not
fun. Eventually Alan shows up &
conditions improve. The rest of the day
was spent w/Dan sticking to blue runs, while everyone else challenges death on
the double black diamonds.
Tuesday & Wednesday were more days of rest. Dan stakes & ties more evergreens blown
over by the wind this winter. Dan also
spent time doing battle w/invasive blackberries on the property. Wednesday Joe went day & night skiing solo
at Stevens Pass.
Thursday, 25FEB, last day for skiing for both. A beautiful & great day at Stevens PassJ!
Early Friday AM they secured the house & make the drive to
SeaTac airport. For some reason Dan gets
a red X on boarding pass & gets to keep shoes on & skip scanning (maybe
it was his military ID?). Flight is
overbooked & even though we checked in 24 hrs ago Joe does not have an
assigned seat. Everything works out,
& we make it back to Houma, LA; back together w/Corrie & in the RV at
Rebecca & Raymonds’s.
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