(Rob:) Tessa Jean and I just got back home from a great long MLK-Day weekend ski trip to Salt Lake City, Utah! We met up with Tessa's friend Abbey, who was there skiing with her mom Beth and Grandpa Bill. Abbey's family had all gone out earlier in the week and was staying with Beth's good friends Chris and Stefanie from her college days back at KU.
Abbey didn't know we were coming and so we got to surprise her at the Solitude ski lodge on Friday afternoon. She was pretty shocked, but this isn't the first time we've suddenly appeared at one of her vacations, so she may be onto our M.O. by now. Unfortunately, Beth's husband Bill and my wife Susan had to work today and couldn't make the trip this time. Except for their absence (and for last night when I accidentally dunked both my iPod and camera in the hot tub) I think it was a perfect weekend!
We had a great time on what was the first trip to Utah for any of us. It's a bit like Colorado in it's recreational opportunities, but it seemed like there was easier access to the things we wanted to do. Also, we learned from Chris that Utah has perhaps the phoophiest snow on Earth! We had a very full weekend of downhill skiing/snowboarding, cross-country ski, tubing, and even found time for bowling, billiards, air hockey, Dance Dance Revolution, home-brewed beer and Thai food! Here are a few pics to show the very tip of our iceberg of fun:
(Captions will be randomly placed above, below or to the side of the pictures.)
(Some may be written in Spanish.)
From Solitude on Friday:
The Girls in Their Winter Clothes
Abbey boarding with Tessa Jean coming in just behind:
Abbey has learned so much since her first time on a snowboard last March in Colorado. I could see her getting more confident and skillful every day. Tessa also did a great job of skiing through adversity- both days that we downhill-skiied she had a lot of trouble with pain in her right leg. Not sure exactly why, but I'm sure it has something to do with her Ollier's Disease, which first manifest itself with leg pain 7 years ago last week. Her pain was so bad on Sunday that I thought we might have to just hang out in the lodge for the day, but Beth was able to fix her with some magical nursing TLC and all was well.
La enfermera maravilla con su sonrisa omnipresente. ¡Ella es tan intelligente como es hermosa!
On the lift
After skiing, Chris took us to this cool roadside lodge restaurant where we ate fabulous pre-dinner desserts with silver forks. ¡Muy delicioso!
Chris teaching the girls how to phooph the dry Utah snow
Abbey and Tessa with bad cases of Phooph Face
On Saturday morning, we got up early and went to a place called Soldier Hollow, which you might remember if you watched the 2002 Winter Olympic biathlon competition. We didn't shoot anything, but we did shoot down the tubing hill pretty quickly!
You can click HERE if you want to experience the tubing hill first-hand!
Tessa on the lift
Beth and her dad exhausted after riding the longest tubing hill in Utah
Tessa and Abbey snurfing down the shortest snurfing hill in Utah
After tubing, we went to Park City for some cross-country skiing (behind the hotel where U2 was staying for the Sundance Film Festival, which was also in Park City beginning last week.)
Chris, who is one of the pro instructors at the hotel, is giving us some pointers:
(I took this picture during one of my rare vertical moments.)
Flatlanders
On Sunday, we went back to Solitude for some more downhill. Here's Abbey shredding:
I've been skiing on and off for about 20 years, but have always stuck to the blue and green runs (intermediate and beginner) while avoiding blacks (advanced>). Well, with Chris's gentle encouragement I was able to do my first black run on Friday and by Sunday I was going down the really steep black run you see in this blurry photo way up behind Bill:
It was truly the most exhilarating fun I've ever had skiing and I felt like all at once all of those trails that I'd been afraid of were instantly opened up to me. I'm still avoiding moguls (bumpy snow) but Stef is going to teach me how to ski bumps the next time we go back.
Tessa Jean in the aspen trees:
Tessa and Abs-of-Steel lounging around the condo
I'm so grateful to Beth for suggesting that we latch onto their trip and to Chris and Stef for allowing us to horn in on their Haines-time. We had a really great pasta dinner last night with them at the condo (unfortunately this was after the camera went into the drink, so we have no photos) and shared a nice toast to making new friends while planning future trips and visits. How cool it was to meet some of the dearest friends of our dearest friends.
And, above all, it was awesome to be able to get some skiing in with my baby girl- just six months before the name of this blog reverts back to "Tessa Jean's Operation" again.
Awesome blog Robert. It sure looks like a blast. I especially enjoy watching Grandpa 'Peka in the inner tube laughing his butt off!
And the snow falling down, down, down.
Susan
Posted by: Susan | January 22, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Great pictures and flicks. It looks like a really great time.
GS
Posted by: James E. Smith | January 22, 2008 at 08:54 AM
As a friend of Beth's who sometimes lurks on your blog (does that make me weird?), it is a treat to see the photos of the Haines girls, Papa Bill Shoemaker and of my pal Chris. Beth and Abbey are fortunate to have you guys as buddies and I know they were glad to have you join them in Utah. Looks like fun!
Posted by: Lynne | January 22, 2008 at 09:40 AM
Sure looks like a fun trip for Tessa and Rob. We froze with below zero temps the whole weekend. We sure like the new computer with the action photo,s and the speed. I'm off to get my hair cut. I hope Susan's tooth is better. MOM H
Posted by: G. Delores | January 22, 2008 at 10:26 AM
No Bono sightings???? Bummer.
He might have been wearing his 3D glasses from the U2 3D movie their promoting at Sundance!
Looks like fun skiing. We are just trying to keep warm up here!
Michelle
Posted by: Michelle | January 22, 2008 at 10:32 AM
To clarify on Lynne's question of blog ettiquette (or "blogiquette"):
Lurking on the blog does not make you weird, it just means you have good taste.
Commenting on the blog makes you awesome.
Posted by: Rob | January 22, 2008 at 10:34 AM
This morning, I scrolled through the pics for a quick fix before plunging in to my day. Just now, I took my time, read all Rob's text and just wallowed in the memories. The video clip cracks me up. I had no idea the cam-corder was ON. Interesting how Rob switched to Spanish for the caption under the picture of me on skis. I have no clue what it says... Hhmmmm. And Rob, give yourself a break with regard to your cross country skiing ability. You weren't on your butt as much as you are leading blog-o-philes to believe. So glad that Rob and Tessa could join us. What a great time we all had!
Posted by: Beth Haines | January 22, 2008 at 09:12 PM
Looks like a super time was had by all. Too bad the rest of your families could not be there to share in the fun.
Next time perhaps.
How is Tessa's leg? Any more problems? That was too bad.
I am beginning to wonder if you were adopted. It's odd that a child of mine would enjoy the cold and snow so much when I am just the opposite. Give me the beach and sunshine over snow and cold any time. :-)
Glad everything worked out so well and fun was had by all.
Love,
Mom
Posted by: Gramma Judy | January 23, 2008 at 08:52 AM
I'm with Michelle. Where are the Bono photos? Glad you had a good time. Congrats on the black run. Impressive.
Posted by: Zanny | January 23, 2008 at 10:26 PM