Harris Holidays

Tree Decorating

Celebrating Christmas Morning with the Children

Skiing Day Trip

It poured the night before. Snow closed highway 80 for most of the evening and into the morning. Our alarm went off at 4:00 am. We were on the road by 4:45 despite my being ready at 4:30. Both boys quickly returned to their slumber. Stopped for gas and more coffee in Auburn, but neither boy stirred.

Chain control and white roads hit us early, but the four wheel drive meant the only inconvenience was a slower speed. We arrived at Sugar Bowl by 8:30 and were on the slopes when they opened at 9:00 am.

Despite yesterday's weather the temperature was in the high 20s and sunny.

The day before produced 3 feet of new snow. New snow is a lot of work. A lot. I declared early on that we needed to ski at least 17 runs to get our money's worth. Technically it was my money, but I wanted $5 per run per person.

After lunch we skied the mountain's namesake. Today, and today only, the hill was re-categorized from single to double black diamond. The hill was a monster that consumed at least two of us.

Exhausted by 1:30 one son declared his legs were done and suggested we call it an early day. I was thinking the same thing. I was only too glad that the declaration came from a teenage son and thus the aging father was able to stay quiet. Rather than accept his offer, however, the macho in my decided to berate the poor child instead. I called him weak and we skied on.

The father skied 21 runs, the boys 22. The cost per run down below $4 was worthy of celebration and a quick 3:30 exit. We saw a commotion at neighboring Donner Ski Ranch that had a avalanche fatality. I popped two Advil and drove on.

Home by 7:30 for Christmas eve. By Christmas morning it was raining again.

December 26, 2012