Back Country Snowbaording - Options

In an effort to add more adventure to our snowshoeing trips, we now backcountry snowboard. The idea originally started when we went up past Scofield reservoir near Electric Lake to get Christmas trees. I noticed there were many slopes that would be prime snowboarding or skiing spots, so the tradition began. On different weekends we drive up, scout out a new spot, snow shoe up and the board down. As I had never snow boarded before some of the descents are a little rough, but still so enjoyable.

This time we brought tiny. He loved it until his snowboard broke.

Looking down on Options. We named it "Options" because once you get to the top there are so many different lines to ride, thus Options. The top is very steep, but it mellows out toward the bottom. By-the-way, the guy on the left is not me, just some bum we found up there. The one on the right is "Tiny".

Guthrie heading down.

I may look like I am trying to spray Guthrie with snow, on the contrary, I was trying not to kill him.

Again Guthrie, notice the perfect form.

This is me, half out-of-control but somehow still able to get down the mountain with few falls.

Since we began doing this instead of biking, winter has become very enjoyable again. This day we did the loop 5 times. Snowboard down, snowshoe up, rest for a minute (or two) snowboard down. Repeat 5 times.

Love it!!

Christmas tree Bonfire hot Dog roast

Decoration less, waiting to fulfill it's final destiny.

January has always been such a let down. So much has happened October through December with Halloween, Thanksgiving (Although that holiday has issues) and finally the build up to and final celebration of Christmas. Then the Doldrums. No School breaks (until April) no major holidays, (Unless you count St. Patricks day when I always "find" a leprechaun "treasure map" leading to a cash of shiny, buried one dollar gold coins) there just isn't much happening. Not to mention the tree, we scout the mountains, cut it, haul it to the truck, decorate it, sit underneath it every night, sleep under it's branches on Christmas eve's eve, then throw it on the curb for someone to pick up. What a waste. That is normally why our tree stays up almost throughout January. However, this year we attended the Alvey-Farr tradition of Burning the Christmas trees up the canyon and roasting hot dogs and smores.

There was a good turn out. Kelly came from back east (because I forget in which state she lives) to burn the tree, yes it is that popular. Grandma and grandpa Farr. The Gillings, Alvey grandparents and finally Jake's Brother, Bob (because I forgot his name)

In an effort to get more air to the fire, Grandpa Greg in an herculean effort lifted the tree from the fire and let the flames leap to the sky. This was when all the pyro began, at least with the younger children.

The final glow of the campfire. It was only about an hour and a half but it was a great ending to the holiday season, and a great start to a new tradition.

Let the Doldrums officially begin.

However, this year will be different, we have decided to do something fun and adventurous each month.

February - Goblin Valley (Resurrected tradition)

March - Antelope Island (Resurrected tradition)

April - MOAB (long time tradition)

May - Float the Little San Rafael River (New tradition)

June - Boulder Mountains and slot canyons (Long time tradition)

July - Bear lake (Long time tradition)

These coupled with the monthly Moab/St. George/Arizona/Cali Biking trips my Brother and I do - are going to make for a good adventure filled year.

Do snowshoes really work?

Due to the fact that my family snow shoes quite often, (and perhaps because of my larger-than-average-perhaps-I-should-be-on-the Biggest Loser-size), people commonly ask if snowshoes really work.

Yes they do...here is some proof.

Keep in mind the video is low quality, but you get the point (it was taken by an older version of the waterproof, droproof, olympus camera)

First the Location. Julie Andrews Meadow, about 2.5 miles up from the Bear canyon trail head, much less traveled than the pine hollow freeway trail, steeper(2,000 feet in 2.5 miles), but much less raveled.

Second, the snow depth; Guthrie dug down until he hit dirt at around six feet. The next two are the test. One without one snowshoe, the other with both.

Without one Snow shoe.

With two Snowshoes.

Conclusion, yeah they work.

Fun? You bet.

Hard work? Breaking trail is one of the hardest workouts I have ever done.

Don't believe me? Come try it, you will probably love it as much as we do, just please don't tell everyone about this trail (Big smiley face emoticon).

The Gingerbread house tradition

Every Year we purchase those cheap, pre-made ginger bread house kits, you know the ones. We dive the kids into three groups then let then loose, without parental guidance or help.

As you can see they are focused and determined to get the buildings decorated.

Some are more content just eating the candies. An added bonus; any candy they don't use for decorating they can eat. Thus some of the decorations are sparse.

The finished product; a train. That gingerbread with a green mass of frosting on the train car is santa with green blood, courtesy of little man.

The older boys did a Christmas village.

The final product on the fridge to be displayed then promptly eaten on New Years Eve. The large house the girls made, fell down in a "hurricane". We never fixed it.

We love doing this and the mess is well worth it.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert

Unbeknownst (perhaps not a word, but fun to use) to us, every year Kelly, my sister-in-law-now-residing-in-North Carolina, puts all of the family's names in for the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. It just so happened that this year, our names were selected...Thanks Kelly. We invited Amanda and Dallin to go with us, thus keeping it in the family.

This is the set, is was magnificently done, with candles on the trees. The first number was incredible, complete with dancers (which we saw again later) and great music, definitely a get-your-attention type of song. David Archuleta was the guest this year and to be honest I was a little hesitant as I do not normally enjoy his music. However, to my great surprise, I thought he was a wonderful addition and brought a great spirit into the room. Not too mention the screaming young women.

After the concert traffic was horrific so we quickly toured temple square. It was very busy, but worth it. One of the highlights of the night was the fact that Dallin (Amanda's Date) brought little gift bags to give to the homeless instead of money. Some appreciated them, others not so much, but it was enjoyable watching them be passed out.

We make temple square look good, or at least Hot mama does.

A and D, just being casual.

There was a multitude of people there, this was the line to get in. We (I) was a little concerned about getting in after the previous night ( many with tickets didn't get in), but we experienced no problems whatsoever and in fact, there were a few empty seats when it began.

It was a great experience and would gladly do it again if given the opportunity.