Dashing through the Snow

This one has been on my to-do list for close to 20 years now.  For the first couple of years, I couldn't afford to do it.  Then I met B, and he was learning to ski, so we spent most of our time and money on the slopes.  Then we had little kids that were too young...I could go on and on, but the truth of the matter is those are just excuses.  We could have done it at any point, but for some reason, we kept saying next year.  Leave it to Grampa to get it checked off of the list by gifting us each a sunset tour!  Thank you again, Dad!!!  

The afternoon came, and we spent about 15 minutes just trying to get bundled into our suits.  It doesn't seem hard, but we already had on underlayers, snow pants, and our jackets and had to still get this onesie on over it without it all bunching up inside.  And then we had to also get boots, helmets, and goggles before heading outside because we were so hot I thought we might spontaneously combust.  It did seem excessive at the time but when that sun went down and we were still cruising at speeds of up to 40mph, it all made sense, and we were super thankful for the layers.

We could barely walk at this point.

Group picture before we left

And my group pic (missing a few) as we headed out after our practice circles.

There are no pictures of the actual ride.  I may be crazy and take a ton of snaps of almost anything, but even I am not crazy enough to try to steer a snowmobile that had my 9-year-old on the back and try to take pictures at high speed.  You'll just have to trust me that it was awesome and breathtaking and incredible.

Heading up.  Yes.  I am stopped.

My partner in crime and Sam.

We started off driving over the river and through the woods (not making that up) and then climbed and climbed until we hit the Georgia Pass at the Continental Divide.  Just in time to catch the end of the sunset.  Breathtaking.  Of course, we needed a family picture, so we asked our guide to take one.  He obliged, and I then found this on my phone...

but also this.

And here is where it gets funny and painful.  I decide I need to get closer to the edge so that I can get the sunset and the valley below before the sun faded for good.  I start walking quickly with my sister-in-law steps behind.  I realize these colors may fade pretty soon so, I pick up the pace.  I am now jogging.  In rented boots.  In the snow.  I do what any natural clutz does, I fall.  Fast and hard and the phone that was in my right hand poised to take that picture has just hit me in the eyebrow.  OUCH.  I laugh and ask Sara if she got the shot of me falling.  She says of course through her laughter.  And then I ask her if my eye is bleeding because it really did hurt enough to feel like I may have split the skin.  No blood but the start of a shiner already.

Now that you know the story, was the picture worth the shiner?  You decide...

A few more quick snaps for posterity and we were headed down the toilet bowl (yup, its real name) and through the enchanted forest.  Now in the dark with just our headlights to see.  And it was amazing!

Back at base, a full two hours after we started, we peeled off the boots and suits and started to warm up a bit.  They were right, even with all of the layers it gets freezing after dark.  Though not your hands, those will feel like they are burning with the heated handlebars.  We were tired but still exhilarated from the ride.  I can't believe we waited so long to do this.  We won't make that mistake again!

The eye the next morning.  Not even close to what it would look like in a few days but you can get the idea.  You can see the vertical line on my browbone where the phone hit me.