It was winter back then...

By the time I'm making this post it's basically summer, but I've fallen way, way behind on blog posts, so this one goes all the way back to winter. Way back in the month of January 2021! Back then, Montana was a frigid winter wonderland and life was all about snow shoveling, sledding, and hitting the ski slopes. We took the short drive up the canyon to Snowbowl to check out Missoula's closest ski resort. The snow never seems to be as good up there as it is at other resorts, but you can't beat the convenience of closeness. The terrain was also a little more advanced than the boys preferred, but they managed well. Nolan and I got in a little over our heads at one point, staring down death at the bottom of a slightly steeper slope than he had hoped to go down, but he handled it like a champ! On another cold winter day we took a short hike up to Waterworks Hill in the Rattlesnake area. While is a close hike, it was one we'd never done, and the views of the city were fantastic. Great times were had by all!

Nolan, the bravest little skier, about to descend the dangerous slops of Snowbowl, aka Icebowl! He ain't scared!

Future Sentinel Spartan... but since he's a thoughtful kid, he took the green way down.

Paul will take the smart route, but for Nolan... it's double Black Diamond time!

It was a rough ride to the bottom. Took the ski patrol an hour to break him out of the ice...

But a little Dr. Pepper can warm you right back up.

He survived to venture out another day! Well, most of him anyway.

If there's water at the top of Waterworks Hill, it was definitely frozen on this day...

Great view from up here!