Time: Jan 1st 2016
Place: Soda Springs Ski Area
Company: Wife and Daughter
Highlights:
Wanted to usher the new year with snow, just like how we had on 2012 in North Conway. But had not planned anything until 31st evening. Finally decided on Soda Springs - but just as a day trip, considering the drive was about 3 hours. Left at about 8:30 am and reached about 11:30 am. There was a huge line for the ticket. We took Planet Kids since we wanted the daughter to have her day of fun. And once we got the ticket, we went on the short sleigh ride to Planet Kids base lodge, where there was another huge line for ski rental. Looking at the line, perhaps we should have arrived about an hour early. It was almost 2 pm (just 2 hours for closure) when we got the ski and hit the short slopes.
Skiing for the first time is never easy. And the 5 year old was more scared than had fun but she did ski a little with help. The thing she had more fun was snow tubing which she did for a few times. Then the cold (13 F) caught onto her and started biting into her toes. So we had to rush back inside for warmth. Then came out again for some snaps and to just take in the setting. The sun had already set by then and it was getting far more colder.
We left at about 5 pm with a slightly dejected feeling that the kiddo did not enjoy as much as we would have liked her to. There were times when she was just playing with snow, and at such times, I should have just let her enjoy instead of asking her to hurry up for ski or snow-tube. And the cold was far too much for her to really enjoy and have fun. So the combination of the day/place/temperature was not correctly chosen either.
Anyways, it was still a nice drive amongst snowy mountains. Surprising that we had so much snow within a 4 hour drive from our place. There were many feet of snow. So much, that we saw people on top of housetops shoveling down the snow! The scenery and the setting was all very beautiful for a day's trip.
The return drive was slow, because of the traffic and light snow drizzle. Stopped at Punjabi Dhaba in Dixon for a dinner buffet. By the time we came home it was 9:30 pm, and we were all exhausted.
Overall it was a 13-hour outing, with an 8-hour drive to start the new year 2016!
Place: Soda Springs Ski Area
Company: Wife and Daughter
Highlights:
Wanted to usher the new year with snow, just like how we had on 2012 in North Conway. But had not planned anything until 31st evening. Finally decided on Soda Springs - but just as a day trip, considering the drive was about 3 hours. Left at about 8:30 am and reached about 11:30 am. There was a huge line for the ticket. We took Planet Kids since we wanted the daughter to have her day of fun. And once we got the ticket, we went on the short sleigh ride to Planet Kids base lodge, where there was another huge line for ski rental. Looking at the line, perhaps we should have arrived about an hour early. It was almost 2 pm (just 2 hours for closure) when we got the ski and hit the short slopes.
Skiing for the first time is never easy. And the 5 year old was more scared than had fun but she did ski a little with help. The thing she had more fun was snow tubing which she did for a few times. Then the cold (13 F) caught onto her and started biting into her toes. So we had to rush back inside for warmth. Then came out again for some snaps and to just take in the setting. The sun had already set by then and it was getting far more colder.
We left at about 5 pm with a slightly dejected feeling that the kiddo did not enjoy as much as we would have liked her to. There were times when she was just playing with snow, and at such times, I should have just let her enjoy instead of asking her to hurry up for ski or snow-tube. And the cold was far too much for her to really enjoy and have fun. So the combination of the day/place/temperature was not correctly chosen either.
Anyways, it was still a nice drive amongst snowy mountains. Surprising that we had so much snow within a 4 hour drive from our place. There were many feet of snow. So much, that we saw people on top of housetops shoveling down the snow! The scenery and the setting was all very beautiful for a day's trip.
The return drive was slow, because of the traffic and light snow drizzle. Stopped at Punjabi Dhaba in Dixon for a dinner buffet. By the time we came home it was 9:30 pm, and we were all exhausted.
Overall it was a 13-hour outing, with an 8-hour drive to start the new year 2016!
