Sabbatical Ski Adventure

After a delicious dinner at Teds downtown Bozeman, nightcap and bed before 10 a.m., the night was filled with wake up for both of us.  Mostly aches, headache, stuffy nose and just anxious about the day ahead. Trip Record 15 degree start with blowing snow.  70 hours of drive time and over 3k miles with 1,200 to get home.  We quickly packed and hit the road by 5:30 a.m. We grabbed coffee at Starbucks in Bozeman and got on 90 east to Billings.  Drake took first shift and had to deal with whiteout conditions especially with truck blow back.  Drifting in left lane just complicates the drive. At 6:45 a.m. the sunrise started to show itself. The undercarriage was constantly covered in ice Drake started in the dark and Jeff finished in the dark Weather just slowed us down too much to make it home 15 plus hours of snowy driving and around 10:40 Omaha, Hilton Garden Inn was our resting place.  No slowing either of us to bed and sleep.  What a grinding day of snow, bad drivers and trucks.  Whew.

The day started with a sleep in as last night was wild ride and just an overall exhausting event.  Worked hard to keep the water coming in with the dryness, so the bathroom enjoyed lots of visits.  Mid morning made the call to take it easy and ski first thing in the morning.  Caught up on post game commentary, breakfast and computer work like the blog.  Chelsea game vs. Crystal Palace. Took a stroll downtown for our ladies chocolate and then back to continue relaxing.  Jeff too a half hour down in the hot tub / pool area. Plan to ski in the a.m. again and then head up to Big Sky area mid-afternoon.  About a 3 hour drive all together.

Today is a ski and travel day.  Starting with breakfast, packing and driving up to Jackson Hole.  Being Tuesday and snowy we did not have to get there too early.  Walked up to the base and after getting new pass for Jeff (last one cracked in half?). We spent the morning skiing in white out conditions and fresh snow 4-6". Took a break for Irish Coffee and water, then headed back up for few runs.  Skied to the bottom and took the Tram to the top.  Drake skied down and Jeff took the Tram.  Meeting up at the bottom the call was to start our trek to MT. What Grandpa looks like when skiing with Drake!!! Tram adventure pictures...... Stopped at the new Sidewinders (sister location to the Super Bowl spot).  BBQ Hamburger with onion straws and cheese. After lunch made the 4 hour plus drive to the VRBO in Gallatin, MT.  Up through WY into Idaho, then MT and then Yellowstone and then into MT.  Lots of very great scenery.  A ton a breath taking views along the drive along with what is snowmob

-3 degrees start in Jackson, WY. Brought in gear this morning and warmed up while waking.  Whew, forgot to bring in our gear overnight.  Amazing how long boots stay cold when frozen. Drive up to Jackson Hole Resort was 25 mins and parked up close for $35.  Free parking off mountain just seemed to be a little more than difficult.  Getting there early we hung out in the car for a bit.  Despite web site saying 9:00 a.m. start, the lifts and gondolas opened at 8:30 a.m.   Skiing at Jackson Hole is basically very long hard blue or black runs.  More on the black side.  While pretty much a groomer hill, it was quite the challenge.  The  Corbet's Couloir  was not open due to lack of cover.  Just not enough snow the past several weeks.  View of the entire Jackson valley was so hard to capture in a picture.  Warmed up a bit, but a cold a.m. with the haze clearing for a blue bird day. No lunch but resting break at lodge.  The barkeep was from Maui and told Drake headed home to 8 funerals.  Re