Spring in Mammoth

We are back from another epic trip to Mammoth. Getting back to the mountains could not have come soon enough for me. It is like water to my bones. Every time we go on one of these trips the kids seem to get better and better on the drive. I guess they are beginning to really understand that it is hard to sit for that long but also so entirely worth it. In fact, the day after we returned home Zi said: "Mommy, I want to go camping tomorrow." 

It's really pretty fun to see all of the different things the kids come up with to entertain themselves on the drive...

Alabama Hills

We typically stop here on the way to and from Mammoth. It's such a hard stop for the kids, and seems to have only become increasingly more difficult. On the way to Mammoth, the kids (specifically Eden) are just so amped to get to camp, set up, and settle in that they can hardly see a reason to do anything but that. On the way home they are just so incredibly exhausted from the trip that they can't see why we are doing anything but heading straight home. But it is such a beautiful spot that we have only begum to explore. One of these days I would love to make a trip committed entirely to this place. 

They are good sports and enjoy themselves despite their impatience.

Zion had two pretty big head bumps in the days prior to this trip so we were resolved to make him wear his helmet the entire trip which worked really well. In the week since we have been home he has had two more significant head bumps. /:

Eden is the designated photographer while we are climbing. I think she comes away with some pretty unique shots.

Eden and Jon checking out some future kid friendly climbs,

Mt Whitney in the background

The spring flowers were in full force. I think I got a pic of each variety.

Camp

We camped right in town again. The lows were projected to be in the mid 30s, but when we woke up each morning the weather channel reported the temp to be in the low 20s. Good thing Jon rigged our trailer with all this insulation you can see him putting in here. This insulation kept us so warm that we hardly used the heater at night. Jon affectionately referred to our trailer set up as "The Space Ship" and "The Shake and Bake".

This camp ground is so fancy that it even has an in-door pool. The kids were obsessed with getting to the pool and begged me to take them every evening. 

Morning Bike Rides to Breakfast

It was too cold at camp in the morning to hang out and make/eat breakfast there. So each morning we headed out on our bikes. I was really impressed with how Eden charged in the 22 degree temps which our beach dwelling bodies are so not used to.

Super-dad, pushing Eden up the hill with one hand, dog in the other hand all the while trailing Zion along. Things like this really make me feel like a dead-beat mom.

Captivated by the frozen water bowl.

Playing in The Snow

These pics are from our first night in Mammoth. Eden was amping to get to the snow so we headed over in the evening after setting up camp. There is something incredibly magical about snow, especially to these beach babies of ours. In fact, we had read Peter Pan prior to this trip and toward the end of the trip, (I'm pretty sure we were up in the gondola at the time) Eden says: "Mom, this must be Neverland, where nobody ever grows up."

Rock Creek

We stopped through Rock Creek in the morning on our way home, I thought it would be fun to play in the snow one last time and to see the big lake we had paddled in just 7 mo ago all frozen over. The kids were fascinated, and we were all in awe of the beauty and serenity of that place. Time seemed to stop while we were there.

Cold hands

Snowboarding/Skiing

Eden had been looking forward to snowboarding ever since last years trip. In the fall I bought her a cheap snowboard off of craigslist and she was super amped to use it. Before we left she told everyone who would listen that she hoped we would wake up super early each morning and go snowboarding first thing. So you can only imagine the disappointment all around when one of her bindings snapped in half on her very first run of the trip. /: I felt awful. But the next day we rented her this super "fancy" snowboard, and she was stoked. 

There he goes again super-dad. Meanwhile dead beat mom is just taking pics & getting extremely tired just thinking about carrying one of those bodies up that hill.

Eden could probably snowboard pretty well if she wanted to but why would she want to when she can go down the entire mountain just like this with her favorite human being on the planet?

Zi on the chairlift!

Here comes little Zi!!

Building a family of snowmen while waiting for brother and dad.

This guy was a huge hit with the kids as you can only imagine.

Can you see the W? (:

Gondola Rides

Zi and I must have logged a considerable number of hours riding this thing. But again it's one of those moments where time seems to just stop. Something about being suspended up there looking down at the snow and the tractors and the skiers and snowboarders...Zi wanted to go again, and again, and again...it never got old for him.

Poor Klamath did not enjoy the snowboarding aspect of this trip - not his idea of a trip to the mountains. Here he is waiting patiently for us to return from the slopes.

The Village

Jon and I took turns snowboarding for a couple of hours each day (although the first day was such a cluster that I don't think Jon ever did get to go except with the kids). The afternoons were easily passed at the village or around town (Jon often took them down to the skate park to ride their bikes as well). The kids are at a pretty incredible age. In some ways it seems more exhausting, but it equally seems a lot more fun. 

Eden was amping on this root beer float! Her first in as long as I can remember (maybe almost 2 years).

Evenings

Each evening we went out to the forest to collect firewood. How can such a simple activity provide so much joy? I cherished these moments. A couple of the afternoons we did a little climbing/swinging too. Jon has this relentless energy and I never really was up for these evening climbing sesh's but I'm so grateful to him for making them happen.

We drove in circles around the logging roads of the forest looking for this little gem. I had no idea what we were looking for. I was happy just to find something new to top-rope out there and then this appeared. It is everything I could ever dream for and more. I'm not sure if I will ever be strong enough to climb it. But I will try and enjoy every ounce of sweat and blood I shed along the way.

More Eden pics

Eden entertaining herself while we climb by setting up some sort of rope system in this tree.

Jon giving Eden a quick lesson in rigging.

Turns out this new climb is also the best swing EVER! Wahooo!!!

This pic was taken at the gas station petting zoo on our way home.  I think its pretty special so I wanted to post it - even though it looks a little out of place. (: