doodledee

It's been all snow all the time around these parts. And I don't just mean the near non-stop shoveling of driveways and sidewalks and rooftops and side yard patios that appear to drain toward the house. Though there was plenty of that, too.

Thursday night - after shoveling, of course - I loaded my snowboard gear in the Jeep and started scheming how I could skip out of work to catch a few runs at Hyland on Friday. My plan was to get there when they opened at 10, and be back at my desk by 1. If anybody asked, I'd just say I had a meeting in a different building. A meeting that required me to wear a helmet. And snowpants. But then they cancelled school, and nobody came to work, and 4 bajillion snow starved kids had the same idea I did. Except for the skipping out of work part. So my solitary 10am powder runs were replaced by working until noon and fighting the crowds at the lifts. And by 'crowds' I mean 'lines there were maybe 10 people deep'. Still a great time. They don't groom at all - it's so small, why bother - and there were a couple of times I bailed into knee deep fluffy goodness. A total hoot.

Saturday we got up and went back down to Hyland as a family (2 for 1 adult lift tickets after March 1 ohyeah.) I camped in the chalet with juniorette while Libby and junior hit the slopes. More great times. Also this: the chef at the Hyland cafeteria is a genius. Made to order omelets, legitimately homemade soups, featured entrées (roasted red pepper ravioli, anyone?), all showing off his A game. And this was on a crazy busy Sunday morning. I mean sure, they sell 4000 corn dogs a day, so some context is in order, but still, kudos to that guy for stepping it up.

It ain't the mountains, but it's 10 minutes from the house, so it's somethin'.

Hyland Ski Area [hylandski]