Our adventure began at 6pm Friday night when we left for Kirkwood.  We knew it was snowing, but a call to caltrans didn't mention the pass being closed.  A few miles before Ham's station, it started getting really ugly, white-out conditions.  Luckily, we'd borrowed Aaron's parents' Tahoe, or we would have turned back early on.  Poor Aaron could hardly see anything with the heavy snowfall and the defroster issues we were having.  We crept up the hill at 15 mph, and were to Silver Lake, when we came to a stop.  Sure enough the pass  had been closed.  oops.  Aaron got out in the storm and talked to some people.  No one knew when it would open.  We decided to wait it out.  As I was reviewing Uncle Rob's detailed instructions for his notes on road closures, I saw the most important note of all, written in red so it wouldn't be missed..."STOP, Don't forget the keys to the condo."  Holy @#*$!  I said.  Aaron reprimanded me.  I tried to think of a possible solution, before having to share with the group that we had left the keys to the condo sitting at home.  We'd already spent 5 hours getting to this point.  Luckily, since we had guests with us, it didn't get too ugly, when I shared the bad news.  Everyone was very nice about it, even Aaron.  We decided to just head home, and crept back down the hill.  We got home around 1am, 7 hours later.  David & Roseann crashed at our house, and we got a few hours of sleep, then headed back up the hill.  It was a much smoother trip with most of the snow gone, and we made it in 2.5 hours or so.  Despite the very rocky start, it was a great weekend, and we still did everything we wanted to do.  Turns out, the pass didn't open until 7am sat. so we were better off going home and getting some real sleep.  Funny how it works out that way.

 

The view of the Kirkwood meadow from the condo balcony.

 

It'd been many years since I had cross country skiid. 

 

Still trying to figure it out.

 

David's got it!

 

Here we come...

 

Finally a hill!  Roseann and I were racing, guess I play dirty...just kidding :)

 

Ahhh, the fun

 

Now Roseann's got it!

 

Needed a breather

 

Note the snow even in the goatee

 

A couple dog sleds came by

 

 

 

David & Roseann

 

Climbing the hill right next to the condo for sledding.

 

David taking a turn on the hill

 

Aaron's snowpenguin

 

Lots of dangerous icicles!

 

Next we tried the snowshoes...

 

There's some mean spikes on those suckers

 

We had a great time....thanks Uncle Rob & Aunt Andrea!