Holiday 2010 vacation, part3: Missoula

After three nights in Marquette, woke up early on 12/29 and caught my flight to Detroit for the journey to Missoula, the first leg of three flights.  A big thanks to Carmen for using her miles to get the ticket... Despite a delay in Detroit and a waning snowstorm in Missoula, my trip was uneventful, and I arrived in town about on time.  Craig was a bit late picking me up, understandable with 15" of fresh snow at Snowbowl.  It continued to snow as we made our way to Craig's house, with a few detours along the way (beer, REI, a rack store in town, pizza and beer, then one more beer at the Kettlehouse brewery). 

Observation Deck at Minneapolis airport

At Craig's house, waiting for Will, we shoveled the foot of snow off of the driveway, kept snowing the entire time.  Things were looking good for Thursday.  Will arrived and helped finish up the shoveling, we took a short soak in the hot tub and then off to bed.

Snowbowl was reporting 11" of snow, and we got up there reasonably early, but was still a 45 minute wait to get on the lift.  Snowbowl had as good of conditions as I've ever seen it... cold day with temp at the top of -3.  I had a decent day of skiing, with a finisher run through the trees of the parking lot run.  But with my leg injury limiting my activity, I was not in as good of shape as I would have liked, and my feet and calves were definitely not used to wearing the ski boots.  The Atomic boards were a big help though, and was still a great day to get out.

Next day was bitterly cold, along with no fresh snow... we decided on a day of hot springing and a new years evening buffet dinner at the Lochsa Lodge.  More in the next installment.

2010 Holiday vacation, part2: Marquette

Late afternoon on 12/26 we packed up the vehicle and drove the hour or so north to Marquette to visit Carmen's parents, and her sister Amy, who had flown in from California with her son Sean for the holiday.   We had Christmas dinner shortly after arriving and then did the whole present thing.  Drew got a Tonka fire truck, which he loved (I got a new jacket from the in laws :) ).

Dave, my father in law, had to work the next two days, so didn't see much of him.  Usually he and I get out XC skiing, but I was on my own this time... got up to Blueberry Ridge pathway Monday and Tuesday, conditions were great.  Amy, Carmen and I got out for dinner on Monday night and otherwise spent a lot of time with the kids.   Time was short in Marquette, my flight sequence to Missoula started early Wednesday morning.  Got a few pictures of the lower harbor and the old lighthouse.  Also, should have a more extensive post on Marquette trails forthcoming.  On to Missoula and the skiing beat down.

End of 2010 vacation, part1: Escanaba

With 2010 drawing to a close, out annual holiday travels are upon us.  I managed another trip to Montana (where I am now), but first the family and I traveled to the upper peninsula to visit family over the holiday.  First stop was Escanaba to visit with my brothers and grandma Erickson.  It was an eat and drinkathon, punctuated by presents, chasing the kids around and taking a couple of walks along the waterfront. 

One of the best features of Esky (as it is locally known) is an amazing waterfront park, which includes a small island with great beaches and a marina.  Seems like if has become tradition for my brothers and I to walk around the park, got in two walks, one on 12/26 in the morning, a beautiful (but cold day)... pictures are from that walk.

The bay was still not frozen completely over, and with the wind there was water movement.  At the mouth of the marina, the wind and chunks of ice in the water combined to make a beautiful chiming and 'tinking' noises as the ice pieces bumped into each other.  On to Marquette in the next installment.