The Year Of The Powder

Mt Baker has received more than 60 inches (let's do the math... five feet!!) of new snow in the past five days.  Man, that's a lot of powder.

Today was the last day of Alice's lessons and it was the annual race.  She got a race number and everything.

 Of all the KOMO kids, she was the very first down the course.  The kids followed the blue line through the red and blue gates.

 

There she goes!  I cheered her from the sidelines, clicking my poles.

 And... she took 2nd place in her division!   Way to go, Alice.  So proud of my little girl.

KOMO Kids is such a fantastic program.  Very pleased with our KOMO experience!

After the race, the kids competed against the instructors in a tug of war.  It was funny to watch.

Following lunch, one of Alice's instructors from last year, who happens to be a friend of ours, invited us to free ski in the afternoon.  So, up we went.

 

And then it hit me.   My little girl has managed to surpass - far surpass - me.  I'm pretty good on the groomed runs.  But she was skiing in powder.  Through the trees.  She was amazing.   Perfect parallel turns.  And, all of a sudden, she knows how to ski skate.  Oh man, I'll never catch up with her now!

So much powder.  It was a beautiful day.

 

Extremely high avalanche danger in the back-country.  Lots of warning signs to stay in bounds.

They took me on a black diamond.  Yes, they did.  Alice - fearless.  Me - tentative.  But we made it.  I was just glad our friend, Charlotte, was with us.  She's incredibly competent and a great instructor - she offered me more than a few tips today.

Another fun day with my little girl (while Henry skied with Race Team).   Thankful to have these moments with my kiddos.