Skiing the Andes

So in the middle of August we made our way up the 55 switchbacks to ski the Andes Mountains.  It was the perfect ski day - sunny, little wind, and lots of fresh powder.  Drew and Mason hit ski school and Dallin went to snowboard school, while Mark and I got in a couple of hours on our own.  And it was rather successful for most.  But the problem with learning to snowboard with a skier is that it doesn't work AT ALL.  Once the lessons were over, it was pretty much pointless for poor Dallin.  So he pretty much sat at the top and watched us go down for close to 2 hours with Mason and Drew (we did offer to put him in more lessons, but he has decided that snowboarding is not for him).  Dallin was a good sport though and just played in the snow and waved to us each time we came up the ski lift.  Dallin has decided he will attempt skiing next year (and we will add a sixth to the pot with Easton doing lessons next winter). 
Mark took Drew up again the following weekend to get some more practice in.  They lucked out again with great weather and more new snow.  Unfortunately with basketball games and birthday parties the rest of us couldn't get up to ski again that day.  We planned on going up a couple more times, but spring came early with warm temperatures and there hasn't been any more snow at the resorts close by.  Oh well, until next year!

In the car as we start our drive to the ski resort.  Can you tell they were excited?

Look at that beautiful powder.

Getting ready.

 

This is the only picture of Mark I got...sorry about the gloved thumb.

This pic is from when Mark and Drew went up together the next week.  Fun dad and Drew time.