20110428 SQUAW SKIING

Report

Les, Bev, Heather, Katherine, Charlotte, Ella, Simona

April 28 - May 1, 2011

Bev and I drove to Squaw Tuesday to continue work on the cabin. Heather was planning to come up, but wanted to wait until her new glasses were delivered. She left San Francisco about two o'clock on Thursday.

THURSDAY 4/28

Heather Arrives

Heather and the girls arrived about 5:30. The drive had been fast and easy, although a little snow had fallen on the street at Squaw. The girls chose beds and took a nap.

New Bathroom

The bathroom remodel had progressed a little; we now had a brand new toilet seat which every one admired.

FRIDAY 4/29

Snow Going Fast

Bev and I had been at Squaw almost exactly a month earlier in the midst of a major storm. At that time the cabin seemed like a cave, with snow blocking the view in almost every direction. Since then there had been rain in the Bay Area, and snow in the mountains. But there had also been rain and warm temperatures in the mountains. The snow at Squaw was going fast.

During the storm the snow banks along Navajo were so high the plow operators couldn't see the cabin. In one case they directed the stream from the blower over the bank and sent it crashing into the window. Fortunately, the glass did not break.

Chess

The twins started playing chess. They seemed to play very well, although we were not sure whose rules they were following.

 

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Balance Rods

The intellectual effort of chess soon wore them down and they turned to the more physical challenge of the balance rods. The ball rolls toward you. To get it started spread the rods. But you must immediately begin closing the rods or the ball will drop through. The idea is to keep the ball rolling toward you on the rods as far as possible. The highest score is 6, if the ball comes all the way to your end before dropping through.

Chess Again, Bev Instructing

The twins returned to chess, Bev instructing this time. Somewhere along the way Katherine took up chess. I was able to teach her the basic moves very quickly, and even begin to show her some strategies. She will become a good player with a little practise.

 

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Snow Play

It was time to go outside. Below the kitchen window was a steep bank of snow ideal for sliding.

Papoose

Finally everyone was dressed and ready. Heather drove us all down the hill to Papoose. The lifts and lodge were closed, but there was good snow and a packed path up the hill. Katherine skiied the path quite easily, but it was a little difficult for the twins.

 

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The twins started using the saucer. Soon Katherine joined in, and all took turns on the saucer.

Oregami

We lunched on the lodge deck, and returned to the cabin for naps. Bev gave an introductory course in Oregami.

The Stream

That afternoon we played around the cabin. The first project was to dam the little stream flowing in the gulley.

Boating

The dam did not work well as the water filtered through the pine needles. So we moved out to the stream flowing down the ditch. There were some small pieces of sample molding in the cabin that made excellent boats. They floated down the ditch into the storm drain and disappeared under Navajo. After what seemed a long time they re-appeared on the other side of Navajo. Sometimes they got stuck, and it was necessary to reach into the drain with a stick or rake handle. Surprisingly, they all eventually reappeared. Back and forth; much excitement.

 

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Window Slide

Attention turned to the window slide. Unfortunately, the slide ended in the branches of the fir tree; not comfortabe.

Saucer Slide

We tried out the saucer. The saucer was very fast on the spring snow, and there was concern about the saucer going out into the street. Heather found a nice slope below one of the pines with a chute leading into the yard.

Window Show

Looking in the window at Bev was fun.

SATURDAY 4/30

Breakfast

Saturday Heather and Katherine skied at Gold Coast. Simona, the twins and I returned to Papoose. There was a slide banked like a toboggan run. Several parents were taking their kids down the run. The sleds went really high on the bank and came down with a big bump. One parent, going down alone, went right over the bank. They took the girls for rides several times.

Dancing

That night the twins amused us all with soft shoe dancing.

Chess

Later Katherine decided to teach Charlotte chess. Katherine understood the moves of the various chessmen. Charlotte resisted this knowledge. But eventually she withdrew under the table.

SUNDAY 5/1

Cross Country Skiing

Heather and I had visited the Resort at Squaw Creek ski rental tent. Cross country skis, boots, and poles for children under five were free.

When we arrived in the morning we were the only people there. They outfitted all three girls and Simona and wouldn't charge us anything; they said the course "had not been groomed". We skied along the course and turned out onto the fresh snow of the golf course. Bev went with Katherine who caught on quickly and soon went far ahead. Heather went with Ella. I dropped back with Simona and Charlotte. Charlotte was coming along quite well but slowly. She yelled "I am skiing by myself!". Every once in a while she fell and couldn't quite figure out how to get back up. Lying on your stomach with your skis out back did not work, nor did lying on your back. The idea of lying on your side was never accepted, and she had to be pulled up, which she did not like. But she did long stretches both with me and Simona.

Simona had not skied cross country. She learned the kick and glide, then the kick, glide, and pole. Simona knew ice skating, and was beginning to try ski skating.

 

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Charlotte With Gramps

Simona