Fire

 When it is snowy and blustery outside, the warmth of the fireplace keeps us toasty. Standing in front of the wood-burning stove is a welcome relief after shoveling. 

Snow and Camping

 Like most of the western United States and the Rockies, we got a lot of snow over the weekend. Along with the snow came cold temperatures, just in time for Noah's hike. He managed to get a half-day of ski instruction in before it was time to pack up and get ready for his trip. Fortunately, it is warmer in the bottom of the canyon. 

It is T minus 2

 Back from Texas, Noah got serious about his food planning for the Grand Canyon hike. He weighed, measured, tasted, and readjusted to ensure that he had a sufficient amount of food and that it all tasted good. Although he considered bringing a small cast iron pan for the cheesecake for a moment, he thought better of it and opted for an aluminum pan. 

College Visit

 Noah and I headed to Texas to visit Texas A&M. And just like they say, everything is bigger in Texas. Our economy car turned out to be a minivan. We had gathered good intel on places to eat and enjoyed delicious wings and barbeque and even a Texas-size breakfast. In addition to touring the campus, we had the chance to reconnect with old friends and got to hear the inside scope of the town and the school. Noah had the chance to do a walking tour of the campus, but we could not schedule a tour of the engineering building. In our casual walk around on campus, we walked into the Zachary Building lobby to admire the sculptures. Fortunately, we encountered the Director of Recruitment, who promptly set Noah up for a private tour with a Mechanical Engineering student. Flying home, Noah got upgraded to First Class - a fitting end to his college tour career. Now, all that is left to do is make a decision. 

One More Practice Hike

 Noah and his troop did a one-day hike in preparation for heading to the Canyon. He packed his bag, not with all his gear, but with weights comparable to what he thought his pack would weigh, and off he went. 

Amazing

 Where else can you hike in t-shirts one day and ski the next? We are so fortunate to have such wide access right here. Noah and I headed to the slopes. He is trying to get one more merit badge before he ages out in Scouts, so I became the designated photographer to capture his abilities and understanding of downhill skiing.  Noah clocked speeds in excess of 65 miles per hour going straight down. My speed? It is classified. 

Prep Hike

Noah needed to try out his hiking gear and get a few miles on his boots before his Grand Canyon trip. Since Sedona offered both excellent hiking and warmer weather, it seemed like a win-win for a Sunday afternoon excursion. We were not the only ones wanting to hike in Sedona; fortunately, the hike we set out to do, was a bit less popular than some other ones, and we enjoyed the quietness, the colors, the sun, and the fellowship.