Snowshoeing into 2014!

Well, Santa brought the whole family snowshoes this year!  With the area around Boulder and Longmont pretty dry, we headed up to Winter Park to try out our new gear.  Maggie joined us - she is quite the powder hound.  The trail was through James Peak Wilderness, right across the road from Winter Park Resort.  It was perfect!!  A nice, gentle nordic track, just great for the kids to learn on.  While we were on the trail the clouds vanished and the bluebird skies came out, making the marshmallow world so magical!  We tromped down some easy packed trails and even ventured off through the big drifts of fluff (at one point I was waist deep!).  Van kept up like a champ, urging us on when we'd stop saying, "Com'mon!  We're snowshoers!"  Wes did really well for about a quarter of a mile, then just stopped.  Dad strapped the shoes and poles to the leash around his chest and carried our li'l bear on his shoulders.  Maggie couldn't have had a bigger smile on her face - she just loves our new family sport!  (seen above waiting patiently for us to get ready)

Everyone was tired and hungry afterwards, so we hit a local joint for a late lunch and headed home.  Can't wait to do this more in the coming winter weather.  What a great way to ring in the new year!

Happy New Year!