I woke up to another gray-bird day in Bozeman with a warm wind and no snow, but I knew I had to try out my new skins before the weekend was all said and done. I also knew that my dear friend Rachel would be game for a short tour regardless of the not-so-awesome ski conditions. To our surprise, after a short tour up History Rock, the sun poked out and it was a lovely day. It was low angle and low avalanche conditions, so we were pumped….a nice little Sunday.

My favorite little dog Nanuq joined the crew.

Rachel is Nanuq’s favorite…she was kind of his second mother back in our Salt Lake City days…she is definitely his alpha bff.

Fast track out

Rachel, Nanuq, and moi….caboose in the back.

I hadn’t busted out my skins and touring gear in a couple years, so today was a treat. I hadn’t even tried out my Volkl Katanas  yet…what shame. A good friend and a good dog with a little bit of sun…it makes for a good day.

Me, Wade, Grandma and mom for Christmas Eve dinner at my place

Christmas morning

This year’s pickle….I won!

Christmas day game of hockey!

Dad played goalie…without skates.

Dad defending the glove goal…mom in the background chatting on the phone.

Cool new hat and jacket…yey Christmas!

Dad and Nanuq among the Christmas gifts.

Wade’s new bike jersey…

….and Nanuq’s new Christmas bone.

Very happy dog

Nanuq in his Christmas PJ’s….’tis the season.

Now, if we could only get some more snow. Until the powder dumps and ski season comes I have only pictures of Nanuq to fill my blog and entertainment.

Mom and Nanuq

It was a beautiful day up Hyalite…another 5 miles would have taken us to Hyalite Lake.

Nanuq and I took a quick wog (walk/jog) up to Sacajawea Peak today…we hustled down from the peak when I saw a storm rolling in.

It was my dad’s first day of official retirement and I had the day off, so why not take a hike? We grabbed my mom and headed to Storm Castle…I’ve been wanting to get up there all summer. It was a beautiful view down the Gallatin Canyon and surrounding mountains. Nanuq got a little hot under the sun with his heavy coat, but he made it.

Pretty view.

Mom and Dad at the top…Nanuq sucking down some water.

Nanuq enjoying the shade.

The top…the drop off just about made me nauseous…I don’t deal well with heights.

Looking down….

Nanuq and I took a wog (walk/jog) up to Lava Lake last week…it was a nice escape from the heat in Bozeman.

Rosanna, Kyle and I rallied up Chestnut Trail on a morning bike ride last week….it was quite the climb. My legs were already jello from my hike to Lava Lake the day before.

Kyle and Rosanna grinding up Chestnut.

Delphine and Thomas came through for a visit on their honey moon across Canada a couple of weeks ago…it was super cool to have them in town. They’re trucking coast to coast in the Prospector (their 1984 hippie van that they bought in Vancouver) which putts one mile, or kilometer, at a time with a pit stop in Montana. We spent a couple days camping around Wade and Cliff lake, since their one request was to fish. We took out my mom’s kayak and rented a canoe…they boys caught three Rainbow Trout!

Dav and Thomas fishing along Wade and Cliff Lake

Nanuq on the shore

Our camp site…Nanuq joined the dinner table.

Delphine…bronzing that Mediterranean skin on the lake.

Delphine and Thomas…what a cute Frenchie couple

Dav had the idea to transport each of us, one by one, back to the opposite shore in lieu of hiking back to the campsite, and Delphine was the guinea pig…..

…a little wobbly….

…and they’re down….

…burr….

…still burr….

…and still more burr…

Poor Delphine trying to dry off…

…the unfortunate duo….

Me (all skin covered in defense against the army of mosquitoes) and the Frenchies…the last photo before Dav sunk my camera among his fresh catch in a Kayak of water….oh, how I already miss my camera. Now I’m stuck with my phone camera…sad.

Nanuq and I took a hike to the “M” recently and it was a beautiful day….green in the valley, snow in the mountains, and wild flowers in bloom.

Labellum Flowers