3rd Birthday at Heavenly Tahoe

Our last ski trip was a big success and Maarten often asks when he is going to put the little skis on and do wjooooo again.


Besides his muffin party at the preschool we considered a party for his birthday at home or somewhere the American way. But since according to him Miss Robin is his best friend and I believe the birthday boy should choose the way of celebration we decided to follow his wish – we go up to the snowy mountains again!
Well, we didn’t expect that this would be followed that literally.
We had already had a several rainy days and the forecast for the Sierra’s promised snow as well.


In Placerville the heavy rain becomes snow and we are forced to put on the snow chains. We always have them with us but this is actually the very first time we really need to use it. There is a chain control on the highway already at Pollock Pines. When we finally get the still brand new interlaced chains apart a hooded man appears behind us offering his help.

Ooh yes, pleeease!

Where are you from? He asks and I can hardly understand him so I ask the same question.

I’m local. I’m a Native American!

Oops!
Later we understand why it was so hard to follow him. When we buy him a beer for his help we know this is not going to be his first one.

Anyway, we continue up and the snowfall is getting even heavier. We are crawling very slowly but we enjoy the beautiful scenery all the time.


After six hours of driving (should have been 3!) we finally arrive at our destination.
Maarten is thrilled about the amount of snow and asks to go skiing immediately. It is late already but fortunately we can comfort him with our snow sled.




It's almost dark when he and Rob build an artistic snowman.





Saturday is the big day! Maarten is turning three! We are all so fortunate to celebrate this wonderful day in such a beautiful snowy setting.

This morning is not snowing and I’m already pretty much healed from our last ski adventure. So, let’s go for it!

We go to the nearby Heavenly Ski Resort. I guess, this is the largest one in the Tahoe area. The ski-runs look challenging and even the sun is coming through the clouds. Though I know there is another challenge for me other than the steep runs...

Unfortunately this ski paradise is also extremely popular and because it is Saturday it is very crowded. Rob and Maarten disappear in the Ski Rental Store. They seem to be there for ages and when they finally come out Maarten is obviously out of patience.
And so am I by the way.
One of the nice guys at the Rentals tries to comfort me that it just looks kind of nasty but the crowd is not that bad for a Saturday!


Once at the lift our mood improves and the view of Lake Tahoe is beautiful. But the sun is completely lost in the clouds again and it starts to snow. We are optimistic and get on another lift to go higher.
But this is a wrong move!
The snow starts falling even harder. Maarten doesn't appreciate the snowflakes falling on his face and he keeps spitting at them.


But to get back down again we actually need to first go up to the very highest trail. (Don't you find this logical? ;-))
We are above 10,000 ft and it gets really stormy up here. Normally the easy trail would be ideal for our little skier who is already skiing so well today, but, unfortunately the weather is teasing him and makes him very angry.


We join all the other red faces and have lunch at the East Peak Lodge.
Poor Maarten hopes he is safe now.
But we still have to ski down...

Ehmm...and we succeed at last!

Is Maarten happy with his birthday adventure? Back in the chalet he seems to forget the annoying snowflakes and keeps talking about his skillful skiing.


The wind is stormy and the snow keeps falling the whole night. We are a bit concerned about our trip home tomorrow.
We wake up to a fabulous white morning.


Maarten can’t stay inside and explores all the huge snow-drifts and piles.
Well, he still doesn’t get enough snow even after yesterday.

Even though the first mile of our drive home took us almost an hour we continue in a reasonable pace over the mountain.

We have to use the snow chains of course and sure we make use of the wonderful chain installers.
For only 30 bucks they put the snow chains on and within 5 minutes we are ready to set off again!

Spring Idyll

When we returned from the snowy Sierras last Sunday the spring has already arrived in San Ramon.


We have sunshine and high sixties the whole week. Just sometimes in the morning thick fog from the bay crawls over the surrounding hills.


Due to a trail closure a stroll around the little Cull Canyon Reservoir turned out to be a challenging hike through the streets of Castro Valley and was not that pleasant easy walk I’ve planned for this Sunday afternoon.


Unfortunately this spring idyll is teased by our demanding son who seems to be intractable for several weeks already. There is a reason for that at least I believe so. Maarten doesn’t get enough sleep. (And me neither!)
He gets up at 3 a. m. turns the lights on and reads his books! It doesn’t help if we hide his books. He would climb wherever to look for them and get them. I even tried to loosen the light bulb in his room but as you know I can’t loosen the bulbs all over the house every night.
I’m not going to describe all his ‘clever’ moves and tricks since there will be no end to this list.

At this age he is coming into his own personality and, looking on the bright side, he is an (extremely!) enterprising little guy and we should be thankful for that. However, it takes a lot of effort to keep him and his environment safe enough.

PS: We DIDN'T pluck the poppies!!!

Donner Lake (7–10 February)

It’s been a while since I last skied, maybe even 5 years?! Maarten is almost 3 and I just couldn’t wait any longer to put him on skis as well.
Here in the Bay Area we don't get snow but I told him that he is going to ski like Krteček (Little Mole from his favorite cartoon) and he got very excited.

We rent a cabin at Donner Lake. It is a nice little cottage overlooking the lake. Like nearby Lake Tahoe there are hundreds of cabins hidden by the pine trees all around the lake. The cabin is very cozy a homey furnished. Very romantic though unfortunately it is not quite pristine because of the highway noise.
We all can’t wait to go to the nearby ski resort. Maarten wants to ski immediately. He screams with joy as he goes up on the ski lift. But then we have to ski down the hill again.
It seems Maarten didn't realize that.

After a few meters he falls and loses his ski boot. I try to put it on and I fail again and again. Maarten is already out of patience and I’m trying to keep calm. I always say Maarten never cries much but now he roars so loud that we get a lot of attention from other skiers. Well, not of our dad who skis down untroubled...
Later he doesn’t even succeed in putting the boot on and he rushes down again to get a bigger size. Maarten keeps on screaming all the time. We couldn’t wish for a ‘better’ start!
Bigger ski boots make a big difference and we can begin again.


On the way up, we are both aware of the absence of the safety bars on the lifts. I’ve already heard that the lifts in the U.S. are not equipped with the safety bars. We don’t even dare to look down and we hold Maarten firmly the whole time. I would like Maarten to attend ski school but just can’t imagine him on the ski lift by himself with other toddlers! Or am I being hysterical?

We ski at Donner Ski Ranch and there isn't any (toddler) ski school anyway. And besides that it has always been my dream to teach my own child to ski.
To be honest, Rob has to remind me of that all the time now.

Even though Maarten is doing so well, it is a really difficult task to explain things to such a little one.

As soon as he manages to stand on his skis he would bomb down the hill no matter where without controlling his speed or knowing how to stop. He doesn’t care about any dangers. He visualizes whales!, counts potatoes (rocks), is fascinated by the snow going so fast under his skis and tries to touch it while rushing down the hill.
There is no consciousness of fear in our little guy. (Does this sound familiar, mom?!)


You would understand that the helmet is not an unnecessary luxury equipment in Maarten’s case.

I agree that a parent should not be the one to teach his or her child but we still did pretty well.

Anyway besides all the hard work, we had a lot of fun ...
Honestly I only hope there is a suitable ski school for Maarten next time.