The Epic Mammoth Trip

This weekend I took the three older kids to Mammoth. I have booked trips on the hopes of good conditions. It appears it will snow for 5 straight days. Five feet fell before the day we took off.

We started on the road like any normal trip. "Has everyone gone to the bathroom?" Reply: a drawn out "Yeee-ee-essss" As to instill some sort of confidence that we will not be stopping 20 minutes down the road for our first pee break. I check the car, loaded. Luckily Donica threw the coffee and filters that were left in the kitchen in the front seat. I turn the key, 1/4 full fuel tank. Ok so we wont be launching and getting huge mileage under our belt but maybe we can get to Temecula or a bit further.

First pee break occurs before Temecula, 30 minutes in. Contemplating emergency lane but better judgement says no. We choose to fully exit and use an emergency lane on a secondary road. Every second counts right. Youd think this would insure a long time before the next break, because I witnessed it, so I know the kids are empty. Fifty miles later. Daddy, daddy I gotta go real bad! Whaaat! Its uncomfortable to have to go so I search the Droid for the nearest gas station. I also dont want to clean up a wet kid and car seat.

After fuel and el bano we are reset. The kids love the woop de doos of the 395, I like the peace, although I do love when Jetta has a 15 minute conversation burst where I cant get a word in and every sentance starts with "Remember Dad?". They watch about 5 movies on the way up. The drive outside of Bishop was epic as it was blowing snow and the headlights gave that star wars effect. Kids loved it. I had been looking forward to driving in snow since I heard it was dumping. Even though it was raining when they made us put the chains on, I still loved it because I knew I was going somewhere where I needed them.

As advertised there was a crapload of snow. Up to the windows of houses. Everywhere. The roads were adequately plowed. and yet still the first thing they ask for the second we arrive at the condo at Mammoth (Especially Stevenson) is, "Can we have movie?" We opt for 930p hot tub as the sky stormed over us.

In the morning I go to the car and take my first steps in the new fallen snow, and it comes up to mid thigh, but kinda heavy. Im 6'4" so thats about 3 feet that wasnt there when we came in, and usually the town gets half of whats on the mountain. Ohhh boy.

Its still howling and dumping as we head up to the mountain. No way this will be good for lessons. And it wasnt. Jetta threw a fit, acting like a 2 yo and clinging. I trust my instinct that her " My belly hurts, Im cold, Im hot, I have a headache, I have to go to the bathroom" is manipulation. I second guess when she starts with the " your not listening to me." I heard her, but true, I wasnt listening. Turns out she was totally fine and was the best one in the class. the opposite happened for Stevenson. He was cool up front. Then I got the call. "your son is not listening and crying" That means he is tired, hungry, cold and given up trying to have fun. Maybe late night hot tub to early wake up was not a great idea. Gunner and I got two runs in as the mountain shut down in parts, and the weather kicked up. So we are now back in the condo, playing scrabble, and sitting around the fire. I looked outside our condo and saw a large 40 foot segment of a tree top resting on the neighbors condos front door. I call it in to the management company and they say someones coming in tonight. No they arent. The tree is literally their front door right now. So as chaos is storming outside our warm retreat is cozy and fun and the kids are alright.