Poo Poo Point

The fog engulfed Seattle Saturday, hoping for a little sunshine the mister and I headed to Tiger Mountain to explore the oddly named Poo Poo Point.  The infamous name was given to this trail many years ago and was thought to be indicative of the "poo poo" sound made by the logging steam whistles that were often heard along this mountain.  At the peak there are long open fields once providing homes to these whistles, but today these fields serve as a make shift airport for hang gliders and para gliders.  We hoped to spot a few flyers on our journey, but sadly there were none.  Dense fog below the peak made visibility impossible, so we had to settle for gorgeous views.  

Mountain Musings

My legs akimbo and a face full snow was how I spent my first few days learning to ski.  Most times my skis, humiliated by my lack of coordination, made a run for it to the bottom of the bunny slope.  On cue, a pre-schooler would gracefully swish by adding to my embarrassment. Several lessons later and with a lot more practice, I was finally ready to tackle more difficult terrain.  So with my new found confidence, the mister and I headed out to Crystal Mountain Resort to test out a few green and blue runs.  

We arrived early Saturday morning ready to hit the slopes. Heading up on the gondola, we began to notice that the ground cover was sparse at best.  Despite this small set back, it was a gorgeous day and we were still able to get in a few good runs.  We had an enjoyable time, but learned a few valuable lessons on this trip.  

1. Just because a trail is named after a Disney character does not, and I repeat, does not make it easy!
2. Ice skating is fun, but should not be done on skis.  Especially, when rocks are involved.  

3. If your tire warning light is on...it is a good idea to check the stats before you drive into the mountains.  Realizing that one of your tires is at 8 PSI while 50 miles away from civilization is nail biting.   
4. A pitcher of beer is a great way to end a day on the slopes!  

Washington, DC

Photo Courtesy of Matchbox Chinatown

I had hoped that Washington, DC would be immune to January's gray days; however, she seemed to be engulfed in the same dreary drizzle that the rest of the country is experiencing.  Due to the haze, the mister and I spent most of this trip indoors.  We did get to see a few sites that we've missed on our previous visits; National Geographic Museum and The Newseum.  We also stumbled upon this great little restaurant in the International District; Matchbox Chinatown.  They are known for their brick-oven pizzas; however, their brunch and adult beverages are also top notch! 

She's Got the Books

 

I've always enjoyed a great book and with a trip on the horizon I've gathered a few great books to take with me on my journey.  These guys will see me through a couple take offs and possible long lay-overs. My list consists of books that I will be taking as well as a few that I've enjoyed over the holiday break.  Happy reading!


Infinite Jest
Brain on Fire
Orphan Train
Savage Beauty
Maude
The Nazi Officer's Wife
Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide

Game On!

We decided to mix it up this weekend, with no outdoor adventures to be had. My husband "scored" tickets to the Seahawks playoff game against the Carolina Panthers.  Before the game we took in the spectacle of downtown Seattle on game day. Along with a few hundred other fans we found ourselves at Pike Place Brewing Company, a great place to sip a few beers in one of our city's most iconic spots; Pike Place Market.  The mister and I shared the Carnivore, a deliciously spicy meat-topped delight of a pizza. We cooled our pallets with the locally brewed Kilt Lifter and  XXXXX Extra Stout.  Very tasty!

With our bellies full we set off through downtown Seattle amidst a sea of blue and green to CenturyLink Stadium. We quickly found our seats and settled in for an exciting game, with the 'Hawks rolling to the NFC Championship for the second straight year! 

Alpental

I am a little late with this post, but thought I would share a few pics from our Christmas day road trip to the Snoqualmie area.  Guess I was on Santa's Naughty List, because I got the flu a few days prior to the holiday.  Since I was still recovering, our adventure was very low key that day.  

Also, came across this great post today and thought I would share!  Even though it's advice we all know, it was still inspiring and a great reminder to stay positive.  Hope everyone has a great start to this new year!

New Year's Day

Hope everyone's new year is off to a wonderful start!  After wrapping up the holiday season, the mister and I headed to Steven's Pass for a bit of skiing, Bigfoot hunting, and some hot cocoa.  It was a great way to start this new year!   

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Zipping Through Whistler

Our final days in Whistler were spent touring the local attractions. We started with Ziptrek Ecotours where we zipped through old growth forests.  It was a chilly, but exhilarating experience as we soared 180 ft above ground while taking in views of snow covered mountains and glacier fed streams. Our guides were entertaining and quite knowledgable.  They even taught us how to ziptrek upside down! We finished our final day on the Peak to Peak gondolas, went tubing, had a snowball fight, and then headed back to our hotel to enjoy a nice dinner in the village.  Overall, it was a wonderful holiday escape and we can't wait to return!

12 Days of Christmas

Excitement is building and the countdown to the final days of Christmas are here!  To spread a little romance and holiday cheer, the hubs and I always give 12 days of gifts leading up to the big day.  The gifts can be small, but are always significant and include a personalized message.  Last year we got a little carried away, so this year our goal for each gift is $20 per day; not including wrapping.  My husband put a personalized spin on our 12 days and created our very own Advent Calendar.  Each day we take turns drawing a day/theme and that determines which gift you receive.  It is one of my favorite holiday traditions!  

Happy Holidays! 

Ski Days

Being a true Southern Belle I have little experience with the ski world, but despite my lack of ski knowledge we set out for the slopes first thing Thursday morning.  My first run was a little bumpy and I spent most of my time getting close with the slope; I fell A LOT.  The mister attempted to teach me a few tricks of the trade, but to no avail.  Determined not to give up we enlisted the help of an awesome ski coach, Marc.  By our second day I was able to stay upright and say goodbye to the bunny slope.  
Later that evening, we wrapped up our day at the Scandinave Spa.  There we relaxed in outdoor steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs while surrounded by an alpine forest and mountain views.  With our sore muscles pampered we headed back to the village to prep for our next day on the slopes.  

Photo Courtesy of Scandinave Spa

Whistler, BC

Since the mister and I were dreaming of a white Christmas, we decided to head North for a pre-holiday adventure.  On Wednesday, we made the 5 hour drive from Seattle to Whistler, BC.  Whistler is a quaint village that boasts premium ski runs, awesome nightlife, great shopping, and a lovely Christmas village.  We arrived at dinner time and headed straight for the hotel, the Hilton Resort and Spa.  It's in the center of the village, nestled near the Whistler and Blackcomb lifts. After quickly unpacking, we grabbed a bite to eat at Sushi Village and then spent our evening strolling along snow dusted cobblestone streets.  We discovered a few amazing little surprises such as an ice skating rink and the Olympic Rings.