Bear Flag Blog

Much of the time you plan to do something fun with the kids and it comes off differently than you had anticipated; the kids don't take naps and become grumpy, the weather doesn't cooperate, you forget the camera, something.

But every now and then you plan something fun to do with the kids and it comes off perfectly.

Last Saturday we went up to the snow; the four year-old had never played in snow before. I wanted to go last winter but things just kept coming up; in particular, people getting sick, but other things consumed our weekends as well, and we never seemed to make it, and then the snow was gone.

Originally we had planned to go last weekend but my mother got sick, so there was a bit of a repeat there. But as it turns out, this last weekend was perfect.

Absolutely perfect.

We went back to the folks' house Friday night. Left their place about ten and drove up to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. It was an inspired choice - the snow started appearing at around 3,000 feet, and when we reached the park (just above 4,000 feet) it was several feet of fresh powder all around. And since the park is on Hwy 4, with no big ski resorts higher up issuing their siren calls to the hordes, traffic was a non-issue.

It had snowed all week and let up just in time for our arrival. I brought chains for the car, but in the event I didn't have to use them. The highway was clear to the park, just. They had plowed the parking lot; when we arrived at noon only a few other people were there, and we had a winter wonderland almost to ourselves. Three feet of virgin snow in every direction.

Sledding! Snow angels! Romping through startlingly deep (thigh-high on me) snow! We probably never got more than 100 feet from the parking lot, but we didn't need to.

Two hours later we stopped for hot chocolate (cooled down from piping-hot thermos temperatures by fresh snow) and headed out.

It was perfect. The four year-old loved it, grandma loved it, I loved it, Mrs. Oso loved it - even the baby was good, although I think he was a bit nonplussed. No one got too cold, no one got too tired - the weather was great, grey and overcast so there was no glare at all. Didn't even need sunglasses. Yet the air was warm enough that one's lips didn't get chapped. We were all dressed just right, including those so-important snow pants.

Pictures are up in the gallery. For those who have forgotten, the username is Mrs. Oso's first name, and the password is mine. Capitalization is important!