The last time we were here there was so much snow we had to shuttle from the resort.  This time, we just parked at the trailhead and worked our way up to the cabin where I attained the permits to let the kids go nuts.

They asked if I was going with them, but I declined, desiring to simply play photographer for the day while focusing less on the rush of adrenaline and more on the beauty of the winter snow that remained.

Johnny, looking like a pro, grabbed a tube and hooked up just after his sister.  I waved and told him I would be waiting at the bottom.

While the kids were being hauled to the top, I gawked at the surroundings.  I have not been here in a long time and as I followed the contours of the ridge in front of me, I saw not snow, but the summer flowers filling the dry, deserted fields.  I missed it.

Snapped out of my trance from Amber's screams, I went to work snapping impatiently.  It was a bit difficult to get a good shot with the rays of sun poking out every other minute, bouncing off the snow, blinding me.

It was starting to warm up, but not too warm for hot cocoa.  After a dozen runs, I finally convinced the kids it was time to take a break.

Seldom can a parent with two kids watch and relax.  Usually they are arguing or bickering on about something extraneous, but not today.  Not now. 

Johnny was the first to ditch the peaceful table we had all to ourselves for more tubin'  He tried the red, blue, then the orange, and finally concluded that the yellow was the fastest.  The sun was out in force, so I tossed my shades to Amber and hers to Johnny while I hid in the shadows.

He was so impatient, he would often get out 30 feet before the top of the tow and pull the tube up, falling several times.  I tried to warn him to stay in the tube until it breached, but couldn't as I was laughing too hard.

Making it all the way to the ramp, the kid was running on pure adrenaline, but the temperature was starting to climb and the snow soften.

People were now arriving in droves.  Hours before, we had to choose what color to take, now a 15 minute wait for the next tube.

None of the newly arriving people could make it to the end of the run, so we called it a day and slid our way back to the main road for additional fun in the shade near where we had parked.

Snow angels, snowball fights, and general goofiness ensued.  I ended up getting massive snow down my shorts, and still have no idea who was responsible.

Amber tried her hardest to get a snowman built, but it kept failing apart, meaning daddy to the rescue.  After 20 minutes, he was done as was I.  I threw on some "Old Man's Beard" for a beard before clicking the last shot of snow for the season.

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