24-hour Makeover

Ever since day one, I've been overcome with anxiety every time I entered the Gear Room. We enjoy alot of outdoor activities, but seriously, this is just ridiculous. I'm embarrassed of this picture - it can only be shown because this is the "before" to the "after."



First everything had to go to the living room, so we really looked like slobs. Then I painted one wall in the Gear Room green.

There are very few reasons I will get up at 5am, but going to IKEA with the intention of spending money is one of them. We got back at 7pm and began in on the real fun.

This closet amazes me. There are 12 drawers and 3 large bins. Everything is organized and has it's place.

All the backpacks now hang on the wall. There are 5 heavy duty shelves in the corner holding tents, boots and some other stuff. Zach has a 8 ft. long work station where he can pack up his gear.

And this is my favorite part! The pegboard was cheap and easy. And so practical.

All the sleeping bags are stored nicely underneath. This was a relatively inexpensive project, and worth every penny for our sanity. But I do hope the next IKEA trip is because we are going to buy a kitchen!! Or a bathroom... or even both!

Yurt Adventure

Well this last weekend was the long anticipated Couples Yurt Trip in the Idaho City back country. There was 9 of us on this trip we got on the snowshoeing trail at about noon and started our trek to the Banner Ridge Yurt. Rochelle and I at the trail head.
Vince and Randi... Their first Yurt Experience (please note the size and height of Vince’s pack it was gigantic)

Jimmy and Timia

Dave and Toni

L.L.E-Dawg (Little lonely Evan... His wife Jenni couldn't pull away from work but that wasn't going to keep E-Dawg from attending a Yurt Adventure)

Dave and I built ski pulk's which are sleds that you attach to yourself and pull your gear in when on snow expeditions. They worked great and doubled as entertainment when we got to the yurt.

The Crew in a snowstorm on the way into the yurt.

Double 00 Dave will protect us from the wild white tail snow bunny!

Finally the Yellow Blaze which indicates the Yurt!

Our sledding hill which the yurt deck overlooks.

A slightly crooked picture taken around 11:00 pm of the Banner Ridge Yurt.

A full moon helped the pictures really turn out good in the snowy night.

The Crew playing 99. A fun card game that Toni taught us.

The crew in front of the Yurt prior to heading out.

The short trip home. (There is a dead body in Dave's sled)

Here are a couple of video clips of the sledding fun we had. It was a wonderful trip with great friends. I can't wait for the next adventure!

Happy New Year!

So we finished the 11 footer on New Years Day and later that afternoon Evan, Jenni, Rochelle, and I moved into our home away from home to welcome the 2009. The temp inside the igloo through the night only got down to 32 degrees. We all stayed warm and toasty except poor Jenni's toes... Which is crazy as she had the warmest sleeping bag rated to -20 degrees.

We rang in 2009 with some Roman Candles. I'm pretty happy with how these pictures turned out as I don't really know what the heck I'm doing with my camera. But for a sony point and shoot camera it really brought out what we experianced in the dark snowy night. I hope you enjoy the pics.

Wipeout!

Superman... I mean Evan belly sliding the sled hill.

Jenni hitting the hill.

Rochelle shooting the shoots.

Evan, Jenni, Rochelle and Zach at the mouth of the 11 foot Igloo.

Here are a couple of videos from our little trip. The first is of the inside of the igloo when we are packing up getting ready to head home. Then a clip of the sledding hill. The last video is me hitting the jump that we built next to the Igloo on my board. We had a great time ringing in the new year. We hope that this year brings happiness and adventure to all!