---
title: "Tahoe Ski Trip"
date: 2023-01-30T12:40:15-08:00
draft: true
categories: Travel
tags: [Friends, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing]
resources:
    - name: cabin
      src: cabin.jpg
      title:
      params:
        alt: A cozy cabin living room, with wood panel walls, lots of fuzzy, furry pillows, and a high steeply pitched roof. A fireplace is off to the right, and a large couch occupies the middle of the room. The windows fill the wall, floor to ceiling. Outside, you can see many tall pine trees and snow falling.
    - name: snowshoeing
      src: snowshoeing.jpg
      title:
      params:
        alt: "A selfie of three people: me and two friends, wearing cold weather gear and standing in the snow. A well-traveled path in the snow meanders through the snow-covered trees."
---

This weekend I took a trip to the north side of Lake Tahoe with a group of coworkers and friends to ski and snowboard,
and enjoy the mountains and each other's company. We stayed in an AirBnb in Truckee, and spent a couple days up at
Northstar.

{{< figures/image name=cabin >}}

We all spent Friday on the mountain. I took an all-day group snowboarding lesson, while the rest did runs all over the
moutain. My lesson was a small group, just five of us, and it was really great. We were all newbies, and very
encouraging of each other. Our instructor pushed us quickly through standing and short glides on the board, to longer J
turns, and traversing the bunny hill. Before lunch, we were doing the Big Easy. I felt like I was starting to get the
hang of it, and the instructor agreed. After lunch, we went up the Arrow Express lift and took Lumberjack all the way
down. It was harrowing--I have bad memories of the first drop from the last time I was at Northstart--but we all made
it! By the end, I was feeling much more confident on the board, though I was also pretty beat up from several rough
falls throughout the day.

We all went to bed pretty sore that night, but the next day we got up and did it all again. There were a _lot_ more
people on the mountain on Saturday, so wait times for lifts were longer. Despite that I got a bunch of good runs in,
including one from the top of the moutain with the rest of my group! I ended the day with two runs from the top of the
moutain, and a sore tail bone, but with much more confidence in my ability to turn and stop on a board. 🤙🏻

The third day was a rest day for me. While some went back up the mountain for another day of skiing, a few others of us
decided to go on a snowshoe hike. This was my first time with snowshoes. They're a bit awkward, but pretty easy to get
the hang of. We took a loop around a small lake near Donner Lake. I always enjoy the peace that being out in nature
brings, and it was great to catch up with two of my friends in a smaller group.

{{< figures/image name=snowshoeing >}}

At the end of the day, we scrambled to amass a stockpile of snowballs for an ambush! The guys in our group had decided
to go skiing a third day, and were on their way back. When they pulled into the driveway, we attacked! Honestly, it
wasn't anywhere near a fair fight. 😅 They fought back though, survived the onslaught, and we all had a great time.

Spending quality time with friends, going on trips like this, means a lot to me. I've gotten to do trips with friends
like this a few times over the last couple years, but it's been a bit since I went with _this_ group. I had so much fun
being up in the moutains, hanging out, playing games, and having long conversations. We're such a good group, and I'm
grateful to have all of them in my life.

Thanks y'all. <3
