This was the 16th year that our family has skied at Crested Butte, Colorado.  Each year, I seem to look forward to it even more. This time it was AMAZING - there was SO MUCH SNOW!!!  I have never seen so much snow in my 30 or so years of skiing.

Our group has grown a lot over the years - from 4 to 10. Also, my long time ski buddy and his wife and kids were there as well - so there were 14 of us, all with young kids, and lots and lots of ski gear. Phew....that part was tough. But, once you get on the slopes, all that stress just melts away - it was beautiful on the mountain.

One this page are pictures from my dad's camera; my brother's camera, and of course, my camera. In total I think I started with well over 150 pictures, and cutting it down to a reasonable size was perhaps the hardest part....and judging form the length of this page, I probably didn't do a very good job. Well, grab a cold one and relax.

Finally, if you just want to see the video - scroll down and look for the bold links to the left of the page - ENJOY!!!

We arrive in Crested Butte!

There was SO MUCH SNOW!!!!
This is the entrance to our condo.

As we walk to get our ski's, I take the first picture on the slopes.

C'mon Lauren - let's go get our ski's!

Lauren and Austin are happy to finally be here (it was a long day of traveling)

Pops with 2 of his 4 grand kids.

We decided to go out to eat on our 1st night - PIZZA!.
We had so much food in the condo, it ended up being the only time we went out to eat.

Nana and Austin are HUNGRY!

Bring us PIZZA please!

SKI DAY # 1 of 4

After getting Lauren in ski school, Jacqui and I take our 1st ride up the lift.

...and look who we ran into!!
I've been skiing with Jay since the 1980's.

Jacqui is HAPPY to be on the mountain!

Jay is ready to ski!

Who is that mystery skier?
...is it a ski terrorist?
Oh, it's Sherrie - howdy!

Jacqui is ready to tackle the Lower Paradise run

VIDEO #1 - CLICK HERE TO SEE JAY ALMOST CRASH INTO SHERRIE!!!!

We enjoy the view from the Ice Bar

Sherrie enjoys the lift ride while Jay checks his e-mail from the lift.
Now that's a dedicated employee!

Hey - look - we are at the Ice Bar again!

I think Jacqui had one too many.

Our 2nd day of skiing

Pops looks like he's ready to hit the slopes...

Nana IS ready to go, and so is Trey!
Poor Austin kept asking for his 'skates' ...next year buddy - I promise.
If you look closely, you can see me and Lauren in the lift line.

Ilonka and Nana get ready to ride the lift.

My two favorite girls!!!

Bill, Ilonka and Trey pose with the Crested Butte bear.

...and now it's Lauren and Jacqui's turn

OK - let's go!!!

Bill and Trey cruse down the 'Peanut' run.

...and we all follow.

VIDEO #2 - CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR WHOLE CREW SKI

GO LAUREN!!!!

A great shot of the base - you can see our gray condos just over Trey's left shoulder.

Bill, Ilonka and Trey ride the the Painter Boy lift.

...and we are right behind them.

...and here we are on the Red Lady Express lift.

Lauren makes it down - no problem!

VIDEO # 3 - THE ACTION VIDEO!   SKI WITH ME AS I FOLLOW LAUREN

Let's do that again~!!!

Blake enjoys ski school (I think)

Bill, Trey and Nana stop for a picture.

Back at base - Austin plays in the snow.

VIDEO # 4 - WATCH AUSTIN PLAY IN THE SNOW

3rd day of skiing - a Sunday SNOW day!

Getting the big kids ready for ski school

Let me tell you - it was coming down HARD!!
...but it wasn't too bad to keep us off the mountain.

Yeah, it was a little cold - but it was FUN!!

While we skied, the rest of the crew went into town to shop.

Look at all that SNOW!!

Here's a pic of our 'ski in - ski out' condo.
That 5 foot snow bank made it a little tough to get in and out, but we made a trail. - and it was OK.

Trey finishes his day of skiing.

But we don't come off the mountain until the very last minute (of course!)

4th day skiing - our last day

Our last day of skiing was designated 'family day' - and we all took off together.

Lauren poses with Betty the Crested Butte Bear

AHHHH!!
This picture made Lauren laugh - so I had to include it.

VIDEO # 5 - LAUREN TALKS ABOUT THE UNDERWEAR TREE!

A great picture of all the girls.

Ahhhhh, the Ice Bar.
We saw a lot of the Ice Bar this trip.

It's Ilonka's FIRST TIME up the Paradise Lift - WoooHoo!

VIDEO # 6 - ILONKA'S 1ST RIDE ON THE PARADISE LIFT

A pic at the top to commemorate the moment.

That run deserves ...yes, another stop at the Ice Bar!

After the lifts (and the Ice Bar) close - we find ourselves at, yes, another bar.

I had a couple beers, then got a call from mom - it's sledding time!

VIDEO # 7 - CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO THAT I'M TAKING IN THE PIC ABOVE

Pops give the kids a good push.

Even Nana gets in on the action!

WEEEEE - let's go again!!!

VIDEO # 8 - BLAKE LEANRS THAT PULLING PEOPLE UP THE HILL IS A LOT OF WORK

VIDEO # 9 - WATCH THE KIDS ZOOOOOOM DOWN THE MOUNTAIN (again)

THE FAMILY PICTURE, and The Trip Home

I think my mom would have completely freaked if we did not get JUST ONE good picture of the entire family.  So, we figured the best opportunity would be as we were dressed to go home - and here are the results.

If you really want to see how chaotic it can be to arrange something like this - watch video # 10 below:

VIDEO # 10 - TAKING THE FAMILY PICTURE

Attempt #1 - not ready

Attempt #2 - better

Attempt #3 - looks good, just one more...

TaDa!!!

Getting the car out of the snow, and cleaned up was a big job.

Half our crew stopped in town....nice pic!

I included this one because it's the only pic I have of Christopher and Claire.

...just waiting for the plane to take us home.

We will miss Crested Butte - until next year!!!