Island Park Cabin Adventures

Warning: long, heavy picture-laden post ahead!

Thanks to the great generosity of mom and dad (grandma and grandpa), every year between Christmas and New Year's, our extended family goes to a cabin in Island Park (near West Yellowstone). We have so much fun! We always have memorable experiences and lots of great, family bonding time. This year we had so much snow. This is a picture of Savanna in front of the main office. Our stay there would not be complete without a snowmobile ride to Warm River - where we feed the fish. However, it's usually the ducks who benefit the most. We took some leftover buns we had to share with them. It's such a pretty ride and the river is always beautiful. We usually see some wildlife. Last year we saw moose hanging out in the middle of the water! Here we are on one of our rides. There are not enough snowmobiles for the whole group to go at once, so we take turns. It's so beautiful! Here is Savanna driving a snowmobile. Those hills are fun to climb up and back down. Savanna again. We stopped for a bit and let people take turns just driving around in a big meadow. We end up having to cross the river more than once during our rides. You can't see it very well in this picture, but I loved the fence posts with several inches of snow on each one! Usually it's quite a bumpy ride crossing over the bridge, but with so much snow and not many riders out yet, it was quite pleasant. Here are some of the snowmobilers sitting down at a picnic table. Can you believe that snow?
This is a little overhang and some signs at the entrance to a campground - just to give you an idea of how deep the snow was. On this ride, we were able to see some elk walking down the river. It was pretty cool! We take turns as family cooking the meals. Each family is usually assigned 2 and then there are others in the extended family who are assigned to help (prepare, set-up and cleanup). It works well. For the last few years, the boys have been assigned to cook the tortillas. I think they enjoy it!
One evening, a few of us went outside to enjoy the new, falling snow. During the course of 24 hours, it snowed 2 feet! It was a major amount of snow. We're used to wind in Lehi, so that the snow doesn't stay pretty on things. However, it was calm and peaceful and the snow just piles up - on trees, buildings, structures, vehicles, etc. So gorgeous! Julisa and Kennedy wanted to make snow angels in all the snow. However, they sank back into a snowbank and almost disappeared! Didn't work quite like planned, but was an adventure. Pretty tough to make snow angels in that much snow - and they were freezing. As we were headed out of our cabin one evening, I stopped Savanna and Julisa to get a picture. Unbeknownst to them, Kendal, Kennedy and Kayden were just above them and brushed some snow off right onto Savanna's head! They couldn't have timed it better. I didn't know it was going to happen, but got a great picture. Even after having snow dumped over her head and down her neck and back, Savanna is still smiling! Paul and Kennedy just chilling out and taking a quick nap. Have to get it in when you can. We stay in what is called a "bunkhouse." Lots of togetherness! There is basically one big room - with couches, chairs and a tv, and then several beds. There is a partition that divides most of the beds from the rest of the living space. But, pretty much we all go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time! Actually, that's not quite true. There are some early birds who arise and try their best to be quiet and let the kids/teenagers sleep in. We pull the curtain and it's still dark for them. The eating area is quite large with two big tables, and a bar with several stools. It sleeps 30 people! We play lots of games - and we're usually not very quiet! We enjoyed playing Clue, (live, charades-type version) where you have a murder set up: who did it, where and with what. One person is given the clues and has to act it out. There are three people who go out. One at a time, they come in and see the charades and then they have to do it for the next person. The third person has to guess who it is. Lots of laughs - by the end it's usually pretty unrecognizable, although we do have a mean Elvis impersonator, and Richard Nixon (aka the Statue of Liberty) has shown up more than once. We laugh until we cry. We also like to play another sleuthing game (Mission: Impossible), which involves keeping your eyes closed and trying to guess who is the mafia and who are the detectives. Lots of card games are also played and there is a puzzle on. This year the swimming pool/hot tub were closed, so we didn't get to do that as much as usual. They were able to go across the street a couple of times and go to the swimming pool at the clubhouse where Paul and Julie have a membership. A few relaxing around the fireplace towards the end of the first day. When we arrived, it was freezing! Seriously - in the 50s. We started the fire, and the management brought us several space heaters, but it wasn't warming up very fast. It's a long story, but they had a problem the night before with carbon monoxide. The family who was in the unit that night had to be moved. When we heard this, we were pretty worried. They didn't have a carbon monoxide detector, but had one installed by that evening. They assured us it wouldn't happen again - something about so much snow on the roof and clogging up vents. Well, with all the space heaters, the power kept getting overloaded and then we'd lose all power. We had to go keep flipping the breaker. That night, we discovered that the fan on the fireplace hadn't been on. It's the only source of heat for the cabin (other than the space heaters) and it should have warmed it up quickly. Once we got the fan working, it got bearable. All part of the adventure! We had a fantastic three days, two nights and are so grateful for loving parents who make this happen every year. One of the highlights of our Christmas! Thanks, mom and dad, we love you!!