I realized yesterday that January is half baked. I'm so glad. January is the hardest month for me to get through. It has a lot to do with the sun, the weather, living in Ashton out on the farm, and with mom. The last three days have been the kind that we brag about. The bluest skies, sparkling stars at night, and diamond-like snow in the sun. We decided to get out and enjoy it- because we can if we just go outside. We went X-country skiing on the Fall River ridge. Sara will remember this trail, Zack too. I used to drag Zack behind me on a pink plastic sled when he was really little. Sometimes he slept through the whole thing. We were not the only ones out today; lots of others had the same idea, but fortunately, we met up with only three other groups of skiiers. Lots of snow machines and even two dog sledders were getting ready to mush up the road to Cave Falls. It seemed like we all needed to be out enjoying the sun and nice (30's) weather.
The US Forest service sign. "You are Entering Targhee National Forest!" Do not feed the bears, elk, or moose. There is always a Bear Factor! Violators will be shot and fed to the wolves. Considering my past relationshi0p with the Forest Service, I'm surprised I still like to go to the forest. 
We decided to do the first two loops, which meant 3.4 miles.
A good picture of the beautiful blue skies and aspens. This was up on top of the ridge.
Alan looking kind of granola-ee. Yikes!! All we need now is a subaru forrester.
Beautiful aspens. It was gorgeous.
Alan took this shot of twigs sticking up out of the snow. The ice crystals looked like snowy blossoms.
Down off the ridge looking through the Lodge Pole Pines. The moose had messed up the trail pretty bad in some stretches, and I kept putting my pole into their big hoof prints. I only fell down twice, and Alan, of course, did not fall down. We were looking at some bushes that had been disturbed by the moose and I said, "they must have bedded down here for the night." Alan said, "no they were just pushing the snow around and eating the frozen leaves off the bushes." Then with a very comedy Russian-like voice he said, "Moose and Squirrel." I cracked up. That makes us Boris and Natasha Badanov. Alan makes me laugh more than anyone I know, except maybe Zack on a good day.
Speaking of Zack, he had to move into another room, because the two guys came from Oregon and wanted to room together. That put Zack in the largest bedroom with the other roommate. It has turned out well. He is doing fine - very busy with homework, etc., which is so good for him. He has a nice new snowboard jacket and had to buy a new microsoft suite professional/student package for his micro apps class, which he was not anticipating. But all is going well. We miss him and at the same time we don't miss him. We're happy that he is at school and loving it.
Well, here's to January 2009 and Obama's inaguratiion. May this wintery month be over Soon!
