finding my groove

Well, it happened, folks. I went snowboarding for the first time of the '13-'14 season.

Back in, like, August, I bought a Big Sky card, which allows me to ski for free once each during opening an closing weeks, plus once for half price somewhere in the middle. So I took my freebie on Saturday with a few friends.

To be honest with you, I was equal parts nervous and excited. (I was nervous because: -I hadn't been snowboarding in nearly 10 months -I had only just begun to kind of figure out carving the last time I went -Frigid temperatures expected at Big Sky. I was excited because: -I hadn't been snowboarding in nearly 10 months -I have all of my own gear this year! -Big Sky provided me with my happiest memory of the 2012-2013 ski season -The Bowl -I just really love Big Sky.)

We stayed at the Stagecoach Inn in West Yellowstone Friday night. It's kind of a quaint and rustic hotel...

The Grand Staircase

O Christmas Tree...

Next morning, we got up and had breakfast, then bundled up, packed up the cars, and made our way to Big Sky, Montana!!!! 

Cameron was ecstatic to be on the mountain. He lives to ski.

It felt even colder than it looks...

Such a pretty morning...

Big Sky's claim to fame, I guess.
And really: who doesn't love Charles Norris?

Me and Brooke, bundled up at the hotel.

Who's who? It's hard to tell boys from girls when everyone's in ski gear, which makes me laugh.
Cameron, me and Brooke

Brooke and Cameron are much more experienced skiers than I am, so they went their own way, and I stuck to the lower lifts with Jordan and Chanelle. 

I don't think I mentioned exactly how nervous I was about my first time back on the mountain after nearly 10 months without any practice. Last year was my very first season of snowboarding, and I wasn't sure I'd remember anything, and I had no idea if I'd even be able to stand up on my board, let alone ride it down, never mind figuring out how to carve.

Turns out, I needn't have worried too much, because a lot of it came back pretty easily. (I only practiced carving on the really shallow portions of each run.) And, good news! I didn't fall even one time getting off the lifts! (That was always the hardest part for me last year.)

I've forgotten nearly everything Jon taught me re: carving, but I feel like I might make some pretty good progress this season...

I took this during a break after riding The Bowl.

Isn't it so lovely?

Christmas trees...

This was on my last run of the day. I was exhausted and chilled to the bone.

Chanelle, somewhere in The Bowl.

After riding the bowl, I headed back to the lodge to warm up and chill with Jordan and Sean while Cam, Brooke and Chanelle finished up on the hill. I looked at my weather channel app and was totally shocked to read the temperature with windchill factored in...

-9, but feels like -21. Eesh!

My entire body hurts quite a bit today, but I'm happy with how well my first ride of the season went! So excited the '13-'14 season is here! Huzzah!