Utah, Snow Tubing, and high Altitude Sickness (3)

[continuing from part 2]

Just a few steps north from the Learning Center, there is a popular snow tube park. Only two tickets left for the coming one-hour session. Hooma volunteered being a picture taker. In fact, she just felt like she could faint at any time. Hooba and Hoohoo chose their own tubes and waited in line for available tow ropes to take them up to the top of the hill. Hooma sit at a picnic table right next to the ticket booth with a woman who apparently served the same function as Hooma, taking pictures. About 10 minutes later, the woman saw her 11-year-old boy slid down first on the middle lane followed by her husband holding their toddler girl on the first lane which has gentler slope. “Gosh, it takes almost 15 minutes per round,” she said to Hooma. Hooma did a quick calculation and realized that only 4 rounds per hour!

Couple minutes later, she saw Hoohoo and Hooba slid down on the lanes next to each other. At the end of the lanes, there is an area with a slope to slow you down and several barriers to prevent you from flying over. But if you reach the line and crashed onto the barrier, you will get a warning for the first time, and get expelled on the second time. While Hooma was capturing the moments, more moms joined the camera crews at the picnic table. Some came from finishing the first round, some just like Hooma, couldn’t go up there to face their own fear of height. Once Hooba and Hoohoo reached the base, they were so eager to get in the line again. “You guys can enjoy only 3 more rounds.” Said Hooma. But the line moved faster this time probably because the participants knew the rules and the routines already. The second round took them only 9 minutes. After the third round, the line was getting lighter and lighter because some people had decided not to go up again. “Must be the thin air in such high altitude.” said one mom. Hooba and Hoohoo continued their 4th, 5th, and final rounds.

Utah, Snow Tubing, High Altitude Sickness & ...(2)

A short distance drive through highway 14 is closed in winter. The only way to Brian Head is to continue north on interstate 15, turn to highway 143 near Parowan and drive south for another 35 minutes with ascending elevation into the Dixie National Forest. Snow already covered the ground on the way up. Bare tree branches let the winter low light through. The car finally parked at the parking lot of the Navajo Lodge Learning Center.

The Navajo Lodge Learning Center is the place for everything, from eating, shopping, to renting, booking ski/snowboarding lessons, and etc. – basically for beginners. The elevation is 9,000+ ft. Hooma stepped out of the car, felt tired, hungry, thirsty, and dizzy. “Need to eat something!” She thought her condition was because of hunger. But they stopped by the lesson registration area anyway because the afternoon half-day packages must be purchased by 1:00 p.m. The adult and teen group snowboarding lesson was perfect for the family! Hooba knows how to ski, yet he always wants to learn how to snowboard. Hoohoo was not very interested in either. Before the trip, her classmates had brain-washed her about the injury of snowboarding. Hooma couldn’t decide because she was hungry and grouchy. “Let’s eat first!” Hooba made a wise decision and rescued Hooma. They sat at a window table where they enjoyed the view of a clear blue sky, beautiful forest tree lines and many fearless skiers and snowboarders- at least look like fearless to them from the distance. Just about to finish their meals, an ambulance arrived. They didn’t see any injured person taken to the ambulance. But its appearance had enhanced the brain washing effect. They decided not to take the lesson.

Just a few steps north from the Learning Center, there is a popular snow tube park. Only two tickets left for the coming one-hour session. Hooma volunteered to be a picture taker. In fact, she just felt like she could faint at any time. (Please click to see part 3 )

Utah, Snow Tubing, High Altitude Sickness, &...(1)

Hooma doesn’t like cold weather. She couldn’t remember their very last family trip in winter. Somehow she felt the obligation of offering winter activities to Hoohoo and was hoping Hoohoo would learn either snowboarding or skiing. Mammoth is a good place… but the family has been there several times, though did not ski or snowboard once. Utah is a winter sports paradise. Why not there! "Yeah… why not! Vegas is one the way!" Then a name popped into Hooma's head - Brian Head Ski Resort.

Leaving after Hoohoo was off from school. Hooba drove first from LA to Las Vegas. Hooma took over and drove through one of the most expensive parts of interstate highways - the Virgin River Gorge section of interstate 15. The driving condition is tricky due to the winding canyons. Passing through this scenic highway at night is a different experience from that with daylight. One side of the highway is the continuous canyon walls and the other drops to the Virgin River. You feel the enclosure. The roaming noise from the cars echoing back and forth haunts the dark canyons.

It took the family about six and half hours from LA to St. George where they stayed for the first night. Bright sky in the next morning, but the staff from the Brian Head Resort strongly recommended keeping snow chains in the trunk for weather emergency. Hooba stopped at the Walmart in the Cedar City and picked up one. Hooma picked up some food and water. Tax in Utah is less. A short distance drive through highway 14 is closed in winter. The only way to Brian Head is to continue north, turn to highway 143 near Parowan and drive south for another 35 minutes with ascending elevation.

(to be continue...)

For Hooba and the Hoo family

I created this blog this morning. I saw tons of pictures from our family trips in my hard drive waiting for me to rescue them. I guess it would be fair for Hooba because he did not participate much in “One Year in France with Kids” on the stage. He was working hard and paying for our expenses at the backstage (in the U.S.)! So, this is for Hooba and for the Hoo family!