Using a Southwest Airlines "Free Ticket" I flew to Boise, Idaho to see my Uncle Frank and Aunt Shirley for a weekend visit and a couple of days skiing up at Bogus Basin Resort. The trip was a series of first for me. First time to use SW's Rapid Rewards free ticket (though it was quite a effort to get there - Wright Admendment limiting Dallas' Love Field flights). On the flight from Alburqueque to Salt Lake, it was the first time to land in snow and on take off it was the first time I was on plane for de-icing! Then on to Boise, funny thing at each airport people were debarking to go sking and I just continued my treck furthur North. It was great that my Uncle had arraigned for the fresh snow which greeted me in Boise. They had received a good 6 inches that Friday morning and everything was covered in white snow. On Saturday morning it looked like it was going to be a cold and cloudy day, but as we started the trip up, we eventually got above the clouds and it was a beautiful sight. I spent the day skiing with my Uncle and my cousin, Linda. For not being on skies for a while I wasn't too bad and wished I could do it every weekend! It was my first time to ski at night. Bogus Basin has several trails lit for night skiing and they are open til 10 pm. Unfortunately the pictures stop on Sunday morning due to the unfortunate loss of my Nikon Coolpix 800, which I think is burried in the snow on the peak, needless to say ANOTHER FIRST. Free trip started not to look so good.

Information on the Ski area can be found at official site, boisehomesites.com's skiresorts and Ski Oddessy On-Line Resort Guide and SkiNet.com or SkiGuide. Current weather conditions at weather.com

Continuing my firsts: in leaving Boise Monday morning, it was my first time to missed a flight. I had left the voucher for my return trip on the kitchen table and there was no way to make it back to the airport in time for my scheduled flight. Well it allowed for a morning in downtown Boise with my Uncle. After some reworking with the airline and weather delays and cancelations, I was on my way to LAX via Reno. All was fine til LAX and then I had to reschedule once again. Well I finally made it back, though I am not discouraged from doing it again, it was a lot of fun to get back on the mountain and it was wonderful to spend quality time with family away from the hectic weddings, funerals and other stressful times typical of large family gatherings.

Hope you enjoy the pictures. Be sure and click thumbnails below for links to larger image.