Let's go get lost anywhere in the USA

Having family in a foreign country can be interesting... On one hand it's a pilgrimage to see them, but I already mentioned this last time so I'll move on. I've been lucky enough to visit my brother and his family in Arizona before (this is my third time) and yet sadly I have yet to explore much further than the few blocks that comprise their neighbourhood. I find this is the case when visiting family in exotic locales. All our time is spent enjoying one another's company, which is awesome, however I feel like I've been going to Phoenix without ever having gone to Phoenix.

This time the game changed. Instead of chilling at their home (which by the way I'll be doing for the month of May) we drove a few hours north west to a small town called Pinetop. The drive alone was incredible. Anyone familiar with the Outback will understand how vast and empty the desert can be. Excuse me for saying, but that's Phoenix. It's a huge flat plain where nothing grows. It baffles me that so many people can live there when it seems nothing bigger than a prairie dog should be able to survive. Don't get me wrong, I do love Phoenix, the mountains are so rugged. It wasn't until we drove beyond the city limits however, that I saw just how beautiful the desert can be. That said, this idiot didn't bother to photograph anything so I can't share it with you. Just take my word, it's breathtaking.

But now onto business, THE SNOW! Oh my goodness, it was perfect. As an Australian skier I don't have a great standard of snow to base my comparison on, but oh my word, it was nice. Long wide runs, no one around, no wind, and sun shining all day. Did I mention fresh powder?! I've been skiing most of my life, it's an annual family vacation I truly relish and yet up until now I have never experienced powder. I had to reteach myself how to ski. I'm not complaining, it was lovely, just highly unusual when all you're used to are slopes of ice.

I also have a new found appreciation of the suffering of my father as he waited for his children to learn to ski. This trip we took my nephews; Thurston (5) and Atticus (4). Considering their age, they are good little skiers, that said it was painfully frustrating that they would continually snow-plow, even on the traverses (flat parts for non skiers), add to that their skies are so short and slow, and don't forget I'm one impatient I've-never-had-kids-so-I'm-so-not-patient. It was fun. I know they will be better than I could ever hope to be. My beanie goes off to all the parents, grandparents, and ski instructors who teach new skier/snowboarders.

All in all, this was a really fun weekend, despite sitting next to this guy screaming the whole road trip... But making up for that; I got to rap with my brother to the songs we used to cruise around with in my childhood... Warren G anyone?