We welcome blisters and stiff legs

We are in the midst of mentally and physically preparing for a 21-mile cross country ski trip in Yellowstone National Park on Saturday. Yes, I said 21 miles and there is no war or gun to our heads. This is actually a dream trip.

We are going with our friends Mike and Laurie, Matt and Jeannette, and Bob Z. (Bob's wife Meg can't go b/c she is prego with TWINS) to ski Fawn Pass. From a trail description:

Fawn Pass begins in Montana and enters Wyoming after crossing several fingers of the Gallatin River. Skiers find narrow snow bridges or log bridges over these streams and may want to carry skis across. The streams are not deep but they are very cold! This scenic area is prime moose habitat; watch for moose especially in the brush along the streams. The trail area is also home to grizzly bears, black bears, elk, deer, and a veritable Noah’s Ark of other wildlife. Although bears generally are sleeping the winter away, they have been seen every month of the year. Bears tend to be a bit groggy during the winter months. Surface quality: Backcountry.

We had a "pre-trip planning meeting" on Monday and we discussed logistics. It isn't as simple as slapping a back on your back and driving to the trail head. We will be starting just South of Big Sky and skiing a trail that is completely in the Yellowstone National Park boundaries and ending up in the Park.

If you look at a map, there are NO roads through which means to drive to the starting trail head to the finish, going all the way up and around through Bozeman and the Gallatin Canyon, it's about 4 hours (by car).

We will drive 2 cars to our "end spot" in Mammoth on Friday. We will meet at 4:00 am Saturday morning at our local truck stop (Peter was urging 3:00am and was almost voted off the island), and then all drive together to our starting point south of Big Sky. We hope to have skis on and be moving into a beautiful dawn /sunrise by 6:30-7:00am. We should be done and back to our pre-dropped off cars in Mammoth by darkish time. Sunday morning we are drawing straws as to who has to pry their stiff butts out of bed to drive to Big Sky to pick up the vehicles we drove down in (not it!).

We are hoping our 21 mile ski route will take us only a day (requiring no cold sleeping in the backcountry of Yellowstone). We expect for the trail to be fairly easy, small rolling hills, but climbing about 2,000ft the entire time. A few stream crossing (bringing extra socks) and LOTS of incredible vistas and wildlife sightings.

We plan for a "worst case scenario" and IN CASE there are massive amounts of snow, it takes us longer than expected, if someone were to get hurt, a grumpy bear or moose were to distract us, etc.; we are planning for a cozy night in a hand made snow cave. We are all bringing a sleeping pad and warm sleeping bag, we will have a few stoves amongst the group and some extra food / snacks.

I have never actually made a "real" snow cave, so the idea is exciting to me, but I know the reality of sleeping in the Park (coldest place in this part of the country usually) over night in the dead of winter with just a sleeping bag will not be as romantic as my "dreams" nurtured here in a nice heated house.

This is a picture of how to make your own snow cave, should the need arise.

I can already imagine how our legs are going to feel on Sunday morning . . . For those that have skied with Brooke- I am a tad bit prone to blisters (understatement). . . I have been preparing them all week and think I am prepped for the challenge! Plus, my feet and I have an understanding . . . If they fail me on this trip, I am trading them in for new ones.

Can't wait to tell you all about our trek with some of my favorite people on the planet. Thank the heavens for good, fun friends who are always up for an adventure (and invite you to come along)!