6 days, 5 nights, 16 adults, 1 baby, 5 trucks, 1 4-Runner, and 14 snowmobiles = FUN!
Our Island Park trip this year was February 3-9. I worked Monday the 2nd and began to have a small tickle in my throat, knowing it was a crazy night and I didn't get to drink much I brushed it off and believed that was the cause. By 6am the tickle was getting worse but I had packing to do so brushed it off again. I didn't sleep that day but instead got things in order to depart for Idaho as well as have my brother and other family members help with the dogs while we were gone. Being as a how I hadn't slept I wasn't feeling better, in fact the tickle was worse so I packed some medicine just in case but thinking in my mind (more so hoping) I just couldn't be sick. Russ got off work about 3PM we loaded bags, coolers, and gear and headed to meet up with the other troops. The drive up went surprising better than I thought-only a little bit of rain and some minor rush hour traffic. We stopped in Pocatello to eat dinner and finished the drive to the cabin.
We arrived at our cabin in Island Park a little after midnight, and it was cold! Majority of the group had left earlier in the day so they were still awake awaiting our arrival. By that point I had pretty much lost my voice and was pretty hoarse, but mostly just felt tired. We stayed up late and hung out and chatted with our friends, Russ started a game of pool and I took my been up for over 24 hours body to bed.
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| -22 degrees reading almost to the cabin |
I woke up feeling slightly sick, but still hoarse. Afraid going out into the cold would heighten my "sickness" I decided to stay back at the cabin with Shelley (Dustin's wife) and their little boy Ethan. After the boys had a day of snowmobiling they returned home to the cabin where the who knows what begins. I must admit-Evenings are probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. We all eat dinner then eat snacks, play games, watch movies, hot tub, or whatever else you want to do. Just relaxing and hanging out was awesome! Night time brings out the poker chips where the boys sit around the table goofing off playing blackjack and poker. It's actually good entertainment for us watching from the couch : )
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| Ethan was adorable! normally babies don't come on the trip but he's a special exception this year :) he was such a good baby and my favorite was watching him just stare at Russ. |
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another reason I love nights so much on this trip are the sunsets!
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The next morning (Thursday) we woke up and it was freezing outside! Literally, it was -47 degrees with the wind chill! One of the trucks went into town to get gas for the snowmobiles and after a while we got a phone call saying that the diesel truck they were in was broke down. Diesel fuels freezes and since the truck hadn't ran since we got there the additive that was supposed to prevent this hadn't done it's job. The fuel actually gels but it was even worse that they claim they could hear ice chunks overturning in the engine. Some of the males remaining at home went to go out on a rescue but then another one of the trucks wouldn't start. (side note: these trucks are both Ford's and yet the Toyota had no problems out there the entire trip!) They finally got it started and off they went.
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| I had never seen anything like this before! You know it's cold outside when the frost is coming in through the front door! |
Long story short-Terry got his truck towed to the shop, they all came back to the cabin to wait it out then once the truck was done the boys all suited up and still got a few hours of snowmobile time in that day.
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| Russ got home that night and his gloves were frozen in handlebar position. |
It was fun relaxing around the cabin but I'll be honest I was a little sad to not be going out snowmobiling everyday like last year, and needless to say I was sick! Thank goodness I packed medicine at last minute or else I would have been miserable. I would feel okay during the day but at nights Nyquil was my saving grace! But we had a beautiful cozy cabin and great people so I didn't feel too bad to be left behind.
Saturday was my last chance to get out on the snowmobiles, luckily my voice had started to come back and was feeling better overall so I ventured out with a couple of people. Most of the boys still went on what they call their "manly rides" but Russ was nice enough to stay back and take me out with 4 other people, and we ended up having a blast! It had been snowing for two days by then so lots of fresh powder! I even got to drive for the first time. It was pretty freakin awesome and fun but man it's exhausting! No wonder those boys come home everyday whining, begging for massages and spend lots of time in the hot tub :)
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| Julie, Shelley and I. Loved meeting and spending time with these girls! |
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| Men are real photogenic. At least mine is well trained : ) |
Admitting now that I probably shouldn't have gone out that day as I was worse that night, I still enjoyed it. But later that night Russ took a turn getting the sick bug, not that we were asking for a turn. So we went to bed early and thank goodness it turned out to be a less than 24 stomach bug.
We were up early to get snow mobiles loaded and get all packed up and hit the road for a long drive home.
Some pictures of our awesome cabin! (not pictured, game room and living room with fireplace in basement, game room above garage)
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| watching Frozen in the frozen land |
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| for some reason the only hot tub picture I got was a shot of all men |
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| our room this year, with loft and bathroom. |
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| So long Bishop Mountain Lodge, you were good to us! |
Thank you to everyone for an amazing vacation and such an enjoyable time! Until next year Island Park...
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| panoramic of everyone (minus Dustin) at dinner Saturday Night |
