Zip!

Not sure what is up with the pictures ... just squint and you'll be fine!

Our adventures in Montana included white-water rafting in Glacier National Park and going on a zipline tour of the Big Mountain. I have the best memories of getting up early to drive to the hill with my siblings, parents and Grandpa and Grandma Aldridge. My Grandma always camped out in the Alpine Snack, which Grandpa dubbed "the alpenshnack." Whenever we were tuckered out from skiing we would return to the warm building to find Grandma crocheting. I remember feasting on their gigantic brownies or delicious french fries and way-too-hot hot chocolate.

I laugh when I think of us little kids recklessly skiing down hills. All of the grandkids started out on the platter when we were about four or five years old. Then it was onto Chair 3, the Tenderfoot. After that we let loose on the mountain. Once, my older sister Mel tucked all the way down Hellroaring (the name of the run -- fantastic, right?) and whacked into something ... a person? A post? Anyway, she had to be taken to the medical station. Ahhh, good memories.

Suffice to say I love the Big Mountain. And I've always wanted to take Todd there. We haven't made it up in the winter -- hopefully this year is the year -- but we were able to head up there during our time in July.

We did a two-hour zipline tour with my brother, Graham, and sister, Collette. The tour included four different zips, some as many as a quarter mile long. The guides said we would reach about 50 miles an hour flying down. It was a blast!