What I Learned on My Grandson’s Recent Ski Trip

As our grandkids grow older, our ski trips are changing.

Our Memories on the Slopes

Years ago, when our kids were in elementary and junior high (yes, back in the old days when it was called junior high), we would take our daughters skiing in Colorado during winter break. We’d go after Christmas and return ready to start second semester.

We loved going but had to make sure we traveled within our budget. We took our own food and found the cheapest skiing sites and places to stay. We usually rented a house that was owned by someone we knew. Sometimes, those deals backfired when the plumbing froze—leaving us without toilets. Still, we always had a fun time in Colorado as we laughed, skied and rolled in the snow.

My Grandson’s Big Ski Adventure

This year, the week before UNL’s second semester began, our grandson went skiing with friends. They had a great plan of where they were staying, where they were going to ski and even bought their lift tickets online in advance so they weren’t left out, literally, in the cold.

This particular week was brutally cold in Nebraska, but the boys were on a mission. Nothing was stopping them, especially knowing they had classes the following week.

And nothing did stop them until after they passed through Denver on their way to the slopes. Avalanches on the highways forced them to reroute several times. After driving several hundred miles around the avalanche, they finally made it to their destination, Winter Park.

Supporting from Afar

We didn’t send food with our grandson and his friends, but we tried to help in other ways. We packed my husbands ski pants, ski gloves, hat and a dozen hand warmers. I’m sure his mom sent some of those items as well, but we thought just in case, we wanted to take care of him. We certainly did not say we wanted to take care of him. Heaven forbid. Our grandson is independent and proud but also knows we are always there when he needs us.

I should have sent money with our grandson, though. We later heard the lift tickets were $200 a day. Had we known the cost, we would have purchased a half-day pass. It’s my goal to keep our monetary gifts even across all four of our grandkids.

Staying Connected & Setting Goals

He regularly connected with his parents, especially since our grandson was driving their Suburban. He did keep in contact with us, but only to send pictures of their experience. This was his first big trip with friends, and I’m sure they all worked together to accomplish their goals of having fun and not getting hurt. Maybe they didn’t have a goal of not getting hurt, but I sure hope so.

Planning Future Trips

Almost a week later, we received the news that the boys made it back to Lincoln safe and sound. No broken bones, only great stories. Best of all, no frozen waterlines, so they didn’t have to put their waste in plastic garbage bags. On the drive home to Nebraska, our grandson and his friends decided to go on another trip together next year—this time, at a much warmer destination!