An early rise the next morning had us first in line for Tamarak Gobdola tickets, rising near-vertically to 8,000 feet. Stepping off onto an observation deck near the top was a shock to the system, with wind howling, snow swirling, and a temperature hovering around minus eight degrees. Having experienced this recently during alpine motorcycling in Europe, I could appreciate how the extra 10 degrees of windchill quickly turns -8 into -18, and becomes intolerable. The kids initial excitement quickly turned to shock once they appreciated just how cold it was, and there was a general scramble back into the next gondola cart.
Swinging over the summit and down into a white valley dropped the wind, and felt like as sparkling (but bloody cold) summer's day. With an hour to kill before the kid's tubing slope opened, there was general merriment with snowballs and sliding belly-down, face-first down a small snow slope.
Rory and Indi met Danika and struck up an instant friendship, sharing the snow for a variety of activities. Her parents (Danny and Carol) and older brother (Stanley) were originally from Ilocos in the Philippines, but now lived in Santa Rosa.
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