New Year's Weekend at the Cabin

For years, Bill has been going to a mountain cabin near Rabbit Ears Pass, on the way to Steamboat Springs, with his second family, the Hartogs (Chuck was his best man in the wedding). Bill and Chuck have spent many weekends through the years snowmobiling, fixing up the cabin, and just hanging out watching movies. Besides random weekends, they have a tradition of heading up for New Year's Eve every year. 2 years ago I got to join them (and Chuck's wife Nicole and Bill's sister Alice) for the first time after hearing so many stories! Bill was still living in Arizona at the time (we flew up to be with his family for Christmas and New Year's), but it was this trip that I realized he belongs in Colorado. It was a bittersweet trip: I saw a side of Bill that I could not have known without being there with him: His love for the mountains and all things Colorado. With this, I realized he would someday move back to this place. At the time, I had no idea I would be with him through this adventure! This cabin became a very special place for us and last year, on February 19, Bill asked me to be his wife while we were watching the sunset on the deck! Here is a picture of us inside getting warm right after he proposed!

Last year we got snowed out for New Year's Eve, so we were thrilled to be able to go back this year. Even though it snowed most of the time, we had a great time relaxing. The weather finally cleared on the day we left, so there wasn't much snowmobiling to enjoy. No fear, we went again 2 weeks later and the weekend after that! Here are some pictures of our trip this year!

Bill in the blizzard in front of the cabin. It's hard to believe that the deck is about 4 feet off the ground!


We had to park at the entrance to the subdivision because the roads weren't plowed. The guys took one snowmobile up to the cabin, about 2 miles. At the cabin is another snowmobile that has an attachment for a sled. They brought that snowmobile down so we could start taking all of our food and supplies for the weekend. It's a long process, but Bill doesn't mind. He LOVES being out in the snow! Here he is getting our belongings packed to take back to the car after our weekend!



Bill and I getting ready to snowmobile down to the car.



Chuck grilling some YUMMY steaks (the guys' tradition from years back!) for our New Year's Eve dinner. You can't tell, but it's snowing!


Chuck eating his side of beef!


My cute husband enjoying his dinner!


The whole gang! From the left: Nicole (Chuck's wife), Chuck, Pat (Chuck's mom), Diana and Bill (Bill's parents), me, and Bill!