Hanging out near the condo in Mammoth

Just walkin', walkin' on the small street outside the condo.

The condo that we stayed in was small, but had three levels. Two sets of bunkbeds on the top "loft", the living room, a very small kitchen and front door/mud room on the mid level, and two bedrooms on the bottom level (w/king-size beds).

Kate decided naps were not to be taken in Mammoth, and that she would wake up during the night and very early in the morning. Loudly. The boys let us know they would prefer to be as far away from the human alarm clock as possible. So, by our last night in Mammoth, she and Kevin were downstairs, and Mom and the boys were upstairs. Sounds fine so far, right?

Well, it's a warm night, so we leave the sliding door of the upstairs loft (above the front door) open during the night. A pack of wolves or coyotes decided the front porch (again, directly below the bedroom window) would be a good place to start barking and howling. I don't think I have ever been that startled out of sleep, and about jumped out of my skin! I told Kevin, (who slept through it-his window being on the back side of the condo) that it sounds ridiculous in the light of day, but this was no peaceful sounding, nature-film howling off in the distance, where you think to yourself 'it's kind of eery, but beautiful to hear them'. This was creepy, scary, screaming sort of howl...like something out of a rated-R werewolf movie! I know, you're laughing, aren't you? But when you're awakened by a pack of 'something' 15 feet from your head, in a dead sleep...not funny!

I think I know why they chose our front porch to start their escapade; we had left the mudroom (where people leave their wet skis, muddy boots) light on and the blinds open, and closed the interior door. I think they stopped to look and see what food may be in there.
After they left, I could hear them barking and howling their way down the street. The boys stirred and mumbled in their sleep, but didn't wake up. Well! That was fun.

Kate, Colton and Ryan (I think we've got a Spiderman pose goin' on here.)


If you walk up the street about a block, there is a ski lodge and runs/lifts. This is where Kevin and Kate went for a walk one morning while Mommy took Ryan out alone for a trip to some of the shops. (We got a small stuffed bear and a 'Mammoth' hat, then hit up the Rocky Mtn. Chocolate Factory next door!)








Standing by the condo complex next door.
A grizzly bear statue at the ski lodge up the street. Here we have a nice shot of it's rear end.








One of the ski runs a block away from where we were staying. Can't you just picture it covered in snow?









Most people who meet/know Kate comment on how tall she is...and how happy and bubbly she is. Both comments are good to hear...that she is healthy and happy.