In Memoriam...

When I was 15 I was on staff at a Boy Scout camp in southern Idaho. One weekend, I my family came and got me, and we went for a drive. We wound up Ogden canyon, around Pineview Reservoir, and up another canyon I was unfamiliar with. The road was windy, steep, and just kept going. There were no buildings, and I could not imagine why there was a paved road to the top of the mountain! Eventually we arrived at Powder Mountain Ski Resort, and I understood the road. But not the drive.

We kept going. Off the asphalt and up a dirt road along the edge of the mountain. We parked by some large buildings, and got out to look around, and I noticed we were barely below the literal top of this mountain. My dad brazenly walked into one of the building, and I was confused and nervous. Who would live way up here? What would they say when my dad just walked in? He just wanted to look around. When he opened a door and walked into a living room, I was freaking out!

Just come in a take a look. Since it appeared empty, I did. Hesitantly. It was really nice, but isolated. Who would live here?! As we were looking around, my mom informed me that it was ours. Now, I knew they couldn’t afford it, and we certainly wouldn’t move that far from work and school. This is when I was introduced to the concept of timeshare.

For the next 20+ years, we would spend a full week (or two half-weeks) on top of the mountain. We were not skiers, but we never went up in the winter. From spring to fall and mainly when we were out of school in the summer. A week of hiking, swimming, playing games, stargazing, and just being away from the everyday routine. It was wonderful!


It was a place to share with family and friends.



It was a place to share with our growing family.



We actually began our honeymoon there. We spend a couple of nights between the wedding and our honeymoon in San Francisco. My new family, beginning with just me and Meemer have enjoyed it each of the 12 years since. As you can imagine, it is an absolute haven for our 3 boys!

Rocks,


sticks,


bugs,

trails,

the ski lift,


the pool,


and of course, the crane!




Some complained that it was too remote. That there wasn’t anything to do. There was the pool and TV. Eventually, that expanded to the pool, satellite TV and DVD players. For my family, there was plenty to do. Most days included two trips to the pool, one or two (or more) hikes, a stop at the swingset, climbing on the crane, games and a movie. It was just us. It was relaxed and unhurried. It was a place where we could strip away the frenzy that distract us from us.

My parents are now out of state, and would rather take a cruise than pay maintenance fees on a condo they no longer use. Who can blame them? Still, for my family, this is a big deal. When we couldn’t afford to take a vacation, I would get two or three nights “bonus time” and we would enjoy a few days. My boys have enjoyed our stays there. Long and short. Once a year, or several times. I wish we could afford to buy it, because it has truly become part of our family! We will truly miss it!