Christmas Break!!!

And I'm just now getting around to posting this!!! Three months later...
Ryan and I had a wonderful Christmas vacation! We went back to Austin right after finals finished in early December. When my siblings got out of school a week later, Ryan and I went with my family on an epic adventure to Ouray, CO to go ice climbing!

We had to rent a mini van because there were too many of us to fit in either of our cars. Unfortunately, we were given the ugliest car in the world, the Ford Flex(sorry for anyone who likes this car). The only good thing I can say about this vehicle is that it got decent gas mileage. After packing the car with crampons, ice tools, double boots, snow shoes, and too many fluffy jackets, all six of my family squeezed into the vehicle, and were on our merry way.

24 hours later, we reached beautiful Ouray, CO. Ouray is a 700 person town nestled high up in the San Juan Mountains. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been too. Ouray is home to the States' only Ice Park(the closest thing like it is in France). Some ingenious ice climbers piped water all along the miles long canyon. At night, water spickets are turned on all along the canyon rim, so that there's fresh ice every morning. I know, it's pretty awesome.

Ouray, CO

My family had gone once before when I was in seventh grade and Cassie was a baby. Dad has been on about seven ice climbing trips, so he's the most experienced out of all of us. Ryan however, had never been.

The first day we were in Ouray, we adjusted to the altitude and went hiking around Ouray and saw Box Canyon Falls.
 The next day, Dad, Travis, Ryan and I all geared up and headed to the Ice Park at 8am. We had an awesome day of ice climbing!!!

Dad, Travis, & Ryan hiking to climbs

Me at the top!

Ry climbing!

The next day, we went snow shoeing and sledding. We were all pretty beat from the day before, so we took it easy. That night, we went swimming at the hot springs.

After a wonderful trip, it was time to head back to Texas. We were in a snow storm all 22 hours on the way home. Ironically enough, the storm got worse when we got to Texas.