MLK day fatpacking

Heath and I watched the end of the late playoff football game on Sunday night then took off at about 9pm for about an 1hr 45minute ride from my house down south west along the MN river.  It was bed time once we got set up.  Heath slept in an Alpine Bivy I slept in my Direkt 2 tent.  The Direkt 2 is really warm and I like to have a free standing tent in the snow.  

 We slept in a marsh like area with these stick trees all around.  Blocked the wind well.  This is a perfect spot for winter camping that would be impossibly buggy and wet in the summer

A rare pic with me actually in it.  Didn't see a single snowmobile on the trail either day.  

 We should have taken the time to eat a real breakfast before our return ride.  There is a lot of up hill coming out of the Minnesota river valley and I would have been much stronger if I had eaten.  Still made good time and really enjoyed the ride.  

Reverse order pic dump

 Sunday (1-5-14) to Monday (1-6-14) slept out.  22 below in Chanhassen when I got up.  Stayed warm all night.

 Used my old wool Navy? face mask and it really made a big difference.  I could breathe and did not get close to frost bite on my face.  Hat pulled over my eyes in my sleep selfie pic.

 Going to bed.  It was windy.  Had to tie out the tent to the very frozen ground.

 During the day on Sunday (1-5-14) Heath and I rode from 35w towards Cedar ave.  Great trail conditions.

 On Saturday (1-4-14) I taught Ella how to skate again.  We have done this one time a year on about four occasions in her life.  Just rarely enough that she has to learn all over again each time.  Cold but fun time.

 We cooked some steak in a hot oil fondue then dipped fruit in a chocolate fondue.

 The girls decorated Susan's cake for her birthday.

 Maya was a little super star at her gymnastics event.  With all the parents and other older gymnastics girls cheering Maya and her other Dynamite team members on it was a really fun event.  

 Ling Hui made the best beef tendon dish I have ever had.  Amazing.

Maya and I started the new year out with a bowl of Menudo.   The Mexican grocery store at Marschall and Gorman st in Shakopee has the best Menudo I have every had.   So good.