How young is too young?

We’ve made the short trek up to Alta the last couple weekends to take the kids skiing. It has been a blast and there were lots of other parents joining us on the endeavor with their kids. All ages, all sizes. Some parents cheered us on, mentioning how they didn’t start their kids till they…

Ski Schooling [Taking the Rope Tow with Kids?!]

Many of us have kids that are just starting to learn to ski this season. And while learning to ski is full of all sorts of challenges, none more so than transportation back UP the hill with our kids. Lifts and rope tows are equally challenging. Magic carpets are perhaps the most user-friendly. But if…

Snowbird vs. Alta for tiny tots

I grew up skiing Winter Park Resort every weekend and hearing everyone rave about the beginner terrain. Not being a beginner or an instructor, this meant nothing to me. And the whole beginner terrain thing meant “boring!” Until this season. Well, now we live in Utah, far from Winter Park land and so we began…

Winter Park, CO – Playground for tiny skiers!

To me, Winter Park/Mary Jane, CO will always be a mogul skier’s dream. But now that I have three tiny tots, two of which are skiing, I have realized it is a kids dream as well! I practically grew up on the tree trails, runs, and lifts of Winter Park. I remember skiing up to…

SKI Schooling – My background and story

We are expanding and updating one of our favorite series! Our goal? We hope to have one of the most comprehensive ski series for parents wanting to teach their young kids to kids. While ski school for our younger kids might be the best/easiest route, here is the truth: It is also the most expensive…

Ski Schooling – Rent or Buy?

Rent or Buy [updated Fall 2016] One thing is obvious, before you can teach your kids to ski, they need equipment. And for many parents, they hit this obstacle and never move past it! The word hassle comes to mind. Where do we find skis? What size? And most importantly, “How much is this costing…

Ski Schooling – Before your first day on snow!

Dry Land Training 🙂 This is the term for ski training not on snow…on dry land. It refers to all sorts of things – but usually ski specific conditioning and strengthening. Well, young kids need a conditioning all of their own.  Whether you rent the night before or have your equipment all season here are some steps to take…

Ski Schooling – That First Day [2&3 year-olds]

I figured another ski post was in order to celebrate the opening of nearly every ski resort in the west this weekend! Today we are going to talk about that first day on the snow with your kids. I don’t think it is a coincidence that one of my most famous posts is “Swallowing Our…

Ski Schooling – 10 Tips for dressing yourself and your little one…

For those just embarking on the “teaching your kid’s to ski yourself” adventure, you may forget to put some thought into what your kid is wearing. Or yourself for that matter. But a cold kid puts an end to that long awaited ski day. A sweaty parent can be more than a trifle annoying. The…

Ski Schooling: Layering and Clothing Specifics

Welcome to our Ski Schooling Series! If you missed our other post on dressing for skiing, start here: 10 Tips for dressing yourself and your little one. Otherwise, I am going to cover some classic scenarios in terms of weather and skier ability. So keep reading for more specific brand suggestions. Please post any questions…

Ski Schooling [Do’s and Don’t of Ski Harnesses]

Each kid is different. Hense each skier is different and what works with one, might not with another. Well, today we are talking all about using a ski harness when skiing with your little ones. If you’d like to see a previous review of the Lucky Bum ski harness, you can find it here: Ski…

Ski Schooling [Using an Edgie Wedgie]

What is an Edgie Wedgie and what does it do? The Edgie Wedgie (or ski tip connector), is simply a rubber tube with clips on each end that keep your child’s ski tips together. The reason? Keeping the ski tips together aids in teaching a wedge, essential in stopping. A secondary use is for those young…

A day in the life of a skiing family…

I dreamt of wintry sunshine dancing through the aspen groves last night. Of powder pillows under my skis. The soft whoomp of snow falling from trees and spiraling flakes that move higher and higher in the breeze. The sun broke through the blinds this morning. And it was time to go. My heart yearned for…

Best Winter Jackets for Kids [Updated for 2017!]

I’ve asked my favorite group of #OutdoorFamily Bloggers for their favorite winter jackets and below are the results! This post is newly updated [as 2016/2017] and these are tried and tested, used, spilled on, washed, and (when applicable) passed on to siblings. These are the jackets that tag along on our adventures and we would…

Best Snow Pants and Snowsuits for Kids

Last week we published a basic guide to kid jackets, collecting and publishing a handful of favorites from other outdoor enthusiasts. This is the follow up post, as today I am sharing #OutdoorFamilies favorite ski and snow pants. Updated as of Winter 2016/2017  Click on the photos below for a link to a more detailed…

Five Reasons We Choose Snowbasin, UT for our Family Skiing

We’ve teamed up with Snowbasin Ski Resort as a part of their Powderoy Blogger Team for the 2013-2014 season. But before the chance of working together with Snowbasin was an option, we’d already decided to spend the bulk of our time there this season. Here are the reasons why Snowbasin is great for our family:…

Gear Review: Stonz Mittz; Best Kid Mitten I’ve Found

A good mitten is priceless to our ski family. We spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter. And the wrong gear can mean we are spending a lot of time fussing. Today we are reviewing the Stonz Mittz. Having trouble keeping your kid’s mittens on? Check out this post after reading our review! Q&A: How…

Family Skiing At Canyons Resort, Utah

Canyons Resort, Utah is Vail Corporation’s newest ski area and one of the nation’s five largest ski areas with a total of nine peaks and 4,000 skiable acres. As a parent, I am often scared off by the large resort thing.  I want 1) simple, 2) straight forward, and 3) relaxed. Cause chances are my…

A Parent’s Ski Day Out at the Canyons, UT

If you’ve been around the blog with us, then you know we are more of a “teach our kids ourselves” sort of ski family. But this time we took a parent’s day off and entrust our ski-cuties to the Canyons Resort Ski School.  We prepped our youngest (age 3) for her day in Canyon Cubs, a…

Five positions for teaching your young kids to ski…

Probably the question we get asked the most during the winter is, “How do you actually teach your kids to ski? I mean how to you physically help them on the hill?” Today we are going to attempt to answer this question or at least share a few ideas. There are so many good ways…

Q&A: How do you keep mittens on your toddler’s hands?

One reader from Canada asked, “How do I keep mittens on my toddler who hates them?!” She said, “I tried natural consequences the other day and it was not working on my daughter. She was happily picking up sticks and rocks at the beginning and I thought maybe it was still not cold enough for…

Stay Safe on the Slopes – Safety tips for families

Every good adventure also needs boundaries. Something my kids aren’t necessarily fans of, but are quite used to. Below are our tips for ensuring a fun and safe day on the slopes as a family: 1. Set a meeting place. Families (or any large group) should set a meeting place in a centralized location just…

Guest Post: Backcountry Education Made Easier with CertHero.org

Wilderness education has been something on my mind lately. My husband and I have recently taken up backcountry skiing, and safety is our primary goal, especially as parents. And so our winter has been and is full of Avalanche training, practice, and education.  Today, I’d like to introduce Logan Randolph, mountain guide and ski patroller,…

Backcountry Ski Touring with kids… [Part 1]

Note: Winter recreation in the back-country comes with inherent risk. Avalanche education and gear is a must. Visit the Utah Avalanche Center or your local center for more information. At the very least, watch this video and educate yourself about avalanche terrain, risks, and awareness: Know Before You Go All tours embarked on with our kids so far…

Gear Review: Lil’ Ripper Gripper Ski/Snowboard Harness

We are eeking out of the bunny-hill years but honestly the most questions we receive regarding teaching kids to ski is about how and when to teach your young kids. We started all our kids when they were 2 years old, something I was comfortable with, having also been taught to ski when I was…

How do I Fit My Kid’s Ski Boots?

Today I want to share some tips on fitting your kid for ski boots. Obviously, any one of us can drive down to the local ski shop and have a skilled salesperson do it for us. But if you are like us, and trying to get the family skiing on a dime, we rely heavily…

How long should my kid’s skis be?

Kids are constantly growing, and every year we find ourselves battling the “does the gear fit” problem! A few weeks ago we addressed how to fit your kid’s ski boots. We hope this helps you find good boots for your children, whether they are new, ski swap specials or hand-me-downs. But what about the skis?! Sizing…

Ski Schooling [When do you introduce poles?]

Last week we received the question: When should I introduce poles for my young skier. I will attempt to shed light on this tricky question! The truth is, there is no magic-bullet answer. So much of this decision depends on child’s ski technique, ability to multi-task, handle added responsibility, and also their desire. Don’t fall…

Family Powder Ski Day [Video]

The day dawned dark and blustery. They issued a winter storm warning. High winds, thunderstorms, heavy snows starting at lunch as the second part of the storm moves through. I thought for a minute that maybe we should cancel our ski day at Solitude Resort with my parents. But hey, what did we have to…

Ski Schooling [Teaching a kid to turn]

Hi friends! I have been asked this question, How do I teach my child to turn on their skis?! And I have been procrastinating on my answer for far too long. Why? There is no easy answer to this! Sure, I can get into the technical terms for pressuring your skis to make a turn….

Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month

Friends, if you have a child that wants to learn to ski or snowboard, January is the month to do it. All across the nation, resorts are offering amazing deals for Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. While I believe you can teach your child to ski yourself if you have years of ski experience,…

Online Family Ski School (Beta Launch)

Hi friends! I have big news! Do you have children that you are currently or hoping in the future to teach to ski? Are you a family that is trying to figure out how to be outdoors in the winter? If so, then this is for you. Online Family Ski School httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGproqE-47w&feature=youtu.be Kristen Lummis, from…

KP Tip: Becoming a Two Jacket Family

If you are part of our Facebook community, then you know that a few weeks ago, we started our all new Kid Project Tip Series! We will be publishing new tip videos every week on our Facebook and Youtube channels! Since it is super easy to miss things via social media, I will be summarizing…

KP Tip: Layering your Toddler for Cold Weather Activities

If you are part of our Facebook community, then you know that a few weeks ago, we started our all new Kid Project Tip Series! We will be publishing new tip videos every week on our Facebook and YouTube channels! Since it is super easy to miss things via social media, I will be summarizing and sharing…

Snowbasin Resort [Family Guide]

If you’ve been around the blog for any length of time, then you’ve no doubt noticed we have partnered with Snowbasin Resort through the last couple seasons. We love skiing as a family at Snowbasin and want to share our tips for your visit to the resort. Snowbasin is a huge mountains with a total…

Our Family Skiing at Grand Targhee Resort

I walked up the short flight of stairs and entered the small village at the base of Grand Targhee Resort. The air was crisp and cold, friends were huddled around the fires with an aprĂ©-ski beer, a couple of moms bounced infants snuggled deep in layers of down. One dad carried a passed-out toddler, goggles…

Skiing Grand Targhee Resort [Family Guide]

Grand Targhee Resort is located on the flanks of the Teton Mountains, just west of Jackson, WY and East of Driggs, Idaho. A small, local mountain, this area is known for its epic powder (500+ inches of snow a year), amazing views, big terrain, but also its family friendly vibe. If you missed my trip…

Let Ski Season Begin!

Hi friends! It has been a super long time. If you have been following along via Facebook or Instagram, then you know we finished our 6 month trip across the US with time in the big cities of Boston, New York and Washington DC. We are home now, and after about 6 weeks, I can…

January Deals for Learn to Ski And Snowboard Month!

I totally agree with the adage, “humans were never meant to hibernate.” Often, we just need a little inspiration and a bunch of layers to get outdoors during the winter and have fun. This January is the 11th annual Learn To Ski and Snowboard Month. The goal? To get more kids, families and beginners out…

Backcountry Skiing with Kids (Alpine Touring Gear for Kids)

Note: Winter recreation in the back-country comes with inherent risk. Avalanche education and gear is a must. Visit the Utah Avalanche Center or your local center for more information. At the very least, watch this video and educate yourself about avalanche terrain, risks, and awareness: Know Before You Go All tours embarked on with our kids so far…

What is SkiMo? [Backcountry Skiing with Kids]

What Is Skimo? I found myself asking this question at the beginning of this fall: What is skimo? Skimo is a sport that includes skiing, uphill hiking, racing, and lots of endurance all in one. A wide definition is: Skimo stands for ski mountaineering, which is simply climbing and skiing mountains. Today, the modern sport of Skimo has…

Ski Bogus Basin, Idaho – Non Profit. All Good.

Looking for a ski/snowboard area close to a major airport, where you can fill your hours lapping run after run instead of waiting in lines? Then you should consider Bogus Basin, Idaho. Located a 45 minute drive from Boise, ID, Bogus Basin boasts 2,600 acres of skiable terrain, more than Sun Valley, Idaho, without forfeiting a…

Brundage Mountain [The Best Snow in Idaho]

A few things you should know about me: I LOVE exploring new places. I plan at least one family trip to a place we have not skied before every season. During these explorations I am constantly on the lookout for that ideal location I could see us moving to one day. McCall, Idaho and Brundage…