Gianni and I spent the last four days of vacation in Stowe, Vermont with the McKenna-Wassers. The first day I enjoyed three skate skis at Trapps, beginning early morning with Patti. It was Patti's first day on skate skis and she looked like a veteran. After dropping her off back home, I took Ben and Gianni for few nice skate loops on Deer Pond Trail, the new race loops, Picnic Knoll, and down Russell Knoll Trail. After dropping them off at home, I headed back out shopping and then back to Trapps for one more loop by myself. It was a great day of skiing and the skate conditions were fantastic. New Years Eve was a joy as usual, feasting and enjoying time with friends. The kids even stayed up till midnight. The next day Mike and I took the boys up the Split Rock Trail on tele gear and skins. We enjoyed a nice powdery run back to the truck. Day three saw us heading out on a big adventure up Sky Top and down the Steeple Trail. Mike, the boys and I skinned up to the cabin at Trapps and had lunch. Patti and the girls met us there. After lunch we headed up Sky Top. After recovering from a wrong turn, we were back in route. Part way up Gianni bonked and the two of us had to turn back, enjoying a nice run down Parizzo. Ben and Mike made it to the top and enjoyed skiing in lots of powder on the upper half of the Steeple Trail. After a nice feast we all went to bed early for a change. The final day was mostly a clean up and pack day, but I did get out for a ski in the afternoon. It was my longest ski of the year. It had snowed over night and continued all day. I waxed up green and hit the trails for a sort loop. The wax/snow combo was so perfect I couldn't stop. I did the whole lower loop at Trapps and then enjoyed my favorites, Skaters Waltz and Deer Pond tails. Inspired I tried out the 40th Year Anniversary Trail to the top. It was long but the snow was perfect. After arriving above the cabin I enjoyed the nice drop back to the van. Finally, Mike and Patti took us out to a spicy meal!