We had quite the adventure this Christmas. We rented a pet-friendly cabin in the mountains near Hiawassee for a couple of nights. Turns out the cabin was on the mountain right behind the Brasstown Manor retirement home where my Mom lives. Going up the mountain when there was no snow on the road was a bit treacherous because the road, appropriately named Mountain Road, was narrow and full of hairpin curves. Coming down the mountain with a few inches of snow on the ground on Christmas morning was a little more treacherous, but not as bad as might be expected, thanks to Pippi, AWD Outback.

Going back up the mountain after eating breakfast with Mom was quite exciting. After spinning to a halt in Pippi on one of the tightest curves and looking at my partner in life's adventures (who was born in Florida and lived most of her life in Mississippi) and saying "What do I do now?" I managed to continue up the mountain another 1/2 mile or so to our cabin.

But the next trip up the mountain, a few hours later, was not quite as successful. About three more inches had fallen (for a total of around 7 or 8 at this point) and the road under the snow had turned to ice. After sliding into a ditch, getting out, almost sliding off the mountain, sliding into the ditch again, and getting out again, I finally managed to back the car into this tucked away corner.

After almost going over the steep side of the road, I was too frazzled to think to carry my camera up the mountain to the cabin for more photos. But when I got back down to the car I did take these.