Free skiing

Today our we headed off on a two hour jaunt to ski. The conditions were questionable, melting and mild. We were hopeful but as we approached the base streams of skiers were heading back to their cars. We stopped a couple and asked about the conditions. They shrugged and cited the conditions as "OK!". We parked and with hesitation headed towards the lodge. At the last minute I stopped another family fishing for a faint hope considering the 5 hour (round trip) car ride our family of 5 had undertaken. Again they responded with the shrug however this was followed with an offer of their unused lift tickets at which point they whipped out a key chain exacto and quietly sliced off their tickets and handed them over. There was still 5 hours remaining on their 5 lift tickets. What to do??? After all we were with our impressionable 8,10 and 12 year olds. But the prospect of the drive and the $200 plus price tag for very questionable conditions hung heavily in the air. I did glance at my kids, "uh....this is probably wrong" but in a split second I did the shrug (for a different reason) and headed onto the slopes feeling ever so smug and slightly guilty. It turned out to be one of the best skiing days with few crowds and occasional peep of the sun. As I drove home the guilt returned however my brain rationalized my decision as I decided that ski resorts might want to consider offering a one run trial pass for questionable conditions or even for those ski newbies so that families like mine wouldn't be tempted by alluring offer that presented itself today.