Expect the Unexpected

Story and Photos by Emily Wegener

In 2021, we packed up our life of forty years and moved from Orange County, California to Idaho, where we knew absolutely no one. We had no idea what to expect, including the weather in Eagle, one of many things we weren’t quite prepared for. Shortly after we arrived, spring break was approaching and we kept hearing about the amazing Payette Lake. The tales were of a charming little town with a gorgeous lake and postcard-perfect views. I thought, what better way to spend our first Idaho spring break than by the water?

As if I lived in another century, I didn’t check a weather app before planning the trip. But in my defense, spring break has always meant two things: sunlight and warmth. One of those two didn’t quite make it to the party in McCall.

I did do the usual vacation prep: searched online for all the best food spots, booked a cute cabin, packed up the essentials for a family of four—it was just that I overlooked the frigid temperatures and mountains of snow we soon would encounter. We loaded up our not-so-mountain-ready SUV fitted with weather-unfriendly tires and headed out. Blissfully unaware of what lay ahead.

Partway into the winding climb up the mountain, I realized this version of spring break would include more snow than I’d seen in my entire life. I mean, five feet of snow on rooftops! Who knew that was even a thing? My children were in for their very first winter adventure. One of my kids refused to wear anything but shorts (in ten-degree temperature), and neither of them had ever worn winter boots. The closer we got to McCall, the more nervous I became.