The mountains call, and I must go.

Too much of a good thing?

8°, clear and a slight breeze. Well, it's been a good few days...probably too much of a good thing actually because I've definitely run myself down a little and now have a smidge of a cold. It was like, yahooooooo, school's out, snow's falling, let's play, let's play, let's be outside. Let's pull double and triple duty workouts each day, classic ski for a couple hours, play floor hockey, go for a hike, split wood, ski 20 km then go for another hike up the mountain, then tele ski, more nordic skiing, bam! The little engine that could got knocked off track a bit.

Anyway, we got a little bit of snow and it's been something to embrace. Now, time to find the groove of winter, slightly tempering the kid in the candy store mentality? Not too much...the raw stoke of being OUT THERE in the mountains in the snow is infectious, in more ways than one evidently.

Nordic Log 2007-08 (before I lose track):
October 14 - 10 km classic - High school
October 15 - 9 km classic - High school
November 21 - 8 km classic - High school
November 22 - 20 km skate - North Boulder Park
November 23 - 11 km skate - North Boulder Park

Frosty Bikejouring

23°, calm, frosty fog. Now that's more like it! A swarm-like cold cloud rolled into the valley this evening dropping the temps a good 20°. Yellowstone got a foot of snow and that appears to be moving our way. I doubt we'll get that much, but things look much, much more promising than they have so far this fall.

An active, good day. Nothing epic, but lots of little activities here and there. Set up an orienteering course using the mountain bike up on WM this morning, taking the kids all over the place. They did well (running), got a good workout in and got a little lost. A perfect combo. Did some roller skiing balance work while waiting for them to finish and checked out some skis to a couple kids. One girl said she felt "guilty" to be getting free skis to use for the winter...I told her not to worry about it. Being able to provide each kid a pair of skate, classic and rock skis, along with two sets of poles and boots is definitely one of my favorite things about coaching, and makes the sport a lot more accessible for the non-millionaire families out there. Hell of a lot better than them playing Playstation for hours after getting home from school.

This afternoon, as the cold front moved in, headed out for a aesthetically pleasing 10 km roller ski (more motivation since the beginning seems to be very close) and then a real treat. Took the puppies back up to WM for a foggy, cold, frosty dusk bikejouring ride along the Habid Trail and surrounding areas. They did FANTASTIC, never really getting distracted except for one time when a rabbit crossed twenty feet in front of us. They ran seven kilometers or so and seemed to have a lot to spare at the end. The cocoon fogged-in trails were left to just the three of us, and I don't think there is going to be a lot of two-wheeled traffic there for the next five months. It felt very Alaska-ish out there – I half expected a moose to jump out of the fog and say hello. Frost everywhere - on the dogs necks, ears, my clothes and the Moots.

Up to Mount 12,055

53°, clear with a slight breeze. Went on a hike with a few kids from the team today up to point 12,055. This is one of my favorite hikes, with a definite Lord of Rings-type feel. A long wander across a high valley ringed by two ravines and mountains down the spine of the Rockies. Super clear day - all the peaks were in full glory, and even the sight lines down to Pikes were perfect. It was a bit breezy though, as the short film shows.

It's warm today, but it seems a change is due. West Yellowstone is predicted to get a foot by tomorrow this time and the Big Sky webcam is looking just about perfect (a wall of white!). Now bring some of that goodness down here!

Yikes!

39°, clear and calm.

Looks like we have this...

versus this...

Eldora's shooting for a Thanksgiving Day opening. Wonder what the over/under is on that? Either way, I'm not sure a holiday weekend crowd and that thin strip of white death equates to a real good time. Let's hope it blankets and blows so the backcountry - at least on nordic skis - is an option later this week. Otherwise, it'll be bundling up on the bike.

Random article

Pretty cool article in the latest Boulder Weekly about Pete Basinger. It seems really random, since he is from Alaska, but it's solid nonetheless. Based on what I have read and heard about the guy, he seems like a pretty cool chap and a strong rider. When I get that OC million dollar budget, I'll sponsor the guy! Seriously, if I were running a big race team like Trek or someone, I'd much prefer guys like this over the standard euro-wannabe racer boys. Most mountain bikers I know can relate to people like Pete B - independent, outdoor types - more than they can with riders who in their spare time look like they are heading to a fashion show in Milan. So step up all you industry types who read this and toss some goods Pete's way! The guy shattered the Iditabike record - that's a hell of a lot more impressive than coming in 3rd in the men's semi-pro category in the Mountain States Cup!

Nordic plans for this winter

40°, elongated fish clouds, windy. An early morning, thanks to high winds and dogs who want tummy rubs. I'm on day two of a nine day Thanksgiving break. Obviously, that's a good thing - I love teaching but time off where you get a chance to play in the outdoors is always a good thing. Usually that means skiing, but because of the lack of snow (and the fact that I've worn out my roller ski wheels this fall), it will probably equate to some bike rides in the woods. Which is not a bad thing.

I was charting out my nordic schedule for this winter. I want to ramp it up from last year - sort of capturing the stoke and running with it. It's also working around an already kind of full coaching schedule. Here's some events I'm thinking of doing:

December 2: Gold Run Skate Race, Breckenridge - 10 km skate
December 30: Skyway Shuffle, Grand Mesa - 10 km skate (work this one in with a trip to Fruita/Moab)
January 19: Devils Thumb Swix Pursuit - 7.5 km classic, 7.5 km skate pursuit race
February 3: Frisco Gold Rush - 10 km classic, 20 km skate
February 9: Owl Creek Festival, Aspen - 25 km skate
February 16: Support for Suz at a skijouring event, Granby
February 23: Leadville Loppet - 50 km freestyle
March 2: Tour of Anchorage - 50 km freestyle
March 9: Support for Suz at a skijouring event, Breckenridge.
March 15: North Routt Couruers des Bois, Steamboat, 90 km freestyle
March 28-29: Elk Mountain Traverse, Crested Butte
Wednesday nights - mid-January through February - Nighthawks at Eldora

I probably won't do all of these, but would like to do most. A couple that stand out are the Tour of Anchorage and the Couruers des Bois. The TOA would be sweet since it would offer up another chance to go up to Alaska with Suz, it's at sea level and it's the day after the start of the Iditarod Sled Dog race, which would be a cool spectacle. The Couruers des Bois, simply because it's 90 km and I've never skied that far before. Mix in non-race days with a bunch of backcountry skiing with the crew, and it should be a good winter. Now we just need snow (harping on that old theme)!

Rode by the shooting range yesterday in full go mode. What the heck? Seems awfully close to trails and the road to be legit. Hopefully that one will have the kibosh put on it soon.

Blood Clouds

41°, warm chinook wind from the divide. Nothing to do but ride and hike. Fantastic clouds today, and everything had a salmon hue. A very nice November day to be out playing in the lost woods.

Not feeling overly verbose lately on this thing. I'm riding my bike, I'm hiking, etc....it's exceptionally rewarding to me, but I'm not feeling the spur to wax poetic about it all. So, more short entries like this with photos. Thanks to all who check in!

Think Snow!

40°, cloudy and calm. I really, really want to start skiing soon. Got up early this morning and did a little time trial pursuit race - roller ski from the high school to Maysville Road and then quickly switch into stashed tennis shoes for a run up the trail to the lake. Ouch. Definitely simulated some of the feelings common in a nordic race though. Combined with a couple hour floor hockey game this evening at the Community Center, and I'm worked.

I've signed up to train in the mornings with the Boulder Nordic Team this winter, which, combined with time coaching each afternoon, should ensure lots of snow time. I'm getting a little bored with running and roller skiing and am ready for the real deal. Problem is, there is a dearth of snow everywhere in the region. The folks at the Yellowstone Ski Festival are freaking out, the camp at Snow Mountain Ranch is going to need some juju to happen and even Bruce's Trail up on Rabbit Ears Pass is out of commission. The nordic team has gotten permission from Eldora to ski around their base area once the mountain closes, but I can only milk that for so long. Still, that's better than nothing, which is what we've got right now.

Bottom line - we need snow. Forecast looks mixed, but there are rumors of a big white-stuff weather-maker Wednesday. That would be a perfect way to usher in Thanksgiving in my book.

Grim Slopes

42° (at 10:21 pm in mid-November???), breezy, clear. Well, it's official: Eldora has postponed their opening day at least a week, and that's for the downhill area where they make snow. Serious bummer.

Might as well ride the bike. Up the old mining road, something I had not been on since before Soggy Bottom as a result of my knee pain. Knee is fine now, but the lungs did get a bit of a rude awakening going up there. Nice to ride...ahm....trails.

Not exactly Horsethief Bench Trail, but it works just fine for me.

Heading up high

52°, partly cloudy and calm. The unseasonable warmth continues, but the weather-people predict snow and cold tomorrow. Much needed. Mountain opens Friday, but I'm beginning to wonder if nordic will be available at all before Thanksgiving.

I'm taking advantage - or maybe I should say "making the best of" the conditions. Spent the past couple days up around 13,000 feet, poking around big chunks of rock, checking out the glacier, scrambling over boulders and trying to make frozen fingers function. One day included a jaunt up with the nordic kids, the next a solo venture a little further along since the responsibility of keeping a group safe were vanquished. Dabbed with the traverse between the Arapahos, but conditions were blustery and the rock icy, so I backed off this time around. The precipitous drop to the glacier below definitely induces a little pucker factor.

Woods Bounce

28°, clear and calm. A good jaunt straight the F*%^ up this evening, bounding the whole way, through the woods along a sweet new trail. I think we'll just simply name it "nordic" trail. Awesome crew today, willing to get a little lost on the way down. I'm a big believer in natural training - ie running and playing in a natural landscape, as opposed to doing lap after lap on a track. All athletes - especially young athletes - should play, and while there is a time and place for track intervals, it needs to be balanced out. It's not hard to get a dynamic workout in the woods, and I actually believe it helps coordination a lot to be dancing in and out of trees and skipping from rock to rock. Certainly better for the soul, and long term longevity in a sport. There is something almost zen about it. Training should always be one part hard work, one part creativity and fantasy and one part pure passion for the activity and the land. Look at the best athletes in the world. They have a passion for the sport they do, and don't get locked into rigid training plans.

Divide and Hot Dogs

47°, clear, strong west wind. Managed to get up to the Continental Divide yesterday with a small group from the team (it's still pre-season, unofficial training). It blew like hell all night, so I wasn't sure if being up at 12,000 feet was totally feasible, but it wasn't that heinous up there, all things considered. Good to see a little snow up there – and if you're eager there are blown in sections where turns could certainly be had – but damn, we need more and soon.

That was the better half of the day. The second part consisted of selling a gazillion hot dogs to fans at the CU game as part of a ski team fundraiser. A good exercise in not stressing and realizing that you can only do one thing at a time, even with 50 people deep lined up demanding their brat, nachos and Dr. Pepper. Didn't get home till 11 pm (exhausted)...thankfully the time change kicked in just in thime.

Time to roll. Riding some trails into B-town this morning to pick up some new nordic boots at Boulder Nordic Sport. Stoked, as mine are ancient and tired. A hike with the dogs this afternoon, lesson planning and some good viewing on the TeeVee tonight (don't freak out...this actually is good). There is a show on PBS tonight called " In the Valley of Wolves" that highlights the wolf reintroduction program in Yellowstone National Park - specifically the Lamar Valley. It should be really good. When I was up there in March I "met" a few of the guys working on it and they really knew their stuff. Personally, I can't wait (it's on a 7 pm tonight on channel 6 PBS for you local yokels). Check it out - then head up there and see them for yourself. The final piece of the puzzle: get involved and do something to protect them and help them thrive.

Wild News on the Yellowstone Wolf Front

The initial conflict and the most recent update...

It'll be interesting to see what happens.

Rolling into the breeze

40°, clear and breezy. The holding pattern in the weather continues...too warm for the first day of November. Busted out some roller ski intervals into the wind with a few hard-cores on the team, and then a bunch of plyometric strength work. The wind was nutty, and at one point in time drove everyone to a complete, Katrina-style stop. Hell of a workout though. The coaching has an added benefit...basically it forces me to do things I might not otherwise do, like plyometrics right after school or ski intervals into a 40 mph gale. Starting to feel strong, and having fun with it too. Fridays are slated as fun days, and a good spirited game of capture the flag awaits, and then Saturday morning a snowy attempt up South Arapaho. Should be mighty sporting!

Rented a locker up at Eldora. Useful for the ski-commutes up to the mountain from home, and since I'm coaching and often shuffling gear, the locker becomes mucho handy. Beyond that, I'm planning to bike up the shelf road more this winter as a warm up for skiing and a way to keep the cycling thing a little less on the back burner during the cold months. Formulating plans to make/purchase some studded snow tires though, as that road can get glazed gnarly at times.