The mountains call, and I must go.

The Intergalactic Pilot Speaks

BOLD SLASHED THROUGH STUFF COURTESY OF SOME NEDERLAND NIMBY BASTARD.

This writer, acting under informal warrant as your snow conditions delegate, made an quasi-official field outing to CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL FILE today for the purposes of a snow survey. The trailhead parking lot was populated by roughly 10 motorized vehicles, however their occupants chose to travel the route toward CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL FILE while this observer selected to pursue a more northerly course toward the CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL FILE Mountain vicinity via the MORE CLASSIFIED SHIT trail, variously known as CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL FILE trail or other nomenclature. The ascent was uneventful, with moderate snow falling and temperature of 15 f. Contemplation of the trail surface indicated overland travelers 24 hours prior. Two intermissions enroute were undertaken to urinate. Travel time to the basin equaled 1 hour, or 60 minutes. Upon arrival, it was observed that a probable air pressure gradient between eastern Colorado and lands to the westward resulted in rapid movement of air for atmosphere pressure equilibrium. This observer proceeded up the zone typically utilized for ski descents, pausing to excavate a snow observation cavity on a NNE aspect inclined at 24 degrees. Snow depth in the pit equaled 120 cm as measured by a BCA probe, circa 2006. The snow pack was fairly consistent, with typical layers due to various snowfall events interspersed with wind deposited material. The presence of depth hoar or faceted crystals near the ground was observed, although not more than is usually present in a continental snow pack. Incidentally, it can be noted that no signs of snow instability known as whoomping were present throughout the 4-hour survey interval. This writer then ingested a salami and muenster sandwich, which included a significant amount of snow for the reason that the storm was increasing. Upon reengaging the ski bindings, 4 additional travelers were observed utilizing the broken trail to make their ascent less strenuous. After the phrase "cocksuckers" passed in and out of this writer's brain, cordial greetings were voiced. Hence, 3 roundtrips were accomplished in billowing powder, punctuated by episodes whereby the observer's skis traveled upon the surface of obscured basalt, granite, or other geologic material, or Douglas fir. In a notable instance, one of the aforementioned objects caused the observer's right hand to impact with a certain force a granite boulder. Presently a final descent was undertaken to the cached motor vehicle for transport to the home office. Submitted, 7:08 pm, 12/30/07.

Ski quiver

I find it kind of interesting to compare my ski quiver versus bike quiver. With bikes, I currently have two functioning rides, and could quite easily pair that down to one. The Moots is a Swiss Army knife type ride, what with the sliding drop-outs, optional hanger and fairly wide chainstays. The versions of it change - from normal 26" mountain bike, to the current 1x8 snow bike with SnowCat rims and 2.7 tires, to something I plan to try this spring, 650B wheels. Handlebars change, it flips from single (usually) to 1x8 and wheels get flipped but it's the same frame, and, in that regard, sort of simple.

My ski situation is quite different. I have a lot of skis (not including three snowboards...need to make one a splitter). It might even seem a little obscene, but skiing is what I do. I don't live a luxurious life, I don't have a flat screen TV, a big house or spend my money on partying and booze. Skiing and outdoor stuff is what I spend my money on. These skis have been acquired over the past decade. OK, that was the disclaimer - here's a run-down of my skis, each with a certain niche to fill:

Icelantic Nomad AT set-up: This is my #1 BC/lift set-up right now, and because of the short 156 length, works very well for the super tight woods behind my house. Fun and fat, but a little scary on steep chutes and variable snow as there is not much fore and aft to keep you upright.

K2 Public Enemy AT set-up: Kind of my early season rock skis, or the option for super steep spring chutes where length is your friend.

K2 Hippy Stinx tele set-up: My tele option. Kind of funky because the ski is a beast, but I'm rocking T2 boots which are more touring oriented. My next ski focus will probably be on tele - a better matched boot and ski set-up, free pivot uphill and lighter for going up. Case in point - they live in my ski locker up at the rock because I can't stand the squeaking, energy inefficient uphill action of the bindings.

Asnes Wooden White Skis: This is my backcountry touring set-up. Three pin binding, army white skis. Lots of fun in cold, winter conditions. Wood is cool. My second priority ski focus after tele is probably a pair of Asnes Combats or Nansens with skin-lock, metal edges and lighter weight. Basically a more practical version of the winter white version.

Karhu beater skis: Three-pin fish scale skis that I take out in September snowstorms and crazy adventures where rocks will be a factor. The no-brainer ski, sort of like an old pick-up truck. Not fast, but they work.

Fisher RCS skate skis: US Ski Team cast-off race skis from my old coach at CU. Fast when waxed right. My main race ski and training ski when the snow is good. Pilot bindings.

Rossignol Classic Skis: Awesome skis. Very fast, perfect flex for my weight and height. I've had lots of fun on these skis and some strong races as well. If I had to pick one ski to use before I die, these on Zarlengo would be it

Rossignol Skate Skis: These are my early season rock skis/football field skis/dogjouring skis. Used to be my race boards, but they got a crappy grind a few years back and I've been too lazy to have it redone. Not true rock skis, since I don't just pound them.

Fisher RCR fish-scale race classic skis: A new addition last spring. Awesome, awesome purchase. Basically extend the classic season until May, unless I choose to ski groomed glaciers in Alaska this summer, which means they are a year round option. Great kick, and surprisingly fast. I'd race them in any temps above 35°.

This leads me to the point of this post. I got a new pair of skis for Christmas. A new addition to the large quiver. I'm pretty stoked on this set-up. Got 'em at Neptune Mountaineering - an on sale item at $119. Handmade Norwegian Asnes Tourskis with a skin-lock set up. While I wouldn't want to ski up Denali on them, they will be perfect for an Elk Mountain Traverse type deal or mixed track/BC skiing like going from my house up Spencer, along about 10 km of nordic groomed stuff at Eldora, up Tennessee and dropping down into the high school. Narrow enough for tracks, burly enough to break deep wind pack when necessary. They came with skin-lock, a unique Asnes feature that puts two small kick zone skins on. These skis are easy to wax, and are set-up with a pair of Salomon skate bumper bindings which is actually better for BC terrain since it's stiffer than a classic bumper.

Took 'em out for an afternoon test spin today before a nice classic ski with Meriwether. Ripped around Annie B's and along Buckeye, passing skate skiers struggling in the slow snow. Quickly skinned up and headed up to Tennessee Mtn. Cabin. The skins works well...a few slips but nothing major on this steep snowshoe route. The one flaw with these skis - the glue on the skins sucks and I'll need to fix that. Then, off with the skins and through a couple kilometers of foot deep windcrust, along trails I ride a bunch but almost never ski because I didn't have the right tool for the trade. The tip is the perfect stiffness to bust through the crust without being harsh. Then, a long decent back down to the main stuff - Phoebe intersection - and some nifty tele turns down Cheaters Corner. 190 cm length nice for maneuvering in the tight stuff. A fast, versatile ski set-up that made me happy. Can't wait for tomorrow's adventure on 'em.

A great time afterwards with Meriwether, checking out Zarlengo, Porcupine and then the four decent route on the east side. Cross country skiing kicks ass.

December 29 - Eldora classic - 21 km
Season to date: 408 km

S.A.D.

6°, windy, clear

SAD. This downer abbreviation stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. I have heard stories about it - long bouts with depression and apathy as the days are shortened, rage, and – in places like Alaska where the seasons are extreme - how it is one of the leading killers, as the victim becomes so distraught that they end up taking their own life.

I've never suffered from SAD. Quite the contrary actually. When the days get short and the snow piles up I enter a bizarre euphoric state. Yeah I love snow, and yeah I love skiing but I think more than anything else it means to me that there will be "those" moments.

What are those moments? Simply put, those moments are those times in your life when all feels good, peaceful and euphoric. Two I will elaborate about. A few days ago I went skiing at Devils Thumb. About 2/3rd of the way in, I was climbing up Lactic Grande, onto a trail simply named Priceless. Priceless indeed. Near the top of the route, I happened across moose tracks, and around the next bend, a view northwest. The entire Grand Valley stretched out in front of me, an alpenglow hue brightening the snow, the sky turning a warm orange color while the air temperature dropped. It felt good to use my body to climb that mountain, to breathe the cold air, to leave the masses, quite literally, below. Not a soul near me, yet there was a feeling of belonging more powerful than a club or a friendship could ever provide.

The very next day, a little different experience. Skied around Zarlengo in a snowstorm. Silence muffling life. Across the bridge a bit ahead of Suz. Jenny Creek was still flowing a little bit. I stopped and just listened to the creek for a few minutes. No other sounds, but the creek gurgling and the light patter of the snow on my anorak. And this too made me smile. The simple goodness of life, the natural process of things, the water under the snow.

I've heard it said that most people in life maybe experience true happiness once or twice in a lifetime. I think for a skier, or someone who spends lots of time in the mountains, this statement is ridiculous. I experience true happiness nearly every time out. Granted, there is sometimes a lot of struggle to get there but that moment happens.

I guess that's why I ski. I think if this was taken from me I'd be as likely a candidate as anyone to suffer from SAD-like symptoms. I think about this because tomorrow I'm going skiing with someone who, for lack of a better description, is suffering from the absolute most extreme version of SAD there is. I want to help, and being outside in the mountains is the best way I know how.

Nordic Log:
December 24 - Devils Thumb classic and skijouring - 28 km
December 25 - Eldora classic - 10 km
December 26 - Eldora skate - 11 km
December 26 - Backcountry Moffat Tunnel - 11 km
December 27 - Eldora classic 11 km
Season to date: 387 km

Wolf spotted in RMNP?

There are a couple of legitimate news reports here and here about a possible wolf sighting in Rocky Mountain National Park. That's about 35 miles as the crow flies from Happy Valley.

This is very good news. Moraine Park is similar to the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone - a sheltered wintering ground with many, many elk. Let's hope the wolf, if it is indeed a wolf, decides to stay awhile.

What is really needed is TWO wolves. You never know: one thing they say about wolves is that they are fantastic at finding other wolves.

Winter has arrived

No camera yet, so here is a cool animated image I found of the Holmenkollen ski jump. The trails below it are where I learned to nordic ski and developed a love for being outside in the mountains.

Winter and all its splendor has finally arrived, officially at least. That splendor has been exemplified by wind and snow, pounding and pounding from west to east. The mercury has risen steadily the past 36 hours, from a low of 2° to the current 18°. Balmy.

Lots of time at the nordic area lately. Loops through the forest, enjoying the brutality of it all. My body is tired though, the muscles and tendons lack their normal spring. Going to mix it up a little this morning, with a skin up over Spencer, maybe work my way over to the resort to work on those tele turns, and hopefully a little streamlining on the 6th Street Shuffle. In the mean time, time to toss the 2.7 Timberwolf snow tires on the SnowCat rims and figure out a way to get the rear V-brakes to work, and hash out the details for the January 2-3 hut trip with the ski team up to the Continental Divide Cabin.

I went down to Boulder last night for the first time in about a month. Wanted to check out and dream about some skis (might have found the perfect Elk Mountain Traverse set-up on sale - email me if you want details), get some new liners for my Sorels, important stuff like that. Suz and I have agreed not to do the gift exchange this year, instead saving our cash to go on a cool nordic trip somewhere this winter. It was nice to wander the streets without the burden of buying something for the sake of buying it. As an outside observer, I noticed a lot of stress. The guy in front of me in line where I got my Sorel liners had maxed out a credit card and had to quickly scurry for another, apparently a bit ashamed of having spent so much. Such is the world we live in - holidays in America.

Speaking of trips, here are some options:

42 km race in Anchorage, and then catch the start of the Iditarod that same weekend...

Kind of stretch for this year, but the Norwegian Birkebeiner would be sweet.

Even better, touring around Norway afterwards utilizing the huts and trails set up by these folks. Here's a cool description of a trip there by a couple Americans.

Olympics anyone? They just opened the new Olympic nordic venue in Whistler - looks nice.

A bigger goal for the next couple summers is to take one of these so I can lead trips to places like this or this!

Nordic Log:
December 22 - Eldora - 19 km
December 20 - Eldora - 17 km
December 19 - Eldora - 5 km
Season to Date: 316 km

Speaking of logs, here is one I have my kids on the team keep. If any readers want to use it, cool. I'm getting some little medals made at the end of the year and will be happy to send them out to folks for a small fee. Download Ned_Nordic_Distance_Chart.pdf

Fizzle

Pretty fried this evening. A bit of a rough day at school. Feel a bit like I'm coming to the finish line on a bonk...the break is going to be a welcome respite.

Skied a bunch lately. Eldora, Devil's Thumb, Vail. Salvation. Camera broke, so no images until the warranty comes in.

Nordic Log:
December 13 - Classic at Spencer/Eldora - 14 km
December 15 - Vail Race (coaching) - 14 km
December 16 - Devils Thumb (50% skijour/classic) - 20 km
December 17 - Skate Eldora - 9 km
December 18 - Skate Eldora - 9 km
Season Log: 275 km

How to Start a Thursday in December Haiku

Dark skin up with pups
Catch sunrise from the summit
Silky turns back down

Perfection comes in the form of a 4 km loop

19°, clear, ground blizzard wind.

Zarlengo Loop opened today. A single snowmobiled in classic track around my favorite four kilometer route in the world. No rocks, snow coated trees, a perfect track, a descending dusk brisk ski with the fast guys on the Ned ski team. Basically, what I crave all summer long. It doesn't take much for me to feel absolute joy and contentment. Thank God (and mom and dad) I was taught to nordic ski.

10 km - classic Eldora (Zarlengo Day 1)
Season log - 209 km

Panther Grind

15°, clear and calm.

Conditions up at Eldora are about as good as they get, at least at the nordic area. And really, THIS is the glory time, when winter days are short, cold nights long, the sun low and the snow perfect. No sudden warm-spells mixed with sun to turn everything into crust. Right here, right now is the time to be out and about, skiing. Every minute you can, really. Folks at school are on fumes right now, a result of going hard since mid-August. Kids, teachers, administrators...we're all gasping a little bit. Those 17 days off are going to be mighty nice. The snow certainly isn't making these last few days any easier.

Got some good classic coaching (for me) today - smaller leg kick, stand up more, drive the beginning of the kick - early in the morning dawn, and then took the kids out for an adventure on rock skis behind the high school this afternoon. Rowdy fun, avoiding rocks, launching lips and dodging trees. Tomorrow, I'll have them do work - intervals - but sometimes...in fact more often then not...it's gotta be fun.

Best part of the day: got to grind the panther!

Nordic Log:
12/10 - 6 km classic - Eldora
12/11 - 13 km classic - Eldora
Season Log: 199 km

By the way, this log is something I keep for myself, just to keep track and harken back to the old days, when my mom used to chart my kilometers skied per year when we lived in Norway. It was a program with the Norsk Skiforeningen where you would try to ski a certain amount of kilometers to gain a gold pin. When I was eight years old, I had to ski 200 kilometers to get the gold pin. I logged 215 that winter, thanks to a 19 km ski in Lillehammer on March 6. Now that I'm older and stronger (at least I hope I'm stronger than when I was eight!), it takes 500 km for the winter to log that same pin. I bounced back better then though! My longest ski that winter was on December 6, a 25 kilometer slog to a place called Kikkutstua. I bonked hard - probably the first bonk of my life - but my parents gave me a chocolate bar and I was ready to roll for the last part of the trip. Then there was the 1st grade nordic ski race, where I lost my ski on the first climb somehow and just kept going shuffling along with one ski. Good stuff...I'll reminisce more some time when I don't have lessons to plan!

Snow + Cold = Perfection

19°, clear and breezy.

We live in a nice area. Nice year round - each season brings something good to the table. But, if I were forced to choose one over the other, I could easily take 365 days like today. Cold winter conditions and fresh deep snow equate to lots of outdoor options. Today was pretty simple. A longish, slowish 20 km classic at Eldora in the morning. Delectable soft conditions, and every so often the breeze would kick up sending the trees into a confetti-like avalanche of snow. The snow would reflect off the sun creating an almost mystical environment. The parking lot up there was PACKED, but there were maybe 20 people skiing at the nordic area. Lift skiing is the preferred option, evidently. Works fine for me.

This evening, a skin up Spencer and brisk ski down, getting pulled by the pups and making turns in the two-feet of fresh. For me, that's about a perfect day, made more so by the massive casserole of lasagna cooking up in the oven!

Hope the weekend was good where ever you are!

26 km - classic and skin - Eldora
Season to date: 180 km

Nordic Center Opens

13°, clear and calm

I have to agree with Meriwether on this one. The new snow, while sweet, brought out the masses to the "downhill" area at the rock and made it sort of silly. Lots of checking over your shoulder and contact avoidance. I've actually had powder days ruined by the Eldora masses...I basically go to the downhill area now for coaching (like today...helping out the alpine kids a bit as the have a coach shortage), a bit of tele practice and for the odd snow squall sweet hour or two on the backside. The thing is, in the back country you can ski dawn-to-dusk powder runs in relative solitude, get a stellar workout skinning back up and see stuff at a way slowed down pace.

The nordic center is a different story. While the center itself can get a little busy, as soon as you start skiing that all dissolves away. Basically, it's easy to escape and if you go early in the morning it's downright heavenly. Went last night in the snowstorm, and then with Suz at seven this morning for first tracks. Classic skiing bliss, so peaceful, such an invigorating workout, so perfect. I think a long, slow tomorrow morning nordic session is in order - it's dumping snow which makes a drive to Frisco to ski a 10 km less than appealing.

Nordic Log:
December 7 - 6 km classic - Eldora nordic
December 8 - 16 km classic Eldora nordic
Season to date: 154 km

A foot of snow!

26°, snowing, calm

NOW we're talking! A foot of snow in the past 24 hours has improved conditions and moods drastically. They predicted an inch, we got a foot, as it just hovered here (rumor has it Boulder got nothing). Suddenly, the nordic area is scheduled to open on Saturday, and even more snow is on the horizon, as the storm track has changed to a favorable flow. A giddy vibe at a playful practice today, doing a little balance work but mostly doing ridiculously fast one ski outruns and seeing how far we could sky off a jump...you can't help but play when the snow is deep and keeps falling. The long autumn is over. Skiing the next however many days, with a classic race in Frisco on Sunday. That's going to hurt, and I'm sort of ecstatic about it!

Awesome hike with the pups today, tromping through the deep snow. Tiki and Zuma love the white stuff even more than I do!

Classic skiing and jumping - 3 km - Eldora base area

Sunrise Skating and Suffering

31°, flurries and calm.

The past couple of mornings have been very early. I've joined the Boulder Nordic Club training group on Tuesday and Wednesdays. While the initial getting-out-of-bed part is brutal, the payback is well worth it. The conditions up there are marginal at best - we're still relegated to the base area - but there are few things as satisfying as progressing your skills in a playground that offers up such spectacular sights as the above sunrise. As long as you are learning, things are good. It's fun to see how beautiful the sport can look from one of the best and then try to translate that into your own skiing.

UPDATE: The snow conditions are looking up!

Nordic Log
December 4 - 8 km skate - Eldora base area
December 5 - 15 km skate - Eldora base area
Nordic season to date: 129 km

Classic Rock

25°, clear, blowing like a banshee.

What do you see when you picture skiing and boarding in Colorado? Certainly a wide open expanse with fresh untracked powder snow. A clear blue sky with a few wispy cirrus clouds up above. Some evergreen trees dotting the land scape, drawing the eye to the next horizon. And of course, a distant mountain range, far off yonder, promising unlimited possibility. To complete the image, two brightly clad skiers, making perfect S-turns towards said yonder.

At Eldora, reality is different. Skiing at Eldora - or "the rock" as some locals call it - is sort of like being inside a blender while pancake batter is being made. It's a bandbox really - a small area that requires you either turn quick, or die. There are no open expanses at Eldora, and at least today, there was certainly no clear blue horizon. However, if you like wind, this is the place for you (hence the blender analogy). Perpetual motion and sheets of white in three dimensions, and you, in your cocoon like shell of down, navigate through it all. Hit the powder stash on the left side (the wind blows it that way), but watch for the concrete ice slab three turns in. Stay low, feel for the wind, it can blow you off the mountain with a big enough gust. Snowmobiles heading up on skiers left, snow guns bellowing on skiers right, sheer ice and race teams going down the middle. Pick your poison. Back up the lift, triple up or you'll be blown into the tower and off into oblivion.

Such it was on this Sunday morning. One of the first chairs in, which was good because before noon they shut the joint down because of high wind. The funny thing is, this was a good day, in an addictive pain sort of way. Perhaps its the left side high-calf deep snow along Windmill (appropriately named). Or the bizarre array of rollers, crust and snow guns on Jolly Jug. Or maybe the ridiculous 10 km XC ski along the base area, heading east flying like a F-16, and then turning the other way and feeling like Roald Amundsen fighting his way to the South Pole.

Altogether - good and bad - a classic day at the rock.

10 km - skate - Eldora base area

The suspended winter

27°, snowing, calm

It hasn't been a spectacular lead-off into this winter. More of a practice in patience this time around, a few snow squalls here and there, and a lot of high pressure nothing. While the mighty San Juan Mountains to the south apparently got hammered by feet of snow, we've been relegated to just a few inches. It's early still, and if we get a series of storms like we had at the end of December and early January last year (or even one such storm) things will be looking up.

It's been tough to get skiing in. First race of the year, slated for tomorrow, got postponed. This week was a mix of ice cold ski team practices at the Eldora base area (getting blasted by snow guns the whole time), a PSIA nordic session on a basketball sized patch of snow in Frisco and a bit of hiking around the woods. Lots of technique balance work, not much in the way of distance since there is really nowhere to go. Relay races around short track courses with the team. Games like capture-the-flag and sharks and minnows on skis. It's fun and the mellowness was a blessing in disguise, as I was a little sick all week still.

Today was a bit odd. Woke up to rain in town. That never happens here. Not in early December, at 8,700 feet above sea level. Drove up to the mountain (you can't skin yet) and it had thankfully turned to snow. Did some lift skiing this morning - a bizarre combo of sun, massive storm clouds, blizzard conditions and then sun the next run. A strange, suspended in animation season so far it seems.

This weeks nordic log:
November 24 - 8 km skate - North Boulder Park
November 26 - 5 km skate - Eldora base area
November 27 - 15 km skate & classic - Frisco clinic
November 28 - 5 km classic - Eldora base area
November 30 - 5 km skate - Eldora base area
Season to Date - 96 km