Training Log Archive: Spike

A few photos from the trip to illustrate the log...

360 panorama (with Mary) from an open are on Blacktail Plateau (the map link places the photo in the ocean off the coast of Africa - no idea why):

http://www.360cities.net/image/meglin-00995584-5d7...

Also, Mary in the wind and snow on Blacktail Plateau: http://instagram.com/p/ksgEE-w00q/

360 panorama at Caste Geyser as the sun is just coming up:

http://www.360cities.net/image/at-castle-geyser#-7...

And a hot spring next to Caste Geyser:

https://vine.co/v/Mmnq50H0YFT

Mary disappeering into the steam at Black Sands Pool:

https://vine.co/v/MmhFI5Kx9YZ

From the trip to Lone Star Geyser...

Mary on the trail to Kepler: http://instagram.com/p/kxnbQgQ07V/
Mary on the groomed trail along the Firehole: http://instagram.com/p/kxnnsWw07x/
Lone Star Geyser: http://instagram.com/p/kxn0ILw08J/

From the Bannock Trail....

Mary on the return trip skiing in our tracks: http://instagram.com/p/kp56UBQ0_5/

Landscape at the trail head: http://instagram.com/p/kp6DywQ0wD/

The early morning light on a trip around the terraces ski loop (while Mary slept): http://instagram.com/p/ksgQOeQ01E/

And a couple of non-skiing photos....

Bison: http://instagram.com/p/kp6KKVw0wR/
Old Faithful: http://instagram.com/p/kvNuU6Q00h/

C • Bison photo 2

Picking up mini markers from the training course at Rockcrusher and then setting out mini markers for a new course. Two of the markers were gone. That surprised me.

Also did some just-plain-running on the trails and in the woods at Rockcrusher. I made an effort to get some hills and ended up with >200 meters of climb.

The temp and wind were steady. As I got back to the car the first few snowflakes fell. It'd be nice if we don't get the freezing rain/sleet.

4

We skied the Tower Falls trail. Mostly it was very nice. On the return trip we met 4 or 5 bison walking slowly down the trail. They wouldn't get out of the way but they were heading the direction we needed to go, so that was ok. But, then a big group of snowshoers were starting up the trail from the parking area and that put the bison between two groups. The bison then just stopped and stood there. We couldn't really go anywhere and the big group was keeping the bison from continuing on their way. So it was a stand off. Eventually, the bison moved just off the trail and we got by.

1

We skied out and back on the Mallard Lake Trail. It was kind of satisfying to catch up to a group of skiers who'd started well ahead of us.

Then I played around on the groomed trail a bit.

1

Mary and I did the Biscuit Basin and Black Sand basins. Not many people out and we had a fair amount of new snow to bash through.

1

After a morning of easy walking around the Upper Geyser Basin, we did an "intermediate" lesson with Crystal. That was good as I'm almost completely self-taught and lousy as a skier (Per Spiik once gave me a few pointers at Orsa-Groenklitt back in the 90s). With Crystal's help, I'd say I'm a lot more efficient and effective at skiing. I'm sure there is still a lot of room for improvement.

1

We skied toward Black Sand Basin but turned back when some Bison didn't want to let us pass.

1

After my dark-to-dawn morning ski I am waiting for Mary to get up and browsing through the NPS Yellowstone Resources and Issues Handbook. Just read about climate change. Next I think I will read about snowshoe hares.

Up before the sun and skied over to Castle Geyser.

1

Mary and I did the Lone Star Geyser trail. After the early climb the trail is flat and groomed. That was kind of nice.

We've been to LSG twice before and both times we've seen eruptions. This time we didn't.

We had lunch near at the geyser but didn't hang around so long because the wind was blowing a bit and it was a little bit cold.

1