Training Log Archive: SwampfoxIn the 30 days ending Apr 30, 2011:
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Friday Apr 29, 2011 #
skiing 2:12:00 [3]
More than one nice (springish) day in a row being verboten this April, today we were back to winter, and full on winter up top. More new snow, of course. And I got lucky with timing again, getting started about 10 minutes or so after the groomer got started. In some ways it didn't matter though, since the crust skiing in the forest was exceptional. And on April 29th!!!
Thursday Apr 28, 2011 #
Note
I hope it doesn't take me too long to get this right: loo-KAHN AHH-jee.
biking 1:11:00 [3]
skiing 42:00 [3]
run 33:00 [3]
The only even vaguely O' related thing I did today was to look at Dali, China via Google Maps--after running.
Note
From looking at pictures available today, you'd have to say if there was ever any doubt as to who wins in house vs. tornado, it's been settled now.
Wednesday Apr 27, 2011 #
run 38:00 [2]
skiing 1:50:00 [3]
Totally awesome mid-winter conditions, with terrific grooming in place--except it's late April! Crust skiing was super good, too. It was an odd feeling to be skating through ungroomed sage flats, but I got used to the sensation fast. This will all end sooner or later, but not yet swm3wmt3pfx45.
Tuesday Apr 26, 2011 #
skiing 1:30:00 [2]
Only a few flakes of snow fell while I was skiing; earlier in the day a scant 1/2" had already made it to the trails. Crust skiing today was fantastic, more than off-setting the disappointing lack of big winds. Probably the winds were just resting up for a new go at a PR for the year in a few days.
run 1:07:00 [3]
The snows picked up considerably once I got started running, and in no time at all enough was falling to easily wipe out my tracks. It made me feel elusive, like a fox!
Monday Apr 25, 2011 #
biking 1:19:00 [3]
Got lucky and stuck out when a crack in the clouds appeared over the valley, and sunshine spilled through. Snow clouds in all directions and you could see many snow showers in the distances. Some pellet snow was chasing me on the way back home.
Down by the river graders were moving dirt to form up levies on the east side of the river, furthering preparations against the likelihood of spring flooding.
Down by the river graders were moving dirt to form up levies on the east side of the river, furthering preparations against the likelihood of spring flooding.
skiing 1:15:00 [3]
Very weird! I was skiing, and it wasn't snowing. Conditions were great--good corduroy on the trails making for a fast and firm surface, and it was nearly untracked, even at the end of the day. So I enjoyed it!
But good things can last only so long, at least as regards the ski season, and the ski board has decided to end grooming this weekend, no matter how much snow we still have. I think they're running on fumes as regards the grooming budget for the season.
With about 10 minutes to go, the weirdness came to an end. The snows resumed, and it was snowing hard when I left.
Yet more snow!
But good things can last only so long, at least as regards the ski season, and the ski board has decided to end grooming this weekend, no matter how much snow we still have. I think they're running on fumes as regards the grooming budget for the season.
With about 10 minutes to go, the weirdness came to an end. The snows resumed, and it was snowing hard when I left.
Yet more snow!
Sunday Apr 24, 2011 #
skiing 1:38:00 [2]
How can I put this delicately? It snowed all day up top, and for part of the day down below. That includes all the time I was skiing.
run 1:08:00 [3]
Yes, and it also snowed every step of the way while I was running.
It will never stop snowing! Never! It will only be all snow, all of the time.
So fine.
It will never stop snowing! Never! It will only be all snow, all of the time.
So fine.
Saturday Apr 23, 2011 #
skiing 2:32:00 [2]
I guess you really can't have too much of a good thing. I could be talking about pizza, but in fact I'm talking about more snow. Fine flour snow was drifting down the whole time I was out, the wintery equivalent of a Scottish most. Kept my eyes open for bacon and Easter eggs, to no avail. I didn't even see any edible-ish looking squirrels.
Friday Apr 22, 2011 #
skiing 2:06:00 [3]
Total winter up top--big winds, lots of blowing and dry, drifting snow. Totally lucked out and got started just a few minutes after the groomer got started, and it was so nice I just skied in the groomer's tracks the whole time. It would be have been really good skiing in mid-winter, but this good on April 22??? Totally ridiculous! Off the charts!
And the weather forecast for the next 4 days? Some mix of rain/snow/showers/wind. Sounds like 4 more days of snow to this cowboy.
And the weather forecast for the next 4 days? Some mix of rain/snow/showers/wind. Sounds like 4 more days of snow to this cowboy.
Thursday Apr 21, 2011 #
run 48:00 [2]
Sunshine and some clouds in the morning. Wow--running in the sun!
biking 58:00 [3]
Had no idea I could squeeze in a bike ride, but since it was still sunny (and very gusty) in mid-afternoon, I could not resist. Quick ride down to the Greenway and back.
skiing 1:02:00 [2]
...but you can only push things so far. By the time I hit the trails at Happy Jack, it was overcast. The new snow was heavy and slow, and the grooming earlier in the day had only left the snow...heavy and slow. Very wet stuff.
Halfway around, the first flakes started falling, and by the time I was finishing, it was snowing quite heavily again. Everything was sticking of course, though down in town everything was melting immediately, and the gutters were as full with rushing water as if it had been a t-storm instead of a snowstorm.
Once again, I-80 got shut down sometime in the night, and by late morning on Friday, westbound lanes were open but treacherous, while eastbound was still closed. 4 weeks into Wyoming spring!
Halfway around, the first flakes started falling, and by the time I was finishing, it was snowing quite heavily again. Everything was sticking of course, though down in town everything was melting immediately, and the gutters were as full with rushing water as if it had been a t-storm instead of a snowstorm.
Once again, I-80 got shut down sometime in the night, and by late morning on Friday, westbound lanes were open but treacherous, while eastbound was still closed. 4 weeks into Wyoming spring!
Wednesday Apr 20, 2011 #
Note
Whoa! I just got Smithereened!!! So fine!
skiing 59:00 [2]
More snow.
run 1:30:00 [3]
Snowed every step of the way, gradually intensifying until near blizzard conditions at the end.
Eventually I-80 shut down during the night, and didn't re-open until sometime in the morning next day.
Eventually I-80 shut down during the night, and didn't re-open until sometime in the morning next day.
Tuesday Apr 19, 2011 #
skiing 51:00 [2]
Someone might have looked at the trails today and pronounced the grooming "indifferent", but I suspect the heavy, warm, new snow from yesterday created difficult grooming conditions and that the groomer just ran out of time.
Amazingly, the sun was out, even though more rain and clouds had been forecasted. That was definitely the best part.
Amazingly, the sun was out, even though more rain and clouds had been forecasted. That was definitely the best part.
run 1:24:00 [2]
Ran dirt roads, which were about 96% free of snow. Soft and mushy for the most part, but it was dirt--what can you expect? It's mud season.
I saw a Canada goose in a place I have never seen Canada geese before, and I am on the cusp of proposing this was a scout goose, searching for new geesy frontiers to conquer. They have already conquered the entire Front Range (if you don't believe me, check any city park with grass and water), and their ambition is boundless--kind of like the animal equivalent of the donald.
I saw a Canada goose in a place I have never seen Canada geese before, and I am on the cusp of proposing this was a scout goose, searching for new geesy frontiers to conquer. They have already conquered the entire Front Range (if you don't believe me, check any city park with grass and water), and their ambition is boundless--kind of like the animal equivalent of the donald.
Monday Apr 18, 2011 #
skiing 47:00 [3]
No ticks for sure, just more snow.
Saturday Apr 16, 2011 #
biking 41:00 [3]
skiing 52:00 [2]
run 1:02:00 [2]
Friday Apr 15, 2011 #
skiing 1:23:00 [2]
Sprinter and sunshine down in the valley; up top, it was sunshine and winter with strong winds blowing the new snow hither and thither.
Thursday Apr 14, 2011 #
skiing 50:00 [2]
I'm pretty sure the trails were groomed this morning, but by late afternoon you had to be very sharp eyed to see even the faintest vestige of it. Basically enough snow had fallen and was so well spread out by high winds that, visually, the trails merged seamlessly with the adjoining terrain, and if you didn't know where the trails were, it wouldn't have been hard to ski off them. Or it wouldn't have been if the snow hadn't been so heavy and sticky. I would describe what I did as less skiing than "sluffling".
run 1:14:00 [3]
After sluffling for a while, running seemed to be a better choice, so I switched ski shoes for running shoes and headed out on some of the Happy Jack trails. A bit tough going in the all the new snow, but after a whole winter of snow running, I managed. Every so often there was a glimmer of light in the sky that hinted the sun might come out, and there were even occasional glimpses of pieces of blue sky. That lured me into heading back by the Visitors Center and looping back on the Happy Jack Road. What a trap. By the time I hit asphalt, the wind was completely out of control, screamalicious setting 11, with full on blizzard conditions. That made running on highway--which was covered in re-frozen snow--somewhat sketchy, and on the one hand you wanted to protect your face from the pellet snow that was coming at you horizontally, and on the other hand you had to at least make some vague effort to keep your head up to watch out for cars on the highway. Bitter cold running for the last 15 minutes!
Wednesday Apr 13, 2011 #
biking 37:00 [3]
Massive turbo-taxed winds spinning out of the east-southeast made biking interesting....dust goggles would have come in handy.
skiing 1:29:00 [3]
Quite nice. Unlike yesterday, which featured very wet, slushy, slow trails, today the trails were more like icy granular. Very fast, great bite and traction. More snow began arriving as I was finishing.
Tuesday Apr 12, 2011 #
biking 31:00 [3]
skiing 1:20:00 [2]
Didn't see another soul out on the trails. Very slushy. Many needles.
Orienteering 48:00 [2]
Pitcher Hill. Mostly snowfree, and only had to take steps in snow in a few places. Plenty of sure enough sage though!
Monday Apr 11, 2011 #
biking 51:00 [3]
Quite nice out, back to spring again, and I would have been happy to have biked longer, but other activities are on the agenda. Despite all the real estate for sale on the market, there is much new construction around town. You'd kind of expect to see one or the other, but not both, but this is a windy place, so who knows what should be expected on any given day.
skiing 52:00 [2]
Orienteering 1:27:00 [4]
This became almost a form of natural intervals due to the numerous, and still rather impressively deep snow drifts. When I came to a drift that made no sense to run around, I did my best to walk across it. And sometimes when I didn't fall through the crust, I even succeeded. Might be a good time to start shedding some winter insulation. ; )
Very nice out. I award spring a shining silver star for a sterling comeback!
Very nice out. I award spring a shining silver star for a sterling comeback!
Sunday Apr 10, 2011 #
skiing 2:06:00 [3]
Up top, winter was in command, with new snow blowing with some enthusiasm across the highway, and nothing at all wet about it. Winter snow, not spring.
Saturday Apr 9, 2011 #
biking 1:16:00 [3]
I suppose I was lucky to get a ride in at all, because the weather was looking indeterminate even from the outset. The last 15 minutes or so became a little more determinate as it started sprinkling. The first rain of the year.
After I got home, it began to rain harder, plus some low thunder mixed in. And one thing led to another. At 7280' in April, snow is much more likely than rain, and, almost inevitably, the rain gave way to snow.
After I got home, it began to rain harder, plus some low thunder mixed in. And one thing led to another. At 7280' in April, snow is much more likely than rain, and, almost inevitably, the rain gave way to snow.
run 1:00:00 [3]
Based on the deteriorating weather outlook after biking, I was pretty much thinking outdoor activities for the day were done, as the thought of heading up the hill to ski in sticky, wet snow was utterly unmeritorious. Nor did the idea of doing some O' up on the tundra in the gray gloom--however much that hearkened back to the glory days of being Joe (College) Cadet--offer much in the way of appeal. But about an hour before theoretical sunset, it looked like the storm was diminishing, so out the door I went. I had a fine little run with a little bit of snow still falling and the sun even came out just in time to make sunset not theoretical but actual. The atmospherics were good enough that seeing the windmills off in the distant west wasn't too hard.
Friday Apr 8, 2011 #
run 42:00 [2]
biking 37:00 [3]
Noticed an auction sign in a window that made it clear that another one has bitten the dust--Godfathers has gone down.
skiing 56:00 [2]
Uniformly slushy, so not bad.
Orienteering 50:00 [3]
No animal encounters of any type, not even with crow.
Thursday Apr 7, 2011 #
biking 47:00 [3]
Around noon the weather pulled a total switcheroo, with the sun coming out and things turning mild almost at once. I hopped on my bike when I could, and enjoyed the sun, enjoyed the wind, enjoyed the view down by the river, and enjoyed the sights afforded by riding back through UW.
skiing 1:15:00 [3]
Met Ted for a tour of some Happy Jack slush.
run 39:00 [2]
Dirt.
Wednesday Apr 6, 2011 #
skiing 1:36:00 [2]
A bit of sticky snow fell during the morning, and while it quickly melted in town and I forgot about it, I was reminded of it with the first skate of the skis. At least it was consistently slow, and not slick-as-ice in some sections and slow-as-honey in others. Ran into two of my favorite Laramie skiers and said hello.
Orienteering 1:26:00 [4]
Out at the remarkable Remarkable Flats for a first stab at some harder O' running since the 29th, and I mean the 29th of September, and not March.
Tuesday Apr 5, 2011 #
biking 25:00 [3]
In some mystery spot on the globe today it was windy. But no need to be mystified any longer: it was here!
skiing 1:07:00 [2]
Quite slushy.
Monday Apr 4, 2011 #
Note
Full sunshine and 8F at 8:30 in the morning--refreshing!
skiing 2:04:00 [3]
Totally winter up top. The wind was roaring like a banshee, and the parking lot was so thick in ice that I couldn't stop myself from looking down to see if there could be any arctic char swimming underneath. Mercy!
The skiing was quite good, and really good if you consider it was April 4.
One tree had blown down across a trail.
The skiing was quite good, and really good if you consider it was April 4.
One tree had blown down across a trail.
Sunday Apr 3, 2011 #
skiing 1:38:00 [2]
Following a too brief fling with summer yesterday, winter roared back in and demanded: "Everybody wants some, I want some, too!" Let the good times roll.
Temps sank like a stone, about 50 degrees cooler over in Cheyenne than the day before, and it had to be something similar on this side of the Laramie Range.
Lots of new snow up top. Presto-chango!
Temps sank like a stone, about 50 degrees cooler over in Cheyenne than the day before, and it had to be something similar on this side of the Laramie Range.
Lots of new snow up top. Presto-chango!
Saturday Apr 2, 2011 #
run 33:00 [2]
So nice out you could bottle it and settle it. Whole lotta love! Wait--that's supposed so be whole lotta snow, as in a whole lotta snow is going to melt and start running down to the sea.
biking 1:15:00 [3]
68F! Mercy! No wonder I was sweating like a bulldawg on clamshells in July! It was like being in a dry sauna with the knob turned up to 11.
skiing 1:18:00 [2]
Soft, slushy trail conditions. But no rocks yet!
Orienteering 44:00 [3]
Some of the snowdrifts out in the terrain are beyond what is comprehensible. Several are the size of smallish galaxies, which is still pretty big. One of the drifts alone I measured contained enough water in the form of snow to quench the water demands of George for 3.42 years. Quite impressive.
Friday Apr 1, 2011 #
skiing 1:10:00 [2]
run 52:00 [2]