Training Log Archive: Swampfox

First time my arm has felt nearly back to total strength and utility since the smash-up at Possum Trot. At any rate, I was able to ski completely normally at last. Probably still a good idea to not fall again anytime soon though!

Excellent sunshine, and even though it was a bit windy, the temps were moderate to the point that all was necessary was a light jacket. Quite a fine day to be out on the trails.

Just after sunset, when things start getting a little chillier again.

Luckily, there was plenty of fresh air, thanks to the kind of wind you only rarely see anywhere else.

My skis were very slippery. I wonder if it is possible some sea squid juice got on them somehow? Or maybe it was related to the fact that I gave in and waxed them. But I'm not going to do that again this year, and that's a promise!

About 2" of fresh, powderlight fluff.

A little chilly, and nice skiing on more new snow. 0F at home when I returned.

Very nice ski at high noon. Great snow, great sun! I was the only desperado, though there were a few other skiers out.

Storm clouds moving in? Many fox tracks, no foxes. But that's ok. I still got my guitar.

At noon, it looked great outside, but--dadgummit--the highway east was closed and entire swaths of truckers were festooning the east end of Grand Avenue, not to mention the Wal-Mart parking lot. Must be wind, icing, and multiple wrecks up top, otherwise the highway should be open! If you step outside, you can hear the mournful cries of a thousand XC skiers, who just want to go skiing.

Got lucky and managed to squeak through a narrow window of opportunity as eastbound I-80 was closed nearly all day, opened briefly in the mid-afternoon, and then shut down again. That was enough for me, but not for most others, as I only saw two other skiers the whole time I was out. It was windy, but not cold, and the skiing in the trees was super terrific!

I suspect the towing and salvage companies made out like bandits today, with lots of wrecks due to wind icing on the most vulnerable sections of the interstate between Laramie and Cheyenne; realistically almost the entire stretch is vulnerable, but who would trade it for Houston?

Perfect--not too much, not too little.

Snow fell overnight and into the mid-afternoon; maybe 8-10" new powder in total? Conditions were quite good, and all the trees were decked out in white. The trails were all but empty when I arrived, but were pretty busy by the time I left at dusk.

The new snow has been skied in, the trails groomed several times, so now I think we are fairly well prepared for a new helping of snow!

Very close to dead calm again while I was out skiing, and that plus some sun made it so fine.

Out on the north prairie, with a light wind from the north that was chillin'.