Sunset at the ranch.
Not bad for an iphone!

The August Ski

DV8 was gone for a month, so when he returned from his crazy NOLS Waddington glacier traverse, we decided to grab a (comparatively mild) August ski at Skyscraper glacier (as if he hadn't seen enough snow in the last month).

For me, I didn't bushwhack Alder for 4 days in a row and then walk with an 80lb pack on my back over crevasse-filled glaciers for 25 days, but I have been working my arse off on the ranch so today was a nice reprieve. In fact, I took it "easy" yesterday - only putting in 8 hours of ranch labor instead of 10, and I even had a nice nap on the couch while the hour long thunderstorm hit. (So today I felt more or less well rested...)

I like this picture of the start of Skyscraper. Look how the Continental Divide just ENDS...it's flat, and then just cliffs-out. All the windblown snow just collects on the east side. How long has that snow next to the rock been there? When did it fall? Is there a windblown Woolly Mammoth under there somewhere?

DV8 headed down some rough snow. It was soft-ish, but had some pretty deep runnels which made turning and getting an edge in difficult, especially on our lightweight setups. The top was a tough few turns on the 45deg plus slope with the death runnels, but it evened out some down lower and one might say some summer corn was skied!

DV8 and Bob (Lake).

Even in the winter, this run is still only 500ft vertical, so why not do it in August? This was my first August ski, ever. Why you ask do we ski in August? Well, it's not for the snow conditions, that's for sure. But the turns alone are not why we head out there even in winter. It's about getting out there and seeing new beautiful places, hearing nothing but your breath (and the pika, birds, and marmots of course), and just being in the moment - as worn-out as that statement sounds. The turns are secondary in the end.

It pictures like these that inspire the long hikes with skis and boots on the back. The wildflowers up high are in full swing while the leaves of others are going to red for fall. There's an aspen on our property that's already going yellow. Fall will be here very shortly.

No snap, crackle, or pop in the legs this year. Like many of the
racing years, this feeling takes me back. Not much to do but accept
it and work towards next year for those big events. With the ranch
work, there's no use in trying to race cross this fall unless I want
to dig the hole deeper for my scrawny body bag. But we shall see...
It's only almost September.

Pics of the week

the new mini-pannier on the Hunter

A sloppy ride into work with Timmy, exit stage right onto trail please!

...and the rainbow on the ride home from work...just awesome!

Snow above treeline this weekend with lots of rain below. 33at the
house, cold horses talking back to get fed ASAP!

Feeling like I race Montezuma's Revenge each weekend with all the
property work. Need a break soon.

A lil winter in summer. Met Timmy for the rainy ride in today. It was 45deg at the house and sprinkling. Really lush and unlike CO, we got soaked to the bone but what a beautiful commute to work! The coldest I've ever been in August! Fall is approaching...

Test Monkey