Chilly Down South

Just got back from St. George, UT. Met up with Jody, from MI, and Scott, from OH (who moved there last June), for a little mountain biking and sight seeing. Normally, it's around 60 there this time of year, alas, it was high 30's to mid 40's for us! Ah, well, we made the best of it! St. George is a nice little town tucked in among beautiful red rock cliffs. It's really pretty around there. The afternoon I arrived, we took a little hike in the Snow Canyon area, to stretch our legs. Tuesday and Thursday we rode, Bearclaw Poppy/Stucky Springs, and Gooseberry Mesa, respectively. It was really fun, especially the whoop-de-dos on Bearclaw! Wheeeeeeeeee!! I definately want to get down there and do it again, and more! I'll have a bit more info and a link to more pics on the website soon (in the Quick Adventures link).

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Santa is real.. and he likes CARBON!!!! After waking up and getting in the coffee we settled down to open the gifts and what do you know, but up shows a P2Cwith DuraAce 10!!!

Now I have no excuses not to train and go real fast!!!

After lots of waffles and staring at the bike, we finally made it out of the house for the long arduous, 8 mile drive to Alta, were the 3 of us skied for the day. Taught Kathy most of the day. Got lots of time in the sun and warmth (40 today). Another 12K vertical, then home for the Ham roasting. All and all it was a great holiday weekend. Lots of family skiing, great presents and good friends!! Karen and Kathy are off to the south for a few days, and I get to stay and work. I actually need the break from the last 4 days of skiing, I hope everyone had a great Merry Christmas and we hope to see you all soon!!!

(there are additional stories and pics on the website)

rk

Christmas Eve!

Yep, it's Christmas Eve, wow, I cant believe how time flies by! Cant wait for tomorrow for Rich to receive his gift!! :-) Today was a nice relaxing day. The thing about skiing 17,500 vertical feet, hitting stuff you've never tried before, and falling a bunch, is that the next day you feel like you've been hit by a truck!! heehee. Well, we decided not to downhill and do some skate skiing instead. Kathy, Rich and I hit Mountain Dell for an hour of skating and it was great - beautiful day! Then, lots of errands, cleaning and stuff like that, before dinner with friends Lou and Laurie and their cutie pie son, Joseph. A little bit of "It's a Wonderful Life" and the evening rounds itself out nicely. More tomorrow.....

17,500...

...vertical feet of skiing today. And what a fun day! Perfect. Mid 30s, sunshiny, no lift lines, run after run, after run. Rich took me on lots of new stuff today, and I loved it! I had to do steep and deep, and steep and bumpy today; what I discovered is I need a lot more practice, but I'm really having a blast learning! That first turn as you're looking (seemingly) straight down a bumpy black diamond slope is daunting, for sure. Today was only my second day this year, I will master this by the end of the season (hopefully sooner)! One thing that was awesome today was when we were on the lift, there was a, probably, 6 year old girl heading down a black diamond bumpy slope, when we hear her holler, "Powder!" as she dove in with a big, 'ol grin on her face! Pretty dang cool. Hot tub and wine round out a perfect ski day.

A Great Day!

Yesterday and today, we took a group of 17 boys from school snowshoeing. What a blast! The kids were a ton of fun and did a great job snowshoeing for the first time. Amy, our Adventure Coordinator, and I did a week long intensive on winter recreation, safety and snowshoeing. REI loaned us snowshoes for everyone and off we went! Wednesday, we took the kids up Mill Creek Canyon. We hiked up the road where the gate is closed off, and went off on some side trails for a ways. The kids got used to walking in the shoes and got to test out their layering techniques. I'm proud to say there was no frost bike incured! Today, we went up to the Uinta Mountains. We hiked in to a really great spot where there is a campground. We took the kids back through 2 feet of fluffy powder, great to give them a feel for real snowshoeing, in deep snow, and what it's like to cut trail. When we got to the campground the kids played, built snow shelters, practiced with beacons, and had a great time. Thanks to Kathy we were able to bake pizza, yes, pizza, on the camp stoves and it was awesome! Did I mention, I love this job??

Michigan Morning, Utah Afternoon

What an incredible day! It has snowed nonstop since the middle of last night and we now have about 8 inches at our house. What else to do but ski! This morning I met Kathy, after she called to say she had a "Michigan Moment". She went hiking around Wheeler Farm and it totally reminded her of Michigan. She called to suggest a little cross country skiing - of course! Wheeler Farm is a really great place with lots of wooded acres and a farm with animals, there are geese and ducks everywhere. It's really nice, totally reminded me of Hudson Mills, back home.

In the afternoon I decided to get up the mountain to ski! My first day out and it was a blissful powder day! Man, the snow was amazing - deep and fluffy! SO much fun. I only skiied for a couple of hours but I'm so glad I did. I only wish I had tomorrow off of work so that I can go back into the deep snow in the sunlight (snowing the whole time I was up there!) Yep, a Michigan morning and a Utah afternoon. Nice.

What a Job!

Have I told you that I love my new job? How's this sound: Amy and I checked out at 1:00 today to go on a snowshoe hike in Mill Creek. Yep, paid, on the clock recreation! heehee. Why? you might ask. Well, next week the entire school will be doing what we call Intensives. These are indepth studies into just about anything. Amy and I are doing a winter recreation/snowshoeing intesive. We had to check this place out as a possible place to snowshoe with the kids. Cool, huh? I'll keep ya posted on how it goes! (PS, that is not Amy, it's Jody, but it is the only picture I had of the trail we hiked. It was snowy today, but not quite that much!)

A great job, indeed!

Ski day 2

Another great day on the slopes!! Snowed all day today. Not too cold, only some beard freeezing, from the wind occassionally. Skied with my friend Stu today. Lots of varied terrain for the high speed groomers, steeps and some trees. Snowbird in the morning then over the interconnect to Alta in the afternoon. Actually, quit early as my legs were just screeming by 2:30!! Overall a VERY good day. More snow last night, 4 inches here on the benches, more in the resorts (http://www.alta.com). Plans for more on tuesday, then a big storm this weekend. Need to do some weight work to get the legs going more so I can do the all day thing again!!

r

Ski day!!

Well, it has been a few weeks, but lots have happened. The annual Wine and Dessert party went well (till 1am). We didn't even have much for leftovers, thankfully!! Lots of good new wines tried, and some good stand-by desserts. Today was a ski day, just like the good old days of vermont and New England, with hard pack and fast conditions. Lots of groomers today. Not much snow, but coming tonight and the next week!!! Should be several feet of snow between now and christmas. Trying to get all the shopping done early, so we can ski. That's all for now. Keep thinkin' SNOW!!!!!

Another crappy Utah day!!

Nov. 24.

Well we had to burn off some turkey today so decided to go for a snowshoe. Avalance danger is pretty low right now for the most part, since there has been no new snow. We walked the Alta-Brighton trail to twin lakes pass today. Saw a number of skiers, and 3 tents fo high country campers (with WARM sleepign bags no Doubt!!). Great views from the top, especially of Mt Superior. Nice short hike of about 3-4 miles up, only 1800 feet elevation gain. Lunch at 10,000' overlooking Twin lakes! Makes you think the backcountry skiers are maybe NOT so crazy afterall (silence!!). Will have to keep this trail in mind for the summer to run. Enjoy the pics.

Think SNOW!!

rk

SKI SEASON BEGINS !!!!!

Well-

First day out for the year. Nice and snowy at the time. Kinda windy though. Only 30" base right now, but reminescent of the good old days back east with ?man-made and ice?. Glad I actually ran a file on the edges. At least that's done for the next couple years. Only a inch or so today I think, but supposed to get a big one on Monday. Hopefully, there will be a few more behind it. Looking to get in 40 days this year!! Might be tough, hopefully I'll have some visitors to help me get out alot. Probably get 1 more day this weekend....maybe 2 we'll see what Karen says......

Pray for Snow!!!!

rk

Here's the new travel mobile. Works out quite well in the travel and sleeping arrangements. Hopefully will get all the "bugs worked out" and get ready for some more trips in the spring and summer. Until then we will likely continue to see what we like in the organization of it. However, ski season is here and this may take a back seat!! Let it SNOW!!

New site

Welcome all to the new site. We don't seem to have the time to keep up the old one. I think this will work much better. Just got back from Moab today on the virgin voyage of the Vanagon!! Rode Gemini bridges and Klondike bluffs trails. Not singletrack, but will do. Some nice areas, both great days and lots of people for November in Moab. I think the vanagon will do all right. No landspeed records, but it is amazing at how relaxed you are driving, knowing that your car will only go 65mph TOPS!! and 50 up hills. The bed sure does beat the ground though!!

Stay tuned more to come!!