Training Log Archive: Swampfox

Felt a bit beat from running, but I wanted to get out for at least a little skiing today, as tomorrow is looking iffy and Tuesday is going to be "no way" for sure.

Mix of dirt roads and terrain and snow, out checking the condition of various national forest roads, to see how drivable or not they were. Lots of snow out there, so without some pretty hefty 4 wheel drive, then forget it.

Droves of shooters were out, too, and there was a lot of gunfire in the air until about sunset. On the presumption ammo isn't free, some of those guys must go through a lot of $$$.

Today was almost too nice, the kind of day that lulls you into thinking summer must just be a shot away. Luckily, however, some cooler weather is headed this way soon and it will be back to winter and jackets and stuff like that.

Sometimes when I feel yazzuhh and kinda great, I even go for a quick morning run. Just to really feel how great it feels.

Another afternoon of excellent trail conditions!

On the snowy trails of the LR.

I don't think we were necessarily *supposed* to get snow today, but we did anyway. A thin, low hanging cloud over the range fed snow to Happy Jack all day long.

C • Bartering 5

Sunny, with an inch of new fluff powder that was just finishing falling as I was starting. Very pleasant.

If I am going to go skiing today, it looks like the time to beat is 2:31:57. It looks possible.

C • 2:31:57 2

Terrific conditions on the trails. The weather was one of my favorite types--snow squalls roaring across the valley and range all day long, with sunshine in between. At times it was a total whiteout. Very invigorating!

Terrific conditions!

Crisp and sunny, new snow everywhere!

To make up for yesterday's lapses, today the winds revved back up to full on Laramie Range super strength, an invisible Mean Joe Green of air blasts.

The parking lot was of course a total disaster. Cars were precariously maneuvering around the snow drifts, with movement made all but impossible by the ice sheet at the east end. About 1/3 of all skiers attempting to cross the parking lot were falling down at least once. One skier that fell on the ice got surrounded by several sheepless border collies that kept on barking at him and trying to nudge him along into getting back with the "herd" (of other skiers).

Another skier leaned skis against a car--which proved to be a mistake when one particularly big wind gust came along, lifted up the skis, and carried them off into the void of nightfall. Oh, well! Live and learn! If they're lucky, they might be able to locate their skis tomorrow, once the sun comes up.

Aside from the wind, trail conditions were superb!

C • Mistake 1

About 3" of new snow was waiting when I arrived up top at about the same time a dozer with snow chewer deployed to clear the drifts out of the parking lot. Trails didn't look groomed, though it could be they were groomed in the morning before the bulk of the snow arrived. My guess, however, from the look and feel of things was that the interstate was closed for part of the day and the groomers didn't make it up. It didn't matter--it was great skiing in the new stuff, and a big moon was coming up as I was finishing. Beautiful afternoon and early evening, and dead calm to boot!

Sunset at 5 PM today!

Choosing my favorite quote of the day was so easy: "Ah Via Musicom"!

Ran snow shoe trails and then did post-running recovery with Spanish Castle Pizza.

Saw one of these while I was out skiing today:

http://www.asij.ac.jp/elementary/projects/3-s/webg...

I've never seen an ermine in winter white before.

What made it extra neat though was it was carrying a mouse in its mouth. I immediately recognized it as a Zapus hudsonius preblei, better known perhaps as the Preble's Meadow Jumping mouse. So fine! So tasty!

C • Awesome ermine 2

Fired up the vitamin D factories.

Skied with Ted; as usual, his dog set a brutal pace. It's really not fair--dogs are low slung and have four paws so they can cut the corners extra fast, plus they never miss the wax.

Hit the snowshoe trails after skiing.

Under the moon in all the new wind blown snow. Time for the snow shoers to get busy again! Some enormous snow dunes have formed in the usual places.

How does it feel!

Wind was up, snow was fast, temps were pleasant. One of those days when you were leaving you were thinking: "Wow, should have tried to get out here earlier!", rather than: "Man, that was bruuuutal."

Noticed a few skiers after dark that were playing Tag or some similar type game...

The sun was out and the wind was not--a most welcome development, considering the dire temperature of -9F. Running on a morning like this is a delicacy.

3F--woo-hoo! Must be time to go skiing!

Clear, sunny, crisp, fresh, groomed.

Sunset run out in the Flats and then back through the UW playing fields. Given that it was about -2F at sunset, clear skies, and no wind, it's likely to get pretty cold tonight!

Not totally cold, but not balmy either. Snowed all day, so the trails were white as snow, with not a pine beetle pine needle in sight.

Light snow was falling up top while I was running. Could make for some nice skiing tomorrow!

Ran into Randy--the head groomer--as I was coming off the trails, and I congratulated him on doing such a nice job of getting snow to fall on the trails, the the grooming in general. It's been great skiing all season long so far!

Stuck out from home right after sunset, but with plenty of light from the thin crescent moon. In only a few minutes I was running by a nice looking truck off the side of the road, seemingly bottomed out on a snowdrift with no good reason for being there with the road being perfectly fine, strongly suggesting...

And there was additional information aiding the identification: the lights were on, the engine was running, the driver's side window was down, and, to top it off, there was nobody there. Definitely a sub-moron vehicle, despite the fact the truck looked otherwise to be in good shape.

I continued running and next passed a County sign indicating a development project was under review. From seeing stuff in the news I could guess this was probably the site picked out for a proposed data center. I don't know if data centers are the same thing as server farms, but I'm guessing not. At any rate, I kept on running, running, running, and eventually I ran my way all the way back home.

The thin crescent moon was still well visible as I finished, and by then it had moved into position over the airport.

Great conditions, and nice amounts of wind. In fact, it was more a wind screams Mary day than a wind cries Mary day, so it was extra good to get out while the sun was still pretty high in the sky--and not bad to have the sun out in the first place.

It was a good bit colder than I had remembered it being forecast, and skis were slow, especially in the wonderful winddrift areas!

Running proved to be better than the skiing, especially on the most heavily used snow shoe trails. Thanks to all those snow shoers out there! Winds were more breezy than windy this afternoon.

Temps enough warmer than yesterday for this to be everrrrrr so close to pleasant, despite the strong, steady winds that could be felt even deep in the forest. Lots of pine beetle debris on the trails, and even a good number of skiers, too.

Had planned to run up top after skiing, but I was chilled when I finished skiing and the idea of setting back out into the wind was unappealing, that late in the day. So, instead I went home and forced myself out the door. Once I got started, no problemo, and it was nice to get out for the first run of the year, even if it was short.

Quite chilly--right around OF--with big winds making it downright bitter. The interstate warning signs had light trailer advisories and warned of 45+ mph gusts. The snow on my skis had that much desired sandpaper feel, with de minimus glide. It's supposed to warm up some tomorrow, which will be appreciated!