Today was the first weekend Crystal Mountain was open, the first time we have owned season passes in Washington (well first in 12 or so years for Keith), the first turns of our ski season, and the first day we can remember that opening conditions were as good as mid season...even for Colorado!  Washington got some early snow...Crystal opened on November 11th.  Contrary to Colorado, Washington resorts open and close depending on snow, there are no planned days of the season.  So on Monday the news stations let the cat out of the bag....Crystal will open on Wednesday.  After both having worked as ski patrollers (one of the best job we have had) we remember those first few weekends in November spent catching up with friends we hadn't seen in a few months during the patroller refreshers including OEC. CPR, lift evac, resort opening day, and the patroller orientation.  All of these events are held at the ski area with most of us dozzing off looking outside at the snow wishing the opening day would come sooner.  From the sounds of the Crystal patrollers....they felt the same way.  But at there orientations and refreshers this year were informed that the mountain would open in a few days.  We can only imagine the excitement!  Yeah, November 11th......that is early for the Washington...at least in the last few years.

The day was great, we got some of the first tracks of the Powder bowl...our first run of the season.  If you are going to go in...why not head to the very top of the mountain.  We had great views all the way around.  The snow was that of mid season conditions...very solid although a little light in places.  At the end of the day, we realized that although it wasn't cold we had cold teeth....well if we had stopped smiling for at least 2 minutes we wouldn't have such cold teeth.  So remember a friendly biker has bugs in their teeth and a fun loving skier has ice on their teeth!  Tomorrows activities will be outside yet again...this time on mountain bikes under a bridge in the middle of Seattle.  Yep a full on mountain bike playground under a rather large bridge of I-5,including a small trials park, slope style park, bmx track, and a small mountain biking trail.

 

Enjoy the weekend!

k & l  

Last Sunday we had plans to hike an old trail Keith remembered from when he lived here in the past.  So on Sunday morning we woke up to a rainy day...one of our first rainy weekends of the "rainy season."  We remembered the Washington outdoor motto: "there is no such thing as bad weather...just improper clothing".  During the 35 minute drive to the trailhead, we notice (and both commented) on the low clouds, the rain beginning to come down in huge drops, and the snow line moving down to just above the roof of the druck.  Another 5 minutes...YUCK...WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE THINKING comes out of both of our mouths...but we continue to the trailhead, both aware that we are looking around and shivering already.  But both of us had cabin fever already and needed a day of fun.  We started our hike in the rain and after a few minutes realized it wasn't raining so much in the trees.  A little farther we find some snow, then more and then more.  Before we knew it...we are in 6 inches of nice soft snow...the first snowballs of the season were made.  After a few more minutes, we reach a beautiful lake.....very quite and undisturbed.  (The pictures make it look super cold.)  The logs on the lake were covered in the seasons first snow and the lake had started to slush over.  Only the "camp robbers" were around to enjoy the sites with us for the first 15 or so minutes.  As we decided to turn around we found more and more groups of crazy people out for a hike in the rain and snow!  Not one grumpy or sad face...nothing but happy smiles on both dog and owners!  Yeah...the first day in the snow.  On the way out we build our first snowman with arms, eyes, and even hair.  I think the others will enjoy...a snowman is always a good sight!  Another lesson learned and relearned....go anyway...the weather gets better and it feels GREAT to be outside. 

 

Enjoy the winter season!

k & l

 

I have learned a few thing over the past year about biking in Washington. 

     -You can ride both a road bike and mountain bike year around, sure it may be wet on the trails, but the trails are not (usually) burried under 10 feet of snow!

     -Don't bother finding a map when riding new trails, you will be lost within 10 minutes with or without a map!

     -On those rainy mid-winter days, find the 10 minute "sucker-hole" and go for a ride, it might rain on you or not, but you will go if you find that window of time.

     -No matter where you ride, people will always take a second look at a "roadie" in a t-shirt and baggie shorts!

     -Roots are slippery, but wet roots are just down right scary....just hold on and keep riding, you will probably make it over.

     -This goes for anywhere...mountain biking on leaves is one of my favorite activities but lesson learned today, riding a road bike on a trail covered with wet (and stinky) leaves is a very slippery ride.

     -No matter where you find me....on a hard climb, smooth downhill, nice trail, on the ground, covered in mud, bugs in my teeth, etc.  on a bike I will have a smile on my face!

 

Thanks for reading,

K & L :)