Keith and Lisl

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 :)

Part II started while Part I was still going!  Busy, Busy, Busy!  We were warmed up for another week and some of entertaining.  On day 2 we let the second couple get over the jet-lag after travelling over 27 hours while "part 1" left for the airport.  Upon the return we started our adventure with yummy fish and chips.  We had to show our next visitors some of the typical sites.  Part II adventures included Pike Place, Ferry to Bainbridge, NW Trek, Mt. Rainier...Sunrise, Paradise, Grove of the Patriachs, walks around the neighborhood, Puyallup Fair, Long Beach (which always includes skim boarding and kite flying), a visit with Keith's parents, Mt. Saint Helens, and packing/shopping for 4.5 weeks in a RV traveling across the US.  We are envious...I wish we could join them.  We were treated to numerous nights of typical Tirolian food!  Yummy...we were spoiled!  It has been one super busy month, every bit was fun.  Being a tourist in your own backyard is great. 

 

I hope that Lis's dad and Maria have a great trip across the US!  We tried to give them a great route, but we had to take some out....it would have taken about 8 weeks to see everything!  Definently not a direct route, but one more doable is what they settled on!  Have fun!  Happy Trails to them and all of you!

Lisl's parents have been in town for the last week (that part is Part 1....part 2 arrives in a few hours!).  We have spent the week seeing many of the sights of the Seattle area included many neighborhoods not normally seen by the general tourist...mostly due to being "lost".  The events have included the Glass Museum, Tacoma Farmers Market, The beack (and skimming of course), Pike Place, hiking on Mt. Rainier (one of the nicest days...71 degrees at the top), Museum of Flight, Puyallup Fair, "Combat Fishing" for salmon on the Puyallup River, the Locks and fish ladder in Ballard, and walking/touring the water front in Seattle.  What an eventful week.  I think her parents will need a vacation from the vacation.  PHEW!   Part 2 begins in a few hours!  Stay tuned!

More on mountain biking in Washington.  We have been riding a bit for the last year....weekly rides and of course with the two of us at least one "adventure" rides a weekends.  So far this year we have ridden every month, yes even in Jan. and Feb...not normal for our Colorado memories...and yes riding on dirt not snow!  We are still "adventure" riding because these areas are all new to us since our latest more in October.  Two weeks ago (during the NW heat wave=multiple days of 100+ dregree weather) we decided to go on a long epic ride, we started on a well used, lose gravel road and began climbing and climbing and climbing.  Eventually we decided that the 7 miles of climbing with an elevation gain of 3500 feet on a 103 degree weather was just too much...we turned around and rode the other end of our planned loop.  Holy cow!  Some of the sweetest, smoothest, and most fun trails we have been on in years...  The trail was buffed out perfectly.  I kept looking around waiting to see Wilderness Trails, Hikers Only sign.. we both commented that we felt like bikes weren't allowed on the trails.  It felt like we were way out in the Wilderness Areas of a National Forest.  It was one of the greatest rides.

 

Today we rode with one of Keith's co-workers near a town called Black Diamond for about 3.5 hours.  We were only "lost" for 1.5 hours!  We did find some of the most winding, rooted, and log obstacle trails around.  We stumbled along a "stunt park" on a plateau with 6' elevated bridges with drops at the end, gap jumps and ramps.  It was another great day on a bike!  :)

 

So I have come to the conclusion that the NW, at least the "greater Seattle" area, wants to preserve some of the small wooded areas for activities like hiking and biking so they build the most twisty trails to add as many miles in a small place as possible.  This has been proven on about 5 areas we ride.  You can be standing 5 feet on the side of someone and you are on another trail completely.  This makes for some trippy riding.  The trails are tight so you need to be paying attention to the width of your bars, ignore all the roots, and get used to the fact that there are no maps and/or trail signs.  It takes about 5 rides in one area to get comfortable with a loop you can ride over and over again.  It is really fun to explore all of these areas and options...very seldomly do we ride the same trail twice!  (this is most often because we take just one wrong turn) :)

 

The seasons also seem to change a trail completely.  In the winter the trails are bare- wet ground and no vegetation.  In the spring, the ferns start to grow and the trails are covered with ferns.  In the summer everything is blooming so you don't see much of the trail and in the late summer and fall, the shrubbery tries to ride with you...blackberry stickers stuck in your skin or on your clothes.  Our "go-to", familiar rides are still changing on a monthly basis due to the change in vegetation.  So gorgeous and so fun.

 

We hope you enjoyed reading this..............

take care,

 

  &

This past weekend we went to Missoula, Montana for Grandma Newtons 100th Birthday (really on the 14th).  Abouth 40+ family members were there from all over the US to help her celebrate.  Keith was re-introduced to a number of cousins! What a great time with everyone between a picnic in the park, church service, cake and punch, numerous lunches and dinners, and drinks.  We started the trip with a nice bike ride through Missoula to the Farmers Market...only getting "lost" a few times.  Then moved on to a picnic which included great sessions of skills...frisbee, lacross, and soccer were all on display!  A number of us included a hike up to the "M" before attending church.  We all decided that the "M" really stood for Marie (grandma) rather than for Missoula as it was built when she was born...1909! Crazy!  On our rainy and stormy ride home, the sun broke through for a few hours making it a great opportunity for us to play some more!  We stopped to visit a water park for some more adventures with family!  Lazy river, high dives, a game of beach volleyball, body surfing, and water slides are what we all needed to refreshen us for another week of work.  Great adventures, family, laughs, and smiles!  HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY GRANDMA NEWTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!