and on the 25th day ...

got out on the road bike for not-quite 60 miles/3 hours on saturday. it was a balmy 52 degrees when i left the house so knickers and an old polypro jersey were the kit of choice. rode a little ways up rist canyon (no climbing legs yet) and then out to the rawhide power plant and its oh so melodious emissions. back through wellington and back into town. it was so great to get out on the bike. spring is in the air.

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sunday was my 25th day of skiing for the '07/'08 season. its shaping up to be a good one. but we'll save that discussion for a retrospective video due sometime in late april. at any rate, me, cp, and kingsley headed down to rocky mountain national park. i've never skied there before as it is typically wind hammered with a challenging snowpack - at least until warmer spring temps settle things and the wind quits howling amongst the peaks. we skinned into emerald lake that is nestled in one of the most beautiful little cirques i've ever had the pleasure to visit. snow was challenging back in there - combination wind affect and sun crust. but it was bluebird. and dramatic. and beautiful. scoped out a couple lines that will be spring objectives -the dragon's tail couloir and its sister the dragons tooth.

we did 3 runs back in there and then headed over to an area aptly named 'the terrain park'. if i were a hucker, i would've been a huckin'. maybe some other time. snow was better in the shelter of the trees and there were some nice steep sections. all told it was a great day of exploration. we'll be getting back there sometime soon.

a frozen dream lake with emerald lake and hallet peak (left) in the background.

dragons tail couloir in the shadow (right of center in this image) this is a now a spring objective.

a little snacky-snack at the top of the up-track.

cp hittin' it on the at set up.

kingsley enjoying the downhill part of the splitboard.

a snow snake grabbed my ankle just as this image was shot. i narrowly escaped with my life.

thats a little better. staying upright at least.