Weekend update
Thu Nov 13, 09:23 AM
After a busy and slightly stressful week in the office, I needed a break. Luckily, the reunion of the Giro Discovery was in Missoula this weekend and there was a large group ride planned for Saturday. I cruised down on Friday night with Halpin and Phil to stir up some trouble. The group ride on Saturday consisted of ten riders, all solid and ready for a big one. Doug led the crew to the Rattlesnake for a variation on a classic. We started with the Snow Bowl Overlook Trail, which is always a bear. We then rallied the great decent to the base of the Wallman’s climb. We rode up the backside of Wallman’s and once at the top, readied for another downhill. New for us, this decent is an undiscovered gem of the Rattlesnake. All ten of us finished the ride tired, but with grins that shone through the mud caked on our bikes and bodies.
After a hot shower, and dinner, we went to Missoula Bicycle Works for a few beers and to prepare for the Giro Discovery movie. The movie documents the 2000-mile bike ride/endurance study that most of the crew rode last summer.
Sunday I came back to Whitefish and spent the afternoon hiking the Big Mountain with Addy. I carried my skis, as the dusting of snow visible from town was too tempting to miss out on. After catching some grief from other hikers on the mountain, we made to the Summit House and found several inches of slop. Preseason conditions have never really bothered me and Sunday was no exception. I clicked into my skis and slid on a mixture of snow, mud, and rocks. I let Addy put my skis on to make a few turns. She made several graceful turns on the top of Toni Matt before falling, and sliding through the mud!
Ski season is coming up quick and I am getting ready for the season. Lunges and wall sits are starting to make it into the workout plan and my bank account shudders as I look at all the cool new ski gear this season. The Warren Miller ski movie is coming to town this weekend and is always a great show. As they say, “It’s not ski season until Warren Miller comes to town.” I hope that the weather starts to get colder as we are getting the precipitation that we need.
Addy wipes out on Toni Matt-She claims that she hit a “huge” rock.
Addy on the Big Mountain
Brendan and Phil dressed up as a camel for Halloween. Addy and I we the Arabs!
