Pole, Pedal, Paddle

Last weekend, Ann and I braved the not so spring like conditions to take part in the 33rd annual Pole, Pedal, Paddle. For the uninitiated, this race takes place on the last Saturday of the ski season at the Teton Village Resort. It starts with a downhill ski, followed by a nordic ski, bike, and ends with a paddle in the Snake River. Ann and I entered in the couples racing division. I did the downhill ski, Ann cruised through the skate ski, I biked, and we both paddled the Gentry family canoe down the river. Last year at this time there wasn't enough snow to complete the nordic portion but this year was quite the opposite. Not only was there plenty of snow on the ground but more fell throughout the day.

I managed not to wipe out on the downhill ski portion of the race but wasn't much of a match for the skiing crowd in Jackson and we finished the first leg in 71st out of 132 teams but only 90 seconds behind the leaders. The bib was passed and Ann quickly made up time with the second fastest female skate skiing leg; we were in 30th when she gave me the bib for the biking leg. Despite the layer of snow on some of the road, I was happy to be riding outside rather than on a trainer and rode with the 9th fastest bike time which landed us in 15th place with 3 of 4 disciplines complete. Unfortunately, our aluminum canoe was no match for the racing kayaks and we were trounced in the paddle leg but were happy with our 49th place overall and 2nd in our division (racing couples).

Good work Ann, we make a good team.

Goodbye to the Wachobs

Last weekend the Teton Science Schools community undertook the difficult task of saying goodbye to Doug and Becky Wachob. Doug (in the cowboy hat) was a mentor and friend to everyone he met and recommended me for my current job.

We said goodbye in typical Wachob fashion by rounding up a gang of motley cross country skiers and headed into granite hot springs. We skied in 10 miles under blue sky then enjoyed a wonderful meal provided by Brenda, Zia, David, and Rhonda. As we wrapped up lunch, the sky decided to make things interesting and it started to dump gobs of giant snow flakes. There is no better way to sit out a snowstorm than a soak in a giant pool of hot water so we dove right in. Of course there wasn't going to be any "waiting out" going on as it ended up snowing the rest of the day but the ski out (excluding the last mile when the wind picked up) was as beautiful as the ski in. Thanks Doug and Becky for sharing your last day in Jackson with us. You will be missed.

Yellowstone Rendezvous

Last weekend I went to West Yellowstone to ski in the Yellowstone Rendezvous and to see some friends and stay in a forest service cabin. The 50 K race was a true challenge but a lot of fun; it was great to have John and Embere there cheering for me.

1. Skiing into the cabin

2. After the first 25K

3. Exhausted after finishing

Moose tracks on my front porch

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Moosechase 2008

I competed in the Moosechase nordic race this Saturday morning. I made a mess of the start by losing my gloves and as a result didn't even having my skis on when the starting horn went off. Therefore, my time was atrocious but I still had fun. I was spoiled by the weather at the races last year. Today, the wind and blowing snow were brutal and there were a few spots on the south side of the course that were completely drifted over.

New office partner

Tounge River Middle School from Sheridan, Wyoming is visiting us this week and the bus driver is a falconer. He brought his bird "Pinky" with him and I was lucky enough to have a little spare floor space so he is my new office partner for the week. He is half Peregrine Falcon and half Gyrfalcon which is not a combination likely to be seen in the wild; he is from a breeder. He doesn't talk much but isn't too obnoxious either. All in all, I have to say he is a pretty good office partner. I'll miss him when he goes.

Dale

more pics from our northwest trip (see below for first set)

1. Oregon lighthouse (in background)

2. tide pools

3. camping in Newport, OR

4. windy Cannon Beach

5. Space Needle

Pictures from our northwest trip in October

Ann and I roadtripped through the northwest in October to see family, friends, and the sights. While in Portland we watched Marc East run the Portland Marathon and went to the body worlds exhibit at OMSI with Marc, Amy, and Emily. Thanks to everyone for treating us so well. From Portland we drove south for a day in Eugene then headed for the coast. We managed to camp one night without it raining on us at all. Cannon Beach was beautiful as usual but windy and rainy. We wound our way up the coast and ended up in Seattle where we stayed with Jennifer Koop (Ihle) for two nights. Thanks to Jennifer for the hospitatlity. Lastly, we met up with one of Ann's high school friends who is working on her masters at the University of Montana in Missoula. What a great trip!

1. At the Columbia Gorge Hotel

2. Dale and Marc

3. Marc Gunning for Gunnar

4. Marc, Shirley, and Aidan

5. Lexi and Aidan

Wolf on top of Coyote Rock

I skied up above campus to Coyote Rock at lunch today. There were wolf tracks everywhere and I attempted to frame these tracks in context of the tetons.

I wish you all could have been there with me.

first clear day

It stopped snowing. I don't know how long it will last but we had our first bluebird day since the new year. I took advantage by snapping a few shots of the front of my humble cabin bivouac, and the tetons. This valley is definately at its best in the winter.

As many of you know, I am signed up to do a half ironman length triathalon this summer (June 1). Because of that, my daily schedule now includes some sort of a work out six days a week. I have a trainer to ride my bike indoors but the runs still happen outside, even when it is 2 deg F. Also, I'm trying the wiskers look while Ann is away, what do you think? What will she?

baking bread

I've taken up a new hobby to keep myself entertained and well fed over the winter. Thanks to Thom Corcoran for the recipe. This was my second try, and it came out quite a bit better than the first. Practice makes perfect.

In other news, Ann is having a wonderful time on her two wheeled trip across America. Be sure to check out her blog for greater details. I miss her terribly and look forward to having her back in my life come March.

winter project

Thanks to the bike stand Ann and her parents gave me for Christmas, I went to work on my bike this week. It needed a winter tune up so I went to Fitzys and got brake and shifter cables and housings and bar tape. It was a two night project but it came out nicely. Notice the new red bar tape (was white before) and the white brake cable housings. They both add a nice new touch.

snow in the tetons

This is what I woke up to last Saturday. A foot of snow on my porch and a blanket of the white stuff throughout the valley. Finally, winter comes to Jackson Hole.