Jan 30, classic

It was kind of mean, actually.  A foot of fresh pow fell on Snoqualmie Pass on Monday, but on Tuesday and Wednesday it rained and rained and rained, with standing water on the road and avalanche control closures.  Maybe that's why the participation was way down this week, because the precipitation was way up, but the skiing turned out to be delicious: with temps in the upper 30s and a heavy mist that sparkled in our Mystical Cones of Headlamp Happiness, the snow was sleek and fast and wet, like a sea otter.  Zeroes worked, fishscales worked, and red klister sort of worked.  It was a gorgeous soft night of skiing!

And speaking of Headlamp Happiness, I got to test-drive one of the new Petzl headlamps that Peter Boveng is bringing up for demo-ing.  The verdict?  I want one.  And I want it now.  They are amazing.  There is a substantial, long-lasting lithium battery, rechargeable on your computer, that sits on the back of your head, but the strapping system is so well-designed and comfortable that you don't even know it's there.  The on-off button is a nicely engineered toggle that's easy to maneuver with your gloves on (and you can lock it so it doesn't accidentally turn on in your pack), and the beam of light is as wide and bright as you could ever want.  But the cool thing about this particular model, which is called the Nao (say "now"), is how it figures out how dark it is in front of you and adjusts the brightness magically by itself.  At first I thought it was a gimmick, but it is actually awesome: when you get to a long hill, or a dark corner, or better yet, a dark corner at the bottom of a long hill, you can tilt your head back an inch and all of a sudden it's like the floodlights came on and the entire forest is lit up!  Who thought of this?  And how did we manage without it before they thought of it?  (And what do the owls think about it?)  Peter is bringing several of these lamps up to the cabin every Wednesday night, so find him and grab one and give it a test.  We may be able to give away some discount certificates, or maybe even some lamps, at the end-of-season party.  Did I already mention how much I want one for my very own?

Next week: skating.  Good luck to everyone going to the Konig Ludwig Lauf and the Chicks on Sticks!

Two Laps
Join Fewster	42	16.34
Peter Boveng	54	16.38
Richard Clung	47	16.50
Jonathan Loeffler	27	17.43	(all double pole)
Don Brooks	62	20.02
John Outterson	42	20.35
Jim Slyfield	55	20.40
Dale Bohm	54	19.51
Debbie Kolp	59	29.04
One Lap
Jay Wyatt	26	8.25
Jordan Guzale	18	8.49
Fin Terlin	16	10.00
Oliver Isik	17	10.12
Benjamin Cape	15	12.02
Just Skiin'
Brad Bauer
Kent Murdoch
Douglas Holtan
Brian Dumais
Kirsten Wysen
GlennWysen
Ryan Jones-Casey
Kelsey Jones-Casey
Sean Brown
4 Seattle Academy students
4 Bush School students

Jan 23, Skate

Snowy snowy night ... snowy slippery drive up to the pass, snowy-but-plowed parking lot, snowy upper-20s temperatures, thick heavy snow on the trail, thick fluffy snow falling in our Mystical Cones of Headlamp Happiness. What a gorgeous night to be out skiing in the dark! It was a skating night, but the classic skiing was also glorious, especially after the track was skied in a little bit, and especially for someone who got to test-drive a pair of Jon Fewster's beautifully light and responsive Madshus Zeroes--perfect grip in the tracks, smooth-as-butter tracking down the hills and around the corners--and fell in love with them. The skiing was so wonderful, we hated to stop and go inside the cabin until we realized we were hungry and tomorrow was a work day. If you're not coming up here and skiing with us, why not?

Next week: classic. Good luck to everyone heading to the Methow Pursuit or the Marcialonga!

Two Laps
Kent Murdoch	51	14.28
Doug Reid	44	15.30
Jon Fewster	42	15.55
Chris Fast	46	16.17
John Outterson	42	16.20
Matt Sheeks	29	17.08
Jim Slyfield	55	19.06
Dale Bohm	54	19.51
Max Limb	67	20.02
James West	44	21.01
Ian Whyte	50	21.10
Jeff Clark	59	23.30
Joy Cordell	57	24.18
Debbie Kolp	59	32.44	(classic)
One Lap
Camille Moore	14	11.00
Just Skiin'
Jonathan Loeffler
John O'Brien
Brian Palm
Bonnie Loshbaugh
Alex Ingerman
17 Bush School kids

Jan 16, Classic

I was trapped at work while the rest of you skied, but Peter sent me this succinct, yet somehow poetic, report of conditions:

Skiing was good. Rather fast, slightly icy tracks. Pretty, slender moon.

The Petzl NAO (pronounced like "now") lamps are turning out to be quite the hit. They're lightweight, with bright and even lighting that adjusts instantly and as needed whenever you shift your gaze; for example, from the tracks just ahead to a point off in the distance. Testers have been saying things like, "Best headlamp I've ever used!"

Good luck to everyone doing the klister-heaven that will be the Gunnar Hagen this weekend -- don't forget to pre-register!  Next week, skating.

Two Laps
Brad Bauer	39	13.58
Jon Fewster	42	15.07
John Outterson	42	17.35	(all double pole)
Christopher Fast	46	17.41
Gilles Mougel	58	19.45
Mona Deprey	46	20.01
Max Limb	67	20.14
Dale Bohm	54	21.58
Jeff Clark	59	23.27
Ian Whyte	50	23.50
Joy Cordell	57	29.00
Sarah Phillips	42	31.00
Kirsten Wysen	48	33.30
Just Skiin'
Glenn Wysen
Jeff McGrew
Peter Boveng
Jonathan Loeffler
Douglas Holtan
18 Bush kids, loving the klister!

Jan 9, Skate

Oops, I lost the report, but I saved the results and that's what's important.

Two Laps
Brad Bauer	39	13.00
James Evans	44	14.53
Christopher Fast	46	15.20
Jon Fewster	42	15.42
Peter Boveng	54	15.47
Doug Reid	44	16.10
John Outterson	42	16.34
Jim Wood	30	16.49
Egor Klevak	28	17.10
Jim Cahill	50	18.33
Jeff McGrew	53	19.08
Dan B	62	19.10
Brian Palm	53	19.25
Jeff Clark	59	19.45
Jason Cross	41	20.58
Ian Whyte	50	21.10
Peter Turcan	55	21.45
Heidi Wood	28	22.40
Diana Yuen	30	28.00
Debbie Kolp	59	31.44	(classic)
Kirsten Wysen	48	32.30	(classic)
Gina Jackson	43	35.09
One Lap
Jonathan Loeffler	27	7.30
Anthony Evans	13	8.27
Sean Brown	16	10.10
Alexi	15	11.18
Andreas Garcia	17	11.18
Camille Moore	14	11.18
Cooper Jackson	11	12.37
Delaney Jackson	7	16.48
Just Skiin'
Sharon Chen
Glenn Wysen
15 Bush Kids

Speaking of headlamps ...

Awesome news from Peter Boveng, who has scored a sweet deal with headlamp-maker Petzl!

There will be three demo headlamps at the cabin all season long on Wednesday nights, that you can sign out and test while you're skiing.  Check in with Peter to get signed up.  Petzl will also be providing prizes for our end-of-the-season party! 

Thanks, Peter, and thank you, Petzl!

Charged Up?

Headlamp racing at Cabin Creek starts this Wednesday.  See you there!