bmanthy's blog

Thanks to all for your support.

Today was one of those wonder days. First tracks in fresh snow, sunshine, and... a stiff 30 mph wind blowing all the snow off trees and sending spindrift across the trail. One of those days you wish you had your camera, but at the same time you are happy to live in the moment. I couldn't help but to stretch my arms wide in the biggest gusts, daring the wind to lift me up (or at least knock me on my butt). The wonders of a cold front in Boulder.

Howdy everyone! I just completed my second race in the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup (COSMIC) series. If you are not from Europe, you are probably asking, "what is ski mountaineering?" Ski mountaineering is a sport that combines the techniques of skiing with those of mountaineering -- it's aerobic up hills, technical descents, and transitions involving attaching and removing climbing skins from the base of your skis.

This race ascended the Snowmass ski area in Aspen, traveled wicked back country terrain, then descended the double black diamond runs at the Buttermilk resort (also in Aspen). All told it was about 11 miles and 5000 feet of climbing. It took me about 4 hours.