Snow in Utah...

The last week we've had the full spectrum of weather here in Utah...well, short of experiencing Sandy of course. A front came in and hung out on the Wasatch, showering our training sessions and time trials with wind, rain, hail, and yes, SNOW! The time trials went. I won't say well and I won't say poorly. I did some things well, I learned some things and I found some things to work on. 

First flakes on the ground in Park City = time trial seriously delayed. 

Rollerskiing and accumulating snow just mix well. 

Because I have a little brother who really likes his big Ford trucks, I'm posting these...

Yes, we are surely in the west.  

Park City has a very awesome shoe tree (or two). 

Seth and I went for a (very bright) snowy hike yesterday. 

Looking back toward town as we make our way up a drainage canyon on Park City. 

A gorgeous view...

One of the old mining buildings that were the beginnings of Park City. 

Neat old car rusting in the melting sun and snow...

Huge old building...

Where they brought the mined materials inside...

Aspens: pretty and covered in snow and ice...

Snow making underway on Park City trails...

Looking up towards the highest peaks of Park City Resort...

Funky tree...

All smiles playing in the snow...

Park City has decorated most of the tunnels on their bikeways...

This one sports some really colorful cartoons.

Almost time for REAL skiing! 

Wednesday Seth and I are supposed travel east...we'll see what Sandy has in store for us on that front. Hopefully we don't get stuck somewhere between here and Maine! 

Once we do get back I'll have a few weeks more of fall training before heading west (again) to West Yellowstone for three weeks on snow and the beginning of ski season! 

Time to start your snow dancing!

Park City on Dwellable

In the Wild, Wild West.

 Greetings from Utah! I'm here, staying in Park City, for a two week camp and a set of rollerski races at the 2002 Olympic venue in Midway, Soldier Hollow. Today was just my third day here but my first out with a camera. Enjoy! 

This morning I enjoyed the sunny and warmer weather while hiking right from our condo at the base of Park City Resort. I hiked up the access roads to a 9998 ft peak up in Guardsman Pass. You can click on any picture to view them all in a slide show format. 

Looking back the way I came up...

These monsters grace the alpine trails that are easy enough for kids...

People ski down that! Yikes!

Heading out beyond the main mountain and into the backcountry. The peak on the left was my destination and final peak before heading back toward Park City. 

Looking west toward Brighton and Solitude Resorts...

Made it to the top...

Yahoo!

Park City used to be a mining town...this building is some of what's left of the main part of the operation up on the mountain. 

What the mine used to look like...

The other big mine building I spotted on my way down...

Tomorrow I have an off day before getting geared up for two races next week. Hopefully we get lucky but right now the weather forecast looks unpromising. Rain and 36. 

Glad I brought some tights, my rain coat and boot driers! 

Park City on Dwellable

October ~ County Style

Last year I missed October in Maine. We spent most of it in Utah, returning to the East Coast at the very end of the month. This year our Utah trip is a bit shorter and we're leaving a bit later, giving me two full weeks to enjoy October in the County.

Despite spending a good week sick with a cold, I have managed to enjoy fall immensely (but I winter is still my favorite season). The foliage here in the County has been incredible and, for the most part, we've had really nice weather.

As always and because I think blogs without photos are incredibly boring, here is a visual tour of my last two weeks:

The view from a dirt road on my favorite running and mountain biking loop here in Fort Kent. 

Colorful hillside in New Canada, just south of Fort Kent. 

Harvested potato fields already turning green...

Colorful view...

One day we went for a drive and Seth was going to hunt but it ended up just being a scenic drive through quiet logging roads...

Last week as we were enjoying a quiet morning we heard that a local business, Valley Auto, owned by a ski/biathlon supporter, was burning. Sure enough, we could see the smoke from our house and when we went into town the next day, this is all that was left. 

Sad but Valley Auto is already back in business and making plans for rebuilding. 

Yesterday I spent a few quality hours at the MWSC office in Caribou helping out with the new inventory of Healthy Hometowns equipment. Most of the stuff we unpacked is headed for 10th Mountain Ski Center in Fort Kent and the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle to be rented out for the season. Yesterday's tasks: unpacking skis and poles, applying Heathly Hometowns Stickers to EVERYTHING. 

Gentle and I put stickers on several hundred pairs of poles...

Lots of boxes of new boots still waiting to be unpacked and inventoried. 

Cody sweeping up the mess left over from unwrapping poles.

Very official looking stickers, still going on straight several hundred poles later!

Putting stickers on new skis...

Ready for winter...all we need is snow!

Lots of skis just waiting for adventurous County Folk!

And more skis...

Just one of the 10+ boxes of poles we "stickered".

Seth and I took the scenic route home from Caribou last night. He hunted, I drove and took pictures. 

When we finally (yes, we got lost) came out of the woods and turned toward home on pavement we noticed that the Northern Lights were shining. Luckily we had Seth's camera on hand and managed to capture a few gorgeous shots:

And a parting thought for anyone out there waiting for someone to change your health for you:

So true. 

Northern Maine on Dwellable