Tuesday, January 27, 2009

X10

Over the summer we picked up Suunto for bike and run shops. At the sales meeting they gave us this really cool GPS watch called the X10. I used it once but never took the time to set up the software to upload data to my computer. 8 months later I finally got around to it, prompted by some new software that I got at Outdoor Retailer. I am still learning the programs but below are some images saved from Google Earth:

Last run down Baldy yesterday. Took the day off and went to the bird after working through the weekend.


Our route around the bird. I started the watch after a few runs


Super crest loop with Bart, Ohran and BZ this summer. I wish I could figure out how to save or upload the graph of the elevation gain, mileage and speed of this ride. It was 59.5 miles, 7500 feet of climbing.


I need to get good with the heart rate monitors too so I can answer questions in the field. I don't like to use them all the time but they have some pretty cool features.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Nothing

Because I know you were anxiously awaiting the answer to the lame riddle that I posted last night that is it, nothing.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

a riddle and a joke

The riddle:

What is more powerful than God, more evil than the Devil, the poor have it but the rich do not, and if you eat it you will die?

The joke:

Why don't men stop to ask for directions?
They know how to read a map.


Nothing but Outdoor Retailer between now and Sunday- maybe I'll do some live posting from the Kaenon booth for some real excitement....

Today was the demo day @ Snowbasin and it was nice to be out of the smog and I took a few runs. We sold a ton of sunglasses despite lower than normal attendance. Might have had something to do with the $60 dollar price tag- that's cheaper than I get them for!

And a photo from last weekend

Sunday, January 18, 2009

My karma ran over your dogma

I've always liked that saying, as over the years I've come to see karma as one of the ways of the world. Sure bad things do unfortunately happen to good people, but I like the idea of things coming back around. This isn't something that can be proven but every now and then you get your supporting case.

Take today for example. Sammi and I went out for a ride on Barrel Roll trail this morning and upon returning she realized that she had dropped her phone out of her jersey somewhere on the trail. Bummer. I told her that someone would probably find it and call my phone from hers since I was the last person she called, or I could go back out later and look for it. I figured that it would turn up since she is such a good person- teaches special ed. at an elementary school, donates to charity and public radio, gives blood, drives a hybrid (and sparingly), volunteers in free time, donates her hair when she cuts it, etc.

4pm rolled around and nobody had called so I hopped on my bike and went on a search. I figured worse case was that I rode some more single track (bummer). To make a long story short I found it right after pretty much given up, near the end of the trail. That's some good karma, just the fact that it wasn't under a rock or bush somewhere.

Then there's me, a selfish jerk. I spend all my money toys like bikes, skis and snowboards that I spend all of my free time playing with. I drive a pickup and have given blood only once in high school and it was a terrible experience. Sammi has actually offered to pay me to give blood since I am o-negative and that's in high demand. Yeah I recycle and try to conserve as much as possible but I can't quite say I'm the change I want to see in the world yet.

Here's what happenes when selfish jerks like me lose their phones on the trail:

A few years ago I was taking gondola served dh runs at Snowbasin with some friends and a sharp branch ripped my camelbak open and my phone flew out somewhere on the trail. I was late to work at the Oyster Bar and had to jet. Not having a phone I couldn't call in and showed up to a 10 top with 5 kids. Horrible night to say the least.

The next day I figured I'd go look for my phone and threw my cross country bike in the truck and drove an hour back up to look for it. I climbed up to where I hit the branch and started scouring the area. No luck. I was calling it from a borrowed phone and looking in the bushes. Then I hear buzzing- oh s*&t bees! I got stung multiple times and my thigh swelled up huge. A few minutes later I heard thunder and the skies opened up soaking me to the bone. Back at the truck I realized I was yet again running late to work. I was low on gas but no time- barely enough to shower and change. My truck was still new to me and I figured I was good since the gas light hadn't come on yet. One problem, no gas light- I ran out of gas on 215. Luckily I was at the crest of the hill and coasted off the 4500 S exit and down the hill to a Sinclair station (hey there's some good luck). I arrived yet again late for a lovely evening of kissing ass at the OB. Since I didn't have insurance a new phone cost me $200.

That was just one of those days where all you can do is laugh- where was my luck?

Anyway, this post really got away from me... What is my point- I guess that what goes around comes around and hopefully I have some good karma coming my way since I went and found Sammi's phone for her!

Base Tanning

Forget about fitness, I'm laying the foundation for a solid summer farmer's tan. 60 degrees shorts and a jersey.

I was torn between snowboarding (I knew there was good backcountry potential) and heading south this weekend and the smog tipped the balance. Sammi and I headed down on Friday night. After a week in Boise fog- like SLC smog but dense with no visibility I needed some desert sun. When you drive as much as I do what's another 4.5 hours in the car? Especially when you have someone in the car with you. Listened to Outliers on cd- very interesting. Thanks Dad.

Met up with an army of blue jerseys out there for some good times. They showed me Zen trail which was awesome- I've tried to find that trail a few times and never succeeded.

Monday, January 12, 2009

blogging from boise

In Boise for work this week. I scored a room at the Hyatt on priceline for 65 bucks a night- its a 3 star hotel so quite a step up from my usual motel 6. I had showing here in the room this evening so I had to step it up and I can't say I'm complaining. The extra 25 bucks a night I am spending is worth it for sure.

I drove up last night in some crazy wind- my left arm was sore by the time I got here from holding the wheel.

Below are some pics from a tour last weekend with Bart and Rich. I'd have taken more but being a split boarder out with skiers I need to hustle during transitions to avoid ridicule for having the erector set. That doesn't leave a lot of time for photography...

It was windy- snow was blowing over to Colorado... (photo credit Rich, w/ my camera)


Rich skinning


Good shot of the Obelisk, better shot of Bart's handlebar mustache.


Two more full days here then over to Ketchum where I can hopefully get out on the skinny skis.

Friday, January 9, 2009

As luck would have it

I started this blog, then the holidays hit and now I am super busy with work so posting has been lackluster. Check this video out, anyone who can figure out what happens to the ball in the tennis one let me know...

la chance

can't get over the motorcycle crash

Friday, January 2, 2009

1st post of the 2009

Not a ton of new material so here are some more pics from my new camera (thanks Sammi!)

Happy New Year!






A few minors at the party...


Yesterday just a whole lot of this...