Just Getting Back Into It – But A Great Winter Season!

by Walker Thompson on February 4th, 2009

So bike riding season isn’t “really” yet upon us Evomo folks in Colorado; we are still hitting the slopes and doing it well. However, we have something close to mountain biking called back country skiing. So for me, this back country thing has been my training. Let me tell you a story about the kind of work I do to accomplish a back country run…

1. Being cold: it is usually freezing cold and very early – like 6 am on a Saturday morning. We start from our once warm and cozy car and head up into the mountains with our skins on.

2. Skins are like felt strips, but with traction going one way – so you can glide on the snow.

3. We hike, usually 2000 – 3000 feet up to the top of a peak (on the snow, rocks and through trees)

4. Typically, the weather is nice, because you always have to worry about serious avalanche danger.

5. Then you get to the top and ski down, about 1000 feet – KILLER

So to me, this is just like mountain biking. You slog up the hill and rally down it; then rinse, wash and repeat!

I did get on the bike recently, but only for a road ride. I guess you just have to pick your sport when the weather forces you, oh well…