Ride-Along

Strap in.

Lay some down on the cat track.


Launch said cat track.

Hang out in the back seat in the air because taking pictures.
Remember Peter's advice: "Don't forget the landing."


Landing successful. Proceed to slashing some pow.

Fin?

countdown to the 3-Day

Many of you already know that I have decided take on the incredibly huge challenge of participating in the 2010 Susan G. Komen Seattle 3-Day for the Cure.  On September 24-26, I'll be walking 60 miles over the course of three days and camping out at night with thousands of other women and men taking on this challenge with me.  The net proceeds from the Komen 3-Day for the Cure are invested in breast cancer research and community programs.  Komen for the Cure® works hard to build a future without breast cancer, and I plan on raising $2,300 to help bring us closer to that goal.

I will be walking with TEAM TRACY here in Seattle.  Our team captain is a survivor who was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age.  Tracy has decided to make it her personal mission to raise as much money as she can to benefit breast cancer research and this will be her 4th 3-Day!  I feel that a few blisters and sore muscles will be worth it in order to help find a cure for this disease.  I hope you can help me!

Just follow the link to visit my personal fundraising web page and make a donation. You can also track my fundraising progress there.

Thank you for your support!  I will keep you posted on my progress as we get closer to the big day. Only 258 days to go!

Freezing Rain

Woke up to see freezing rain at Stevens this morning, so Phil and I (yes, that Phil) bagged plans for riding today, but weather should be nicer tomorrow. Freezing rain means there's time for blogging, so I guess I'll catch up on something that already happened.

We went to Maui in November by piggy-backing on my parents anniversary trip. I believe the e-mail from my dad read: "We have reserved a condo on the Hawaiian island of Maui (arrive 11/5, depart 11/11). You are invited to join us if you can find your way there."

Sarah thought it was a joke; I did not. Needless to say, we "found our way there."


Surf spots were either crowded or the surf was nonexistent. Since I've already been surfing to at least be able to say I've been surfing, I opted for the empty, beachside skatepark instead. Skateboarding in Maui is hot, even at 10a. The skatepark was fun, though. It had a decent mini-ramp and a kinked-ass pool with a shallow end that was about 2 to 2.5 feet tall and went to vert (that's a pretty tight transition).


Apparently that idiot from the car insurance commercials also vacations in Maui.


We did the uber-touristy road to Hana. Sarah's favorite part was the black sand beach on the way back.


I enjoyed swimming in some waterfall pools.


We also went to the uber-touristy Mt. Haleakala, but with a little effort you can lose about 99.9% of the crowds. Hiking down to a cindercone was a highlight.


We attended a luau on our last night in Maui. Sarah learned to do some sort of dance or something (I forget the name of it). Anyway, if you've never been to a luau, I've got two words for you: 1) butts and 2) coconuts.


Then the sun set on our vacation.



Look, Mom! New hat!

Swensons In Seattle

So my dad e-mailed me this picture.


Swensons in Snoose Junction Part Dieu.

I offer this rebuttal.


Swensons in Seattle.

See also.

It's Official

Finally made its way through the state government.

Mike Swenson, PE

The Definition of Pooping

After a 2-week hiatus from snowriding over the holidays, I finally got back at it. We celebrated New Years' Eve on Wisconsin time, in order to go to bed early and ride the poo at Stevens New Years' Day. We didn't get the dump we were hoping for, but it was still a fun day of groomers, off-piste breakable crusts (yes, multiple crusts: ask Steve about his arm dragging on the final run that involved crust layers at his armpit, elbow, and wrist), and park riding (which included some rails, a lay back method over 'The Waterfall', and an "oh shit, here comes knee surgery" flat landing - knees sore but OK).

After that marathon, we decided to make Baker a game time decision on Saturday because the snow levels and predictions kept waffling between rain and snow. Woke up at 0430: snow report not updated yet. Hit snooze twice. 0450: no word yet. Hit snooze twice. 0510: Baker 15" of new. Call Steve: "I'm in." 0550 depart for Baker.

Pictures from Mt. Baker yesterday: the definition of pooping.

Where's Waldo?


About 30 seconds after this picture Mother Nature literally pooped on me, releasing snow from tree branches right on my head.


Look at the size of the turd on Steve's face!

Being tired, having witnessed some instability in bounds and the 2-hour delayed opening of Chair 1 for avalanche control at Baker, and hearing reports of "shooting cracks" and "whoompfing," we scrapped plans for a day in the backcountry today. Avalanche danger is "only" "considerable," but it seemed like if we went where the snow was good it could be sketchy and if we went where it was safe it might be the layer cake Steve's arm experienced. See mom, it starts with planning at home, not with searching for your friends with an avalanche transceiver.

Time to work on the house.