Planes, trains, and automobiles-Off to France

In an unfortunate turn of events, Ryan Dyer, my teammate, has suffered a broken collar bone while training in Finland. With Ryan sidelined for the next event, I received a phone call yesterday from my coach. It was plane (no pun intended) and simple, if you can get to France, a World Cup start is waiting. Well, for some that sounds easy enough, but with a 72 hour notice and holiday season travel, getting there is not easy. First you look at the logistics of even getting a ticket, connections, times etc. When you have determined your arrival and departure times (keeping in mind that you must meet your team for further travel) then you can start pricing a ticket.

The first ticket came back at around $1,900 which is actually not that absurd of a price considering the fact that it is over the pond, on short notice AND holiday season. I put that on hold as it matched up 'relatively' close to my needed travel times and then moved to pricing out a Delta Sky Miles ticket, which alleviates the need to use cash. This would prove to be a very difficult task and I will spare you most of the details. In short, I researched departing and arriving at a total of ten DIFFERENT airports to try and satisfy my travel dates and times while trying to use the least amount of miles.

In the end, I settled on departing out of Great Falls MT, which is a three hour drive from where I will begin my travel in Missoula MT. On the return however, I will be flying back into Missoula. Rather than fly in and out of Geneva CH where the rest of my Team is traveling in and out of, I was able to save a large amount of miles and streamline my itinerary by flying in and out of Zurich CH. I will use Switzerland's advanced train system to get me from the Zurich airport to Geneva, eventually meeting up with the rest of the Team. One thing is 'almost' certain, the Swiss train system is always on time, making for sound travel planning.

The train ride from Zurich to Geneva is just over three hours and my flights match up 'relatively' close to my Teams travel arrangements. One other caveat to traveling on this itinerary is that I must depart a day later than everyone else, which actually worked out for the better, saving me 27,500 miles!! I canceled the full price, revenue ticket and settled on this Sky Miles ticket below...

I am looking forward to the opportunity of skiing in France, this will be my first competition since my injury in 2009. I have given my mind and body plenty of rest since my knee injury in December 2009, which sidelined me in my bid for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. I have learned so many things in the long road to recovery, some good, some bad, but all teaching me valuable lessons along the way. I am at a point in time where I know I have prepared myself both mentally and physically for my return to competition and I cannot express in words how excited I am to be getting back in the gate!! Be sure and visit my Facebook page for a little game/giveaway about my upcoming trip to France. I will be giving away a prize to whomever guesses the closest number of Sky Miles I used in booking my trip.

Working my way through the seasons...

Today was another ordinary December day here in Missoula MT except for a one thing... unordinary dry winter conditions (at least for my liking). During an afternoon of being behind my computer screen I had realized the time, 4:15pm. The sun was still out but slowly making its way down for another awesomely cold, dark Montana evening. The skiing here in Western Montana has not been very good (putting it lightly), in fact, if you were to compare it to last year, I think it would look more like October rather than mid-December at the moment. With the reality of the poor early season snowpack setting in, I have found other outlets for my recreation. As I again noticed the time and caught a glimpse of the orange glow of the setting sun, I jumped from my chair, put on a few layers, grabbed my biking gear, let out some air in my mountain bike tires and loaded up.

and started climbing...

There was literally no ice on the trail making for relatively 'normal' biking conditions.

The lower PSI in my tires made for easy climbing...

A good place to stop and see what's around me-above the Missoula valley.

The sun sets with Lolo Peak in the back...

Prepared for the sunset and the cold descent.

A van, some hiking, skiing, a desert, a ski resort, some hot springs, more skiing and some adventure...

 Here is a little timeline of the last five weeks, starting with the most recent activity-getting ready for competition season!!

Montana Snowbowl was finally able to open up the top lift this weekend, 12-4-11. While the conditions certainly don't match last year at this time, I still remain optimistic that winter will soon be arriving with the much anticipated moisture of another La Nina.

 A view from Grizzly chair over to the cliff area of Montana Snowbowl, everything is starting to fill in, slowly...

 Spending more time in Missoula as of late has lead me to new places I didn't know existed, I think I have found my new favorite coffee shop, Zootown Brew-killer Americano...

 The day after Thanksgiving I made it to Lookout Pass, they have seen some of the higher snowfalls in this region. Also, with the drive time from Missoula at less than 1.5 hours, it makes for a great day trip.

While at our U.S. Ski Team training camp in Wolf Creek Colorado we were able to soak at the Springs Resort, which is not far from the ski area and right in town at Pagosa Springs. The springs has a reported depth of over 2,500 feet and a source temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit-feels good!!

During our camp I was able to get in a little afternoon touring out the gates at Wolf Creek. Teammate Joe Discoe and I were able to take advantage of the recent snowfall and stable snow conditions to ski this gem below.

 The hitch hike back to the resort was awesome. Someone going down the pass actually turned around and drove us back to the resort, where he had just came from, super nice dude, thanks John!!

A view with the highway below.

Welcome to Wolf Creek Ski Area!!

The first drive up to Wolf Creek.

Over the years I have been lucky enough to visit so many great ski destinations, towns and the like. I can easily say that the folks in Pagosa Springs and at Wolf Creek Ski Area are some of the nicest most accommodating people I have met. A big thanks to everyone that helped make our training camp a success!!

A quick stop in Ridgway Colorado to break up the drive from Montana to Colorado brought me to this mogul skiing museum, compliments of the Discoe family!! 

 With my road trip taking me right through Moab, I thought it would be a tragedy not to make a stop. With the low temperatures below freezing it was easy to find a camp site right at the Fisher Towers campground. Here is a picture at the end of the Fisher Towers hike, a short 2.2 mile jaunt to several amazing views.

A drive south through Utah wouldn't be complete without a stop in Park City. I came in around dinner time and met up with a good friend that insisted upon sushi. We made the quick drive to Salt Lake and grabbed a seat at the Takashi Sushi bar and ate until we couldn't eat anymore...

 Before the trip I had to do a little maintenance on the new van, thanks for the help Sam-new axel seal.

Double bed...

Single bed-made the van road worthy today.

2004 Chevy Astro AWD

Before the adventures to Utah and Colorado began I took a quick day trip to Lucifer Lake.