When We Used To Get Snow

 In celebration of the twentieth year of this blog, I have a few tales to tell. This post is one of them. This series will occur off and on throughout this anniversary year, I hope to illuminate some behind-the-scenes stories and highlights from the blog during this time. Enjoy!

We missed that big snow storm last weekend and since then it has just been really cold. No snow to speak of, certainly not enough to do Winter sports, and too cold to just be outside riding in the country. It is kind of a "worst case scenario" type of thing. Give me 20 more degrees and I don't care. I could ride a lot in cooler weather. But having to bundle up to go out for an hour in sub-zero temperatures? With NO SNOW? It's really hard to handle mentally.

Black Hawk Creek, The Green Belt, 2009.

It wasn't always this way. We used to get "regular" Winters with months of snow that would be great for all sorts of activities. The Winter of 2000-2001 was spectacular. I recall snow shoeing in four to five feet of snow in Hickory Hills park then. 

We would normally get chased off the mountain biking trails after Thanksgiving by a snow storm. It then might have taken a few weeks to build up a base of snow deep enough to cross country ski on, but generally then it would last until March. 

I used to write about XC skiing here fairly often back then. I was never really very good at it, but I found it to be a great way to burn off some steam when Winter was driving me nuts and keeping me off the bicycle. 

There were no fat bikes, no groomers, nothing....

These also were the days before turnkey fat bikes were available. Sure, if you were an ultra-cycling nerd and knew of Winter cycling in Alaska, maybe you knew about fat bikes, but they were an anomaly, extremely expensive, and very difficult to get parts for. (That fat bike specific stuff, that is.) 

I usually had to break my own trail back then too.

A Soul Cycles Dillinger I used as a 'pseudo-fat bike' with 29" X 2.4" tires.

I recall thinking how great it would be to have a bike with those 3.8" Endomorph tires and a frame to fit them. Then Surly showed their fat bike, the Pugsley, and I was smitten. Then, as we all probably know here, Salsa Cycles came out with their Mukluk model and I was on my way. 

With a little help from a bunch of friends, of course. My birthday in 2011 was marked by a birthday present funded by several folks of that Mukluk fat bike. And that unleashed a completely new era in my cycling. 

Ironically the Winter of 2010 -2011 was one of the last good, long, snowy Winters we've had. Since then we've had a month, or even just a week or two, of 'fat bikeable' weather. It's been very strange indeed. And XC Skiing? Ha! I haven't had those boards out for well over ten years. 

Winter sure ain't what it used to be around these parts.

Mashed Potatoes

Looks fantastic, doesn't it? Too bad it was not solid enough for riding.

Lots of snow means lots of work to be done, not only for shoveling, (see yesterday's post), but also for any recreating opportunities. XC skiing, fat biking, or hiking mean that deep snow needs some "conditioning" to get any appreciable "good times" out of it. I suppose you could snow shoe. I'm just so lucky that my snow shoe bindings bit the dust last year. meh!  they were only 19 years old..... HA! Nothing lasts forever, I get it!

I had heard that an attempt at grooming the Green Belt for fat biking had taken place so I figured on checking it out after doing some morning clean up with the shovel. It snowed a bit......again.....over night, plus the snow plows went through early in the morning.

The Sun is getting higher in the sky now, so much so that you can feel some power in those rays. More direct light was making snow melt in places where the light was hitting it and slush and water were all over the city streets. Maybe this would crust over the packed in trail? I didn't know how well it had been set in or with what method. When I got out to the Green Belt, I saw that they had used snow shoes.

From my past experiences, you have to snow shoe in a trail about ten times, back and forth, to get the snow compacted enough with snow shoes to have any support with fat bike tires later on. At least it is that way with the "sugar snow" we normally get anymore around here. I knew this attempt had been an "out and back", so what I found wasn't a big surprise. It was all mashed potatoes.

That wasn't rideable, so after about 20 yards past the dike I did an about face and walked my rig out of the Green Belt. It looked tempting, and I would have really enjoyed it back there, but it wasn't to be. I probably should have XC skied it, actually. But whatever...... I went back home via alleys and even with a ton of car packing the snowy alleyways, the snow wasn't very easy to ride on. It just isn't very supportive.

And now I hear we're supposed to get more than a half a foot of new snow tonight and tomorrow. Bah! Bring on Spring. This crap snow and late Winter action is for the birds.

Mashed Potatoes

Looks fantastic, doesn't it? Too bad it was not solid enough for riding.

Lots of snow means lots of work to be done, not only for shoveling, (see yesterday's post), but also for any recreating opportunities. XC skiing, fat biking, or hiking mean that deep snow needs some "conditioning" to get any appreciable "good times" out of it. I suppose you could snow shoe. I'm just so lucky that my snow shoe bindings bit the dust last year. meh!  they were only 19 years old..... HA! Nothing lasts forever, I get it!

I had heard that an attempt at grooming the Green Belt for fat biking had taken place so I figured on checking it out after doing some morning clean up with the shovel. It snowed a bit......again.....over night, plus the snow plows went through early in the morning.

The Sun is getting higher in the sky now, so much so that you can feel some power in those rays. More direct light was making snow melt in places where the light was hitting it and slush and water were all over the city streets. Maybe this would crust over the packed in trail? I didn't know how well it had been set in or with what method. When I got out to the Green Belt, I saw that they had used snow shoes.

From my past experiences, you have to snow shoe in a trail about ten times, back and forth, to get the snow compacted enough with snow shoes to have any support with fat bike tires later on. At least it is that way with the "sugar snow" we normally get anymore around here. I knew this attempt had been an "out and back", so what I found wasn't a big surprise. It was all mashed potatoes.

That wasn't rideable, so after about 20 yards past the dike I did an about face and walked my rig out of the Green Belt. It looked tempting, and I would have really enjoyed it back there, but it wasn't to be. I probably should have XC skied it, actually. But whatever...... I went back home via alleys and even with a ton of car packing the snowy alleyways, the snow wasn't very easy to ride on. It just isn't very supportive.

And now I hear we're supposed to get more than a half a foot of new snow tonight and tomorrow. Bah! Bring on Spring. This crap snow and late Winter action is for the birds.

Minus Ten Review 2009- 3

Early marketing handout from WTB about the "new" 29"er tire, the Nano

Ten years ago on the blog I was talking about how history was made by "The Tire". Since I've been on a bit of a history bent lately, this seems fitting to discuss for today's look back.

If you haven't heard about "The Tire", you could be forgiven. It was the component necessary to kick into motion the entire movement toward how we experience and know mountain biking today. WTB introduced "The Tire" in 1999, and while it didn't catch on right away, eventually it did, and a bunch of other folks followed in "The Tire's" tracks.

Of course, I am referring to the WTB 29" X 2.1" Nanoraptor tire. This is the tire which spurred Wes Williams of Willits to coin the term "29"er", and it was the tire that Gary Fisher did a lot of testing around and motivated him to want to add 29"ers to the Gary Fisher Mountainbike line up in 2001.

Anyway, ten years ago I came across a scan of a document which was handed out by WTB to dealers and OE manufacturers describing this new thing. It is kind of cool to have these sorts of historical touch points to reflect upon. If you'd like to read more about 29"er's beginnings, I wrote a series on that called "The Beginnings of the Modern 29"er: A History" where you can read all about it, as they say.

Back ten years ago the entire 29'er thing was still being argued about and being put down by many mountain bikers. Of course, things have changed and even those who said ten years ago that 26" DH bikes would never die now are probably riding 650B wheeled DH sleds or even 29"er DH bikes.

My how times have changed!

The Green Belt ten years ago this week. There would be a LOT more fat bike tracks now!

Also ten years ago this week there was a LOT of snow and very cold temperatures. Of course, it would be another two years before anyone around here had fat bikes. But let's be honest here......hardly anyone did anything outside back then. 

I mean, just look at the image. XC ski tracks, and..........nothing else! Think about all the folks walking, snow shoeing, and fat biking. This would be an unheard of scene now in the Green Belt if we have snow. But ten years ago I pretty much had the Green Belt to myself for XC skiing. I cannot recall seeing maybe more than a handful of people doing skiing, or anything else, out there in the winter when I XC skied.

Maybe I should call that time "BF"- before fatbikes! Ha!

But there was something about what happened in 2012-2013 when everyone and their brother discovered fat bikes and started getting outside and off trainers and what not. Suddenly the woods were tracked to death by every mode of Winter-specific travel types. Not to mention all the post-holed bumps given to us by walkers. Yes, suddenly everyone was on the trails.

Weird how that works.

Minus Ten Review 2009- 3

Early marketing handout from WTB about the "new" 29"er tire, the Nano

Ten years ago on the blog I was talking about how history was made by "The Tire". Since I've been on a bit of a history bent lately, this seems fitting to discuss for today's look back.

If you haven't heard about "The Tire", you could be forgiven. It was the component necessary to kick into motion the entire movement toward how we experience and know mountain biking today. WTB introduced "The Tire" in 1999, and while it didn't catch on right away, eventually it did, and a bunch of other folks followed in "The Tire's" tracks.

Of course, I am referring to the WTB 29" X 2.1" Nanoraptor tire. This is the tire which spurred Wes Williams of Willits to coin the term "29"er", and it was the tire that Gary Fisher did a lot of testing around and motivated him to want to add 29"ers to the Gary Fisher Mountainbike line up in 2001.

Anyway, ten years ago I came across a scan of a document which was handed out by WTB to dealers and OE manufacturers describing this new thing. It is kind of cool to have these sorts of historical touch points to reflect upon. If you'd like to read more about 29"er's beginnings, I wrote a series on that called "The Beginnings of the Modern 29"er: A History" where you can read all about it, as they say.

Back ten years ago the entire 29'er thing was still being argued about and being put down by many mountain bikers. Of course, things have changed and even those who said ten years ago that 26" DH bikes would never die now are probably riding 650B wheeled DH sleds or even 29"er DH bikes.

My how times have changed!

The Green Belt ten years ago this week. There would be a LOT more fat bike tracks now!

Also ten years ago this week there was a LOT of snow and very cold temperatures. Of course, it would be another two years before anyone around here had fat bikes. But let's be honest here......hardly anyone did anything outside back then. 

I mean, just look at the image. XC ski tracks, and..........nothing else! Think about all the folks walking, snow shoeing, and fat biking. This would be an unheard of scene now in the Green Belt if we have snow. But ten years ago I pretty much had the Green Belt to myself for XC skiing. I cannot recall seeing maybe more than a handful of people doing skiing, or anything else, out there in the winter when I XC skied.

Maybe I should call that time "BF"- before fatbikes! Ha!

But there was something about what happened in 2012-2013 when everyone and their brother discovered fat bikes and started getting outside and off trainers and what not. Suddenly the woods were tracked to death by every mode of Winter-specific travel types. Not to mention all the post-holed bumps given to us by walkers. Yes, suddenly everyone was on the trails.

Weird how that works.

If'n Ya Cain't Beat 'Em- Join 'Em!

So, it goes without saying that this is one of the, if not the worst winters in 30 years. Well, "worst" if you like to ride bikes outdoors and you don't really care for snow.

I guess that my take is if it has to be cold, let's have a bunch of snow to play in. Okay, we can check that off. We have lots of snow to play in!

But in a similar way to the winter of 2000-2001, we have snow and it really hasn't ever melted away. The ground has peeked out here and there at times, but for the most part we have had consistent and constant snow cover since the second week of December.

It's getting to wear a bit thin now that it is coming on to mid-February!

So, I could grouse about it, but you know what? It wouldn't melt the snow, and it would still be cold. That attitude isn't going to help.

So I chose to do something to work with what I have to work with.

I went skiing.

XC skiing is a total body workout too. Well, if you know how to do the "XC ski dance". It's a technique that isn't too hard to learn, but I find it to be a lot more taxing than riding a bike.

In fact, if I want to find out how much my conditioning sucks, I go XC skiing. Boy! It doesn't take long to find out my stamina needs to get off life support and get into shape!

The other thing I think is odd is that the place I go to ski hardly gets used. Not that it bothers me at all. I got fresh powder and made first tracks, which was satisfying to me. The thing is, everybody and their brother goes to Geo Wyth, but no one seems to remember that the Green Belt has as much, if not more, trail distance that can be skied on, and it is far less traveled. I mean, you can really be alone out there like I was today, if that appeals to you.

I would think that more folks would be in to that. Oh well! No worries here! I had a great time and got outside. It was beautiful, and I learned that winter can be pretty decent to get along with, if you are willing to quit fighting with it.

If'n Ya Cain't Beat 'Em- Join 'Em!

So, it goes without saying that this is one of the, if not the worst winters in 30 years. Well, "worst" if you like to ride bikes outdoors and you don't really care for snow.

I guess that my take is if it has to be cold, let's have a bunch of snow to play in. Okay, we can check that off. We have lots of snow to play in!

But in a similar way to the winter of 2000-2001, we have snow and it really hasn't ever melted away. The ground has peeked out here and there at times, but for the most part we have had consistent and constant snow cover since the second week of December.

It's getting to wear a bit thin now that it is coming on to mid-February!

So, I could grouse about it, but you know what? It wouldn't melt the snow, and it would still be cold. That attitude isn't going to help.

So I chose to do something to work with what I have to work with.

I went skiing.

XC skiing is a total body workout too. Well, if you know how to do the "XC ski dance". It's a technique that isn't too hard to learn, but I find it to be a lot more taxing than riding a bike.

In fact, if I want to find out how much my conditioning sucks, I go XC skiing. Boy! It doesn't take long to find out my stamina needs to get off life support and get into shape!

The other thing I think is odd is that the place I go to ski hardly gets used. Not that it bothers me at all. I got fresh powder and made first tracks, which was satisfying to me. The thing is, everybody and their brother goes to Geo Wyth, but no one seems to remember that the Green Belt has as much, if not more, trail distance that can be skied on, and it is far less traveled. I mean, you can really be alone out there like I was today, if that appeals to you.

I would think that more folks would be in to that. Oh well! No worries here! I had a great time and got outside. It was beautiful, and I learned that winter can be pretty decent to get along with, if you are willing to quit fighting with it.