CSU Jr Ski Camp - Part 2

Fortunately the rains ended on Monday with little damage to the amazing snow-pack at Jackson since the temperatures never got out of the 30s. However, the frozen Ellis River was another thing....we all witnessed the sudden, massive break-up of the ice on the river as a wall of water and ice surged downstream. A small tree went by still encased in ice as well as logs, debris, ice, etc. It was quite a sight to be looking at an icy river one moment and the next a maelstrom of ice chunks plowing down the river clearing everything in its path! At one point on the Ellis River trail the ice and water had flowed up over the bank and across the ski trail. Most of us will likely never see something like that again at the exact moment it occurs.....

On Tuesday we decided on a change of venue and headed up to Great Glen. They had groomed the frozen snow into nice and wicked fast sugar snow so we skated since there was little to no track. Mt. Washington was visible in all its glory in the morning before afternoon snow showers came in. Howie Weymss gave us a conference room for our use during the day which was really great, giving us a place to dump our stuff and take a short nap after lunch. We had a blast in the morning flying around the fun, rolly trails for a couple hours. In the afternoon there were Frisbee relays and some speed and resistance training.

If anyone is looking for a real challenge, Great Glen is putting on the Ski to the Clouds on March 9th, billed as America's Toughest 10km. Race info can be found at: http://www.greatglentrails.com/Winter-Page-282.html The race will start on the ski trails for 4km and then go up the auto road to the half-way point at treeline. Sounds like an awesome event! The big question is do you skate it or do it classic? You have your choice and there are no separate categories. Should be interesting!

For our last workout on Wednesday morning we were back at Jackson and skied up Halls, around Maple and then Popple Mt and down to the far end of Ellis River on beautiful classic tracks. The downhill was fast and freezing, but loads of fun. Then a furious double pole back down Ellis. It was a great ski camp and I'd like to thank the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation for the great grooming and being so helpful to us during the week!