We are all set for the BWCA. I am looking forward to our trip. I am just hoping that the weather holds. It doesn't have to be perfectly sunny, but I really just do not want any rain and crap. I would like our first trip up there to be nice. Hopefully we don't get eating by a rogue grizzly bear.

or Big Sky trip is set. 3rd full week in February. We are staying up on the mountain, I found a new secret spot to stay that is cheap and full of awesomeness. I can't wait. 142 days till I am shredding pow.

Send good weather karma my way please.

It's about friggin time.

Like I try to do every year. I post a blog story about the first snowfall of the year. Well it happen yesterday. The Colorado high country saw the first snow of the season. The picture above was taken at Copper on Monday September 21st. I have been waiting for this day since the last snowfall of the season last year. Here is the story:

The snowbirds are already shivering in their shoes, but skiers and snowboarders are cheering the arrival of the season's first snow in Colorado's high country. Above is a photo taken at Copper Mountain yesterday morning (Monday, September 21). CBS's Denver affiliate, KCNC Channel 4's 10:00 p.m. news last night (and presumably other stations' news too) reported that snow-hungry locals in nearly Breckenridge were seen around town in their ski duds, carrying their boards, and Loveland fired up its snow guns yesterday as well. And this morning's newspapers printed first-snow-of-the-season pictures too. It's a perpetual early-opening ski area -- historically often the first in the nation, in fact.

Well. We are making plans. I just booked our hotel room for our ski trip this winter. We are headed back to Big Sky once again. I have been getting a lot of grief from a couple of my friends about not "trying" somewhere else. While this might be true why change something that we both love? Big Sky has just an amazing vibe, the people are great the skiing is unbelievable, it is quiet, and it is amazing beautiful. We best of all it makes for a really fun road trip. So we are headed back. Lets just say that I am already looking forward to that trip.

In other news, we are 90% set for our BWCA trip. The last thing we have to work out is our food plans. We are still working on a menu. Hopefully we will have that all nailed down by the this weekend. I am looking forward to heading up there. I am really hoping for nice weather. We have a couple of great routes planned so we can changed things up if we have too...

Tonight is our last Twins game for the year. We did have tickets to the Oct 2nd game but had to sell them due to our BWCA trip. I was a little bummed about that, but we have seen some great baseball this year. I am looking forward to next year and to check out the new stadium. I am hoping the seats I picked out are good. I think they will be but you never know.

I am also watching football this year. Which is different for me. I have never been much of a football fan, but I watched the Vikings vs Cleveland game last Sunday and it was a fun time. Melissa and I had a football "party" I think we are going to do another party this Sunday.

School is going pretty good so far. I think I like both of my classes. I am learning some stuff so I guess that is really all that matter right?

Hmmmmm

So I think my mountaineering goals are unfortunately starting to dim. I have been researching and looking into different options. I have found a couple and they seem good. A couple in Washington that do their training in and around Mount Baker or Mount Rainier, and one up in Alaska, all have excellent programs but the problem is gear. I have a lot of stuff but of course the things that I do not have are the most expensive things. Boots, a 4 season tent, a expedition grade down sleeping bag, a down parka and other odds and ends. All totaled the gear is in the neighborhood of $2500 or so dollars. Plus $2100 for the class and $400 for the airline ticket. I can swing it but I just don't think I should. It is not fair for me to spend our money so foolishly. So I am headed back to the drawing board a little bit and see if I can come up with anything.

In other news Melissa and I are headed to Lutsen for the long weekend. I am really looking forward to it. We haven't been up there since ski season so I am looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend.

I am also going to join the gym where Melissa works out some time this late fall. I am going to start training for the mountains for both skiing and just in case climbing. So that should be fun. I have a found a great training schedule for Denali so that is what I think I am going to stick to at the gym.

Life is good. Just wish I had more free time.