yes, skiing

Corinne, Jo-Ann & I had last Friday off, so we scheduled a play-date out in the park. With new snow on Wednesday, we decided to ski. We hit the ungroomed skijor trails at around 1pm.

Here's what I learned: Corinne is a fast classic skier. We could barely catch up, then realized she was trying to get far enough ahead so she could play paparazza. Hope she got some good shots, because Jo-Ann and I really tried to be on-form for the camera!

Later, we enjoyed a break by hanging out in the sunshine on the frozen marsh. Corinne tried to reach for the sun, while Jo-Ann just went on & on about how much she loved the tea and homemade biscotti (thanks for bringing them, Corinne & thanks to Paul for making them).

Note Jo-Ann's white gloves. She really out-diva'd us during the tea party! She was wearing pearls, too.

Of course we talked about the upcoming season - as I speculated about whether the skijor trails we were on were packed down enough for biking. Now, just a few days later, having biked home last night in the chinook-induced rain, I bet those trails are just bomber! Anybody else want to find out?

from corinne ~
I thought I ought to add a photo of Rose on the ski. We were talking about the new Diva lingo and what it means to be "diva-ed." We decided that means to be beaten to the end of the trail by someone in more stylish biking attire. Then I despaired that Rose would always be "diva-ing" me! I may have been faster than Rose on skis (only because she has waxless skis) but look at how dashing she was!

Skiing, with biking on our minds

Jo-Ann, Karen, and I planned to ski from the Upper O'Malley trailhead today. Karen, the Daredevil Diva, thought she broke her wrist skiing yesterday so she didn't join us. Jo-Ann and I braved the cold temperatures alone.

The cold had frozen the transpiration from the trees so the branches were coated in a thin layer of frost. The sky never cleared up but blue sky peeked through, highlighting mountain peaks. A thick fog covered the lower elevations of Anchorage and Cook Inlet.

The cold and recent winds had hardened the snow. The skiing was nice but it was hard not to think about biking these hardened trails - especially since I finally got my studs on yesterday. I was thinking about the last winter outing that Jo-Ann, Karen, and I did together. Last winter in early November, before there was much snow, we biked around the Campbell Tract (that's Karen in the photo).

Jo-Ann and I had a good time skiing today, but our final conversation was about biking together soon. So far, this is one of those winters when biking is definitely a viable alternative to skiing.

- posted by Corinne

Happy New Year

Welcome to the new year and the new group. I hope that the Alaska Dirt Divas will inspire more mountain biking women to join us in 2008.

While many of you are probably waxing your skis or riding your boards, for me, it's the season of snow biking. The hard-packed trails are just right for the fat tires.

Dress warm and enjoy the ride.