Here comes the sun...

.......for the first time in about a week! Yes, after 7 days of being socked in with heavy fog, drizzle, 48 degree temps, and rain the sun decided to peak its head this morning. Luckily I was sitting at a desk from 8-5, so I didn't have to worry about its harmful rays burning my pale, pale skin. I left work at 5 o'clock fully intending on lifting weights, but the sunny day inspired me and I decided to go mtn biking w/ some friends instead.

For those of you who aren't "in the loop" (feel bad, all my good friends know this already:), mountain biking has filled a hole in my heart. The hole came about when I realized that the 75 bucks I spent to have my lovely girlfriend send my climbing gear was all for nothing, as Alaskan rock is about as good as Alaskan sweet tea or Alaskan bluegrass.( Not good, in case you're wondering. I found both of these out the hard way after being psyched that I found them). Luckily for me, the park issued me an entry-level Kona mountain bike w/ a front suspension as my commuter. Well a few turns of the allen wrench, and two reflectors and a rack later, and I had a trail-worthy bike. I've been getting out a few days a week to supplement the marathon training that I am doing and it's been super fun. But back to today..

Today we rode Lost Lake, a 14 mile out and back that has supposedly been called one of the "top 10 mountain bike rides in the continental U.S." by a few bike mags. Right now only about 8 miles are free of snow, but those eight miles definitely live up to the hype! The trail is rocky and rooted enough to provide a technical challenge on the climb, but smooth and fast enough that the descent will blow your mind. Top it off with a few splashes through streams, the threat of bears (buddies saw one on the trail Sunday), and 100' cliffs on the side of some parts of a narrow trail and you have a classic good time. My buddy Greg had too good a time today and actually took about a 20' tumble down a STEEP hill into some alders, thorns and rocks..it was a grim reminder that we needed to be careful, and I was astonished that he was okay after the fall he took.

Anyway it was a great day that was much needed after a rather boring week spent stuck in the office with rain and clouds hanging around for far too long. I am psyched to be here again, and I hope you all are feeling the same way about where ever you are. Enjoy the few pics/video I got before the camera died.

Cheers,

Mike