I guess this is going to seem fairly anti-climatic after those tulip pictures, but here's a few pictures of the ridge to river race that took place last weekend while Jess was frolicking at the beach:We slept in a cabin at a boy scout ranch that one of my co-workers arranged for. It was about 10 miles down the canyon from the ski resort where the start line was. We got up in the morning and headed up the mountain, and this is the view:

Then they shot the gun and we raced:

The thing with the race division we were in was that we could only use "recreational" cross country ski equipment, this means no "skate style" technique can be used, so you pretty much just go for a jog wearing skis and carrying poles. Not all that recreational it turns out. Nor is it that fun trying to ski down a mountain in edgeless plastic skis with soft floppy shoes for boots. I had snow jammed so far down into my ear from one wipeout that I couldn't get it out until it melted and ran out on its own. Luckily, the race was organized with a down-hill leg, where the cross country ski guys pass of to downhill skiers who actually have real skis and boots. Our man Pat (bearded mountain man seen below) made it down in just over 8 min. I took 45 on my skis! So downhill ski passes to runner to biker to canoes (by now we are all on the Columbia river) and then we all pick up the canoe and run to the finish line together.

Post race victory poses: