Jay Richards

Wednesday morning we drove up as far as I felt comfortable up the plateau road. It wasn't great skiing but the weather was absolutely incredible and any time on the skis is all good. No wind whatsoever and great views from the top of the plateau. Fun to explore around a bit and if there had been great snow on the Rendezvous system, we might not of made it up there. Now we know the lay of the land a bit better and in the future might bring the tele/bc/rondene boards out and explore some bowls and what not. When we came back down to the car, we ran into Wynn Roberts and Leif Nordgren. Always seem to run into Wynn at ski events. Wynn growing up nearby at Battle Lake and pretty neat to see someone from west central MN do so well in biatholon. Funny, great kid, nice family. Wynn raced a lot of high school races here at Maplelag and won the Lotvola Cup in 2007. He has a good chance making the Olympic team and wish him the best.



The CXC team was on Whiskey Creek road, where we skied on Tuesday, and I am sure they were not happy it was not groomed. Talked to Doug and got the run down and just isn't that simple to go up there and groom considering the road has to be plowed which Doug said would be about $1000, you have to deal with the Fed government and have some serious parking concerns etc. Hopefully they get a couple and good to go for the weekend and don't have to worry about it. It might get warm later but shorter days and low sun angle, they will be just fine.



Loaded up the equipment and on the road and out of WY by 1pm. Quick stop at the Co-op in Bozeman and then drove straight back, only stopping for gas. One stop was in Glendive and had to take a picture of the bill below. Can't believe they can pull something like that off. Wild. Wonder if they will have a 2nd annual. First person I thought of was Jonell's brother and second person was Larry who used to own the Izaak Walton Inn and remember him telling me how they used to shoot coyote on the ranch.

Rolled in at 4am after behind the wheel for 14 hours and having to deal with some black ice around Bismarck which was very hairy, which was not fun driving at 40-50mph on the interstate for almost 4 hours. Crazy, snowed like 6 hours during the trip but all the places it snowed, when they woke up this morning, probably not more than an inch anywhere to write home about. Little bit of snow at home but not enough snow to roll. It will come. Won't be long.
Lake froze over Monday night and just thick enough to walk on. Down to O degrees tonight will set up some big time ice and should be some skating this weekend!