May update

Since the last time you heard from me I spent two weeks on Kauai, 3 days driving my new (to me) car from Utah to AK, had some sweet spring skiing and now I am just finishing up my 5th week of training for the year.

After a great week in Fairbanks to end the season I enjoyed doing absolutely nothing for a week before Annie, Hazel and I got on a plane to spend two weeks in Kauai. The last time we were in Hawaii we were on the go pretty much the whole day. This time with the addition of a 5 month old definitely made us adjust the pace. We got in some sweet hikes and saw some amazing things, all a little closer to the car that we had before.

There was another big life change this spring when the 1987 VW van that I have driven since I learned how to drive retired. It has been replaced by a 2001 Audi A4 wagon that I bought down in Salt Lake and spent three days after Hawaii driving the 3000 miles home. So much more fun to drive and this winter is going to be a whole new experience with a heater that works and the sweet bonus of heated seats! Still the van will be missed...

The first training period of the year is 3 days from completion before I get my first week off. We hit things off pretty hard with the first training and testing camp starting April 27. There was some great crust skiing down in Turnagain Pass that we got to take advantage of to make the break in to training much easier on the body. Plus the chance to watch a bunch of people who aren't the greatest tele skiers unleash their skills on race skis is a blast!

Since then I have been settling into the routine of summer. Training, working, and spending time with baby Hazel. The pace of life has had to adjust a little bit. Not quite as much down time so my time management has had to improve a little. It makes me focus more on what I am doing and I think for the training it is a good thing. Something I like to think I have been pretty good at, but it has been forced to a new level.

During the week off I get to spend a day or two helping coach the APU juniors at the first APU Death Camp down in Girdwood. East High's xc team used to have a Death Camp back in the 1990's and Charlie Renfro decided to bring it back. Not sure what the details are but there will be some sweet adventures.