Global Weirding

     Skiers are funny. Well, it's people in general that are funny, but skiers are the ones that cause me to bring up this topic. You see, we're having  a long dry spell down here in Southwest Colorado. It's been warm too.  Not so good for ski conditions, or the businesses that make money from skiers.  I hear it so many times a day; "We need more snow." "When is it going to snow?"  People bring up the Farmer's Almanac, and what some Old Timer out in Mancos said about the weather patterns way back when. Almost no one seems to bring up that the past is no longer very relevant to weather patterns. That the very lifestyle we lead is screwing up the the lifestyle we want to lead. That coal fired power plant that produces electricity to power the chair lift? The car I drove for an hour each way to go skiing in the back country? All the things we bought that are produced with petrol chemicals, and then shipped from the other side of the world powered by more petrol? It has caused an amazing shift in the climate, and it isn't going away any time soon. Bitching about the weather is kind of like a smoker complaining about air pollution. We are not innocent victims of Mother Nature's wrath. We are spoiled brat children of the Earth that cannot learn to share.
     What to do about it? I don't know, I think we're screwed for the most part. However, I've heard it said that the first step toward recovery is admitting you have a problem. What I'm advocating is that we all start admitting we have a problem with consumption that is changing the world on a very large scale. If skiing is your thing, perhaps consider a move to Montana or Canada.  Mountain biking on dry trails in January might just be the new "norm".  Or, we can stay in denial like any good addict.

The Sleeping Ute

     Enough for the Soapbox. In my little world things are good. The trails are amazing for running right now. I'm heading down to Southern Arizona this weekend to crew and pace for a friend in a hundred miler. This is something I wish I could do more of; go to Ultras and volunteer. I love the atmosphere and community at these events, and I love to witness those mental breakthroughs.

California Dreamin'

     I spent a week in the Bay Area for Christmas. There are a lot of freakin' people there. I'm glad they like it. I got to run in shorts in some fantastic weather. I spent most of my mornings sipping coffee on the deck with the hum of the freeway traffic in the background. I imagined what a paradise the place must have been before the modern era. Before the endless suburbs it must have been such a bountiful place for the Native inhabitants. I caught a few glimpses of why it is so popular. Then, although I enjoyed the time there, I happily returned to the boring quiet of Southwest Colorado.
    

MK running in the Marin Headlands

Mt. Diablo and the Devils' smog

Pirate's Cove, Marin Headlands

San Francisco

If you live in California (or anywhere for that matter) and you are curious about  Southwest Colorado, I'd say you probably wouldn't like it. It snows and gets cold. There is no culture. We don't have a Trader Joe's.  It pretty much consist of rednecks in big trucks, lazy stoners, and dogs. There are a lot of dangerous wild animals and deadly avalanches. The place is only fit for vultures and coyotes.

Happy New Year!