Soldier Hollow has never been better.  Perfect skiing, cold weather, sunshine... Here Dr. Jones strides it out.

Andy Newell at the base of Hermod's hill.  6 x 4min intervals.

If you are into cross country skiing at all... Mm, Mm, Mm, that looks good.

Little skier, big nature.

Kris Freeman - what a great job with preparation this year.  Here at SoHo putting in some KM.

Newell: two-time winner of our doing-it-right award.

Andrew Johnson - intervals anyone?

Soldier Hollow and the Heber Valley.  If you have a few days, enjoy the XC and live anywhere near it'd be worth a trip.

Sundog.

Mornings have been shrouded in low clouds and fog which burns off quickly as the sun comes up.  Here Andrew Johnson in a morning session.

PM session.  The sun is now down... and the show must go on.

Did someone say intervals?

Tree.

Blue evening from the top of SoHo.  Temp is down to 1degree F.  Between taking lactates and taking some video I get in a few shots and stomp around in the snow.  That ain't bad living.

Training has gone very well since coming home from Europe.  It is December 22nd.  Our last race of the season is April 2nd.  Our last world cup is March 25th.  Both are over 3 months away.  Between now and then our big events are World Cups in Russia, Estonia, and Davos.  Junior World Champs and Under 23 World Champs in Italy as well as some Continental Cup races in Middle Europe.  Then World Champs in Japan, and the whole tour of Scandinavian World Cups.  Next stop is Nationals starting Jan 3.  That's a lot of racing on the near horizon.  Our next huge goal is the Olympics in 2010.  There is lots of time to prepare and not a single day to waste.

Train hard, Rest well.  Enjoy the process.

There is no other way.

(Vordenberg Images)