Hey Brad! Yeah, it was definitely a fun day 🙂 Logistically, it wasn't too challenging as i decided to keep the locations simple (i.e. just biking from the house). My roommate has a different style of foldable kayak, so it's interesting how many kinds of foldable outdoor toys there are! I've been keeping up with the weekly roller ski sessions, too. As always, thanks for tuning in and commenting 🤗

Thank you for the kind words, Frank! And for sharing your experiences :) I think I may have to amp up my next attempt because adventures sound way more intense than mine - haha! I love it :) Again, thanks for tuning in and for contributing to the conversation!

Thanks for the kind words! I appreciate it :)

Hey Steve, very cool about your woodpecker :) They are some of my favorite birds, particularly the big Pileated Woodpeckers. Thanks for watching, and for the comment. I appreciate it :)

Thanks, Greg! It was really fun :)

Thanks for the kind words :) Yes, I'm skate skiing rather than classic in this video. In a lot of respects, I equate roller skiing with skate skiing more than classic as the technique lends itself better to the gear. I don't own a set of classic roller skis yet, although I will probably eventually invest in a set. But I'm not a huge fan of classic roller skiing because the mechanism that's used to prevent the roller skis from rolling backwards is a type of stop system. The mechanics of that device essentially prevent the wheels from rolling backwards. And this artificial application of a "grip zone," in some cases, can lead to poor form. Because skate skiing is 100% technique-based (i.e. no grip zone to help you go forward so if you don't know proper technique it's super hard to go forward), I see roller skiing as being much more similar to skate skiing. The wheels essentially roll in both directions so, again, if you don't technique it's hard to go forward. Like I said, I'll probably buy a set of classic rollers skis in the future. But, for now, I'll skate ski roller ski :) Thanks again for tuning in and commenting!

@@JaredManninen I see what you mean about the roller skiing mechanism which is being used to approximate the grip zone. Let me add my perspective as I've been inline skating (rollerblading) for a bit more than a year now. I took this up mainly to get used to the feeling of sliding around given that I'm learning to ski as an adult. You can also carve turns with inline skates. The wheels are shaped in a way that they have the equivalent of edges which allow for parallel turns. I was having so much fun doing inline skating that I decided to take it up as a standalone hobby. The skate skiing method of pointing the feet in a v-shape is a beginner level stride when it comes to inline skating. It is useful for acceleration and going up slopes, but not so much for maintaining speed. There is an intermediate level stride where the supporting foot points straight ahead and the other leg goes out to the side for the push. This stride is more useful for maintaining speed. I've been trying to learn this stride and I'm nearly there at this point. It was quite challenging for me for a while as I realized that I didn't have good single leg balance with my left leg and also I was having a hard time keeping the weight centered on the supporting leg (again left) as the pushing leg goes out to the side. This stride feels more similar to classic skiing because the supporting foot points straight towards the direction of motion and you can also glide as the pushing leg recovers. The shorter wheelbase of inline skates allows for such a stride, so I think it may probably not work very well with rollerskis. There are a lot of fun things you can do with inline skates. My focus for now is on developing an efficient stride and be able to skate a small distance. I just wanted to add my thoughts about striding from an inline skating perspective.

​@@Krishna_Marri That's interesting about the rollerblade techniques. I've only tried them a handful of times way back in the mid-90s. But I fell once or twice and decided that was enough for me! haha :) I don't ice skate either which I'm sure is a slightly different technique, as well. This is all why it can be a mixed bag for people coming to xc skiing, though, specifically to skate skiing. I would say that half of the people who have experience in adjacent disciplines (rollerblading, ice skating, skating on alpine skis) can pick up the basics of skate skiing relatively quick. On the other hand, the other half of the people I work with become completely baffled by skate skiing. I think this boils down to the individual because some people find it harder to make small modifications to body movement (after they've been performing a certain movement for so long) than other people. Sometimes it's just a lot easier to learn from step one rather than trying to break an old habit. And I think that's why a lot of coaches in any sport/art would prefer people to come to them without any experience. Again, working with a blank canvas can just be a lot easier than trying to undo years of habit. All of that said, skate skiing (on snow or with roller skis) definitely sounds different than inline skating. Unless you're double poling or straight lining it downhill, you're always going to be skiing in a v-shape. The rule of thumb, however, is to be as narrow as possible but as wide as necessary. Wider for uphill, more narrow for flats. But there's no way to keep them parallel and still be able to glide and push off (while using proper technique). You always have to commit complete weight to the push-off ski, just like in classic, but in skate skiing it's a lateral push-off. And you're actually gliding on the ski when pushing off in skate skiing, whereas with classic skiing the push-off ski technically comes to a stop when you set the grip zone. That later part is one reason why skate skiing is an inherently faster style of xc skiing. Long story short, I'm just trying to keep all of the roller skiing as close to on-snow skiing as possible so that it's a seamless transition between the two. Thanks for the insight, and for contributing to the conversation. I appreciate it!

Thanks so much for the kind words! And glad I can inspire you :) I hope you're also having a great start to your summer.

Thank you for the feedback, Robert. I appreciate it 🤗

Hey Becky! I agree, not a bad problem/excuse to have - haha :) It appears that I'll be getting back to a set summer work schedule starting next week, so hopefully I'll have some time to produce at least a little more content moving forward. For the past few weeks I've only had one actual day off as we're getting the summer resort at which I work prepared for the season. Always a bit of a hectic push right at the beginning. Anyway, despite doing a lot of volunteer work at various outdoor events in Tahoe over the years, I have yet to help out with the Tahoe 200 ultramarathon. I've met people who've run it before, and it sounds awesome, so I may have to look at volunteering one of these years :) Do you run it or volunteer with it? Thanks for tuning in, and for the kind words :)

First off, good to see your doing A.O.K. Second, you bought a 400mm lens didn’t you??? Indeed it must have been a penny. The firewood takes me back in time. I dunno about you, but I feel soar looking at you work those logs. I’ve been bad in the strength training dept, always been doing the endurance workouts. I hope to change that soon. Anyways, Thanks for sharing the roller ski segment. My budget to buy a pair has been questionable, esp since I have inline skates. When I saw you step turning, I said “That’s another good reason to have a pair”. Since you have the fisher, why not get the brake accessory for the downhills? Anyways, nice views. I enjoy seeing the variable terrain and west cost geology. Cheers. E

@@ecphotographer Hey EC! I actually bought the Nikkor 300mm F/4 as it was moderately affordable on my budget. And, honestly, I wanted something less than the 500mm (max) that I had been using because oftentimes it's just too much zoom, particularly when walking around the forest or in thicker foliage. And I've only used a prime macro lens before, so this was a first taste of a telephoto prime :) Yeah, I was pretty sore after lifting all that wood! But I'm glad I got it. Not sure of what I'll do when I get older though. haha! I had considered buying the braking system by Fischer, but it just seems like a lot of extra stuff. And, it might encourage me to descend hills that I otherwise wouldn't on roller skis. I also like the idea of learning to evaluate/choose appropriate terrain for the gear in which I'm running. In all reality, though, I mostly want to use the roller skis for maintaining single leg balance and a little cardio workout. As always, thanks so much for the kind words and nice feedback :) p.s. I am having a lot of fun with that new lens. A lot faster than my kit lens, and it yields really crisp shots!

@@JaredManninen It always feels good when you can see great results and say to your self that your money is well spent.

@@ecphotographer Agreed! I was reminded last night my appreciation for a shorter lens when I used the longer for a specific bird scenario, but completely lost the shot because I had so much zoom. I just couldn't keep the bird in frame as it swooped directly over the top of me. Alas, everything is a work in progress ;)

You're welcome, Robert! Thanks for tuning in and commenting :)

Hey, thanks so much for the kind words! I really appreciate it. Over time, I'll make similarly themed styles of nature/citizen science/outdoorsy videos. But these ones definitely take a little more effort than some of my hiking/xc ski vlogs, for example. That, and I'm participating in the 2024 Tahoe Big Year (tahoebigyear.org/start.cfm ) right now, so most of my free time is looking for birds and processing photos (of birds). Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to also make lots of videos :) All of that said, if you haven't already watched my 2024 Bald Eagle Count video you should take a look as it's in the same vein of nature-related content (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/atF8ma-B0aqVdGg.htmlsi=eymIK0wEXLjmllL3 ). Thanks again for tuning in, and for subscribing!

Hey David! Yeah, spring has been well for me. I haven't been xc skiing in a while, though. Mostly I've been searching for birds for the Tahoe Big Year - but it has been fun :) I haven't had any business with The Backcountry before. I've driven by it plenty, but have never gone in there. And I haven't heard anything about it good or bad. I'm sure it's a decent place, though. I don't have any reason to believe otherwise. Good luck, and let me know what your experience is if you do end up shopping there.

Thanks so much for the nice feedback, and contributing to the conversation Peter :) I often find that I spend too much time analyzing the opportunity costs of embarking on one endeavor over another. And, then, I get caught in the middle somewhere. Pretty frustrating. But learning to let go of doing one thing over another is a great skill to master. And, it leaves you more things to do later, if they're still of interest. Again, I appreciate the kind words :)

Thanks so much! I appreciate the kind words :)

That is hilarious, and I can totally see it as I watch it over and over :) Definitely an optical illusion, though, as I think the terrain was undulating along the ridge so he was already gliding down/uphill when he came into frame. But I love that you noticed that!

Agreed! But living a thing for so long and then letting it go (even if it's only temporary) causes me to pause and reflect. It reminds me of saying goodbye in a relationship, or something similar. And, ultimately, when we're finished with one thing we have more space to do more stuff :)

I think there'll be snow in the higher elevations come June, but there are barely patches at lake level at this point in the season. Unfortunately, we just didn't have a very big snow winter this year (definitely nothing like last year!), in spite of some later season snow storms.

Very exciting! Congrats on the observation. It's funny because here at Lake Tahoe, I tend to see them pretty frequently during the warmer months (despite there technically being more of them in the winter). Then, again, I may end up seeing the same ones over and over during the summer. Or, I might just be traveling to more of the locations frequently that they hang out in the summer. Who knows, but they're always a joy to see!

Thanks so much for your kind words! And glad I could be of service :)

Hey David! Oh yeah, I definitely skate ski at Kirkwood XC, whether it be in the meadow, the Caples Creek trail system (featured in the video), or its Schneider Camp trail system. Lots of good terrain for skate skiing. And I actually taught a skate ski lesson later in the day :) As far as my winter work goes, I work at a couple of different cross-country ski resorts/centers. I've worked at Tahoe Donner Cross Country (Truckee) for 10 seasons, and this past winter at Kirkwood XC was my first season over there. Kirkwood is actually a lot closer to where I live, so I plan to be working there more from here on out. At both resorts I teach, work in rentals, sell trail passes, wax skis, and perform gear repairs if it's possible. And, of course, as needed we all shovel snow, help direct parking, do some trail maintenance, clean bathrooms. You name it, we mostly do a little bit of everything. And, like I said, that goes for both xc ski centers. Although, TDXC is far bigger so there's more personnel that perform more specific duties. Thanks for tuning in. I hope you had a great winter!

Thanks so much for the kind words, Kathleen! I appreciate it :) San Diego is definitely not a bad place to be in the winter, but not a lot of xc skiing down there! haha :) Glad you're enjoying my videos. And I hope you're able to keep enjoying your summers in Tahoe!

I mean, I know thats a given, but I guess I mean to target family and friends who are alpine skiers and open their horizons.

Thanks, EC! Although it's the end of the season, I would like to put some effort next season into building a practice of teaching/skiing with others here at Lake Tahoe :) There's so much terrain and potential for it.

That would be great to do. It's a whole other way in which to enjoy winter. And, realistically, it'll only help to increase a person's alpine skills too!

@@JaredManninen(Improving Alpine Skills) Oh -How so? I can see how telemark skiing directly relates, free-heelin’ with hard boots or skating in the flats, but, was there something else that I am overlooking?

​@@ecphotographer Since xc skis are usually a lot skinnier (particularly track and skate skis) a person develops better balance on the skis, as well as more effective single leg balance. And because xc skis don't do much to help with downhill technique (as most of us know firsthand - haha), as you develop your downhill skills on xc skis it translates to better downhill skills on alpine skis because, again, it takes far more specific movement to effectively downhill on xc skis :)

Thanks so much! There does seem to be a small handfuls of ways in which to log that many days each season, with the main one being that you live near/at a skiable location. That said, it's almost like you also have to either work in the industry (so you're always at the resort, for example) or are retired. But I appreciate that you're able to get out as much as you do, as well as to have other non-skiing outdoor adventures. I thought I was going to incorporate more overnights this winter, but I think I'm going to have to put a bit more effort into planning those outings next season. Life just got in the way, as well as the occasional snowstorms (that I wanted to avoid being in for overnights). But it's all good. Let's hope for the both of us that we have something a bit more normal next winter. Ours didn't feel like it really got started until February this time around. Anyway, thanks so much for tuning in. Keep in touch!

Thanks, Mike! It was definitely a great xc ski experience :)

Thank you :)

Agreed! But, to be honest, this won't be my last xc ski session of the season. It was just the last at work. There's still lots of snow in the backcountry ;)

So glad I can be of service - haha :) But, seriously, thanks for tuning in and for the kind words. I really appreciate!

I know, right?! Such a beautiful day and wonderful conditions! I'm glad I was able to ski when I did because it was just so perfect. There were a number of skiers throughout the day, but for a Saturday with pristine conditions it was relatively quiet. But, in all fairness, the trails that I was skiing were intermediate so a lot of beginners wouldn't necessarily ski them. But, still, the scenery alone is reason enough to take some lessons to become a better skier! Thanks for tuning in, especially since I know you're pretty far removed from xc skiing at this point in your season. So I appreciate the support :)

Hey Jennifer! Thanks so much for all of the nice feedback! And, as I've said before, I'm really glad to be a source of motivation to continue training and xc skiing as much as possible. Keep at it! Mostly I use an older GoPro Hero8 Black for my xc ski videos. It seems to do an adequate job, although I'm sure newer models will probably have some nicer options. But I'm now pretty familiar with this particular camera that I know what I can and can't do with it. Honestly, though, I don't do much by way of creative shots. I often just use whatever terrain and or simple mounts that I can come up with to capture some useable footage to tell a little story. And I generally only use three different transitions (dissolve frame-to-frame, dissolve to black, and straightforward cuts). Since I'm generally a one-person operation, I just keep things as simple as possible. As always, thanks so much for tuning in and for all of the kind words. I really appreciate it :)

@@JaredManninen Thanks for the tip on the GoPro. I am looking for something simple to use. Is this the camera you used to record you in your car as you drive?

@@jenniferwoltjen Yep, I was using my GoPro on the drive to work. It has a decent in-camera microphone, although I've recently picked up a set of wireless mics that I'll eventually have to test out. The problem with those mics, however, is that I need to use the "media mod" with it (because the mics have a receiver that needs to be attached to the GoPro). I also use a 12 inch bendable tripod as a short selfie stick and way in which to mount or place the camera.

Hey Brad! Yeah, "wow" is what we kept saying too. So beautiful out there. But today our high will be around 58 degrees (F), so I think the views will still be great, but not quite the same :)

Great catch! Yes, that was Round Top. We didn't climb very high as the snow was a bit more wind-blown and transformed there (and our downhilling skills are still a work in progress - haha!). But the views were stunning. It's a great place to xc ski tour :) Thanks for tuning in :)

You're welcome, Randy! I filmed all the groomer-related skiing at Tahoe Donner Cross Country in Truckee. They're still open for business, so check them out if you have time in the next week or two :)

@@JaredManninen Thank you!

You're welcome 🤗

Hey Wayne! Thanks so much for the nice feedback! I really appreciate it :) And you're not the first to find use out of some of my older videos, especially this one. So, I'm glad to be of service :) Let me know if ever have any specific questions. I'm always around to one degree or another.

Hey Dave! Thanks so much for the kind words. I appreciate it :) And glad I can inspire you to give backcountry xc skiing a go! I absolutely love going off-trail and exploring locations that are either totally new or made new because I'm use to traveling them during the warmer months (and mostly sticking to a well-worn trail). Dealing with steeper angles of terrain can definitely be a barrier to exploring, but first learn to be safe and then focus on style. For example, I can negotiate anything that's really steep either by side-stepping, side-slipping, snowplowing, or using the herringbone. But I actually want to have some fun going downhill by learning to turn (with some style!). So, ultimately, this is all just a long-term learning process. And it's a super fun one! Thanks for the feedback on the hat, too. It's actually a popular brand that features tons of nature-related designs. So, it's not my own. But you give me some motivation to design my own bird-related illustrations to put on ball caps. I'll have to see if that's an option and put one together :) Anyway, thanks again for tuning in and for all of the nice feedback. Let me know if you ever have any specific questions, and I'll do my best to answer them in a timely fashion.

Thanks Jared, I agree on your comment. I can herring bone, side-step and to a limited extent do some sideslipping. As with you I really would like to enjoy the downhill skiing aspect rather than just making it down the hill...LOL Would like to see what you come up with for a hat design. Really appreciate Ospreys. Amazing how deep they can dive. A few times I didn't think they could make it back into the air. Always like to see the way they orient the fish head first when flying too. @@JaredManninen

@@xcskier871 Yeah, that's the name of the game for a lot of us -- having fun on those downhills! :) Osprey are definitely one of my favorite birds, too. And it's always neat to see it in flight with the fish facing forward!

Hey Blair! Generally speaking, I keep most of my backcountry downhilling on xc skis to less than 30 degrees. I don't really want to deal with avi concerns and, as you can see, I'm still working on my technique :) That said, I'm pretty confident doing Telemark turns in deeper snow on steeper angles (probably still around 30, but if steeper only for short pitches between easier terrain) as the deeper snow is a bit more forgiving. And in firm snow conditions I do some serviceable modified parallel turns fairly confidently. Well, assuming that the snow's surface is mostly uniform like groomed terrain. If things get too steep and icy, for example, I'll usually just sideslip the whole thing. I'm not getting any younger, and the falls hurt a little more nowadays ;) In time, I'd love to be able to perform any kind of turn in any kind of snow condition on any angle of terrain. But, for now, I pick and choose from my limited toolbox in order to get down safely. Thanks for tuning in, and for the question :)

Very cool, Mike! I appreciate all your support :) And glad I could be of service! I just checked out that channel (Cinto Verdauger) and it's really great! I absolutely loved the video of the 1980s demonstration. I may have to watch that about a million times more to commit the movement to memory :) I know that Telemark skiing has evolved over the decades. However, that's also a function of the evolution of the gear. So, in many respects, what we're trying to accomplish as far as Telemark turning probably has more to do with the older style (because we're still doing it on super lightweight cross-country ski gear like they were). Anyway, it's all good stuff. So thanks for passing that channel on! As far as my xc ski days go for the season, I just logged day #95 this afternoon. I'll be going out tomorrow, as well, so I assume by next weekend I'll have 100. Thanks for asking :)

Thanks so much for the kind words, Heather. I appreciate it :) Yep, lots of training and practice and falling. But everything is possible. Just stick with it as much as you can. And I'll do the same - haha! Thanks for tuning in, and for contributing to the conversation :)

Thank you! It was definitely challenging snow in which to turn. But it was snow, and I'm still skiing :) Hope you're doing well and enjoying your spring!

Hey Ben, That sounds like a perfect plan for that age group! I hope you all had fun today :) And thanks for tuning in, and the nice feedback. I appreciate it!

Thanks for the kind words, and nice feedback! I appreciate it :) I think with the terrain that I ski (more rolling) and my style/approach (emphasis on striding), NNN BC and a simple 3-pin is just fine. Thanks again for tuning in, and for contributing to the conversation!

Hey David! I appreciate the kind words :) And, yeah, we actually received quite a bit of snow! And there's some more in the forecast for Wednesday - Saturday. Not sure if this next storm will amount to much, but at this point in the season all of the extra precip is a bonus. As to your question, I run my S-bound 112s with the Alpina Alaska 75mm boots a lot in deep snow conditions. I like the setup as the boots offer a lot of support and the basic 3-pin enables me to exert a fair amount of pressure onto the ski. But the setup isn't so rigid that I'd ever worry about ripping out the bindings from the skis (due to too much pressure being placed on the bindings) or breaking the bindings (bail) altogether (like I've seen happen with hard plastic boots). I don't really have any other detailed feedback about the setup because the boots, bindings, and skis work just fine. Again, I use them when the snow is deep. So last year I used them the most out of all my skis/boots. My only complaint (which is minimal) is that the rubber duck bill can squeak a bit when there's wetter snow caught between boot and binding. Not a big deal though. Essentially, my litmus test for any boots/bindings is whether or not I notice them during use. And, when I say "notice them" I'm talking about noticing something that's off. If I can ski freely without feeling like something's lacking, the setup is good enough for me. And that's been my experience with the S-bound 112mm, Rottefella Super Tele 3-pin bindings, and the Alpina Alaska 75mm boots. They work great. All of that said, I did just buy a set of Fischer BCX Transnordic 75mm boots as a backup in case something happens to the Alaska boots. However, I haven't used them yet. They look and feel super awesome, though. Sorry I couldn't be more detailed in my review but, like I said, I have no real complaints about the setup :) Thanks again for tuning in, and for all your support!

@@JaredManninen Thanks for taking the time for such a thorough reply! I have a pair of Alaska 75's that I've been using with some pretty old Fischer Country Crown and E99 skis--and enjoying. But now that I've moved to the Mt. Shasta area, I keep thinking of going to wider skis with more side-cut. And, I'd also like to use the Fischer Easy skins--for climbing and descending in especially unfavorable conditions. You know how sometimes the snow is so bad you just want to get down in one piece. Jared, I hope you keep producing content. You and I and quite a few folks in the Mt. Shasta area are in the same game of doing the off-track XC downhill exploring winter thing. Keep at it!

​@@davidpfurr4350 You're welcome, David :) Yeah, I'll definitely keep making videos. I think I'm just kinda slowing down a bit now that the season is tapering off (in spite of the fact that I'll be skiing for at least another month or two!). I think a lot of people just start to check out as spring rolls around. But I'll keep grinding - haha! I don't use my S-bound 98s as much as I thought I would, but I have a basic 3-pin mounted on them. So maybe I'll pull them out for this spring and try to run them more often. I use the Alpina Alaskas with those, too. I think you'd be happy with either the 98s or 112s as they're all around great backcountry xc skis. Maybe the 98s would be more in line with your needs, now that I think of it. Off the top of my head, I don't recall if the dimensions are too far off, but the 98s features a slightly more narrow waist. So better for initiating turns. Anyway, glad to hear you're still out there keeping the dream alive, too! Have a great season of spring skiing, and keep in touch :)

Thanks, Brad! I appreciate it :) And, yes, it does come with a bump in hourly pay too ;) I agree that the commute to Kirkwood XC is quite stellar, especially on a snowy day like this. It also can be pretty congested with traffic, though, due to everyone trying to get to the downhill aspect of the mountain on a powder day. I downplayed it in this video, but there was a huge caravan of tons of vehicles heading to Kirkwood this morning. But, I do my best to keep gaps in front of and behind me while driving in such icy conditions so at least I don't feel like I'm driving in a rolling traffic jam - haha :) That's a bummer that you didn't have much of a winter this time around. We've been gifted with a bunch of later season (Feb/March) snow, so it still feels kinda like winter. But it is jarring to go from 55 degree (F) days to a foot of snow and stormy conditions. I'm not going to say that I don't appreciate the boost to the snowpack, but I was enjoying some fine spring weather - haha! Looks like the forecast is calling for more snow during the second half of the week. So I guess it's not over yet! Anyway, thanks again for tuning in and for the nice feedback! I appreciate it :)

Thank you so much! It's been a long process, to say the least, so I'm glad that chapter has officially come to a close. Moving forward, however, I'm working toward being on the USA Western Division cross country education staff. I'm pretty happy about the new snow, as well, but every storm feels a bit shocking this season because everything has been so late this winter. We had high temps and total sunshine for days, and then to see a foot of new snow just is a bit jarring. But it's all good, and especially great for the overall snowpack. As far as winter tires go, many people do swap out their regular tires for either a dedicated snow tire or one with studs on it. I've had all-season/winter-rated tires on my vehicles for a number of years, though, so I don't really change anything and they work just fine. Well, I also happen to be a lifelong winter driver as well (i.e. I grew up driving in snow/ice). Thanks again for tuning in, and for the nice feedback. I appreciate it :)

Now, were you hanging up your coat at the resort for the season or forever? Hoping I could request some skate ski videos for 2024-2025, lol!

Thank you :) I definitely can't complain about the commute other than it's a tad long for my liking, but the views rock!

I'll still be working some shifts at Kirkwood XC for the next couple of weeks, but many of us have been asked to turn in our uniforms for Tahoe Donner Cross Country. So, it's just an ending of the season. I plan on working at both xc centers again next year (and for the foreseeable future). You're not the first to ask, so I'll start putting together some notes/plans to make some skate skiing videos for 2024-25. I've been putting it off for a long time because there's already so many skate skiing related videos on KZfaq, particularly by racers and former racers. So I just haven't wanted to compete with those videos. However, I think it's an appropriate time to publish some. Well, next season anyway. So, yes, I'll plan for that :) Thanks for the prompt!

Hi Jared - I know about the Level 3 Cert because I was out there with you, but congrats also on seeing all those birds. Enjoy the snow while it lasts - Janet

@@ecoengyabo Hey Janet! So good to hear from you :) It was a fun day to ski with you and the others. So funny that you just missed our latest snowstorm, too. Thanks so much for the kind words, and for tuning in :)

Thanks so much! It was a great day :)

Neat news about the hawk too.

Thanks so much! I appreciate it :)

Agreed! I was so grateful for the call, and that it was still hanging out :)

Thanks, Dave! I appreciate it :)

Hey Jessica! Thanks so much for the kind words and feedback. I really appreciate it :) I'm glad to hear that you're having a great time with cross-country skiing. Let me know if you ever have any specific questions :)