. . . is, as it always is: amazing.

Rolled in night before last; wife and I got settled into our digs and get ready for our first day here. Yesterday pretty laid back and low key; no Bike Park yet but that's OK - - have today and tomorrow for that. Besides, two days in WBP is like a week+ anywhere else. With 10am-8pm lifts, you can get more runs in than you have good sense.

Met up with never and two friends for a good romp over some of the XC trails in/out of the valley. Warmed up on Cut Yer Bars, then hunted down River runs Through It. Thought of you, scrublover, as I fumbled andclunked over these gnarly, rooty masses that seemed to magically rise out of the trail right on the approach to another tricky ladder section or skinny - - could have used your mad 'trialsy' skillz about then. Let's just say the black lines through those woods are terribly humbling and, even though you aren't going fast at all, have a different way of kicking your azz. You think you're a pretty good trail rider until you get into some of that.

Glad I'd been on a fair amount of wood before, because i finally got a little flow going and cleaned a couple of the series of wood. Felt cool. Also cleaned a couple climbs (on the Plummer's Nightmare) that I thought were going to be beyond my grasp. No climb was big or long but, with all the roots and rock knobs punctuating the trail, some were super techy. There was always some momentum-killer just in the crucial spot ready to reach out and grab a wheel.

Well, gotta get off and get some breakfast. I think we'll be getting an early start in the park today. Other guys are going down to Van later today/tonight for some of the nightlife so wanna get their park on when it opens (I hope). Over and out.