Goggle tans and Couloirs

Well sad news, spring has arrived here in Kaprun, no more powder, no more frozen faces. The snow here in the village is al but gone we have to ski on the glacier now because the lower elevation areas are now mud. Spencer and I have about three weeks left here, so we are skiing every day hence the raccoon goggle tan. Now that the snow is more stable we have been doing a fair share of bacountry tours, skied our first steep couloir, we figured it was around 50 degrees so kinda steep. Its strange to think we will be leaving soon, we have made so many friends here and have done so much it feels like home but we have big plans for the next few months. After Österreich we are going to Arco in Italy to climb and explore lake Garda as well as lake Como, and depending on money might go to Croatia where we have friends working at a hostel. So winter might be on the fritz but our adventures are far from it.

Tchüss von Kaprun!

Apres und skifarhen

I am loving the ski culture here, every where you go people are nutty about skiing. The coolest thing I have found is that the resorts don't care if you hike up, hell you can even skin up with your dog on the busiest run and no one even looks. Another funny story Spencer an I were making laps on the local race hill and the lifty asked us to fix the broken gates, so we did little did we know he wanted to pay us..... in Shnaaps, it was ten in the morning. So needless to say lunch came early that day. Lunch is great Ski instructors get Shnizzel, salad and a Skiwasser (raspberry sparking water) for five Euro, quite nice. Another really weird to see is cows, yes cows its not uncommon on the local ski hill to see a tractor drive down the hill feeding the herd. Still not used to skiing through the trees and seeing some big heifer looking at you with a huge Tirolean bell around her neck. Its not just the cows that are different Apres Ski is serious business around here, people quite skiing around three thirty and start drinking beer and glüwein( warm red wine with nutmeg and cinnamon in it). The Apres winds down around six thats when every one goes home has dinner and proceeds to pass out.  So that about it for now, hope all is well

Servus!!

The terminator and cold ass feet.

What a week,even though my hiking boots got stollen by drunk Germans at my hostel, Im still having fun. We got about 10in of new snow followed by blue skys. But the real excitement came from the Hannekam. The Hannekam is the worlds fastest and biggest FIS downhill in the world, and I was in the middle of a bunch of hammered Austrian and Swiss people with my single American flag. The town of Kitzbule was filled with people from all countries and sining dancing, eating, drinking and talking so much smack about who has the best skier, but we all know America does even though we didn't perform as well as I would have liked to see. Oh and how could I forget, I grazed the one and only Arnold Schwarzenagar, who oddly enough was the only American I came across. Austrian is such a skiing country racing for them is like football for us so I felt like I was in my Shangri-La, could really get used to staying here. Well thats about it, stay warm back there sounds like Bend is getting some serious snow, until next time. Ciao

Alles gute

     Busy,busy,busy. I started training for work this week. We start at 8 and end at 4 so its been a long week. The snow here in Kaprun is amazing, we got 14 feet on the upper areas. The town is nice it borders a large lake so theres always something going on. Spencer packed his bags and headed off to Cortina D' Apezzo in Italy to ski, so he should be back in a few weeks, He is just chasing this storm until it stops, not a bad life. Next week is the Hannekam race in Kitz, the most popular race in the world so im looking forward to that. Im loving Austria and am planing some side trips to Munich and Italy both are close and cheap by train. The hostel I am in is horrible its right out of a horror film, but the coffee is free and strong so cant complain to much. Oh and did I mention this is the biggest snow year in Europe in the last 10 years. Time is going by so fast in no time the winter will be over and ill be on a beach in Sicily, but until then its skiing and sleeping. 
Hope all is well back home, and if any one wants to mail be a Long Board Burrito I would not be apposed.

Keep riding that winter wave!
Servus!

Slow roasting

Slow Roasting- Verb for sitting around waiting for more snow. We had a few really good pow days at Kitz, Mike Stokes if youre reading this Kitz is the place to be on a pow day tons of chutes and glades its so good. We have had some trouble with the food thing, all they eat her is meat, meat and more meat. But luckily we found a wonderful Turkish place that has bomb food and we have befriend the owner/chef after every meal he sits down with us to sip on Raki and talk politics, a great way to end a day of skiing. New Years was fun nothing spectacular just lots of fireworks and ski jumping. Im looking forward to start working and have more of a routine. It keeps blowing my mind how beautiful this country is the mountains are so awe inspiring that every day we just look out and talk about what we want to ski next and how we will never have time to ski all of it, the ski bum's conundrum I suppose. Snow is coming in a few days so until then more black jack with out Swede friend and then off to Zell am See for some steeps. Oh and one more thing about food, I miss Mexican so damn much!! Well thats my ramble for the day hope all is well back home.

Servus,

Living it!

Trains, Buses, Hitch hiking, All in the name if skiing. We went to Kitzbule which was so fun. The skiing is so good cliffs to huck and so much powder hidden in the trees, oh and stretch pants, thats right the 70's are alive and kicking in Kitz. All the who's who's of Europe go there so needless to say to Oregon bums stick out. We got a ride with a rancher who gave us the inside scoop on where to ski some BC once more snow falls.  After kitz we loaded up and and headed to Saalbach to ski with Signe and her family. Saalbach was kick ass its like Lake Tahoe of  Austria good skiing, with even better Apres. It was great to be with a family we were fed so well not to mention the loads an loads of Danish  liquor. I miss them all ready and can not wait to show them around Bend come July. Every thing is going so well could not ask for a better area to be in. Well until next time. Servus! ( Austrian for goodbye) 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Well it has been a very long and exiting past few days. 
All of our flights went well and there was few hiccups minus the old Austrian woman on the plane who kept talking to me even though i understood very little, but Shnaaps is a great common denominator esspecialy at 20,000 feet. The village we are in is great it has around three thousand people and we have yet to meet an American so thats always a good sign. We celebrated chistmas last night with some with friends from the hostel. We made fondu, and drank way to much German beer which tastes like PBR by the way. The skiing has been great and sense all the Euros just stay on the run its powder city for Spencer and I. I feel truly blessed on this Christmas great snow, cheap beer, cute girls and a comfy bed. Alles Gutte! 

Merry Christmas!