Artwork @ Auburn

    Well, the rain did not stop me and G from tearing it up.  The Auburn skate park was a fun mix of bowls and street.  The artwork along the surrounding wall was very cool;

Auburn skate park, in Oldtown by the Overlook Park

    Then it was back up to Truckee for some light snow and full moon mirkiness.  The dense fog was creepy in the moonlight, and I always think of the history of the place; people stuck, starving, cold.  I am thankful for the food and warmth I get up here in this cold place. 

Auburn, CA

oldtown skatepark

  It is raining, and they say it is needed, but I'm going skating.  Oldtown Auburn it is...  It is supposedly like the Grass Valley one, which was very fun.  As long as it keeps sprinkling like it is, I will be good to go. 

Donner Lake

    On Saturday I skied from Truckee to Squaw Valley.  It took me 4 hours, and it got dark on me after I was out of the woods and walking on the road.  I got there and got a warm cider with whiskey from my friend K bartending at a place called Rocker at Squaw Village.  Everything up there is at least 2 dollars, not a good place for a poor traveller.  But I met someone who may get me a job.  It's working in a restaurant at the top of the ski mountain, and you take a Futinel to get there. 
    Yesterday we drove to Reno to drop off a friend at the airport.  We went to In-n-Out, of course.  It is amazing how the desert is just right there over the mountains from Tahoe, big treeless ranges, golden in the sun.  God Bless America. 
    Today I got out on a nice adventure x-c skiing around Donner Lake.  I skied up onto the ridge above the lake, looking down to where I am staying with G, and behind me the Pacific Coast Trail peaks, all covered in white.  I junp-turned, scrambled over rocks, and crunched through live oak bushes to get down to the train tracks that connect San Francisco to the eastern lands.  The rocks out here are hard granites and volcanic rock that looks like it was bubbly when it formed, probably andesite.  The huge conifers produce a sweet smell, and the neon green moss that grows on them adds to the overall beauty of the sunny, warm day.  I did get to make a few nice turns on the southern facing slopes, as the snow there was completely transformed into corn, wheras the shady parts of the mountain have a terrible breakable crust. 

     

Mo' SunnyShine

    I got to go x-c skiing yesterday, out in the beautiful crunchy snow.  Some places were melted off on the suuny side of the hill. Although there is only a foot or two of snow, the Donner Mtns. hold it well, and I made my way around and down and up a small mountain.  A good view of North Star Ski Area graced me the whole time.  I got back to my car in time to go to town and skate.
    The Truckee Park...  Gotoo goooooo!   

JOBLESS

  I am trying to get a job up here in Truckee... I applied at Sugar Bowl, the ski area up near Donner Summit.  I may apply at Northstar also.  There is always snow shovelling for hourly wages, if it ever snows.  I guess I will have to make up something to get by.  I would like to stay up here for a while; the kids are cool and the skiing looks awesome.  I REALLY NEED THIS JOB, I HOPE I GET THIS JOB.

Sunshine

    I just got to an old friends house.  Being in the company of someone you have not seen in some time is a great thing.  Slowly but surely the snow is melting off at the Truckee Skatepark.  I learned today it was built in '97, which I guess is pretty early on in the concrete park designs.  I keep hearing of more warm weather, so I think I will skateboard on until I find something else to do.                I met the kid who shovelled out the small bowl, and we cleared out another section of the bigger bowls.  Then someone else cut a small path around the whole area, so it's kinda like snowskateing, if that is even a word.  There is always someone at the park, I've noticed, at least around here.  One thing for sure, there is definitely some shredding to do on skateboards or skis, unless it doesn't snow anytime...

Truckee Skate Park

 I saw these guys at squaw valley tearing up the glades!  Ha!

    Yesterday I went to the Truckee Skate Park and after pushing the snow off to have a little spot to skate and soaking my shoes to the socks, two kids showed up to jib on snowboards.  They let me use their snow shovel, so I cleared off a large section of the street area.  Also the little bowl was clean of snow, so I started shredding... 


There is the little bowl in foreground.  All the rest of the bowls have snow in them right now, but I may shovel some more with my new friend and his 12 year-old son.  Go rip no matter the conditions!

Blacksmith

    This week I toured two different blacksmith shops.  The first was Mountain Forge in Truckee.  I met the father of the business and his son Toni.  When I shook Toni's hand I noticed the sheer strength in his grip.  It was like putting my hand around a block of wood.    http://www.mtnforge.com/    The shop had two bay doors for bringing tools and metal in.  There were three power hammers, numerous anvils, torches, and all the necesary tools for working metal.

    The other shop I went to was called Striker Forge, over in Kings Beach on Lake Tahoe. 
Jesse, who I chatted with briefly, is from Cabot Vermont, and he works alongside his friend Bernie.  Both these lads were young and friendly, and hard at work.  The Striker shop was much smaller than Mtn. Forge, but cozy, if you could call a shop with hot fires and sharp metal everywhere cozy.  http://www.strikerforge.com/
    I am hoping to get over there and tink away at something.  They said it was ok to come hang out, so I am in!

Ollie

Say Hello TO Night

    Sometimes you gotta work with what you have laying around...here, a wooden ramp propped up on a pallet with plywood to land on.

Caution

    I got a camera and took some sweet pictures of cars over the hill on snowy roads, but, I cannot download them yet.  I need some geek help.  Anyways, it is snowy up here in Tahoe and I am excited to find a way to make it work here.  I got a lead on two blacksmiths in the area, and want to check them out.  I hope to shovel snow for side money until I get a job at a ski area or something.  Or go broke.  Either way, gotta keep moving.  Later.