Let there be Winter.

I was Outside last week to see my mom retire and visit with family. I left on Monday and the first snow of the year that had a chance to stick was coming down nicely. It apparently snowed heavily (for Fairbanks) while I was gone, because we have a good three or four inches floating around firmly declaring that the ground shall not be seen for several months. This morning's commute was at a brisk -8°F and the unplowed bike path was stark reminder that unused snow bike handling skills don't come back as easily as one would like, or that alternately pedestrians are a mixed curse. While foot traffic will pack a trail down, it also tends to leave it severely uneven and capable of rattling the bearings from your bottom bracket. All this means that after a questionable summer and a drawn out fall, things are finally back to normal.