cuchillo

Yesterday, Peter and I went snowboarding at Silver Mountain. He's the one with the French fries for eyebrows. Silver Mountain is a pretty nice resort and it's about a two hour drive from Missoula, like most resorts besides Snowbowl. However, there is a convient time change on the way which saves you an hour on the way over which means you can get an extra hour of sleep which rocks. Megan the Red was going to come too, but wasn't able to afterall.

Even though Silver Mountain hadn't got much new snow, we still found nice snow in the trees and the groomed runs were nice. My brother likes Silver Mountain, because they groom black diamonds. That could have led to the two injuries we saw while we were there. One guy they loaded in a sled onto the chairlift, the helicopter came for the other. Since the only way up to the resort in the winter is by gondola (the longest single-stage gondola in the world, I hear) I bet there are a lot of helicopter rescues. I've been on it once, though as a passenger. It was my brother who needed to be lifted to the hospital. Yes, the brother who likes the fact there are groomed black diamonds, that is why we got a ride on the helicopter.

One the way back, Peter and I stopped at the famous 10,000 Silver Dollar Bar. It's mostly a big, cheesy souviner shop. Riley says he likes it for the big, cheap knives, but Peter and I found some sweet trucker hats. I'm going to wear that one every time I leave the state.

Thing to know about Silver Mountain:
In the terrian park and elsewhere, inverted ariels are allowed, just not reccomended. Most resorts will take away your lift ticket.

Unlike Snowbowl where there have already been eight rescues this season, if you ski out of bounds at Silver and need to be rescued, you are responsible for the cost. Bummer dude.

Well, I haven't posted in a while. Here's what has been going on:

• School Started I'm taking Russian 202 (Language class) and Russian 306 (Russian Literature in English and Rocky is in my class!)


• Chi Alpha started for the semester.


• I went snowboarding with Renee (my wonderful little sister) at Bridger.


• I went snowboarding with Ryan at Lost Trail.

I just got back yesterday from a two-day training course in Helena. It was excruciatingly boring, and really not useful, but Helena is cool. Downtown Helena is really cool. They have a street that has been converted into a pedestrian-only walk with sculptures and nice landscaping. All along it are little shops, and as I discovered, a Taco del Sol. So never fear, when you are in Helena you can still get a fish taco in a burrito shell, although it will cost you 15 cents more than in Missoula.

Oh, and here is a tip for when you are in Helena: never get a fountain pop or anything else made with the local water. It is terrible - like drinking from the swimming pool.

And here's a funny little story: while Pavel and I were out buying some bottled water late at night, we ran into a group of Russians at Albertson's. We got in line behind them at the checkout, and then one guy with a long beard who I wouldn't have guessed was Russian turned to us and said in perfect local English, "Oh we're not in line. This register is closed, you'll have to go to that one." Then he went back to talking in Russian with the others in what Pavel said was perfect Russian. Like I think I've said before, my teacher says I have a knack for running into Russians. Funny.