From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.
We have been hearing quite a bit about the Mt. Redoubt eruption that has spewed ash over parts of Alaska. This has not done good things to the snow pack – Tim Kelley shared some photos. Since he took these, it has snowed, cleaning up the trails for now – the ash lies in wait, ready to appear at the next thaw. From a ski racing perspective it was fortunate the Fairbanks and US Distance Nationals were spared.
![Mt. Redoubt Ash (Photo: Tim Kelley)](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/03/kelley_mtredoubtash_2009_img_0784.jpg" "Mt. Redoubt Ash (Photo: Tim Kelley)")
![Kick is probably quite good!](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/03/kelley_mtredoubtash_2009_img_0786.jpg" "Mt. Redoubt Ash (Photo: Tim Kelley)")
![Mt. Redoubt Ash (Photo: Tim Kelley)](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/03/kelley_hillside_2009_pano.jpg" "Mt. Redoubt Ash (Photo: Tim Kelley)")
If only pictures could also give one a feel of the gritty stuff.
Try scraping off the sand from 120 – 220 grit sand paper, pile it about 1/2 inch high over a large area, clip on your best pair of skies and head off — oh, don’t forget the face mask. It wouldn’t hurt to remove your contacts, too.
Dean
Nice pictures Tim. I am so glad I missed that
Dean makes a poignant comment about contacts. I remember in 1992 I was running home from an orieneering race in Anchorage and ash started falling from another volcano that erupted – Mt. Spurr. Besides choking on ash, the ash was getting under my contacts. That was intensely painful. I had to pull out my contacts and grope my way home. Then I had to wear glasses for a few days because my corneas were a bit scratched up. But that ashfall was way more then Redoubt has been giving us so far.
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