You never wrote me back....

Dear Snow,


     It's been a long time my love, and I was beginning to think you would never return. When I last saw you in the spring, you told me that you had to move away for a few months. I was sad at the time, but I knew that you would eventually return. But the months passed, and you seemed to become a distant memory in my mind. You never replied to any of my letters. I thought you were never going to come back, that you were leaving me for him. 
    Yes, I know what you have been up to these past few months. I found out that you were spending your time in the South Equator with someone else! It made me sick of some of the things you two did together, selling yourself out to him like that! I was convinced that I would never care for you again, I mean look what it did to me. I was forced to make do with what we had left here, and it wasn't much to choose from. I went through withdrawals, and periods of depression as well.

You left me in a mess...

    I thought all hope was lost for us, but something happened: You came back. At first you stayed in the higher elevations, nervous to come back down to the bottom. But slowly you came back to the Flathead Valley. I see that your back in town again, and I want to spend some time with you. Yes there are other guys here, but none that care for you like I do. See this picture I found a little while ago? It's of you and me, together and happy. That can be us again, I'm willing to forgive and forget, and make a fresh start.

    Let's meet up tomorrow, shall we? I get done with classes early. Let's go up to the mountain together tomorrow, and spend some time together. I know we will grow close again. But all I can do is hold the picture of us together, just sit and stare, and feel you flowing through my hair

until we meet again... 

Love,    

Spencer Jenko

(almost) too many choices...

As I write this, the snow is falling heavily in the mountains all across the Northwest. Finally, something to lift our spirits for this winter.

Now around this transitional time of the year, skiers, snowboarders, sledders, and like are all facing a challenge for the coming winter: Creating that Music playlist for the coming winter to ski, ride, jib, slash, and steeze to.

Accomplishing this task can be a daunting, even intimidating task for many people out there, especially since there is a vast array of of genres and artists to choose from. Almost every rider that had done this before has their own way of going about doing this. Most have learned from experience or from someone else. Now while there a multitude of ways to pick and choose your music for this winter, I should point out that there is not correct way to do it. It's all by your taste in music and what you want to listen to on the snow. But, I might as well put out a fews tips that I use, to choose my music.

Like said, this is just how I do it.

1) Never make just one playlist. I always make a few different ones, depending on what the conditions are or what my mood is for the day. Such playlists include:
- Powder Day mix
- Park/Freestyle Mix
- Sunny Day Mix
- All Around Mix ( A must in my opinion, but more on that later...)

2) NO repeat songs from previous year mixes. I try to keep it fresh every year to keep it interesting. I don't want to be listening to same song as last year that I thought was the best at the time, but end up having to get rid of it after the first day. That's not kosher with me.

3) Try mixing several genres together. Yes, you can have your Techno, Alt, and Country playlists too. But why not try to mix a couple together? You might be surprised.

4) Always be open to new songs in the midseason. Careful about this one though, because adding a new song that your stoked on can sometimes make your curent song selection seem old and standard. If nothing else, wait until you have a couple more, then add them.

5) Have a standard, all around playlist. This is my main mix for the season. My go-to, all around, fallback, and favorite playlist to ski to when I'm not sure what I want to listen too. I take my time to make this playlist, and can easily take over a month to complete. How do I do it? Well...
- First I throw together a list of potential songs. Even if they might have a chance, or I'm on the fence about, I'll throw them in. You never know.
- Then I go through all of them and narrow list by more than half.
- After that, then I just freestyle it until it meets my standards.

6) The number of songs on you playlists is completely up to you. Mine typically contain between 20 and 40 songs.

Many off you already know how you make your lists, and will scoff at this. I don't care, as I already said, it is completely up to you how you make your playlists. I hope I helped someone out a little, though. Whatever. Have fun with it!


Pray for Snow!

 The S-Jenk

"Lunch at the Mall."

First off. Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Nina is back! Check out the Noaa forecast here for the upcoming winter season, then jump for joy for the upcoming season! More powder days for all.

                                 Noaa Winter Season Outlook

which means....

ohhhh yeah baby, those days are coming back!

                                    More on that later.

                                   --------------------------

This happened a couple weeks ago, all true I might add.

All I needed was a new wallet. It was my main and only goal as I walked into the Kalispell Mall. Tuesday was here and I was on the hunt for a replacement for my old wallet, mainly since it had come to rest in a grass field for close to a week, and it just so happened to be one of the wettest weeks of the summer. Amidst the molded remains of my old friend, I quickly retrieved my driver’s license, a couple of other items, and tossed it in the dumpster. With the goodbyes all said and done, I set out for a new wallet.           

My trip into town eventually led me to the front doors of the local mall. And as I passed through the doors of the old building I was greeted with a cool breeze, the typical smell of the place (you know it), and the empty sound of but a few shoppers. I looked about and saw numerous shops that have closed and been emptied, a sign of the times one might say, especially for this dismal place.

But I was on a mission. I needed a new wallet, and I was sure I could find some cheap piece of leather there that would fit my needs. But a groan from my stomach informed me to put it off for a little while. Lunchtime.

I thought that there had to be some decent joint here where I could get something good to eat. I wander aimlessly through the near-empty mall for someplace to eat. Orange Julius? Closed. Café Espresso? A bit over-the-top for me. Dairy Queen? Yeah right. After laughing at the pretzel factory I notice next to it a small eatery composed mainly of tables and chairs with a small corner for the kitchen and counter. The sign overhead reads “Anna’s Greek Gyros.” Unlike the majority of the mall, the small place is crowded with locals, eating, reading the newspaper, or in conversation with the person next to them. Curious, I approach the counter and immediately I am greeted with the smell of beef cooking on a rotisserie, cooked lamb, and fresh pita bread. An older lady stands at the counter cleaning the counter, and upon noticing my approach, she kindly asks what I’d like to eat. “Whatever is the most popular,” I reply and she rings up an order for a cuple Gyros sandwiches and a Coke.

Now just to be clear on things, the Gyro sandwich is a popular European food, comprising traditionally of broiled lamb or beef in a pita bread along with a cucumber sauce, lettuce, and tomato. Now while it spelled Gyro, in it’s original language it is pronounced “euro” which the standard pronunciation today.

I sit down and bite into the Gyro. It is delicious. The bread nice and fresh, the beef nice and tender, and the cucumber sauce adds a savory kick to the sandwich. The next one is of pork, a different but delicious tasting sandwich. I finally finish with a lamb gyro, along with roasted ell peppers and grilled onions. Every bite is as good as the one before. I notice the lady from counter has sat at one of the tables, and is polishing a wooden handmade clock. She is obviously of Greek heritage, wearing a heavy tan, older skin, and grey hair. Her accent is heavy in Greek as she talks with a customer sitting nearby. I wonder what could possibly have brought her to place such as Montana, since she appears totally out of place here. Pondering that thought, I continue on with my sandwich.

When I finish I take my tray to the front, and the Lady asks me for my opinion. “It was delicious.” I say, and she kindly says “Thank you” to me. And seeing her smile in appreciation, I leave the place.

I go about my wallet finding business, and soon find one suitable for my needs. Standing in line at the register I can’t help but ponder how good that gyro truly was, how a place like that can offer simple, yet delicious food for the local person. I’m stunned at how such a place, in the middle of an empty mall be such a hidden jewel, ignored by many, but greatly appreciated by those who decided to take a chance. To try someplace new, and find themselves surprised at just how good the food is. Traditional Greek food in Kalispell, who knew such a thing existed. I leave the store with one last thing on my list to do.

The lady had finished her clock, and was finding it a spot in the eatery to put it. After talking with her husband in Greek language, shouting a few words of course, she notices me approaching the counter.

“Sorry, I couldn’t resist buying one more.” 

Pray for Snow!

 The S-Jenk

I thought I was staying home this summer...

I thought I was staying home this summer, you know, work and making bank, going fishing, skiing and hiking. I guess I'll be able to do some of that stuff too. It just seems like there is always something that comes up in June for me. Whether it's going on a camping trip or long distance trip, it's always something. I'm not complaining about it, I'm just laying down the facts for you. 

I'll just say it. I going to Climb Mount Rainier this summer. 

Ice climbing is actually something I have been really curious about, and the curiosity never just came out of blue. Our family has quite a bit of climbing history in them going back to my grandparents generation.

Originally, the grandparents on my dad's side of the family are from Slovenia. Now they may both be slovenia, but keep in mind that they didn't meet each other until they were in Austria in a refugee camp leading up to WWII. While my grandmother was there, she ended up climbing the highest glaciated peak in Austria, know as the Großglockner. Carrying on the sport of climbing were my dad and his brothers, who ended up spending a good chunk of their earlier years climbing mountains around North America, more notably my dad and his brother Dan. The pair have ended up climbing in Northern Canada, Colorado, the Washington Cascades, the Tetons in Wyoming, and Most of Western Montana. 

Grossglockner Mountain in Austria

Now enter my brothers and I. We all learned from our Dad starting young. Most often we would climb in, you guessed it Glacier Park. Now I am a bit younger than my brothers, so I was a little later jumping on the bandwagon. In that time though, they had gotten good enough and ended up climbing the Grand Teton in Wyoming. I did manage to get on and was able to climb with him on his 50th peak ascent in Glacier National Park. We've also managed to so climbing up in Canada recently, and I have grown a love for the sport of mountain climbing. 

Climbing the Grand Teton.

Anyways, back to Rainier. The climb is going to a 4 day expedition, which will include about 20 miles of trekking, and 10,000 feet to ascend in two days. The first part will be to haul all of your gear into camp Muir, which you might be able to see on the map. The next day will be to climb the Disappointment cleaver route up the glacier into a large no-fall-zone, and then make our war to camp 3. 

The third day will be the longest, at an estimated 14 hour day. We will end up traversing along disappointment cleaver up to the ingram headwall, and then make our summit at the Columbia crest. After some time up there, we head down. All of the way down. We will end up packing all of our gear back to the car in one day from the summit. Sounds like a fun day to me!

Here are some stats, if you care. 

-14,411 feet high.
-has 26 major glaciers
-36 square miles of glaciation
-Highest mountain in Washington and Cascades.
-too lazy to write more. I'll post more stuff later.

Pray for Snow!

The S-Jenk

It refuses to die.

8:05 as I'm parking my car a mixture of sleet and snow pitter patters against my windshield. Falling. Skies begin squeezing the little morning light left in the sky. A farewell gesture.

10:25 am and I sit history class. Suddenly a crack and over the intercom a voice speaks: the track meet has been cancelled. As I stare outside I see flakes slowly drift downward. Falling. The instant they hit they melt into water,and turn the ground wet. My mind tunes out the mixture of responses from team members as i begin to think. It's looking pretty grey out there.

11:08 walking back from the math building I notices a thin layer of slush forming on the ground. Flakes still melt as they hit, but not without sticking for a second to showcase their white brilliance. Still Falling. Heading to the door I take a look out again. It's looking pretty white out there.

1:17 heading to the weight room and its coming down hard, and flakes begin to thicken. Climbing up the hill to the building and snow starts staying to the ground. Continuously falling. Looking down I see snow on cars and buildings, yet the ground stays clean. It's getting pretty thick out there, wonder how track practice will go.

3:20 and it's coming down hard. Outside the locker room snow continues to battle the ground for control. Falling and fighting. Coach says we are running hallways today, a well known tradition for track runners. As I leave for warmups I step outside to check up. It's beginning to dump out there.

3:46 Sprint. Turn the corner. Avoid hitting the janitor. Sprint. Try and not get squeezed through the doorway. Hear the slam out a body against lockers. Sprint. Turn the corner. As I run down the last stair well I look out the window. Snow is piling up fast, and it's still coming down hard. Falling. Hot and humid hallways make us even more sweaty. Sprint. Look out the window again. It's not letting up. Falling as fast a we run. Falling. Still falling.


The S-Jenk

Jackson Hole Clip

Some footy from our last trip, check it out sometime. you should definitely do that.



Clip: Skiing Pow in Jackson Hole on Vimeo.



Pray for Snow!

The S-Jenk

Of days past and days to come...

The morning darkness is broken by pairs of headlights,
illuminating the rain going back the two nights,
from the west it had come bringing with it moisture,
falling hard from the skies and holding with it tenure.

Sitting in shotgun my friend stares stone cold,
we both say our prayers yet words we withhold,
the tunes play aloft of Chris Stolz and TiredEyes,
right below it the temperature a depressing 45.

Passing through town as White as the Fish,
home to a cult all sharing our wish,
headlights appear first slow but for sure,
and follow our path heavy rain we endure.

A sip of warm coffee to keep me awake,
a we get ever closer I tap the car brake,
right blinkers flash as we make that direction,
driving through sleet at the intersection.

Thick odors of OJ, toast, eggs, and crisp bacon,
hang in the air since we had awakened,
the path of our headlights appear as a blur,
as the changing of state begins to occur.

We drive through the switchbacks gaining more height,
as the color of the road changes to white,
raising the volume, a deep breath of air,
knowing that God has answered my prayer.

Heavy the snow falls and my friend shows a smile,
enjoying the moment all for the while,
dialing the phone and hearing Big Dave,
he lets out a laugh to words he was gave.

The only words he says are "14 of new",
the level of stoke now I cannot subdue,
pumping the tunage abuzz is my mind,
a thought from before that just came to mind.

I say a quick something to which we both know,
to thank God today for the blessing of snow.
with God we are blessed for the ability to ski,
and with God on a pow day, I truly am free.


Pray for Snow!

The S-Jenk