One customer sold me on the excitement of this new challenge. Bob Palliser, a World Loppet Master on his second passport, would be my guide. France's Transjurassienne, 76K Skate, the 75K classic Finlandia, and the grand-daddy of Loppets, Sweden's historic 90K Vasa Loppet, classic skiing with 15,000 other skiers. On Monday, February 16, Bob and I land in Frankfurt, Germany, rent a car, and become cross-country ski bums in search of fuel for our soul. On Wednesday we arrive in the Jura region of France near the Swiss border.
Visibility is poor.
Snow is falling with heavy accumulation. We start the major Trans climb at the 50-kilometre mark of the course. We meet an older Frenchman while we catch our breath. He asks where we are from. He points to the valley below.