Steve Fosset mania has hit Mammoth, kind of literally actually. Rumors started to spread early in the week that a guy from a local sports store found a wallet and pilot’s license with Steve Fosset’s name on it. When he mentioned finding it to a friend and turned in the stuff to the local police, things in our quiet town started to stir a little, and talk about the possibility of Steve Fosset’s plane being found could be heard from the Post Office to the coffee shops. News stations came from all over, and there was a constant buzz of helicopters overhead as they looked for the plane. The drama continued after the plane was found not far from where the hiker had found the wallet. The investigation of the debris took a few more days to complete and then all was quiet again.

Steve Fosset’s disappearance a year ago interested me mostly because of its proximity to where I live, and I am very happy for the family that they now have some closure and a better understanding of their loved one’s place of rest. What I cannot believe is that he crashed where he did and nobody ever saw or heard it happen, or found the wreckage within the year. On the hike that I wrote about earlier this summer, I passed within a half mile to a mile of the spot, and there are a ton of hikers in that area everyday during the summer and fall months. The news articles called the area “jagged and remote,” and while I agree that it is jagged, I don’t agree with the remote. Every morning at the forest service office there is a line to get permits for backcountry hiking in just that area. The whole ordeal was a bit crazy and exciting.

Also this week, the mountain girl hit the big city of San Francisco in a whirlwind trip of fundraising and charity efforts. I spent a few hours at the Willie Mays Boys and Girls Club talking to kids about following their dreams, and giving it everything they had. Many of these kids have never even seen snow, and they were very excited about the stories we had to share with them. I went to two fundraising events for the US Ski Team, and also to the 49er’s game where I got to watch one of my childhood heroes get his number retired. Steve Young was honored with a halftime ceremony that was really special. All athletes dream of making an impact on their sport like he has, and it was really inspiring.

My season is just about to get fully geared up, with the first race about two weeks away. I will be heading over to Europe soon and will keep you updated once I am there.

STACEY COOK is an elite member of the U.S. Ski Team’s alpine skiing program. She competed in the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy and was a member of the 2007 World Championships Team... {more»}