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It saves the hassle of flying with a bike and skis, and allows you to pack a dog or two, as long as there’s a Motel 6 nearby.

Butte is a small town that had its heyday in the early 1900s due to mining. At one point it provided one-third of the world's copper. There’s some pretty interesting architecture downtown.

The lodge is surrounded by 37 kilometers of narrow and twisty cross country ski trails.

Setting up my transition area race morning. Things like my Specialized Trivent Terra off-road tri shoes (Velcro so they're easy to get in and out of) and my Salomon S-Lab poles with quick release grips are a few ways I can save time in transition.

And we're off!

The run was on a groomed ski trail. Some spots were icy, others were soft snow or post-holing, so athletes wore a variety of shoes.

Back up the hill to T1.

Heading out of T1 with my Specialized S-Works Epic 29er. I had it equipped with Specialized Captain tires running at 15 psi, relatively high for riding in snow. I was under the impression the course would be firm but warm temperatures would prove otherwise.

Nicole Freedman (of Massachusetts) and I followed.

Back up to T2.

The trails at Homestake Lodge were some of the more challenging trails I've raced on; lots of steep hills and tight turns.

Heading up the last hill to finish.

Rebecca and I after the race - first and second on Salomon skis and shoes!

Awards at the main lodge.

After loading up the car, we stopped off at Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, on the way back to Park City, Utah, for some relaxing and tourist activities before heading back to the real world.