Record warm weather in January and a lack of snow have prompted Olympic organizers in Vancouver to take added measures.

About half of these Winter Games are going to be held outside of Vancouver in the mountains. That of course includes the Alpine events where we are focusing a good deal of our coverage on Burnsville native and gold medal favorite, Lindsey Vonn. 

Knowing we'll be up there often during the next month, we thought it would be smart to get a lay of the land early on before it gets too crazy up there.

We headed north of Highway 99 a little over 2 hours on what may be the most gorgeous drive I've ever been on. I'd be more definitive in my appraisal, but to be honest, I was driving and so it was hard for me to just gawk at the natural landscape because the road itself was rather precarious.

The United States has hosted the Winter Games at three different locations on four separate occasions. If you were deciding on the next U.S. town or city to host the Olympics, what would be your desired destination?

Photos of U.S. Alpine star Lindsey Vonn at the video shoot for a new Under Armour product, ColdGear®.

We made it! Well, sort of. Flew into Seattle today, and will now make
the two and a half hour drive to Vancouver, B.C. I've always pictured Seattle as a rainy dreary place, but the weather here is delightful, sunny, and quite pleasant.

We were met at the airport by a handful of others from the Gannett broadcast team covering these Olympics.