How Vail Destroyed Skiing

An excellent twenty minute video.



https://youtu.be/0bfD4NiiMfo?si=Yp7odAjvF-P49O5y

GREAT ADIRONDACK TRAIL RUN



The15 Steepest Mountains In The World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4nLV9oLBJU

A good recovery week

A week full of rain, some sunny days, snow squalls, and the real arrival of spring.

Given the previous week I was pretty tired - ramping up seasonal transitions too quickly - I decided I needed to dial it back this week. In the name of recovery, I vowed no more than an hour in the morning, and another in the afternoon.

So, the volume was 12 hours, on 115k (81k bike, 27k run, 7k ski), with 3100' vertical. I managed one strength workout and had my first two modest MTB rides of the season.

Heading out for a warmup jog as the snow squall starts

Amazing 77 year old runner

Snowiest parts of the Adirondacks

Another sign of spring

I saw this on a run this morning, convincing me that spring has finally come to the Adirondacks!

Orthopedic consult and rail trail jog

I had a good chat with Dr. Byrne, who 15 years ago 'scoped my right knee. After checking me out, looking at the pictures, and hearing how things have gone since then he said, "well your knees are ripe for surgery, but mentally you're not there yet. So, let me get you in as soon as possible, and I'll inject some gel, which will help you out."

Afterwards, I spent 40 minutes on a leisurely rail trail cruise (picture below), and followed it up a strength session focused on my knee PT exercises. This is an easy recovery week - keeping volume at or below two hours a day - so I'll bike up a portion of the Whiteface toll road.

Still skiing but making the transition …

Trail running, biking, and bouldering will occupy me until October. (Of course, with my monthly visit to BIG SNOW in New Jersey for my fix of indoor lift skiing.)

THE RUSTY PITON

HAPPY EASTER.

Typically, when I am schmoozing with fossil buddies, I fill up this bottle with either bourbon or scotch; helps keep the funny stories flowing! And, if my buddy Mark is in attendance, you can be sure he'll tell the story of when I cut the sled I was hauling on the Kahiltna glacier loose!

On a different note, I had a good week of training. I logged just shy of 15 hours, on 152k (109k bike, 28k ski, 15k run), just under 4000' and managed to squeeze in one strength workout. Hoping to just do a few more ski sessions, so I can end the 2024-25 season on April 30 with 120 days on snow.

Hoping to head up to Mount Washington sometime soon

A picture of the ravines snapped yesterday, by the webcam at The Wildcat ski area.  Spring is often the best time in the ravines, with maximum snow depth, warmer temperatures, and a more consolidated snowpack. However, it's always wise to check avalanche conditions. 

https://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/

Vallunaraju … closest 18,000’ peak to Huaraz

This has always been on my list of "must do" Cordillera Blanca climbs. A rescue training session got out of control. Thankfully everyone was OK. 

https://abcnews.go.com/International/video/part-glacier-breaks-off-training-exercise-peruvian-andes-120942781

Framework for evaluating outdoor risks

https://skimo.co/backcountry-risk-perception

First tracks …

And perhaps the only ones at Mount Van Hoevenberg. Despite the 2 inches of new snow - which made skiing sublime - I get the sense that most folks have shifted to spring mode.

Fossils having a drink at the cabin

Gary and a buddy Rob are up to do some work on his cabin, so they came over to shoot the breeze.

Long day, but good to be back home …

Selden and I drove just east of Glens Falls - about two hours away - to look at, and test drive several lightly used Subaru cars. Many hours later we drove off the lot with a 2022 Forrester. 

Selden spent hours and hours, spread over many weeks … it looks like she found a real gem.

Day 110 on snow this season

Yesterday, in addition to a nice jog, and some exercise bike, I also had an enjoyable classic workout on my touring skis. It was a good week of training: a volume of 15:35 hours, with 171k (131k bike, 23k ski, 17k run), on 3080' vertical ascent. I did one morning of alpine skiing at Whiteface and two full body strength workouts. 

The Dark Side Of The Sport …

Lift ticket prices escalating out of sight, ski patrol strikes, demise of the small local ski areas, and of course, affordable housing for all the workers who make our powder days possible.  This piece focuses on one ski region's partial solution … is this the American Dream?

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/realestate/colorado-homeless-parking-lot-affordable-housing.html

David Hochschartner (Hock)

Still cross country skiing at Mount Van Hoevenberg



Impact on our public lands

https://www.adventure-journal.com/2025/02/now-is-the-time-for-us/

Remembering April 8, 2024

What an amazing total solar eclipse; so glad to have a bunch of college buddies on the deck with Selden and me.

Managing knee joint pain

In managing my knee pain, I have embraced all options in the pyramid, with the exception of the total knee replacement. I may eventually get to that step, but right now I am shying away from those two surgeries which would put me out of commission for 18 months. However, just heard about this LDRT and will be looking into it … seems encouraging.




Early spring in the Adirondacks

The two faces - yesterday and this morning - of early spring in the north country.

Rain off and on at Whiteface

So, it wasn't a glorious day skiing, but as they say there is no bad weather just crappy clothing … so I was comfy.

Moving into shoulder season, and transitioning to trail running and cycling from skiing, means the volume will typically drop. With that in mind, I logged just under 14 hours, on 126k (91k bike, 18k ski, 7k run), with 2825' vertical. I also managed to squeeze in two mornings of alpine skiing, two PT strength sessions, and a couple of short Skimo sessions.

A Guide To Backcountry Huts

https://backcountrymagazine.com/stories/backcountry-hut-lodge-yurt-guide/

Great time with college buddies

I also managed to skin up Ramshead at Killington on Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning. Maybe I also consumed a bit too much alcohol; but it was wonderful swapping memories and stories, also watching NCAA women's semifinal basketball.

Still skiing at Mount Van Hoevenberg

Bare spots are starting to show, icy in places, and the snow is dirty, as the dust and detritus from the season is unearthed, as the snow pack melts. However, the 5k loop yields a good ski workout.

I am heading to Killington after my 8am PT session to meet up with college buddies, they'll ride the lifts and I'll ski laps on Ramshead.

Fond memories

It was so wonderful to have an adventure with my daughter in Norway; clearly, Lucy, nearing the Olympic stadium in Lillehammer is looking pretty squared away after 54K.

Good PT session and a morning skiing Whiteface

My skies are likely to be overcast …

But, if you have clear weather tonight or tomorrow take a look at the crescent moon with a pair of binoculars.

Cross country race season is over

The 40k nordic national championships were a true sufferfest! Slow, mushy, classic skiing, with tons of climbing, and downhills which could be very tricky. John Steel Hagenbuch, Gus Schumacher, and Remi Drolet were your men's podium. For the women it was Jesse Diggins, Julia Kern, and Erica Lavern.

I had a good week of training, indicating I am fully recovered from my travels and Birken race. I logged just over 15 hours, on 150k (113k bike, 30k ski, 7k run), with 2550' vertical. I also managed two PT strength sessions and a morning of alpine skiing.

100th day skiing this season!

The Super Tour finals continued today with the club relay championship, won by SMST2. (With Remi, Julia, Ben, and Jessie hard to lose, as they would have done well on the World Cup circuit.)

So, I waited until the end of the day, after exercise biking and an easy hike, to do a 45 minute classical workout. Tomorrow will be the 40k national championship, so I'll have to wait until the afternoon to ski, or maybe ski the toll road.

Excellent day of sprint races

I had a wonderful time with my college buddy (Klink) and his wife Sue watching these races; a test run for the 2026 World Cup Finals.

Ben Ogden had the fastest qualifying time by a huge margin, and then won each of his heats handily. Gus Schumacher won each of his heats, and finished second in the final. Xavier McKeever from the Canadian Team finished third in his semifinal behind Jack Young. But, as the Lucy Loser, McKeever took the podium spot from Young in a photo-finish.

For the women Jessie Diggins had the fastest time in the qualifier, and easily won two heats. Julia Kern had the second fastest qualifier (almost a second back), however she also won both heats handily. In the final Diggins went out hot, but Kern crested the long uphill first, and while Diggins made up some space on the downhill, she could not match Kern on the long gradual uphill, V2 finish. Erica Laven from the University of Utah rounded out the podium.

FROM THE ENDURANCE GUY …

Comes a book about the Explorer Gene by Alex Hutchinson. 

Remember this for my next trip to Zermatt

Rather than cart heavy and cumbersome ski bags around; I found a shop I can rent Skimo race gear, so I'll probably just bring my boots next trip.

THE BIG DOGS ARE HERE!

And the Super Tour Finals have started. Today was the 10k freestyle won by John Steel Hagenbuch (Dartmouth Ski Team) and Luci Anderson (U.S. Biathlon Team).

World Cup season over, but not the ski season!

Super Tour finals in a few days; for those that travel, multiple ski marathons around the globe; and of course, backcountry skiing in the mountains. 

My recovery week went well. I managed to sleep reasonably well, do some easy low key aerobic sessions, and start focusing on my knee related PT. The exercise log included: 13+ hours, on 123k (97k bike, 23k ski, 3k run), with 1400'. I also managed two mornings of alpine skiing, two PT strength workouts, and another PT stretching session. 

https://fasterskier.com/2025/03/johaug-skis-alone-to-50-k-win-diggins-secures-distance-globe/

Super Tour finals

The cross country and biathlon World Cup seasons are over, and most of those athletes are flying back to the states tomorrow. Guess what?  Many of them will be heading to Lake Placid from Wednesday to Sunday. Also, NCAA and USCSA Cross Country Ski Championships are over, so many of those folks will be headed this way as well. Not to mention "retired" athletes like Lucy (5 ski marathons this season) who will be there.

The two best viewing options are the national championship events: Friday sprints with head to head racing, and the 40k mass start on Sunday.  That National Championship distance race will be five stout laps with a total of over 4000' vertical.

MVH getting set to host Super Tour finals



Sunset on our deck

Back at Mount Van Hoevenberg

Well, with the exception of the VIC, VanHo is the only game in town for groomed tracks and skate lanes. Of course, this is only on the new competition trails.

Next week MVH will host the Super Tour finals, and our World Cup skiers will get a chance to become familiar with these trails … next year we will host the World Cup Final Weekend!