Glacial retreat in Switzerland

A New York Times article highlights some of the effects of climate change and the responses that the inhabitants of Grindelwald have made. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

TV interview with the Hockmeister

A stringer from the local TV station was doing a story about Memorial Day in the Adirondacks he did a short interview with me, just as I was finishing my ski tour. It was pretty sketchy at the bottom as they had just brought the plows out ... However it was phenomenal just 1k up the road. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE 90 SECOND CLIP.

Rhapsody in Rust ... ode to the 60s VW campers

Read this evocative short essay in FOOTLESS CROW. CLICK HERE.

The West Ridge Of Everest

This is the 50th anniversary of this groundbreaking, historic, and cutting edge route. Watch this short anniversary video. CLICK HERE.

What did you do on Memorial Day Weekend?

I enjoyed a once in a decade, late May tour up the Whiteface Auto Road. Even more unlikely was that you could ski it right from the gate house. I was pretty amazed to be the only one out there. The weather cleared up on Memorial Day, and we finally got some sunshine, however it was 25 degrees in the morning!

Northern Lights on the summit of Whiteface

While trolling the internet to see how much snow fell today, I came across this spectacular photograph from the atmospheric research station. This amazing display took place last Wednesday.

THE CALL OF EVEREST ... thanks reggie

A wonderful present, signed by Conrad, and a terrific commemorative of the 50th anniversary of the 1963 American expedition.

May 25th ... snowing in the Adirondacks

A one kilo ski for touring

If you believe in a light is right philosophy, then the Ski Trab Magico is your ticket. CLICK HERE FOR THE WILD SNOW REVIEW.

BLAST FROM THE PAST ... bill koch

WATCH THE SLIDESHOW HERE. There were other key figures in the evolution of nordic sports in America, but Bill Koch is the guy that put it on everyone's radar screen. It was also a pivotal time in America, as the interest in him (and cross country skiing) dovetailed with the fitness/running boom. Essentially, his silver medal at the 1976 Olympics in Seefeld turned him into the nordic version of Bill Rodgers and a frank Shorter. I remember skiing in the 1982 national 50k championship, they flew him back from the World Cup circuit to do the race for training. It was a poor snow year, so we had to ski on an 8k loop, and it was blue klister conditions ... I was passed many times by Kochie ... He was at the top of his game and even though he was just training he beat the field by 15-20 minutes. All of America's recent successes were inspired by him.

Is this the toughest mountain ultra?

The Dragon's Back in Wales. WATCH THE VIDEO OF DAY I.

Still skiing powder in Chamonix

Click here to read it.

Silvretta Ski Traverse Slideshow ... playing with a new app ... Haiku Deck

CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT.

KASHA RIGBY: the backstory of an iconic portrait

> CLICK HERE TO READ WHAT THE PHOTOGRAPHER HAS TO SAY ANOUT THE PICTURE.

Planning for spring break 2014

As usual, when I ought to be working on my graduation speech, I start to daydream about mountain trips. So, after a quick google I looked at one person's top six "nordic" as opposed to alpine touring, hut to hut trips. Any interest out there? CLICK HERE TO READ THE NY TIMES ARTICLE.

The Barefoot Professor ... Dr. Daniel Lieberman

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE COLBERT REPORT INTERVIEW.

Two good workouts on Saturday

In the morning I did an easy hike around the NCS ski hill loop, with a stop at the crag for 20 minutes of third class laps on an easy 5.2 route. In the afternoon I did an easy 40 minute run on the Olympic nordic trails. I logged just under a 1000' today.

Yoga for the middle aged

I think this New York Times article applies to us Fossils? However I guess the real question is when does middle age - fade into old age? ANYWAY CLICK HERE TO READ THIS SHORT ARTICLE.

Speed work

Every once in awhile we go down to the track and time Lucy at some distance. Given her other current activities: barn chores, equestrian drill team, play practice, and various hiking trips, it is not surprising that she is not burning up the track. She is fit and has done a fair bit of jogging, but not really anything fast since the ski season. She starts training with her NYSEF group in two weeks, and will be running, rollerskiing, hiking, and paddling, throughout the summer.

Yesterday she ran a PB for 15000 meters, while I ran 6 X 100 meter repeats and am now crippled

FOSSILS ... get out and play!

Mountain Running

National Geographic did a short video special on ultra trail running, focused on Krissy Moehl ... it will get you to lace up your shoes.
> CLICK HERE.

THE BIG SHOW ... it is on everyone's mind

The US nordic and biathlon teams head out to Bend, Oregon for their first on snow camp next week.

MORE RUNNING AND BEING

Read a chapter from this amazing book.CLICK HERE.

NCS graduation is just a few weeks away, and I have started to make my senior pages for their personalized graduation book.

Sheehan the running guru of the 1970s

This fabulous book was just reissued and I am reading it on my iPad. Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, and Albert Salazar got our juices flowing, but he expanded our mind and spirit as well as our max VO2. He pulled quotes and ideas from literature from around the world, but always he reminded us what the philosopher William James said ... "The strenuous life tastes best."

Snowing after Mother's Day

Pretty unusual even for the Adirondacks. The gardens are tilled but with yesterday's snow squall and this morning's temperatures in the 20s, we won't be planting until Memorial Day.

Layton Kor ... the passing of a legend

On April 21st he lost his long battle with cancer. CLICK HERE TO READ HIS OBITUARY.

Ortler Ski Mountaineering Traverse

Quote of the week

A room without books is like a body without a soul ... Cicero

Water Purification

Not for everyday use, but the SteriPen, looks like the hot ticket for a trip to the Andes or the Himalayas. Filtering, boiling, pumping, and chemically treating water is a bit of a chore, and one that ultimately you skimp on and thus drink some tainted water ... getting sick ... no doubt Oscar did not boil all the water in the Ishinca Valley, and who knows what Edward drank on the way to Pisco!

One of the NCS teachers had this along last weekend during a dawn to dusk push to do the range-in-a-day. Lucy said it was light, quick, and zapping with UV is the way to go. CLICK HERE TO READ A REVIEW.

Extreme Skiing

It is easy to forget over here, in the states, in the northeast, that over in Chamonix it is still prime time. The big, bad, steep, and rad couloirs and faces are still in shape. The Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey recently had its second descent.CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO.

The High Peaks

I hate flying in small planes, as those who have flown into the Kahiltna with me know. Flying back from the Boston school and camp reunion on Cape Air, I finally got a decent picture before we landed ...it was one hell of a bumpy ride ... almost lost my cookies.

Beautiful Rainbows and Three of Lucy's Buddies

RISK ADDICTION

More often than not we climbers, skiers, alpinists, and extreme adventure athletes of all kinds sweep this discussion under the rug. CLICK HERE TO READ A FRANK CHALLENEGE TO ALL OF US THAT THIRST FOR HIGH ADVENTURE, WRITTEN BY AN ULTRA-RUNNER, BUT APPLICABLE TO THE FOSSIL ALPINIST.

The Next Generation

Larry's five year old son Peter, nailing the moves in the new NCS bouldering cave. I am waiting for the next rainy day to give the bouldering cave my inaugural visit.

Ueli Steck and the boys are back home

CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY AS TOLD BY JON GRIFFITH.

Metanoia ... more than 20 years and no second ascent

CLICK HERE TO READ A DAVID ROBERTS ESSAY ABOUT THIS EPIC ROUTE.

Chapel Pond Slabs

Gary did a quick one day blast from the Berkshires last weekend. He climbed the six pitch Regular Route (5.5) on the slabs, afterwards he hiked up Cascade, drove home, and was in bed by midnight ... a very full day for a Fossil who is a few years older than me.

The nordic season still continues in Alaska

Watch this terrific video of crust skiing on the Burns Glacier in May. It looks like a ton of fun ... I want to hop on a plane. CLICK HERE.

Ski Hill Loop Jog And Laps On The Crag

Get psyched for running in the mountains

Helicopter coverage of the 2011 UTMB is sure to get you pumped! CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS SPECTACULAR SHORT VIDEO.

The Spring Beauties Are Out

After my morning trail run, I did some yoga, and a short 40 minute hike around the NCS ski hill. The spring beauty is the first wildflower to appear in the Adirondacks.

Excellent Trail Run

A nice easy 5k trail run in the Wilmington Wild Forest, single track paths. Some wonderful views, and it was my first test-drive of the Ultimate Direction running pack ... quite nice.

Yoga After 50

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE.

First Bouldering Of The Spring

I hiked around the ski hill and did laps on "Buried Treasure" at the crag. We are having an unbelievable run of warm and sunny weather.

50th ANNIVERSARY ... americans on Everest

CLICK HERE TO READ A SHORT HISTORICAL ESSAY.

Trail running

Trails In Motion Film Festival from Trails In Motion on Vimeo.

Adventure Films

2013 5Point Film Festival Awards Reel from 5Point Film Festival on Vimeo.