UTMB ... just two months to go

Guaranteed to get you lacing up your shoes and heading for the trails. Spectacular footage of Chamonix and its environs. I did not figure out why Andy Parkin - awesome artist and alpinist - was in this film until the very end ... he makes prizes for the podium finishers. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNWkehVuO84&sns=em

150th anniversary of the climbing of the matterhorn

It's short, it's in Italian, but it's a must watch "Cervino 2015 - 150 anni dalla conquista" on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/129776523

The Vertical Kilometer

It was a gut buster ... 2.5 miles, 3000'+ and very steep. Joseph Gray, fresh off a victory on the Mt. Washington Road Race, won in 38 minutes. Stevie Kremer won in 42 minutes, and I was in 80+ minutes.

Racing the Vertical Kilometer

I bailed on Sunday's Sky Marathon as it was supposed to rain heavily all day and be about 45 degrees ... No Thanks. It will be interesting to see the times today as there are some world class mountain runners entered, including Joseph Gray, Stevie Kremer, and Kasie Enman.

Caballo Blanco ... the real deal

Run Free - The True Story of Caballo Blanco from Noren Films on Vimeo.

The Nose on Google Maps!

Unbelievable Google street view of the Nose on El Cap.

https://www.google.com/maps/about/behind-the-scenes/streetview/treks/yosemite/

Climbing wall laps

A bouldering session on our wall, and getting ready for the sharp end when Gary comes up on Friday.

Best nordic website

Keep up with all that is happening in the world of nordic ski racing ...

http://www.ski-lines.com

Ueli is at it again!

Take a gander at the Patitucci website to see what he is up to ...

http://patitucciphoto.com/2015/06/16/the-82-summits-project/

Another easy day ... doing laps

Third-classing easy stuff on top of Owl's Head. Which is not to be confused with the town of Owls Head, 90 minutes north where the escaped convicts had been sighted.

Great Outdoor Films Streaming On Netflix

Check out the five favorites on the gear junkie website ...

http://gearjunkie.com/best-netflix-outdoor-films-june

Recovery

Still very tired from travel and an incredibly active week in the Sierras. I spent some time doing easy bouldering and yoga out by the yurt.

Another great day in the northern Sierras

Eagle Buttress Hike In Tahoe

Overtraining

An excellent article on the OUTSIDE website ...

http://www.outsideonline.com/1986361/running-empty

Trail running in Meeks Bay

A wonderful 15-16k run with 1300' vertical to a beautiful lake. Massive pizza feed at the Ewings for dinner, and then Mark and I got engrossed in the Rambo movie marathon that was playing on the tube.

Mark and Liz are going to Chile

The fire burned up all their luggage, so today the Patagonia order came in! I tacked on to their order and got a discounted UV shirt.

Mountain Art

Reading some articles on the very nice blog, The Passing Of The Summits, I found this link to an eclectic but wonderful collection of online art.

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/user-gallery/wgIyOiBgLK1bJg?projectId=art-project&position=0%3A66o

Eagle Buttress

A wonderful day, however with a late start we could not make the summit.

Another Day at Donner

A Climber's Pedicure ...

Mark doing his nails, as it seems they were rather painful yesterday in his tight fitting rock shoes.

Donner Summit

A couple of good hours on three pitches - 5.6, 5.8, and 5.9. A nice afternoon with Callie and Eli.

First day in Tahoe

A good 60 minute run in Ward Creek Park ... going climbing at Donner Summit this afternoon.

Yosemite morning hike

A two hour hike up an 11,000' peak near Gardisky Lake, and then 30 minutes of yoga in the alpine meadow near the lake. Heading to Tahoe with a stop at Travertine hot springs.

Yosemite: Day #2

I dropped down a vertical mile to the floor of Yosemite Valley. But on my drive I stopped at Olmstead Point, and did a 5k run into Merced Grove and its giant sequoia trees. Then a 75 minute hike up the Yosemite Falls Trail, and another 30 minutes stretching in El Cap Meadows.

Yosemite: Day #2

"Yosemite Day #1

A 2.5 hour, 15k run to visit both Cathedral Lakes, siesta with a nap-lunch-reading, 60 minute hike to Gaylor Lake, and finished the day with 30 minutes of yoga at the campground. 

Yosemite Day #1

Soaking up early morning sun ...

and catching up on work emails. Whoa Nellie Deli, aka MOBIL is a great place to hang out. Lots of outlets to recharge, cheap mugs of tea, and fabulous views of Mono Lake.

First cup of tea

It's shortly after 6 am, and I camped outside the park, closer to Lee Vining, to avoid possible rain. Heading down to the floor of Yosemite Valley, take some pictures of the Big Stone, boulder, hike, and yoga in El Cap Meadows ... maybe even work a short run in.

First morning at Tioga Pass

I had to head down to Lee Vining for some tea as TPR and the cafe at Saddlebag Lake are not open for the season yet.

The goal for the day is to run to Cathedral Lake and back. Read. Then boulder and do yoga in the afternoon. I may finish up with a sunset hike up Tioga Peak.

The last leg ...

I'll be in Reno by 3:30 and sleeping by Saddlebag Lake at 8 pm!

Selden's Birthday

A few days ago we celebrated her 56th, and as always, obscure American history books accounted for most of the presents.

New rock shoes ... heading to the valley

Unfortunately, still sick as a dog.

Steve Prefontaine Story ... A great graphic novel

Ouch ... getting sick

Many of the faculty came down with this bug just before or after graduation. Yesterday the throat felt scratchy, today I am feeling poorly, and my prediction is that tomorrow I will feel like I have been run over by a truck. I am hoping I will be on the mend by Wednesday when I fly. I cut back on the long mountain runs I had planned for the weekend and will do short hikes instead ... it sure was nice on Owl's Head.

EVEREST ... video trailer

http://youtu.be/5ZQVpPiOji0

A film about the tragic 1996 season on the mountain.

Beautiful day

A 35 minute hike on campus before work, and a 55 minute run on campus after work ... it doesn't get much better.

Heading to Yosemite

In eight days I am heading to the valley for some reading, trail running, peak-bagging, and rock climbing. Hopefully, El Presidente and the Grey Fox will join me.

Prefontaine Anniversary

This graphic novel was released on Saturday, the 40th anniversary of Pre's death in a car crash, on the evening after he won the invitational 5000 meter race against Finland at Hayward Field. I have read the first couple of pages and it seems well worth the $10 for the digital copy.