Easing into Tahoe Life!

TAHOE RIM TRAIL ... Getting started August 1st

Funny ultra-running poster ...

BLAST FROM THE PAST ... Catherine Destivelle

A lovely short video about her climb of the Bonatti route on the Matterhorn

https://vimeo.com/132324592

Working out with the biathlon team ...

So Lucy has her Anschutz rifle and is on cloud-nine training one, or two days a week with the big dogs!

Excellent book review ... The Haywire Heart ... are endurance athletes more prone to some cardiac problems?

http://fasterskier.com/fsarticle/not-invincible-heart-arrhythmias-endurance-athletes-book-review/

A novel about the Cordillera Blanca ...

Halfway through, and with the exception of a few inaccuracies, it has been something of a page-turner. Not a climbing novel per say, but it does involve trekkers stomping through some climbing basecamps.

The novel is set in the early days of the Sendero Luminoso, when they spread out from the jungle into the mountains. A nasty time for Peru, and for all the locals and climbers who were robbed or killed in Ancash province.

An interview with David Roberts

http://blog.rei.com/climb/the-art-of-adventure-writing/

Significant study on climate change impact on the ski industry

The study sets the current baseline for season length (downhill and cross country), and then makes projections for the season length in 2050 and 2090, with projections included for the economic impact. Suffice it to say ... not a pretty picture ... in the northeast season length could be reduced by 50% by 2050 and 80% by 2090.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378016305556

A day in the central Adirondacks ...

Lucy did a running biathlon race in Old Forge, while I ran 7.5k spectating the race. I also hiked up Mount Maculey, and she did a two hour double pole ski.

A great 90 minute trail run

I took these pictures at Marcy Dam.

What is the biggest ski vertical in the world?

Watch this incredible video, of a ski descent (13,000') of the Harvard route on Mount St. Elias in the Canadian Yukon.

https://vimeo.com/225041164

BLAST FROM THE PAST ... Was Juanita's Climb Of Ampato A First Ascent?

Almost six hundred years ago, along with her priestly retinue, she climbed this 20,000' volcano near Arequipa.  Of course, on the summit she was sacrificed to the gods and found in 1995 by anthropologist Johan Reinhard. I just listened (again) to this amazing and engaging story. 

The bobsled run from the biathlon trails ...

Pitchoff from the back pasture and sunset from the deck ...

The view from two different directions, and from two different parts of our farm.

Hurricane Mountain Run ...

A good two hour workout last weekend.  Only two more weeks before I give the 170 Mike Tahoe Rim Trail a shot.  Feeling fit.  Enclosed below is a short Wikipedia passage ...

The Tahoe Rim Trail is a 165-mile (266 km) long-distance hiking trail that forms a loop around the Lake Tahoe Basin in the Sierra Nevada and Carson ranges of California and Nevada in the United States. The trail ranges in elevation from 6,240 feet (1,900 m) at the outlet of Lake Tahoe to 10,338 feet (3,151 m) at Relay Peak in Nevada. About 50 miles (80 km) of trail above the lake's west shore are also part of the much longer Pacific Crest Trail. Additionally, 96 Miles of the trail along the east and south sides of the Lake Tahoe basin are designated as a National Recreation Trail.

Conrad Anker's Commencement Speech

http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web17c/wfeature-anker-uofutah-commencement-speech

Camel's Hump and a spectacular summer day in Vermont

Kilian Jornet ...

Looking pretty good after 100 miles, 33000', and a dislocated shoulder!

Good morning ...

What a stud. Kilian Jornet was running - with ease - in first place, however took a spill running downhill at Mike 50 and dislocated his shoulder. Lost his lead by the time he struggled to the next aid station. They reduced it, strapped him up, and he has clawed back the lead, and will win this thing with his arm in a sling.

Easy hill repeats ... getting ready for TRT

Quote of the Week ... from T.E. Lawrence

"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible."

During my 15 hour travel day, I listened again to select chapters from this delightful and engaging travelogue.  This quote prefaced the introductory chapter. 

Another great hike ...

Brian and I hiked up a local Durango canyon, for 6k, 425 vertical, and about 90 minutes. We followed this up with a pizza lunch with Holly. I had a great couple of days, and am hoping to do a run near Leadville tomorrow before my final work meeting.

BLAST FROM THE PAST ... RMNP ... and a modern perspective

Over 20 years ago a few fossils got together in Estes Park for 10 days of climbing.

Danny was sick most of the time but he rallied at the crags in Lumpy and Eldorado. Brian had to leave early for work, but had a good effort on Sykes Sickle with Michael Franklin before being stormed off, and then rallied the next day for the North Ridge of Spearhead. Hock and Mark were stormed off the North Ridge, and third classed McHenry's Peak. The highlight was Mark-Michael-Hock climbing Kiener's route on Longs Peak. It was a dawn to dusk trip ... let's call it a 12-14 hour day.

A couple of days ago Kilian Jornet flew over from Norway and the next morning his "run," a touch under three hours, was that very same route. He did an easy 10k in the afternoon with 2000'. The next day he ran up another 14er. Of course he is the world's premier mountain runner and a highly respect alpinist. You may have heard his name recently as he set a new speed record for Everest.

The workouts I mentioned are his "taper" for the Hardrock 100 miler this weekend in the San Juan mountain range of Colorado ... 100 miles, 33,000 vertical, all between 9-14,000 feet.

Great hike in the San Juans ...

Started at Andrews Lake and made it almost to Crater Lake. Great views of Engineer Peak, the Twilight Peaks and Snowden. About 12.5k, 3+ hours, and 1750'.

On my way to the San Juans to see Brian ...

A long drive from Aspen broken up by yoga, trail running, and a track workout.

Funny little yoga video ...

Leaving my farm just prior to a very long travel day. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwmmUlTEotc

Getting a new look ... the Mountaineer in Keene Valley

Important new studies on ibuprofen

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/05/well/move/bring-on-the-exercise-hold-the-painkillers.html?mabReward=CTS2&recp=0&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=CColumn&module=Recommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine&_r=0

CalTopo ... a great tool and free too!

It can do a sketch of the skyline from any point in America ... this is the view that it generated from our deck.