Semi-rad; always funny and always more than a grain of truth ...

This graph certainly applies to me.  As with most of the semi-rad stuff, there is no supporting scientific data.  Nevertheless, I believe there is a body of anecdotal evidence that indicates, after a modest amount of exercise, maybe a 10 to 15k ski or a hike of  90 minutes, I will invariably consume everything in sight. 

The many faces of skiing ...

From a three-year olds first pair of skis, to paintball biathlon, to your first pair of rollerskis, to a Fast And Female clinic and your first sight of an Olympic gold medal, Canadian Ski Marathon, prep school ski circuit, and college D-1 carnivals ... its all a journey. 

Still skiing but ...

It doesn't look like these mid-winter conditions anymore. Two thaws in the past week, plus some really strong winds, have left low spots icy, sunny spots with bits of rock and grass poking through, and small branches everywhere. That said, the base has held up and I was just out for a 7k ski on a pair of old three pin touring skis. The snow squalls we will have all day will certainly help. 

First ice climbing of the season

Laps on Pitchoff Right, as well as Gary's lead of Green Gully.

Trials and tribulations of Scottish skiing

Possibly only Scots and Brits can plow through this type of article, however this niche website — FOOTLESS CROW — is well worth perusing.  I think "Sport for Spartans," is a nice introduction.  It speaks to a type of skiing experience more akin to what it was like in New England from 1930-mid 1950s.

http://footlesscrow.blogspot.com/2018/12/sport-for-spartans.html

Wonderful Adirondack Christmas

We could have used a bit more snow, but I did a morning tour on the golf course with Stash and Lucy trained with a buddy using rock skis on the biathlon trails.

Lucy lounging and giving some TLC to our dogs before opening presents. As per usual, the Hochschartner clan mostly gets reading material from Santa. Of course, I also got my favorite fruitcake from my youngest sister, and Selden made a ski rack, capable of holding skimo gear and nordic race skis.

A fabulous day, ending with a short hike on the Old Mountain Road with great twilight views of Pitchoff.

Beautiful views ...

Pictures from an easy morning run with Stash. In the first picture, Treetops buildings are just visible on our campus, and on the second picture you can see Mount Marcy poking through in back.

Skiing with the Big Guns

Lucy qualified 20th in the sprints, moving into the quarterfinals and just missed out making the semifinals as a lucky loser. The gal from the US Team (Julia Kern in red) won the heat and the race. Lucy termed it a "good" but not great race.

Ski tour up Mount Thor

It was pouring rain, so not much in the way of views of Mount Pisgah and the Lake Willoughby ice climbs ... so I grabbed a picture of what it looks on a great day.

The nordic race season is in full swing

Period one action on the World Cup scene is behind us, and the US team members still in Europe are doing a training block. Domestically the super tour series has moved from West to East and the US nationals begin early in the new year.

Lucy and the St. Lawrence team have done well in their first three regional - and somewhat mellow - races. Lucy has been on top of the podium for all three.

However, that is about to change. This weekend in Craftsbury it will be a different story in the sprints and 10k. Most elite racers (including Lucy) will use this weekend as a final tune up before nationals. At least a half dozen women from US and Canadian teams back from the World Cup Circuit are registered, not too mention top guns from Dartmouth, UNH, UVM, Bates, Middlebury, and Williams. THE BIG DOGS WILL ALL BE THERE.

The history of skiing through art

While the sauna was heating up I sat in the Fossil Cabin browsing through these coffe table books.

Twilight ski tour

A message from Tommy Caldwell about climate change

First sauna of the winter ...

Heading in for my third round and it is very hot!

Climbing conditions on Poko

Two weeks ago ice conditions were not quite there yet, but the video is well worth a minute of your time, to view spectacular drone footage.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M6PVWvKXJe8&time_continue=47

Yesterday was my 25th day on snow ...

An amazing start to the winter, especially given that the calendar still says it's Fall.

One more for the bucket list

In the early 1980s Bill Koch found a place for early and late season snow, outside of Labrador City, and he helped develop an extensive trail system.  As you can see from their Facebook page, they were skiing by Columbus Day, Pisten Bully grooming before November, and full winter conditions by our Election Day. 

It is an 18 hour drive, which can be broken up half-way by a day or two hiking/skiing in the Chic-Chocs. Next fall here I come. 

Muscular endurance training for mountaineering

https://www.uphillathlete.com/training-muscular-endurance-seminar-video/

QUOTE OF THE WEEK ... ed abbey

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. —EDWARD ABBEY

A chapter heading from this engaging book.

Geminid meteors

Well, I have to get up early to make a long drive for a funeral mass tomorrow morning, so I will be stepping outside at 4am to catch some of this meteor shower. It looks to be a good one, so set your alarm, and get up in the middle of the night for a half-hour or so. 

https://www.adventure-journal.com/calendar-item/geminids-meteor-shower/

Patagonia ... an enlightened corporation

The cynical side of me says, this is just a great marketing ploy.  However, even if that were true there is the undeniable fact that their $10,000,000 gift should do a lot of good for the environment.

https://www.patagonia.com/blog/2018/11/our-urgent-gift-to-the-planet/

North side of Pitchoff

The ice climbs are coming in nicely.

Sherburne Ski Trail

The Sherburne ski trail was a mix of ice, dense wind blown patches, an occasional rock or open streamlet, but it was fun to be making turns again. As is often the case - timing is everything - and the perfect timing was the previous weekend and the runner up was a couple of days ago when there was a few of inches of new snow.  The good news is that it is skiable from top to bottom. 

http://www.backcountryskiing.info/p/sample-tour.html

 

Harvard Cabin ... my 40th Anniversary

Forty years ago I was the winter caretaker of the Harvard Mountaineering Cabin in Huntington Ravine. Late this summer - Lenny - who spent six weeks helping me at the cabin - suggested we hike up and spend the night.

It was not a very convenient time for a visit, given that I have been on the road constantly for work, and it's a 5+ hour drive. However, we had a good time, and it was fun to swap old stories with the new caretaker. I skinned up and skied down so I am still waiting for Sam and Len to make it down. (Hoofing it down on nanospikes they were a full hour behind.)

Of course this being Mount Washington it was cold, with a summit windchill of -40 degrees. Lower in elevation and more sheltered I imagine windchill at the cabin was more like -15 degrees.

The enclosed pictures include: Len in the pain cave; the HMC cabin built in 1962; Len's favorite snack; a blustery Huntington Ravine; and Boot Spur at sunset.

Heading up to the Harvard Mountaineering Club Cabin

A bit of history from the 1962 Harvard Crimson.

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1962/4/24/mountaineering-clubs-new-cabin-will-be/

Eigerwand ... the Odyssee video

https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=22&v=AZ1ax1Vm23E

Ski touring in Norway ... Another bucket list idea

Winter camping and spectating the Holmenkollen and Drammen World Cups, followed by skiing the Birkebeiner, and then adding a week of safe mountain ski tours sounds like a must do before I turn 70!

https://www.wildsnow.com/25394/book-review-safer-skiing-norway-touring/#more-25394

One more for the retirement bucket list

https://www.uphillathlete.com/training-24-horseshoe-hell/#prettyPhoto

Olympic nordic trails holding up well despite a slight thaw ...