Another good week of training but continued frigid temperatures

I logged 15 hours and just a bit over 6600' vertical.  I managed 149k split between exercise biking (81k), running (12k+), and nordic as well as ski mountaineering (55k+). In anticipation of a virtual 50k and the Lake Placid Loppet in the next month, I will start to increase the length of a couple of sessions per week. 

 

Important article on dry tooling from NEice

https://www.neice.com/2018/02/ethics-of-climbing-rock-with-ice-tools-dry-tooling/

David Hochschartner (Hock)

Super Tour comes to Lake Placid

A very large and deep field, with some terrific sprint racing. Katharine Ogden and Zalk Ketterson won their final heats.

https://fasterskier.com/2022/01/lake-placid-supertour-classic-sprint-rundown/

As Olympics approach … covid outbreak on Norwegian nordic team

https://fasterskier.com/2022/01/news-brief-covid-outbreak-in-the-norway-olympic-delegation-and-updated-plans-to-get-klaebo-johaug-and-teammates-to-beijing/

BLAST FROM THE PAST … Bill Koch

Takes you right back to the late 1970s and early 1980s. Koch wearing his lucky hat from the day he won his silver medal, and a bib as well as ski uniform from the Seefeld Olympics.

https://vimeo.com/374213250

Three laps on the Middlebury Snowbowl

What more can you ask for … the ski area is closed Tuesday, that's when they groom for the week's opening day on Wednesday, no fee, temperature in the 20s, partly sunny, and nobody around.

Lucy skis in the European Biathlon Championships tomorrow

https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=jyhjkw7kMtY&feature=emb_title

David Hochschartner (Hock)

LARGEST SKI MARATHONS … still on my bucket list

I have skied many ski marathons: Lake Placid Loppet, California Gold Rush, Yellowstone Rendezvous, Rivière Rouge, Bretton Woods, Craftsbury, Blueberry Hill, Tughill, and several National championship 50k races.  Also include a couple of larger event, as I have also skied the Canadian Ski Marathon many times, and quite some time ago I even skied the American Birkie.  But the largest, the Norwegian Birkie, the Vasaloppet, the Marcialonga, and the Engadine are all still on the list.

https://journal.alpsandmeters.com/journal/2020/9/10/in-our-fathers-tracks-for-future-victories

Another good week

Once again, more skimo than Nordic skiing. I also did a bit of ice climbing, a strength workout, and a bit of riding the Mt. Pisgah T-bar lift.  My Dynafit PDG setup is quite light, as you can see. In fact, when I put my nordic race setup on the kitchen scale it weighed in at 1400grams. 

Totals for the week: 15 hours, over 4500' vertical, and 145k (85k bike, 57k ski, and 3.5k run). 

Alpine Art Of The American West … interesting essay

https://journal.alpsandmeters.com/journal/2021/9/8/alpine-art-of-the-american-west

Chilly but a nice sunset classic ski workout

All of Mount Van Hoevenberg's 50+ kilometers are in good shape. Beautiful views, but by the end of the day the temperatures had - again - fallen below zero.

Avalanche assessment and risk analysis

https://www.wildsnow.com/30538/the-exposure-knob/#more-30538

World Cup video of skimo transitions

Well, I am not aiming for a spot at the 2026 Olympics, quite frankly, nor am I doing much skimo racing.  However, good technique, is a good thing for even the occasional backcountry tourer. Take a look, especially at the very end of these three videos, when they do a slo motion review.

http://www.skintrack.com/category/skimo-racing/racing-101/

Voluminous Ski Mountaineering History

http://www.alpenglow.org/ski-history/

While the focus is the Northwest, there is so much more here.  Just a browse through the bibliography is mind blowing.  After digging into this public resource I realized I needed to purchase Lowell Skoog's new book WRITTEN IN THE SNOWS. 

BLAST FROM THE PAST …

My first Denali trip, about 12, 000' on the West Rib, with Mark coming up the ridge. It just popped up this morning in my iPhoto file.

Skimo equipment rules …

For more detailed information, as well as how this racing gear might positively impact a recreational backcountry skier, take a look at this Wild Snow link enclosed below.

https://www.wildsnow.com/30513/light-and-fast-but-make-it-fun/

Lucy is on a plane to Munich for the European Biathlon Championships

The United States Biathlon Team had a complex an exhausting series of trials to make the Olympic team. 

There was a series of three Vermont rollerski biathlon races in August, then another three rollerski races in Utah this past October, those were followed up by three on snow races in Vermont this December. And then for the finalists, there were three races in Germany right after New Year. 

The top five Americans will go to Beijing, and the next five will participate in the European Championships as well as some other IBU CUP races. 

More skimo this week than nordic …

A good week with turns, lots of vertical, as well as a wonderful ski yesterday with the sun setting, and an almost full moon over the mountains.  Of course, it was -10 degrees Fahrenheit so I did not stop too long for photography! 

Totals for the week: 52nd day on snow, 12.5 hours, 7300' vertical, and 118k (62k exercise bike, 52k ski, and 4K run). 

Waiting for frigid temperatures to rise

I worked out on my exercise bike while watching America's first ski movie, Sun Valley Serenade.  The movie included three time Olympic gold medalist Sonja Henie, skiing by Otto Lang and future gold medalist Gretchen Fraser, and of course, the music of Glenn Miller and his Orchestra. Well, it's warmed up to -3 degrees Fahrenheit, so it's time to get my skis out!

An old time Adirondack cold snap

Going to wait until mid-afternoon to go skiing … when the temperature climbs to -3 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Skimo World Cup continues tomorrow

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Mpq9xUU64

Boot Spur

This beautiful print reminded me, that I need to hop in the Hockmobile and head over to New Hampshire.  Maybe spend the night in the Harvard Cabin and solo some snow gullies in Boot Spur or Huntington and then ski down the Sherburne.

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, totally unrelated to skiing …

My wonderful wife, had the first of two historical essays published recently.

https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/12/the-taking-of-the-shuldham-1781/

Important data on avalanche air bag packs …

https://www.wildsnow.com/30484/should-we-be-adding-airbags-to-the-shovel-beacon-probe-safety-arsenal/#more-30484

Finally got some good turns and vert in …

Yesterday, I did many skimo laps at Titus Mountain ski area. 

Scratchy, but the entire Jackrabbit Trail has been skied

25 days until the Beijing Winter Olympics

In a few days, teams will be finalized. The nordic and biathlon squads have several people who have pre-qualified or have met objective criteria, however there are several spots still to be determined by discretion.  Scott Patterson (bib #1) had a good run at the recent national championships at Soldier Hallow. In the picture below, he led the pack almost wire to wire in the 30k.

Next to Gus Schumacher he is clearly our best distance skier, however there may only be five (possibly) six slots for the men, and some of our best men are sprinters. It is going to be tight … keeping my fingers crossed because he is a beast in the 50k.

Snowshoe Thompson, the original badass American nordic skier

https://www.adventure-journal.com/2021/12/snowshoe-thompson-a-badass-mailman-who-brought-backcountry-skiing-to-the-west/

What is driving the uphill skiing phenomenon?

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/climate/skiing-climate-change.html

The Best Spring Skiing?

A pretty bold claim, but the pictures sure look good!  But needless to say, a visit back to Crete would be pretty cool.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/04/travel/crete-greece-skiing.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Travel

Haute Route in a day (almost)

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/05/travel/alps-skiing-mountaineering-valentine-fabre.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Travel

Book Review of Jimmy Chin’s THERE AND BACK



Many thanks to my buddy Lenny for this fabulous Christmas present.

https://www.wildsnow.com/30387/there-and-back-photographs-from-the-edge-book-review/

Yesterday was my 40th day on snow this season

An equal mix of nordic racing skis and skimo gear.  Unfortunately, uphilling has been the relatively gentle toll road, and no outings skinning up alpine areas as of yet. 



Two- year old grandson helping me unpack my ice climbing gear

Nice footage of Olympic Trials and new Van Hoevenberg trails

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nYWignDczIc