A new Skimo season



https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=76&v=b-V6D1DS-LE&feature=emb_logo

Selden is having knee surgery

I am just hanging out in the hospital, hoping things go smoothly.

10th Day On Snow

It was a good week of training. I logged 14.5 hours, 147k (97.5k exercise bike, 44k ski, 5.5k run), managed 3625' vertical, and did a couple of strength sessions.

Beyond The Summit … kit deslauriers

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2KToPCh77ZM&feature=emb_imp_woyt

Yesterday the weather was a bit grim … grey, too warm, and drizzly

However, the man-made loop is in good shape, and legacy trails that have been rolled are sketchy, but still skiable. I have been timing my ski session to coincide with the end of D-1 college training sessions. So, 11-12:15 and 3:30-4:45 seem to be the best times.

Steve House … how to make an A thread for a rappel

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5RKwAyscHFM

How to watch cross country and biathlon World Cups this season

https://fasterskier.com/2022/11/viewing-cross-country-and-biathlon-in-the-united-states/

Cross Country Skiing World Cup Races Are About To Begin!

It starts with a classic sprint in Ruka On November 25th. Watch the short video below to get your motors running! 

https://www.fis-ski.com/en/cross-country/cross-country-news-multimedia/videos/2022/11/cross-country-the-42nd-season-we-could-not-be-more-excited-fis-cross-country-0LLsT2_M8Sg

DAWN PATROL … a great short video

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MCQR3ABTV4A&feature=emb_imp_woyt

A good week of training …

Blisters have healed, I am shaking off a cold, but I still have elevated morning heart rates. So, while I might not be completely recovered from my ultra, an appetite for training is definitely back.

My volume is on the uptick, and I will do my best to keep the ramp up gradual. Last week I logged 13.5 hours, almost 6000' vertical, and 115k (70k exercise bike, 30 skiing, 15k running).

The Whiteface Toll Road

This classic Adirondack ski tour has been in fine condition all week. Yesterday was my third day skiing, with my skimo race skis. Time to pull out my nordic gear.

Tips on collecting books about skiing …

https://skiinghistory.org/online-magazine/dusty-passion-collecting-books

Jack Kuenzle … king of the FKT landscape

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/running/culture-running/people/jack-kuenzle-fkt/?utm_campaign=OOL%20-%20NL%20-%20Long%20Reads&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=234364598&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--iavRObawwMaPrSHYOwqbYTSgVguZd-jGeNjisGBLy-C4azQaQ_h5_BXNe1x3XL4IAIEYbbmh2cEI6pb-N5J0YjMWLjA&utm_content=234363434&utm_source=hs_email

Boot Camp On Mt. Rainier

https://skiinghistory.org/online-magazine/boot-camp-mount-rainier

Whiteface Toll Road: the first ski of the season

The 46ers … watch the trailer

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/the46ersfilm/300621434?autoplay=1

Some good news for eastern skiers

There is snow coming tomorrow, and with the colder - more seasonal - weather, all the Olympic venues in our area were making snow yesterday.  So, Whiteface, the jumps, and Mount Van Hoevenberg will be usable in the very near future. 

Great day at the Giants game

I had a terrific day with my college buddy; the Giants won and are now 7-2. Len and I got to the stadium at 9am, in time for some serious tailgating.

BLAST FROM THE PAST … east ridge of the grand teton

In 1977, Murph (a college buddy) and I are setting up our bivy on this classic route.  It rained off, and on, through the night and we headed down the next morning. Several years later, I tried this route with Michael Franklin in winter, and that time we bailed because of avalanche conditions.  Still, on my bucket list, but my guess is that it may have to wait until my next reincarnation. 

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

I will be watching this in the coming months as I get closer to my February backcountry ski trip.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=114&v=zpK9Pa3oJys&feature=emb_logo

Never imagined an article like this in the New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/22/well/move/fitness-bouldering-rock-climbing.html

Another unusually warm November day, but quite wonderful

A nice recovery hike in Rochester, Vermont with Ted and Dick. My knees are starting to feel better, and I am able to increase the volume a little bit each day. Next week I will be able to resume full training hours, which will hopefully include some time on snow.

Where the 10th Mountain Trained

During WW II, the 10th Mountain Division was quartered at Camp Hale, and nearby was the Cooper Ski Area, where many learned how to ski. It is also where I taught beginners for Colorado Outward Bound School, before we took them out in the mountains for 20 days.

Thumbing through the guidebook, I am starting to get excited about a backcountry ski trip to Colorado in February.

A bit of good news …

The National Weather Snow Forecast out to November 16th,  suggests that maybe higher elevations (Whiteface Toll Road), could have 12 inches of snow in that time period. Also, it looks like Foret in Quebec (six hour drive) might have a similar amount, and maybe they will groom their five kilometer loop.

HamsterWheel … 53k in 9:24

Plopped in a chair, and ready to break open the bottle of whiskey with Matt, who did the last 12.5k with me.

30 hour wave is off

My Hamsterwheel wave leaves at 9:30.

And to add to the grim picture …

Maybe it will be even too warm to make snow during this time period!

Now this is grim …

This is the National Weather Service snowfall forecast out to November 13th. As you can see for New York and New England … nada! Of course, maybe low temperatures will mean alpine areas and nordic centers like Mount Van Hoevenberg, Craftsbury, and Middlebury might make snow. However, up above Gaspe, into Labrador City it shows over a foot of snow. I just might need to hop in the Hockmobile and get up to the Menihek Nordic Ski Club.

However, this weekend I am running an ultra-marathon, so I will worry about it next week.

VALLÉE BLANCHE … the badass version

Just two minutes long, and we'll worth it!

https://vimeo.com/335879257 

Escape To Lucania: an epic story of survival

As a followup to the New York Times article about the expedition that found the 1937 cache of gear from Washburn and Bates, enclosed below is the first paragraph from Escape From Lucania. I am already halfway through the book … it's gripping!