Tahoe: day 2

Yesterday, I started the day off with a yoga session, and then did a 50 minute run. In the afternoon Danny and I did a two hour ski up near Mount Rose. A great day, and then Mark introduced me to Viking Valhalla on Netflix. 

Danny’s House

Mark and I headed over to see Danny and watch the Celtics play the Heat. An impressive snowpack still covering his front lawn.

Tahoe: day 1

Plenty of snow up high. However, my choice of tours - Pole Creek - was a poor one. Too much hiking (5.5k) and too little skiing (3.5k), but it was a good two hour workout with some nice vertical. Followed up with a good yoga session.

UTMB book review

https://www.trailrunnermag.com/people/culture-people/book-review-the-race-that-changed-running/

Super long travel day

Up at 4am, then the 7am plane to Chicago, then Phoenix, then to Reno, and an hour drive to Olympic Valley. Plenty of snow above 6700'. Hoping to do this snow climb before I leave,

Last workout with Stash for awhile

We had a good jog on the new nordic trails. Heading out tomorrow to Tahoe to see Mark and Danny, as well as doing some late season ski tours. Flying home on June 8th.

Shining Mountains … a video about the vanishing glaciers of Glacier National Park

https://youtu.be/hro6ciOyVkY

New data on strength training

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/muscle-fiber-strength-research/

Recent picture from Mammoth …

There will obviously be snow to ski tour on next week!

Recovered well from the race

I am back training lightly, for a few days.

Beginning to gather for the start of the race

It was a week of tapering and recovery before the Mining For Vert Challenge. So, the volume was less, but with the race, data on intensity sky-rocketed. I managed to log 12 hours last week, with 6250' vertical, on 94k (55k bike, 36k run, and 3k ergometer), as well as three yoga sessions, and single strength session.

Good race at Mining Vertical 4 Hour Challenge

Oldest competitor (so won age group) but only a couple of minutes off 60 year old podium. The stats were: 13 laps, four hours, 17k, and 4075' vertical.

My one sentence summary … plenty of gas left in the tank but no fluid for the knees!

At reunion at Union College

Next year is my 50th, but a bunch of us came to reconnect with friends from the class ahead of us.

Hoping to do lots of skiing in the Sierras

However, there are lots of good trail runs I can do in the afternoons, after a morning ski tour.  This new guide book is a good one! 

In less than two weeks I’ll be in the Sierras

So, I am pulling out guidebooks, both old (this 1995 volume) and new (Sierra Trail Runs) to start planning some adventures.  

Dusting of snow and first jog of the year on 1980 biathlon trails

Over night lows tonight will, again, be in the twenties.

BLAST FROM THE PAST … canadian rockies 1974

Bill Trollenberg, Stephanie White, and I spent three months hiking and climbing in the Canadian Rockies. This was my first big, and long, climbing trip. Among others, we climbed Mount Rainier, Mount Athabasca, Mount Olive, Saint Nicholas Peak, Snowdome, Mount Woolley, and a failed attempt on the Wishbone Arete of Robson. The picture was of me honing technique on an early season frozen waterfall.

Excellent Rest Day

Starting with some tea and ginger snaps, then proceeding to a sauna down at the Fossil Cabin.

A beautiful spring week with solid training

Last week the weather was clear and mild; I logged over 16 hours and over 6500' vertical, on 115k (61k mostly MTB, 45k on foot, and 9k ergometer). I also did three yoga sessions, a strength session, and I am looking at putting a racing bib on next Sunday.

The benefits of altitude training

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/10-rules-for-altitude-training/

Scouting ski tours for Memorial Day in Tahoe … IMPRESSIVE!

Of course, this SNOTEL data is from May 11th, but with many places still showing snow depth over 100 inches, it seems likely I'll be doing some ski touring!  Quite the resource … check it out. 

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/quicklinks/imap#version=167&elements=&networks=!&states=!&counties=!&hucs=&minElevation=&maxElevation=&elementSelectType=all&activeOnly=true&activeForecastPointsOnly=false&hucLabels=false&hucIdLabels=false&hucParameterLabels=false&stationLabels=&overlays=&hucOverlays=&basinOpacity=100&basinNoDataOpacity=100&basemapOpacity=100&maskOpacity=0&mode=data&openSections=dataElement,parameter,date,basin,elements,location,networks&controlsOpen=false&popup=&popupMulti=&popupBasin=&base=esriNgwm&displayType=station&basinType=6&dataElement=SNWD&depth=-8&parameter=OBS&frequency=DAILY&duration=I&customDuration=&dayPart=E&monthPart=E&forecastPubDay=1&forecastExceedance=50&useMixedPast=true&seqColor=1&divColor=3&scaleType=D&scaleMin=&scaleMax=&referencePeriodType=POR&referenceBegin=1981&referenceEnd=2010&minimumYears=20&hucAssociations=true&relativeDate=-1&lat=39.1481&lon=-120.2787&zoom=9.7

SKY RUNNING article in the Wall Street Journal

https://www.wsj.com/articles/skyrunning-endurance-race-sports-343cfd52?st=ltht10k8xxqxbc3&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink&_hsmi=257515908&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Z_9HbK3PtrQeCySDOa_USfP44DyQeIC6PWaOWkyk43pPDmZkgHA6Y0TIQbc0Z38ADm2CrG1itBFqtDPtltHihk1-OeQ

Legendary American climber Tom Hornbein passes away at age 92

On the 1963 American Everest expedition, Hornbein and Unsoeld did a two person alpine style ascent of the unclimbed West Ridge, which was far ahead of its time.

https://adventure-journal.com/blogs/news/tom-hornbein-legendary-everest-pioneer-dead-at-92

Beautiful day and a nice hike up Prospect Mountain

BLAST FROM THE PAST … the backside of beyond

https://earnyourturns.com/12155/rerun-the-backside-of-beyond/

First week of new training year

A good first week - with mostly crappy weather - however I managed just under 15 hours, just under 4000' vertical, and 111k (72k bike and 39k+ run). I also did three yoga sessions, a strength session, and my first MTB ride of the season.

As you can see from the picture on the Jackrabbit Trail, it has been pretty wet.

Nordic skiing in June

https://fasterskier.com/2023/05/great-skiing-in-june-its-real-and-mt-bachelor-has-your-ticket/

What was in your skimo pack this winter?

Not too different from my pack, except a warmer parka, warm hat, and another lightweight wind shell for over the puffy.  (The 'dacks are colder and more blustery than being on a piste in the alps.)  But, this list will be perfect when I head out into the Sierras in three weeks. 

https://www.dynafit.com/en-us/what-s-inside-my-skimo-pack

Not logging big mileage but …

I feel like I have had a successfully transitioned back to running, after the ski season. Next up, is hopping on the mountain bike.

Book Review … Born To Run 2

https://news.ultrasignup.com/born-to-run-2/

Video highlights of 2023 Trofeo Mezzalama skimo race

An exceptional 12 minute video - no narration - just stunning footage of this La Grande Course. The race begins in Cervinia and 45k later ends in Gressoney, in between there is 3300m of ascent, including three 4000 meter peaks. 

https://youtu.be/jBlHPWE1GaM

Quick review of 2022-23 training year

So the highlights were as follows: 772 hours of training, 226,000' vertical, 127 days on skis, 4 uphill running races (2 age group podiums), one 50k+ ultra, one Skimo race, and two trips to the Sierras, as well as a trip to Zermatt.

A couple of big disappointments: no climbing or mountaineering just a bit of bouldering. I was only able to average one strength workout a week. And, I did not do any of the planned nordic ski marathons.

In summary, a productive year to kick off my 70s, now it's time to set goals for the next year.

The Nordic Training Season … is defined as May 1 - April 30

So, last week was the "official" end of the 2022-23 nordic season. It was a good week in a qualitative sense, although totals were much lower.  

The highlight was getting into Huntington Ravine, as well as the spectacular views of Boot Spur, and the head wall of Tuckermans Ravine. Skiing down the Sherburne Ski Trail was a New England classic, although the lower portion was melted out. And finally, despite the rain watching my daughter put a race bib on for the USATF uphill run, at Mount Sunapee, was a treat.  Hoping to get to Huntington Ravine next year in late March or early April to climb up South Gully, down The Escape Hatch, and ski all the way out to Pinkham Notch. 

So, for the final week of my training year the totals were: just under 16.5 hours, just over 6300' vertical, and 91k (49k exercise bike, 36k run, 6k ski).  Today will be the day to total up all the data, look at last years goals, and make some goals for the 2023-24 season.