First Owl’s Head hike of 2024

A beautiful spring-like day, although it was 14 degrees yesterday morning!

The ski history of the Jackson Hole Air Force

An interesting full length documentary video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=ydUI_gMmbNWd-8UL&v=n8t3o0sssGE&feature=youtu.be

Important part of my knee PT

Easy to do, with or without, implements.  I often do it on one leg for five rotations in each direction, before switching to the other leg.  I check her Instagram account every so often, as she always has great stretches and exercises to do.

Another book from Hock’s Alpine Library

The United Nations declared 2002 to be the International Year of Mountains. This collection of essays grew out of the summit that Banff Center convened called "Extreme Landscape: challenge and celebration." Dipping into a few, I was particularly impressed with Edwin Bernbaum's "Mountains of Inspiration." An essay that ranges from the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhist Milarepa to the Lakota medicine man Black Elk; passages from the Bible give way to the poetry of Li Po and Yeats; the paintings of Hokusai and Cezanne, lead to the stories of Rousseau, Hemingway, and Mann, as well as the mountaineering struggles of Mallory and Herzog.

Well worth the time if you can find a copy.

At the Yankee game with Lenny

A long day, but great to catch up with my long time buddy, eat an amazing amount of delicious food (no stadium franks today), and watch the Bronx bombers. 

On a different note, I had a pretty good week of training, as I transition out of winter. I logged 14.5 hours, on 120k (86 bike, 28k run, 6k ski), and 4250' vertical.  I also managed three sessions of PT stretching, and one strength session … I do wish I had added one more ski in this week. 

Union lacrosse game

I went down to Schenectady to meet up with Harry, Klink, and Sue to watch Union (9-3) annihilate Vassar 19-9. Fun time, and good weather, although it was snowing by the time I got home.

The memories of all those soaks in hot springs out West

No mention of the Travertine Queen though! 

https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/destinations/north-america/cult-hot-springs-west/?utm_term=ool&utm_campaign=ool-longreads&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_fIc0NchSZhK6BQsk3_I69Uq_Nl6dnEXQTIwaimD6Lgpi78zNKbWwJzV48cw63RstpjQQUK4kBPqa-hNmco9bZs-hN6g&_hsmi=301098114&utm_source=newsletter

Zermatt wasn’t always a premier winter resort

It's hard to imagine, but until 1927 Zermatt and traffic up the valley from Visp, was pretty much was shutdown all winter. An interesting short article, on the first "tourist trip" up the Gornergrat during the winter. 

https://www.gornergrat.ch/en/stories/geschichte-first-winter-expedition-gornergrat

Another illustration from Summits Of Samivel



Looks like spring is finally coming our way



Another episode of the Ninety Pound Rucksack has dropped

a well produced, extensively researched, and very entertaining look at the origin and rise of the 10th Mountain Division, it's impact on the war, and subsequent impact on the outdoor industry. 

https://christianbeckwith.com/

A crappy winter, and a decent week in April

At the the moment my total stands at 117 days on snow this season, however I suspect I might log a day or two more before May 1st. Both Mount Van Hoevenberg and Whiteface closed this weekend, but both still have lingering snow … not to mention Killington or Tuckermans Ravine.

This week I logged just over 15 hours, with 115k (63k bike, 35k ski, 17k run), and 5100' vertical ascent. I also managed three PT stretching sessions and one PT strength session for my shoulder.

Core Strength Training from The Uphill Athlete



Yesterday was a nice spring ski … but MVH just closed for the season

Hopefully, I'll get another day or two somewhere on snow before my season ends. 

Just before totality when we took the glasses off

The Edge Of Never … superb video on history of extreme skiing in Chamonix

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=R6SKpjjg5UU

I am also re-reading the book by Willam Kerig, which is also worth your time,and available on Internet Archive. (The quote below is featured at the start of the book.)

The Grand Traverse … still on my bucket list

But, I am not getting any younger, so I better get after it!

BLAST FROM THE PAST … 2008 Union alumni lacrosse game



Beautiful ski this morning

The awesome total eclipse was followed up by a wonderful, warm, and spring-like day.

OH, AND LAST WEEK WAS MY 110th DAY ON SNOW THIS SEASON

Samivel … the first ascent drawings

Samivel has a delightful and funny way of uncovering some of the foibles in the alpine sports we love.  Here, he exposes a key truth in many sporting endeavors: how hard it was to hook the big fish; how many tackles you broke to score the winning touchdown; or how tough that first ascent was versus how the tale was told.

Great week, even before winter returned

I think this was the biggest storm of the winter; I know it was the first time I have been on nordic racing skis three days in a row! Also, a great 36 hours at Killington, logging laps, seeing college buddies, and watching NCAA and NIT basketball.

I logged just over 14.5 hours, on 112k (63k bike, 43k ski, 6k run), with just under 5200' vertical. I also managed four PT stretching sessions and one strength session.

Tomorrow is the total solar eclipse; keeping fingers crossed for clear viewing.

Another book from the Alpine Library

Beautiful, insightful, and humorous, Samivel's line drawings and watercolors speak to alpinists and ski mountaineers. And should you be over in the Chamonix region, go visit the Samivel Garden in Les Contamines.

65 words for different types of snow

https://skimo.co/words-for-snow

A bit of humor about skimo by a big time ultrarunner

https://runthealps.com/blog/dakota-jones-tight-skimo-pants?mc_cid=429ef2059f&mc_eid=c79c623384

One of my favorite stores

A stop on the way back from Killington yesterday, Sandy's bakery and used bookstore in Rochester Vermont is awesome. (It also has a clean, and delightfully decorated, public bathroom as well.)

Vitamin I … how much, is too much

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/13/well/advil-ibuprofen-health-risks.html

Lou Whittaker memorial

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/everest/lou-whittakers-son-remembers-the-legendary-mountaineer/

Well winter is coming again … snow predictions



Getting some Skimo vertical

A good morning skinning laps at Killington.

Lucy’s big month

 My daughter has had a good month … 20th in the Birkie (2:25); a week later she won the Rangely Marathon (shortened to 38k) beating out all the Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin gals; last week 4th in a skimo 24 hour event (skiing 18,000' in 16 hours as she wanted to get a good nights sleep); today she is backcountry skiing on the East side of the Sierras. Next week, she starts a new job on Portland.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: original chouinard ice hammer

It is hard to imagine climbing steep ice, with just a Chouinard piolet, this hammer, crappy salewa screws, and pound in warthogs!

Easter brunch

Selden and I went out with Alison to New Vida Preserve; great food and great views.

On a different note, heading to Killington tomorrow for my annual meet up with college buddies. This week went reasonably well; I logged just under 15 hours, on 126k (87k bike, 26k run, 13k ski), and 4200' vertical. Additionally, I spent a morning alpine skiing, managed one strength session, three PT stretch sessions, and my second MTB of the "spring."

Chamonix Trail Running Guide

Selden and I are going to Chamonix in the fall for our 40th anniversary, so I will get a chance to do a few of the easy runs.

https://alpsinsight.com/stories/chamonix-trail-running-guide/

Messner’s deceased brother’s boot found on Nanga Parbat

https://explorersweb.com/gunther-messners-second-boot-returns-to-reinhold/

Pretty amazing day trip skiing Chimney Couloir



 https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=xG4zAPpcpchhdcO7&v=gB7L97axQYE&feature=youtu.be

Sunny, 52°, and set tracks

It won't last too much longer, but this was hard to beat!

Nice morning at Whiteface

Unfortunately, warming trend will quickly dispatch the recent foot of new snow. As a matter of fact, at 6am this morning it was 41 degrees.

From the shelf of Hock’s Alpine Library

TRAINING FOR THE UPHILL ATHLETE has a terrific amount of useful information for trail runners, alpinists, and skimo racers.  Of course, it also has wonderful graphs, charts, and beautiful photographs. Perusing this the other day, made me realize - given recent PT experience - that I ought to read-read the sections on strength. 

Full moon setting over our farm

The return to winter brought another good training week. I logged just under 16 hours, on 124k (80k bike, 32k ski, 12k run), with 3750' vertical.  I also managed six PT stretching sessions, and two easy PT strength sessions for my shoulder. 

The return of winter

Well, it's 2 degrees this morning; with a big bright full moon, and despite the storm underperforming, it looks and feels like mid-winter. Yesterday, I did a morning and afternoon ski tour, starting from our front door, out on to the 1980 biathlon trails.

New issue of Skiing History

A great organization to belong too, with a superb digital archive, and a magazine you look forward to every other month. The cover art is from 1955, to advertise the recently opened Sugarloaf ski area in Maine. Among the interesting articles were the stories about Robert Redford and the Sundance ski area, a 100 year history of the FIS, and a look at an old advertisement about Wengen in the Swiss Alps.

https://www.skiinghistory.org/volume-35-number-4-july-august-2023

Watching World Cup Bobsled

I just did my PT and two sessions on the exercise bike before and after several hours watching these folks cruise down at 80+ mph. I had a great time with a college buddy and his wife.

BLAST FROM THE PAST … original jensen pack

This is an ad from Mountain #27 (May 1973); I still have two of these packs, the expedition model with beefy snap on side pockets, and the smaller model for several overnights. Still use them, although zippers have had to be replaced.

Super comfortable carrying loads.

Don’t Put Those Skis Away Yet!

In addition to the 3-4 inches we got in the past few days, more is coming.

Yesterday was the best ski of the season

Terrific conditions; hard pack base with two inches of powder on top … it was glorious. Today will be my 100th day on snow this season, and conditions should be just as good.

The end of ice climbing

https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/the-end-of-ice-climbing

A good training week

Last week I logged over 16 hours, and just under 4400' vertical, on 127k (91k bike, 20k ski, and 16k run). I also managed four PT stretch sessions, and two mornings of alpine skiing, but sadly no strength sessions.

And the second picture!

The next is from my hour-long workout on Sunday, at the Mount Van Hoevenberg World Cup competition trails, next door to our farm.

A tale of two pictures

The first is my 1.25k warmup on Sunday with Stash, around the perimeter of our farm's pasture.