Pulled another old classic off the bookshelf

Published in 1904, this delightful book - with evocative paintings - gives a wonderful overview of the natural history of the alps.

BLAST FROM THE PAST … coaching Paralympic skiers

Guiding our top B2 blind skier in the selection races for the 1987 World Championships in Seefeld.

Aiming to skin up Gore Mountain and visit Lenny this week

With my Whiteface ski pass (also good at Gore and Belleayre) I can skin for free on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.  Which begs the question: Why isn't Whiteface management this enlightened?

On a different note, my training last week went well, although the volume was a bit off as I logged a bunch of car miles. That said, it was great to get over to the White Mountains and ski in a different venue. 

The stats were as follows: 14.5 hours, and just under 4600' vertical, on 111k (72k bike, 33k ski, 6k run).  Additionally, I had three strength workouts, two yoga sessions, and a couple of alpine runs at Bretton Woods.

Skiing in Yosemite is still on my bucket list

A wonderful article in Skiing History about Ansel Adams, brought back fond memories of my two times skiing inside the national park.  About 20 years ago I spent a week skiing out of Tioga Pass Resort; then two years ago, I was camping on the east side of the Sierras when they opened Route 120 to the park boundary. 

Another Antique Mountain Postcard

This one is a picture of the old Hornli Hut at the base of the Matterhorn, at the start of the original 1865 route up the mountain.

60th Day

Earlier this week, while in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I hit my 60th day on snow.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: peru 2005

My first climbing trip to the Cordillera Blanca was with Jon and Larry Robjent. This was Jon kicking back in our Ishinca Valley Basecamp at 14,500'.

A new issue of Skiing History

The picture on the cover was a poster designed for the first Winter Olympics in 1924 hosted by Chamonix.

Gearing up for Bretton Woods laps

Matt had some A-fib issues recently so he only skinned a single lap.

The White Mountains off in the distance

Heading to the White Mountains today

That said, the past week has been a pretty good one for training despite the frigid temperatures. I logged 16 hours, with 4200' vertical, on 144k (89k bike, 46k ski, 9k run). And while I did not do any alpine skiing, I did manage two strength, and one yoga session.

Good skiing at Rikert nordic center

Superb conditions, and fun to be out with my old college buddies.

Perusing my antique mountain postcards

Over the years Aunt Newly and Uncle Don have gotten me a variety of mountain scenes from postcards all over the world. This is a pre-WW II picture taken from Glacier Point Apron in Yosemite.

Wonderful ski tour at Scott’s Cobble

Once in awhile I pull an old classic off the shelves

This collection of essays was first published in 1925, and I have a second edition from 1949. I love the illustrations - often reproductions of paintings - in these old books, as well as the wonderful depictions of early alpine ski touring.

Fitness in old age

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/01/16/fitness-aging-richard-morgan/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most

The Definitive Ranking of the Best and Worst Snow Conditions

https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/opinion/the-definitive-ranking-of-the-best-and-worst-snow-conditions/?utm_source=outside&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=onsiteshare

What is the minimal amount of strength training you can get away with?

Because, to borrow from the Robert Frost poem, "I have kilometers to go (run or ski) before I sleep."

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/minimum-strength-training/

Well the 8-12 inches never appeared …

However, I imagine the Tug Hill Plateau, on the western - lake effect - side of the Adirondacks got plastered. 

That said it was a good week, with lots of skiing on all types of conditions.  I managed to log 14.5 hours, on 133k (105k bike, 28k ski), and just under 3000' vertical.  I also spent two mornings alpine skiing on skimo gear, and also managed two strength sessions, and another yoga session. 

Yesterday’s slushy Scott’s Cobble tour



Hock’s mountaineering, skiing, and trail running books

My personal library, has a new customized book stamp.

Suspecting that my children and grandchildren will not want anything more than a few choice pieces from my alpine library, I imagine I will eventually give my library away. After all, do I really want to leave it all behind when I pass away, and give my children the chore of what to do with 60 boxes of books!

So, in coming years books will go to friends for birthday and Christmas presents. While select portions of the collection will go to North Country School, Camp Treetops, the Keene Valley Library, ADK Welcome Center, Union College Library, and the American Alpine Club Library.

Yesterday was my 50th day on snow since June 1

The future of snowfall in the northern hemisphere

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/10/climate/climate-change-snowpack-decline.html

A Wilmington Surprise

The "banana belt" of our region is the area around Wilmington. As it is east of the high peaks region it often is snowless when Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and our home are fully covered. However, in the recent storm - which for us produced huge rain - it covered the town, and the Whiteface Toll Road with a nice blanket of snow.

So, checking out the toll road yesterday I was delighted and surprised to find full coverage and pretty good skiing.

Another big storm turns from snow into mostly intense rain

I gave this neat old book - vintage late 1960s - to a couple of different buddies as Christmas presents.  Now, I find myself re-reading this book on the Internet Archive; 

perusing websites; and dreaming of a return to the alps. 

Selden and I already have exciting plans to be in Chamonix this fall, celebrating our 40th anniversary.  My current dilemma: Should I do a ski mountaineering trip to the Alps this winter (Lech or Andorra), or a spring skiing and hiking trip in the Sierras or Cascades? 

Not the big storm we expected

But, five inches on top of the two we already had, is better than nothing. Ski toured with Stash on the 1980 biathlon trails.

On a related note, last week I logged just over 13 hours, on 117k (80k bike, 25k ski, and 12k run), and just over 3000' vertical. I also managed one morning of alpine skiing, two strength sessions, and a single yoga session.

Another big day for American nordic skiers

Sophia Laukli won the final Tour de Ski stage - the climb up the Alpe Cermis - while Jessie Diggins won the overall TdS, and continues to lead the season long race for the Crystal Globe.

https://fasterskier.com/2024/01/diggins-wins-tour-de-ski-as-laukli-soars-up-alpe-cermis/

Back riding lifts at Whiteface

Now that the holiday crowds have dispersed, I spent the morning riding the new lift - Notch - taking you directly to the mid-station. A fine morning with temperature in the 20s and three inches of new snow on top of the piste.

Hiking in Rochester Vermont with college buddies

Happy and Healthy New Year

The Magician’s Glass by Ed Douglas

One of my Christmas presents from Selden was this collection of interesting mountaineering essays. Who could resist after reading this blurb from British climber Andy Kirkpatrick: "A man with a mind like the teeth of a brand new ice-screw. Ed's words are never dull."

On a different note, I have finally put Covid behind me, and the past few days, I have even been able to approach my regular volume. That said, the overall volume for the past week was still low: logging 10 hours, a bit over 3500', 87k (49k bike, 33k ski, 5k run), as well as two strength, and one stretching session.

Hoping for a healthy 2024.