On our way to Norway

Zurich to Hamburg, to Copenhagen, then Goteborg, on to Oslo, and finally Lillehammer. Lucy and I are going to ski the baby prince Hakon 54k over the mountains, to safety.

Two long days …

Up at 5am to finish packing. At 6am we had the hotel transport luggage to the electric van and by 6:15 we had our bag lunches, and boarded the train. By 10:20 we were in Zurich.

That was just about when Lucy finished her Engadine skimarathon. There were 12,000 skiers, but only 2-300 women could be classed as high level competitors. She finished 44th, and did the 42k course in 1:55. (She is in the far right of the start photograph.)

I watched the women's 50k world championships in the train station. I met up with Lucy at 5pm, we had dinner, and at 7:30 pm boarded the train for the first leg, of our 27 hour journey to Norway. We change trains 12 hours from now in Hamburg.

A FANTASTIC WEEK IN ZERMATT

Late afternoon on my last day in Zermatt, I went for an hour run on the Zmutt trail. I used it as a bit of intensity, a week out from the 54k Birken.

I had a wonderful time with Lenny, my college buddy, best man, and for several years also my doctor.

In spite of the fact that I had no expectations of this being a high volume week, I still managed a solid training week. I logged 17.5 hours, on 35k hiking, with 4000' vertical. I also had three afternoons riding lifts with skimo gear, as well as one good nordic workout.

Day 7 in Zermatt

Another beautiful day. This is a quick shoutout, to remind you to keep your eyes peeled for the many different pieces of art that capture the essence of the Matterhorn. From wood and stone carvings, to watercolors, stained glass, and oils, plus more impressionistic, and modern pieces you'll find in Zermatt galleries.

Below is a large oil painting that graces the lobby of the Zermatterhof, and the stain glass mosaic that adorns the glass ceiling of the dining room.

Day 6 in Zermatt

The run of spectacular weather continues. Heading to Tasch this morning for a 60-75 minute cross country ski. It's been a week since I was on my skinny skis … longest break since before Thanksgiving!

Took the photo on our way out to a burger joint; not that you can really call anything a "joint" in Zermatt.

Hike to Zmutt and on to Furri

Excellent day - a partial rest day - went to the Zermatt Museum, had a sauna, and a hot soak.

The first picture is of Lenny leaving Zmutt with - from left to right - Rimpfischhorn, Strahlhorn, and Adlerhorn. The second picture is from the museum exhibit about daily life in Zermatt at the beginning of the 20th century; black nose sheep were a key agricultural component.

Day 5 in Zermatt

Yesterday Lenny was feeling a bit under the weather, and so he took the day off to sightsee at Schwarzsee and Gornergrat. At dinner last night, he was obviously feeling much better, as he made quick work of his rack of lamb.

I had a full day, riding lifts and making turns on my Skimo gear. In the afternoon I hiked around to different parts of Zermatt. I also did a bit of browsing for books and skimo gear. I was delighted to find out that Mountain Sports has a full - an affordable - well stocked backcountry rentals. From race skis to fat boards, crampons, to avalanche beacons, and shovels.

My afternoon hike had two surprises, the first bumping into a chalet with a sunny terrace, live music, and a superb view. A stop was in order to sip some wine, soak up some sun, and listen to the talented voice of the gal on the acoustic guitar. When I resumed my hike, happenstance called my attention to a very steep, switchbacking trail. It proved to be a delightful, and direct route up the hill, to the Winkelmatten Chapel … on the way the hiker is treated to all the stations of the cross.

Day 4 in Zermatt

Yesterday I snapped this picture of Adlerhorn (right) and Strahlhorn (left). Strahlhorn is one of the many 4000m peaks that can be climbed from Zermatt.

Day 3 in Zermatt

Another beautiful day, a trend which looks to continue until we leave. We hiked to Fluhalp and back from Blauherd, after Lenny left on the funicular, I lift skied for almost two hours. Then a sauna before a big fondue dinner.

While we were hiking Sam and his three month old FaceTimed us, and the texted the screen capture enclosed below.

Hike to the Champagne Bar and Chalet Reid

A great day; although a poor route choice by Len (I warned him) was more direct, but was icy and sketchy in places.

Super soup; great conversation at the bar, and the views were spectacular.

Last leg of the journey

Yesterday was a mammoth travel day, which with the time change spilled into Sunday. Frankly, the two days were a blur!

The bottom line … we made it!

And, we managed to do an easy one hour hike - up and around Winkelmatten - as well as have a tremendous dinner of brats and rosti at the Zermatterstubli.

So, great to be back in the Alps with Lenny … reliving my first 1972 trip with Dick, my 1978 trip of first big climbs, and other fond memories of so many trips over the years.

Second leg of the journey

An early morning flight and then a ten hour layover at JFK. The mitigating factor was hanging out in the plush Delta One Lounge. Cushy seats; massage chairs; showers; massive free and yummy food; as well as all the champagne, wine, and whiskey you desired. Also some couches you could sack out on.

Time for the third leg … across the big pond to Zurich.

First leg of the journey

Selden is dropping me off at Lenny's house in Ballston Spa, as we have a very early flight tomorrow. The skis I left behind in my quiver!

Klaebo and Sundling dominate

In front of a huge hometown crowd at the World Championships in Trondhein, Norway, both athletes skied away from the competition in the freestyle sprints. Julia Kern finishing fifth, and Ben Ogden finishing twelfth, were the top Americans. Team USA had four males, and four females advancing into the quarterfinals

Yesterday was my 80th day on snow this season

Just a few days left and lots to do!

On the "To Do List" before I head to Zermatt on March 1st are the following: buy train ticket from Zurich to Lillehammer, register for Norwegian Birkebeiner, decide on nordic skis to pack, remind bank I will be traveling abroad, arrange cell service plan for my travels, charge devices, wax three pair skis, and create a comprehensive packing list.

On course, I also need to continue my ski training, have another PT session, and get cortisone injections in the knees. 

Nordic skiing with college buddies

Yesterday we had a fantastic day at Rikert, the Middlebury College nordic center. Temperatures were mild, and by the afternoon had climbed into the high 30s. Grooming was impeccable, and we had a grand time.

On a related note, last week was another excellent training week, and it's time to begin a bit of a taper. I logged 14:15 hours, on 128k (71k bike and 57k ski), and 3400'. Last week included a 7k nordic race, a Skimo session, two PT stretch sessions, and two strength workouts.

This past weekend was the best skiing of the winter

Temperatures into the mid-20s, no wind, sun, and superb snow depth.  I did a local 7k race - part of the ADK tour du ski - which went reasonably well for me on waxless touring skis, with the exception of a wipeout on one of the steep hills.

Lucy, and her long time ski buddy Nina (and her boyfriend) did a big backcountry tour. The Johannsen's Last Call, the JLC is a regional test piece: 50k+ and almost 8000' vertical. The route goes from Heart Lake up and over Wright, down to, and over Whale's Tail to Marcy Dam. From there it's an up, and back to Avalanche Lake, then a skin up Marcy, and a ski back to the farm via the connection to Mount Hoevenberg. 

Today, Lucy plans to do a casual skate of the Loppet … the 1980 Olympic 50k course … the quick update is that she won the 50k in 3:11. Seems like she is ready for the Engadine and Birken marathons on March 8th and the 15th. 

This weekend are pre-Olympic dry runs for Skimo events

These new 2026 Olympic events - Skimo sprint and a mixed relay - will be live streamed (also available for replay) on YouTube.

Just over a week …

Before we arrive in Zermatt!  Looking good today. 

Cutting Edge Bouldering

A short video of Brooke Raboutou climbing the super-hard boulder problem, called box therapy. She won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics … but it obvious she is more than just a gym climber!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvuScFhyvV8

Less than two weeks …

I'll be back in Zermatt, hiking and skiing!

Selden heading off to barn chores

The high winds have subsided and the snow has stopped. Selden is heading down to the barn and checking to see if she has some new lambs.

Well this continues to be an old-fashion winter

Despite a couple of workouts when I was shuffling - because the tracks were filling up with snow - it's been a wonderful, wintry week. I logged just over 16.5 hours of exercise, on 138k (74k bike, 62k ski, and 2k run), and just under 4000' vertical. I also managed three stretching sessions, two PT strength workouts, and one morning of alpine skiing on my skimo race gear.

Two weeks until Zermatt! 

Profile of the most spectacular huts in the Alps



https://www.stellarequipment.com/interstellar/places/hut-heaven/

Yesterday at the World Championships

The Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping Junior World Championships are in Lake Placid this week. Klink and Sue came up from Saratoga yesterday to watch the U23 athletes go off the 100m jump. We had a great lunch, then went over to the recently renovated 1980 Olympic jumps. There were three consecutive 30 minute wind delay postponements; before they made the decision to bump the schedule and have athletes jump in the evening -under the lights - when the winds were predicted to subside.

Thankfully, before they had to go home, we did get to see one jump captured below, by Klink with his big zoom lens!

Yesterday was my 70th day on snow this season

Yesterday’s beautiful morning at Whiteface

Then a ski tour on the Jackrabbit Trail in the afternoon … doesn't get much better than that!

Top of East Mountain

Beautiful day out on the 1980 Olympic Trails. It seemed like I had the place to myself, except at the end of the day, when Finland's nordic combined junior team was ending their workout.

Stopped at the memorial to Harry Eldridge, and remembered all the times he spent on Harry's Hill cheering racers on. A wonderful guy, great part of the local community, not to mention that he was the volunteer par excellence.

31 days until the Birken … Rena to Lillehammer

Great week of training

I logged 15:34 total hours, on 146k (96k bike and 50k ski), with 4000' vertical. I also managed a morning of alpine skiing, one Skimo transition workout, and a single strength session. As you can see, we had some gorgeous days.

The skiing is fantastic

World Cup competition trails, 1980 Olympic and Biathlon trails, Cascade, Scotts Cobble, Dewey Mountain, and Paul Smiths nordic trails are all awesome … not to mention the backcountry!

Nordic Combined World Junior Championship

Coming next week at Mount Van Hoevenberg! 

Some good training trends

During January my time skiing (excluding lift served) went - in a linear fashion - from 3:36 weekly to a total of 6:58 weekly. I'm trusting that incremental advances will continue into February as well.

Additionally, the vertical associated with these skiing hours went up - not exactly linear - but from 383m weekly to a total of 901m vertical weekly. Also, during holidays and the beginning of January my overall training hours hovered around 14 hours weekly, however now it is consistently around 16 hours weekly.

Last nordic skier standing

Every hour you ski a 5 mile loop with 300' vertical, until there is nobody left! Classic, freestyle, or a combination of both, but at the top of the hour you have to be at the starting line. Several skiers lasted over 200 miles, and 40 hours skiing. 



 https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=379259

Central Pillar Of Pitchoff

One of more than two dozen ice climbs within ten minutes of our farm! Yesterday, I had a nice twilight ski on the Jackrabbit Trail on the north side of Pitchoff.

90 Pound Rucksack Challenge … Feb 18th honoring the assault on Riva Ridge



https://christianbeckwith.com/npr-challenge/

Amanda, Jon, and Micah



Brrrr … it’s cold

However, our good winter continues. The snow depth is not massive - in a historical sense - but consistent cold temperatures means no thaws, and so we have kept all that has fallen.

It was a good week of training. I logged 16 hours: on 152k (107k bike, 40k ski, and 5k run), with 3225' vertical. I managed a morning of alpine skiing, two Skimo workouts, and two PT stretching sessions.

Yesterday was my 60th day on snow

Yesterdays high temperature was 8 degrees, tonight it's supposed to drop to -15 degrees (coldest of the new year so far).  BUT, as I look at the weather report this morning, today's high will be a balmy 18 degrees.  Additionally, we may also have some more snow coming!

Waning moon and Venus setting in the west

A quick backgrounder on the avalanche beacon

From this wonderful ski website previously mentioned on my blog.  So, who is working on the app, that will turn your phone into an avalanche beacon?  Surely that will happen one day, and be an incredibly popular item with the niche ski mountaineering community. 

https://www.stellarequipment.com/interstellar/spotlight/avalanche-transceivers/