HARVEST MOON AND FOLIAGE



Total time on snow during the 2024 - 2025 season

The first graph is my total time Nordic skiing last year, with a Strava paragraph comparing it to the previous season.

This next graph is the total amount of time spent alpine skiing last year, again Strava provided a brief comparative review with the previous year.

David Hochschartner (Hock)

Shackleton’s ship was bound to fail

An interesting article, which outlines some of the inadequacies of Shackleton's ship.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/science/shackleton-endurance-antarctica.html

Spectacular racing at the UCI World Cup

The U23 chase pack, following the top three riders, pedaling up to the high point of the course on some very steep climbs, and then heading back down to the stadium on some very technical and high speed terrain. The top rider finished the six lap course in just over 74 minutes.

On a related note, I had a good week of training which was dominated by my time pedaling. This week I logged just under 16.5 hours of training, on 210k (195k bike and 15k run), with just under 3500' of vertical gain. I also managed to do two sessions of PT stretching and strength workouts.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS for the backcountry ski season



The Hock Alpine Library

My guess is that between books, magazines, maps, framed prints, posters, and my digital collection I have over 2000 items in the Hock Alpine Library.  For the past year, I have been in the process of adding my personal stamp to every item in the collection. 

The collection includes: a few out of print "relatively" rare climbing novels; a "rare" first watercolor (in exchange for climbing lessons) from a very well known Alaskan artist; the first ground breaking Chouinard mail order catalog in mint condition; the "rare" Mountain Magazine devoted to European alpine ice routes and their history; a "rare" English edition of the history of the Dynafit alpine touring binding; as well as complete collection of the Alpinist magazine from issue 0 to the current #91. Among the Fossils, El Presidente has justly earned his nickname, and so too have I, as the Historian! 

My alpine collection has been a great joy, however my current challenge is to figure out what to do with it in the future.  Eight years ago when we moved to the farm, my collection encompassed 75 boxes. I imagine now, if I had to guess it would occupy probably 90-100 boxes. Our house and the Fossil Cabin have ample space.  However, most people and organizations don't have the desire or space to house such a collection.  (If I were to keel over and die tomorrow my kids and Selden would be pulling their hair out saying "what the fuck, do we just rent a dumpster?") Thankfully, it looks like I am not going to keel over anytime soon, so I have plenty of time to work on this problem. 

I have begun to think about donating portions of the collection to certain organizations. Likely places that might be a home for a portion of my books and mountain memorabilia include: the American Alpine Club, Appalachian Mountain Club, Adirondack Mountain Club, Union College, St. Lawrence College, the Harvard Mountaineering Club, Dartmouth Outing Club, as well as the local libraries of Keene Valley, Saranac Lake, and Lake Placid. 

HOWEVER BEFORE I MAKE THOSE DONATIONS, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS THAT MY KIDS, MY CLIMBING PARTNERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES GET FIRST DIBS! 

David Hochschartner (Hock)

UCI Lake Placid World Cup

Today Mount Van Hoevenberg hosted the short track event (20-30 minutes long), while Sunday will be the Olympic format event (70-90 minutes). I watched the U23 events in the morning … pretty exciting.

Our tariff policy and cross country skiing

https://fasterskier.com/2025/10/tariffs-currency-and-cross-country-skiing-how-global-economics-could-shape-the-2025-26-ski-season/

Another frosty morning

Earlier today it was 28 degrees; it shouldn't be too long before the first snow, when I fire up the sauna by the Fossil Cabin.

The Skimo Company sent an email blast this morning about new products which may, or may not, make it to America … depending on tariff policies. The USSMA sent out an email yesterday talking about the recent team training camp in Italy, as athletes prep for the first Olympic Skimo events in Cortina. And, I am going to pull out a pair of waxless nordic skis and my PDG Skimo skis from Fossil Cabin storage. Time to get ready.

UCI World Cup mountain biking coming to Lake Placid

Today is an official training day, and racing starts tomorrow.

I am slower than a decade ago, but what a difference retirement makes!

Imagine if I could have logged this training volume ten years ago! Strava has given me a month to preview its subscription app - excellent for an exercise geek - but I am not upgrading.

Nice sunset over Street and Nye

We need some more rain, but it sure has been wonderful weather to train in … sunny and cool.  This morning it was 30 degrees and tomorrow morning it will be 28 degrees. When will my first day on snow be? Last year, I skied up the Whiteface toll road on October 14th.