Maybe this should be on the bucket list?

The Vasaloppet Experience fasterskier.com

JMR hill run

What used to be a pretty regular training session, has gone out of fashion for me … why drive with the hilly new nordic comp trails? Still it's a great run; as per usual, my downhill time was quite a bit slower for the sake of my knees!

Stamping some of my personal alpine library books

One of my retirement projects - with gifting items to various people and organizations in mind - is to stamp all 2000+ items in my collection.  

Having almost finished my birthday climbing book gifts, I pulled this gem off the bookcase for a re-read. This was the expedition where Tasker and Boardman were killed attempting the north ridge. (Shortly before they left for Everest, Joe Tasker shared a photo and some insights with me about his climb of Dunagiri, for which I had a permit.)

BLAST FROM THE PAST … our retreat from the West Rib

In late April 1979 Mark Ewing, Mike Brochu, and Don - last minute unsuitable replacement for Pat Carr - and I headed up to Alaska to attempt an early repeat of the Cassin Ridge. It became clear that Don was way out of his element, and so we switched objectives to the West Rib. At just a bit under 15,000' our stove blew up and destroyed our tent and some of Brochu's gear, so we headed down.

On a different note, despite hot and muggy weather, as well as poor air quality, I had a good week of training. I logged 16:15 hours, on 182k (152k bike and 30k run) with just under 4400' vertical. With the Stratton Uphill Race on Sunday, I will cut back a bit this week. Also, the end of July marks the first third of my training year, so I will review the data.

A new FKT on Mont Blanc … a nice short video

https://www.planetmountain.com/en/videos/elise-poncet-sets-mont-blanc-fastest-known-time.html

First ski race in the run up to 2026 Olympics

Rollerski Season…Rolls, as Freed, Ogden Ski to Wins at Craftsbury Lost Nation Roll fasterskier.com

Good run on East MountainTrail

Nice signage from the Thursday night summer race series.

A followup article … maybe more important than the tariffs is the uncertainty

https://www.powder.com/gear/tariff-uncertainty-continues-to-roil-ski-industry-supply-chains?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=powder&utm_content=&hashed_email=d3e1750ccc9b1e465c1b40f08f02801e3dea865ffbb0f204242c79da5feb2147

Tariffs and the outdoor industry

So, this might just be a clever marketing ploy; however many niche climbing, and ski mountaineering products are made in Europe where there is a mass market for ski crampons, AT bindings, skins, and specialized ice tools.

But, maybe we are going to see the prices go up on other items like Colnalgo bikes as well as Fischer skis.

Nice day for a hike on Whiteface Ski Trails

A good transition week

Getting back into trail running and less mountain biking, although I did spend a decent chunk of time on the exercise bike, watching the Tour de France.

I logged 16 hours, on 192k (162k bike and 30k run), with 3700' vertical. I also managed a good strength workout and one session of PT stretches.

As you can see, while I am working out, Selden is working the farm. We are both work-a-holics in our own way.

Geology happens …

Last week's mudslide at Avalanche Lake.

Two great birthday books

I didn't know any of the main characters in these books, but they touched me briefly, even if they didn't know it.

After Tobin soloed the North Face of the Matterhorn in winter, I had a brief letter correspondence with him, cut short by his death on Mount Alberta. At the time the North Face of the Matterhorn was on my "must do" list. But sadly, or more probably thankfully, it's on my "never got done list." For as Tobin wrote "it's pretty casual if you are solid on 5.7-5.8 iced over, rock in crampons."

Another frequent figure in the Accomazzo book - John Bachar - crossed paths with me and Mark in Yosemite. We had just climbed Reed' Pinnacle Direct, when Bachar and Kauk soloed the route behind us; after a chat they declined our rappel rope in favor of down climbing "this casual" route. No doubt, they had just started a "Half Dome Day" of soloing 20 pitches!

As for Jim Wickwire, I followed his climbing career - never met him - but was heavily influenced by his article in Mountain magazine about climbing Denali alpine style in the early 1970s. After reading the article I immediately got a half bag - which I still have - and used it camping and climbing all over the world. It was my go to equipment for teaching on three week long winter courses with Colorado Outward Bound. But, I never did have the nerve to use it on Denali.

So, many thanks to Selden and Lucy for these fine additions to Hock's Alpine Library.

Signage replacement at Mount Van Hoevenberg

Unexpected birthday present from best buddy Mark

Now, at least I'll look like a cyclist.

Still, my only real card to play on a bike are the uphill climbs. I ride the brakes on the downhill, and my bike handling is not really good enough to ride someone's wheel on the flats.

Yikes … landslide closes Avalanche Pass Trail



Landslides close Avalanche Pass trail adirondackexplorer.org

Back to trail running with Stash

His mind is willing, but he is a bit too old for more than one modest run a day.

Heading out to the Tetons

As you can see from the NPS webcam, a bit of a haze from some western fires. However, I'll be heading out for some trail running, and maybe bagging a few scrambling peaks, from August 11 - 21st.

Transitioning to less bike and more running/hiking

Having done a good job with the Prouty - a key event in the 2025-26 - it's now time to get ready for some running races. In the next 10 weeks, I hope to run the Stratton Mountain, Mount Mansfield, and Dragonback uphill races.

As for this week, given the main event, I cut back on volume, and vertical. This helped yield a successful taper and good performance in the 50 miler. For the week though I logged just under 11 hours, on 172k (165k bike and 7k run), with 3500' vertical. I also did three stretching sessions.

Great Prouty ride with college buddies

Harry, Murph, and I had a great morning on an 80+ kilometer ride. The rain held off, the haze kept us from frying in the sun, and we managed to stay together for almost the entire ride … despite me falling behind on the downhills and my need to torch the uphills. Dick our resident cycling maniac, did the 100 miler and joined us for the last 10k.

HOLY COW … never heard of BFR

I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable and well read greybeard athlete. I am totally surprised there is something out there, that may deliver those kind of benefits, which I have never heard of!

Jim Stray-Gundersen and the Evolution of BFR fasterskier.com

My bike is getting a tuneup

Today was my last MTB ride before the Prouty. Feeling good, and seem ready, and able for my first 50+ mile ride.

Great visit at Trapp Family Lodge

With Jon, Amanda, Ami, David, Micah, and grandma Judy.

Still unsure about August trip destination

Europe, Tetons, Peru … still up in the air. But, my tapering week has been going well, and I am looking forward to the Prouty on Saturday.

Good buildup … now it’s time to taper

My Strava data graphically illustrates a nice six week cycling progression going into the Prouty on Saturday. At the same time, the graph shows me cutting back on my running.

After this weekend these trends will show a quick reversal, as I get ready for the VK run up the Eggishorn in August.

That said, this was a high volume week, with a bit over 17 hours, on 254k (240k bike and 14k run), with 3350' vertical. I also did two PT stretching sessions … yahoo!

Stage 2 … exciting fantastic finish

Tour de France has started!

And, with one day left in the training week, I have logged over 210k thus far. 

Thinking about the Swiss Alps 100 Vertical Kilometer Race

I may head over to Switzerland with Lucy, she would do the 50k race. 

Swiss Alps 100 Vertical Course Flyover youtube.com

Lots of biking

Well the countdown to the Prouty has begun and my first two days this week I logged just over 100k.

Taking a book off the shelf at the Fossil Cabin

Poems of Chia Tao from the T'ang Dynasty. A pleasant mixture of Buddhism and Taoism.

Excellent short video about Mount Washington

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

A week with much rain forecasted turns out sunny

Another good week, with a long hike, lots of time in the MTB saddle, a fine time trial effort, some nice sunsets and starry skies. I logged 16:44 of training time, on 204k (183k bike and 21k hike), with just over 5100' vertical.  I also got back in the groove with a strength session. 

Nike’s Breaking4 …



https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/faith-kipyegon-breaking4-attempt

My biking fitness seems to be coming along

Great to be hiking the gnarly Sherburne trail

But, great to be back on the MTB today … 35k+.

Pico Peak with college buddies

A good day, but quite hot and humid! We hiked up the Sherburne Pass trail, and down one of the ski area service roads.

Back In The Saddle

Volume and vertical, back at the usual levels. The body felt good, joints handled the load, and I seem on track to handle a 50 mile ride on the MTB.

The log showed the following: 16+ hours volume, on 217k (192k bike and 25k run), with 5,330' ascent. While on foot, I averaged 13:24 per kilometer, and averaged 144' vertical per kilometer.