Fossil Alpinism

Avalanche awareness lecture

2012-01-31T16:37:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO A RECENT TALK ABOUT HOW TO RECOGNIZE AVALANCHE TERRAIN, AND HOW TO PLAN SAFE ROUTES IN THE ADIRONDACKS.

High avalanche danger on Mount Washington

2012-01-31T16:24:00.001-08:00

The enclosed photographs of Left, Odell's, and Yale gullies, as well as the Headwall are looking pretty alpine. It got me psyched to start thinking about a New Hampshire road trip.

Another Antique Ski Poster

2012-01-31T15:07:00.000-08:00

How to ski and not to ski!

SCOTTISH MIXED CLIMBING

2012-01-30T03:03:00.000-08:00

The Gathering, VIII 9, Second Ascent from Jenny Crook on Vimeo.

Just back from Manhattan, and still skiing on the lake

2012-01-29T09:21:00.000-08:00

A brutally long day that started with a 3:30 AM prep session for my board meeting, followed by 8 hours of meetings, a train ride home, and then a horrific car ride through a blizzard at exits 27-28-29, and an arrival home at 1:30 AM on Sunday. A snowstorm tonight means we will be back skiing hilly terrain tomorrow on the Olympic trails.

Winter Alpinism in Chamonix

2012-01-28T00:55:00.000-08:00

Lesueur - Les Drus in winter (with variation exit) from Jonathan Griffith on Vimeo.

Climbing the Lesuer route on the North Face of the Dru. Ueli Steck is doing a "tune-up" for another Himalayan trip.

New England Rando Race Series

2012-01-27T02:17:00.000-08:00

January Thaw

2012-01-26T06:29:00.001-08:00

To call it a January thaw is really a gross understatement, it has been just a crummy winter. Anyway, I am back out Nordic skiing on our lake ... Better than nothing but still a great disappointment.

Thoughts on the recent yoga hubbub

2012-01-26T03:22:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ A GOOD ARTICLE ON THE RECENT YOGA "CONTROVERSY."

Nordic skiing from the stone age to skating

2012-01-25T17:44:00.001-08:00

CLCIK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE FROM THE NEW ENGLAND SKI MUSEUM.

The Old Breed

2012-01-25T12:21:00.000-08:00

The Old Breed from Cowboy Bear Ninja on Vimeo.

New climbing and skiing website about Chamonix

2012-01-24T02:53:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS ... CHAMONIX TOPO ... A MIX OF PICTURES, VIDEOS, AND TOPOS OF ROUTES IN THE CHAMONIX AREA. THIS LOOKS LIKE IT COULD GROW INTO A VERY VALUABLE RESOURCE.

What is the best shovel for ski mountaineering?

2012-01-23T02:50:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ THE GEAR REVIEW FROM OFF PISTE.

Blast from the past

2012-01-22T17:32:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ A SHORT ARTICLE FROM THE TELEMARK TIPS WEBSITE ON THE EARLY DAYS OF TELE SKIING IN THE ALPS.

Loppet training

2012-01-22T12:41:00.001-08:00

With only two training weekends before the Lake Placid Loppet, which is then followed by the Canadian Ski Marathon, we tried to log a lot of kilometers the past few days. Conditions are hard and fast, with shallow squirrelly tracks ... You need to keep your wits about you on the big downhills.

TLT BOOTS ... good for skiing and climbing

2012-01-21T18:05:00.000-08:00

TLT 5 Mountain review for Backcountry.com from Drew Tabke on Vimeo.

20K, 1000', and a great sauna afterwards

2012-01-21T17:07:00.001-08:00

About skiing Fridtjof Nansen wrote:

I know of no form of sport which so evenly develops the muscles, which renders the body so strong and elastic, which teaches so well the qualities of dexterity and resource, which in an equal degree calls for decision and resolution, and which gives the same vigor and exhilaration to mind and body alike. Where can one find a healthier and purer delight than when on a brilliant winter day one binds one's ski to one's feet and takes one's way out into the forest?"

THE FIRST CROSSING OF GREENLAND

Alps Getting Hammered With Snow Again

2012-01-21T04:38:00.001-08:00

READ A SHORT ARTICLE ABOUT CONDITIONS IN CHAMONIX.

Alex Honnold Interview

2012-01-21T04:31:00.001-08:00

Honnold nails a highball problem in the Buttermilks. CLICK HERE TO READ THE PLANET MOUNTAIN INTERVIEW.

First Ski Descent Of The New Cascade Slide?

2012-01-20T16:36:00.000-08:00

1/19/2012 from ADKBCSKI on Vimeo.

Wish I were going to Cham for spring break!

2012-01-19T04:04:00.000-08:00

Alpinist Jack Roberts Killed

2012-01-18T03:29:00.001-08:00

MANY BLOGS AND MAGAZINES HAVE OBITUARIES, HOWEVER COLD THISTLE LETS THE MAN SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, WHICH I FOUND QUITE APPEALING. CLICK HERE TO READ SOME OF JACK'S WRITING.

Yoga ... The great debate continues

2012-01-17T03:49:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.

TAOS SKI VALLEY

2012-01-17T03:27:00.000-08:00

A photo from a wonderful half day tour into the cirque above Williams Lake.

Bouldering in Yosemite

2012-01-16T10:52:00.001-08:00

Park Life - Yosemite Bouldering from Louder Than 11 on Vimeo.

Antique Ski Poster

2012-01-16T09:55:00.001-08:00

Great skiing in Taos

2012-01-16T03:36:00.001-08:00

The trip back to Lake Placid was long but uneventful.

World Cup Nordic Sprints In Milan ... Kikkan gets two podiums

2012-01-16T03:34:00.001-08:00

Sweden took top honors in both the individual and team event, but American Kikkan Randall had a great weekend with two silver medals. Jesse Diggins, who is only 20 years old and has kicked butt all season on the American circuit, showed that we have some depth on the women's Nordic team.

CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE DETAILS FROM THE FASTER SKIER WEBSITE.

Great day at Taos Ski Valley

2012-01-14T20:27:00.001-08:00

Sunny, warm, good cover, no lines even on a holiday weekend ... Everything you don't find in the East.

Almost, but not quite there

2012-01-13T18:16:00.001-08:00

My travel odyssey started at 3 AM, unfortunately halfway down the Northway I realized I left my wallet on campus, and retrieving it meant missing my flight. So, that meant six hours to kill in Albany and then another three hours in the Las Vegas airport, before an almost midnight arrival in New Mexico ... Which of course means a 6 AM departure on Saturday morning for Taos and a day of skiing with alumni ... Needless to say I am shot!

Two highlights thus far: a spectacular sunset on the Grand Canyon, and then seeing this sign in the airport, and almost jumping in a taxi, to go demo a machine gun!

Great Ice Climbing Tips

2012-01-13T06:04:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT NINE GREAT TIPS ON SLAWINSKI'S BLOG.

Skiing one of the new Adirondak slides

2012-01-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

Skiing Taos

2012-01-11T04:05:00.000-08:00

I am heading to an alumni ski reunion in Taos, one of the only places with good snow in this off year. CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT TAOS IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.

The Hierarchy of Human Propulsion

2012-01-11T02:16:00.000-08:00

I certainly do not agree with his ranking, especially vis a vis classical skiing, however it is an entertaining concept. CLICK HERE TO READ THIS SHORT ESSAY ON THE GRIZZLY ADAMS SITE.

Adirondack Ice Climbing

2012-01-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

Obviously not the best Winter, but as you can see, stuff is climbable at Chapel Pond ... ditto for Cascade Lakes and Pitchoff.

Twilight skiing ... Before heading to Manhattan

2012-01-09T15:01:00.000-08:00

Multiple laps around our lake, with great views of Cascade, Pitchoff, Big Slide, Van Hoevenburg, and the High Peaks region. On the road by 5 AM tomorrow.

Snow Cover in the United States

2012-01-09T01:52:00.000-08:00

IN A WORD ... GRIM

Still snowing in the Alps

2012-01-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT FROM THE PLANET SKI WEBSITE.

Be sure to do your yoga ...

2012-01-07T14:59:00.001-08:00

So. Mark and Danny, are you guys getting off the couch?

UELI STECK ... The Swiss machine does it again

2012-01-07T03:28:00.000-08:00

Ueli Steck Speed Soloing the Ginat on the Droites from Jonathan Griffith on Vimeo.

Ski Mountaineering Traverses ... It's not a fashionable activity any more

2012-01-06T19:08:00.000-08:00

As I toy with the idea of doing a ski traverse of the Catamount Trail which goes along the spine of the Green Mountains of Vermont, I started to think of some of the great ski journeys Rowell and Gilette did in the 1970s and 80s. The traverse of the Brooks Range and Ellsmere Island, the circumnavigation of Denali, as well as The Great Circle were all adventures that deeply touched me when I was younger. Of course, that also brings you back to the journeys of Shipton, Tilman, and the Bullock-Workmans on foot.

Skiing steep chutes is all the rage, hucking cliffs, or footage of deep powder are what ski movies are all about. However, even though it's not fashionable, turn your browser to Steep Edge Films and rent THE DINOSAUR'S TRACK: KARAKORUM SKI TRAVERSE 2005. The sense of adventure, the wildness of raw nature, the traditions of our sport ... It's all there.

Zermatt Avalanche ... Everyone is stuck in town!

2012-01-06T04:23:00.001-08:00

No traffic in or out of this isolated mountain town ... But as the Guardian report indicated ... Many of those stranded are taking the attitude that "there are worse places to be stuck than this." ... Now ain't that the truth!

Pointe Lachenal

2012-01-05T06:48:00.001-08:00

In 2008 Larry and I did the easy traverse of Pointe Lachenal in Chamonix. This is the crux pitch of the M6 Solar, on the backside of Pointe Lachenal ... So Larry when are we going back?

Is Yoga Good For Your Body?

2012-01-05T04:10:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS IMPORTANT NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE.

Skiing in South America

2012-01-04T07:01:00.000-08:00

Argentina: A Skier's Journey EP3 [Season 2] from Jordan Manley Photography on Vimeo.

2012-01-04T06:50:00.001-08:00

Chilly skiing at -15 degrees

2012-01-04T06:47:00.001-08:00

History of backcountry skiing

2012-01-03T18:00:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE TO PERUSE THIS INTERESTING TIMELINE.

Trapp Family Nordic Center

2012-01-01T18:10:00.000-08:00

Inspite of the dearth of snow in the Northeast, the coverage in Stowe was quite decent. Brian and I, as well as my daughter and two friends spent a good day logging some kilometers. We think our total was about 20K and 1000'.

Skiing In Baffin Island

2011-12-31T03:41:00.000-08:00

Baffin Island: A Skier's Journey EP2 [Season 2] from Jordan Manley Photography on Vimeo.

Beautiful videography, wonderful sound track, and a place I have always wanted to visit ever since reading the chapter about it in Doug Scott's book, Big Wall Climbing ... A long time ago.

Paintball Biathlon Race

2011-12-30T16:49:00.000-08:00

I started the morning watching the second stage of the Tour de Ski ... Not to shabby, three skiers in the top 30, including Kikkan Randall who is in sixth. Tomorrow she is the favorite to take the sprint on the third stage. After a few hours in the office I had a great ski on our lake, and after a bit more time in the office, I took my daughter Lucy and her buddy to their first race of the season. Conditions were great as they set the course on the outrun of the 90M ski jump, on man-made snow. A good time was had by all, and I managed a few more kilometers cheering the girls on.

Skiing on the lake

2011-12-30T10:00:00.001-08:00

Conditions are still scratchy, however with a deep freeze, I can ski the 1.3K circumference of our lake. So, I had a great workout, skiing on this old glacial kettle pond for 45 minutes and then dong some ski bounding laps up the lake hill. Quite nice!

Pitchoff Left

2011-12-29T18:27:00.001-08:00

It was -5 degrees last night, and the ice has begun to form up again after the mid-week thaw. Larry cruised up this NEI III+ route with just two screws for pro. After he cleaned it we did many laps.

Does your local hill have a uphill ski policy?

2011-12-29T03:48:00.000-08:00

Wishing that more ski area were as progressive as Brighton in Utah, CLICK HERE TO READ THEIR POLICY.

Skiing the Dolomites

2011-12-29T03:38:00.001-08:00

Dolomiti from Felix Hentz on Vimeo.

Crested Butte Ski Mo

2011-12-28T09:43:00.000-08:00

A great short video to get you excited about the ski mountaineering season - if only the weather would cooperate. Check out the transition and how quickly skis are stowed on the pack for the boot packing section.

Shackleton Leadership Lessons

2011-12-27T16:58:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NY TIMES ARTICLE.

Double Pole Workout

2011-12-27T12:30:00.000-08:00

Which avalanche airbag pack should you buy?

2011-12-27T03:39:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ THE WILD SNOW REVIEW.

The Eiger North Face ... one of the climbs glacial retreat has made harder

2011-12-26T17:55:00.001-08:00

CLCK, HERE TO READ THE NY TIMES ARTICLE.

Antique Ski Gear

2011-12-26T13:41:00.001-08:00

This morning I skied a classic workout - on modern gear - with Lucy. This afternoon I took out a pair of 30 year old skis, we call it Fossil Gear, and skied up the Whiteface Toll Road. Except for being heavy, slow, and vomit yellow, what's not to like!

Get ready for the Tour du Ski

2011-12-26T08:03:00.001-08:00

Watch some of this replay from the World Cups sprints in Rogla two weeks ago. The first quarterfinal has America's best male sprinter Andy Newell in the heat, but he is having an off day, and does not advance. The next heat, has a young up an coming American - Simi Hamilton - who just misses out in a photo-finish but advances as a "Lucky Loser."

History of Ice Climbing

2011-12-26T03:36:00.001-08:00

This new book looks at the topic from a European perspective. It will clealy take its place next to Chouinard, Lowe, and Twight's work. If your French is reasonable, order it now from Blue Ice. If you are an English only guy like me, you will have to wait a bit for the translation to be finished. CLICK HERE TO READ THE COLD THISTLE REVIEW.

Scratchy snow and bitter cold in the Tetons

2011-12-25T16:13:00.000-08:00

Fossil mountaineer, Matt - I dropped my rope - Hoffman is reporting having a great time in Jackson, just wishing for more snow. He sends best wishes to Danny, Gary, Frank, and Edward. In fact, both Edward and Matt have expressed a continuing fondness for cuy, and look forward to sampling that Peruvian taste treat this summer.

Skiing On The Toll Road

2011-12-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

How to train your upper body for climbing and skiing?

2011-12-25T06:44:00.000-08:00

Here is Lucy on Christmas morning, trying out the roller board that Selden made as a present. Lucy is a J2 Nordic racer and she is starting to get pretty serious about training, having already skied in some big races like the Lake Placid Loppet and the Canadian Ski Marathon.

What's the best food for a long day in the mountains?

2011-12-25T06:36:00.000-08:00

Gu? Cliff bars? Snickers? For many decades I have sworn by fruitcake - delicious and the most calories for the buck - now that my mom has passed away, every year my sister sends me a new stock of Claxton's famous fruitcake. Truth be told, there are some Fossils who have not been able to warm up to this taste treat, because of an incident over 30 years ago on Denali, when our fruitcake was spoiled by a leaking can of Blazo.

2011-12-25T06:31:00.000-08:00

Ski Workout With Lucy

2011-12-24T12:16:00.000-08:00

Skiing the Whiteface Toll Road

2011-12-24T11:40:00.001-08:00

A beautiful day, with scratchy snow that got better as you gained elevation. Lucy is pretty fit and strong.

Stellar Plate Snow Crystals

2011-12-24T11:31:00.001-08:00

A pretty good picture with an iPhone!

2011-12-23T02:22:00.000-08:00

READ THE TIMES ARTICLE ABOUT THE AGONY OF THE SKI INDUSTRY.

'twas the night before Christmas and all through the house

2011-12-23T02:01:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE FOR THE WILDSNOW VERSION.

What are the holes in backcountry skis for?

2011-12-22T04:17:00.001-08:00

READ THIS SHORT PIECE ON THE STRAIGHT CHUTER WEBSITE ABOUT OLD AND NEW USES FOR THAT HOLE.

Skiing Aconcagua

2011-12-22T04:07:00.001-08:00

Adventure through the Andes. Episode # 5, Argentina - Aconcagua from Bjarne Sahlen on Vimeo.

It is dumping snow in Chamonix but mixed climbs are still getting done

2011-12-22T03:54:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THIS HARD MIXED CLIMB IN THE ARGENTIERE VALLEY.

A Skier's Wish For Santa

2011-12-21T03:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas Dreaming

A week before Christmas and thru much of the west—
Lies a shallow snowpack with facets to test.
But before this occurs and sleighs leave the North Pole—
The prevailing west winds need to get on a roll.
Recent ridges have dominated incoming storms—
Along with split flows that make the new norms.
But harken I hear happy bells on the sleigh—
Could it mean a late Christmas is at last on its way?
A bit early to tell, but models look quite alluring—
That colder deep snows we may soon be enduring.
So open your minds to let snowfall within—
For our dreams are a great place to begin.
But remember with snowfall comes a new load—
On all of those weak layers about which we’ve been told.
So increase your caution if your dreams all come true—
Don’t be found in the snowpack, all white and blue.

. Thanks to Mark Moore at the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center

Bill McKibben, Nordic Skiing, And Climate Change

2011-12-20T10:51:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ THE INTERVIEW ON FASTER SKIER.

The twins finishing up their three day stay with a fast 10k

2011-12-20T10:41:00.000-08:00

More about the Dynafit TLT 5 boot

2011-12-20T03:51:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ A SHORT REVIEW.

Adirondack Ice Is Firming Up

2011-12-19T10:43:00.001-08:00

The twins throwing some tools, their goal was 25 laps before I fired up the sauna!

AT Demo at Whiteface

2011-12-18T17:47:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Brian and High Peaks Cyclery. William is looking happy with his Garmont tele-boot demo. As for me it's hands down the Dynafit TLT boots that stole the show ... word on the street is that they double as great ice climbing boots.

Winter Is Back

2011-12-18T04:24:00.000-08:00

Finally, it is starting to feel like an old-fashioned winter

2011-12-18T04:19:00.000-08:00

Thanks Dave!

2011-12-17T12:58:00.000-08:00

Dave spent the morning farming snow, and so now we have a 1.2K loop, that actual can hold a classic track ... Yahoo it feels like real skiing.

THE MAN IN BLACK ... climbing an M-something on Pitchoff

2011-12-17T10:38:00.000-08:00

Gary and I spent the morning dong laps on this very thin section of Pitchoff Right .... As you can see a fair amount of dry tooling. It is going to be cold until Christmas so the ice should build up nicely.

Roping Up On A Glacier ... Systems

2011-12-17T04:09:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ A GOOD SHORT ARTICLE ON THE STRAIGHT CHUTER WEBSITE.

First Ice Of The Season

2011-12-16T12:52:00.001-08:00

Carter and Larry were outstanding, leading on very thin ice, on the north-side of Pitchoff. The grade was only NEI III+ but given the conditions it sure felt stiffer.

The Harvard Cabin

2011-12-16T03:57:00.001-08:00

Some of my fondest climbing memories were from caretaking the cabin in the winter of 1977-78. My last visit was about four years ago, when Brian and I scoured New England in search of early season ice, and we ended up there late one evening after an epic drive. If truth be told, even though the 'dacks probably will have some climbable ice this weekend, we ought to head over to Huntington Ravine again.

CLICK HERE TO READ A SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THIS VENERABLE HUT.

Big Ski Descent In Argentina

2011-12-14T03:46:00.000-08:00

Adventure through the Andes. Episode # 4, Argentina - Mercedario from Bjarne Sahlen on Vimeo.

Light and fast ski mountaineering: part 2

2011-12-13T03:13:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ESSAY ON THE SLC SHERPA WEBSITE.

Adirondack Avalanches

2011-12-12T17:07:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS VALUABLE ARTICLE.

SOLITAIRE ... a brilliant film

2011-12-11T17:37:00.000-08:00

This wonderful film about ski mountaineering in the Andes, is available from Steep Edge Films. Stunning visuals, impressive use of "The Heart Of Darkness" for narration, delightful soundtrack, and oh, did I mention stunning visuals! You get a great feel for the variety and diversity of landscapes in the Andes ... One only wished you saw a bit more of the Andean people.

Brian, you ought to use this to kick-off the Winter High Peaks Cyclery film series. (CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE THE PHOTOGRAPH.)

The Ice Is Climbable

2011-12-11T13:57:00.000-08:00

First Ski Mo Race Of The Season

2011-12-09T07:41:00.001-08:00

Back on skis

2011-12-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

During a pre-dawn 40 minute workout the skiing was gritty, marginal, and scratchy but better than jogging or the rowing machine!

2011-12-08T03:27:00.001-08:00

Stone Nudes

2011-12-07T13:55:00.001-08:00

StoneNudes with Dean Fidelman from Cedar Wright on Vimeo.

Barry Blanchard's Alpine Archives

2011-12-06T16:55:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN GRIPPED MAGAZINE.

El Presidente Is Not Getting Any Younger

2011-12-06T11:22:00.001-08:00