Nice bouldering session

A couple of days ago, I spent a pleasant hour bouldering on the summit of Owls Head.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK ... from John L. Parker



I am re-reading the nove, Racing The Rain which is the prequel to the cult classic, Once A Runner. In the very first chapter, Parker seems to capture the essence of childhood summer days, as two buddies see a rain storm approaching, and decide to try and out run its approach.

" And they were thrilled as only children can be thrilled to exist for a moment at the very edge of things, at the buzzy existential margin of all possibilities ... All they knew was that for this moment in time they were racing the rain, and they were laughing, laughing, laughing."

A great read, and this novel trilogy is a must for anyone interested in running or endurance sports. 

Continuing quest to solve mountaineering’s biggest mystery

It seems that only finding the camera will ever "truly" solve the mystery, of whether Mallory and Irvine made it to the summit of Everest. 

https://www.adventure-journal.com/2020/06/filmmaker-renan-ozturk-on-the-mission-to-crack-mountaineerings-biggest-mystery/

If you love winter sport ...

This is a pretty incredible study, finding that within 30 years, only ten of the past 19 host cities would have a climate able to host a Winter Olympics.  It is clear that those winter sports I love are in danger. 

But more to the point - outside the scope of this topic - this means, that because of climate change millions of people are in danger of dying from famine, catastrophic weather events, lack of drinking water, and dislocation from homes due to a rise in sea levels.

So of course, support Protect Our Winters (POW) and other similar organizations, but know they are the canaries in the mine, the real horrific devastation comes after we can't enjoy nordic or downhill skiing. 

https://www.rapidtransition.org/resources/playing-against-the-clock/

World University Games

Globally, one of the larger sporting events, in terms of numbers of participants, is the FISU, or World University Games which Lake Placid will host in a few years.  I am hoping to do some volunteering for the host organization. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PtyHvyb399s

One of my favorite Zermatt huts open for business But ..

It looks like the EU may not let Americans in this summer, because we have not got our act together on Covid 19. Hopefully, that will change next winter when I may travel across the "big pond" to see my daughter race in Europe, as well as do some ski mountaineering.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=FJxR4SbB7nA

The mystery of Mallory and Irvine ... a 12 year-olds remarkable school project

Take a look ... well worth eight minutes! Truly impressive.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=emb_title&v=RidVHxFdQTw&time_continue=497

Getting some exercise?

I started the day with an easy row, heading out for a trail run with my dog, and maybe this afternoon try a new strength regime.

The beautiful weather continues ...

Despite yesterday's forecast of an afternoon filled with rain and thunderstorms, we only had 30 minutes of precipitation in the early evening.

I had a great morning hike with Stash. He took advantage of the trail's proximity to Slide Brook to wade into every pool possible. In the afternoon we went for an hour-long run on the Olympic and technical MTB trails.

Betty Woolsey ... an all purpose outdoorswoman

A current day backcountry ski guide shares her thoughts on the post World War II women who led the way. Woolsey was best known as a skier, and her participation in the 1936 Olympics is worth an article in itself. What is not mentioned in this article is that Woolsey was also a leading force in the pre-War climbing scene. Before she moved West she frequently climbed with John Case, Fritz Wiessner, and Bill House.  My first lead in the gunks fifty years ago, was the still classic climb ... BETTY.



https://backcountrymagazine.com/stories/the-woolsey-way/

Another fantastic adirondack day

The weather has been incredible for so long, you almost begin to take it for granted! This of course, hardly is ever the case in the 'dacks.

Yesterday, Stash and I enjoyed the easy hike up Baxter Mountain with its fabulous views.

Construction at Mount Van Hoevenberg

Earlier this week I routed my morning trail run over toward the construction projects. It is completely closed off but I was able to get a bit of a peek. This is a major series of renovations - tens of millions of dollars - and will allow cross country and biathlon to host World Cup level events. One of the first large-scale events to use the new venue will be the 2023 World University Games. A rendering of the main lodge, is also enclosed below.  For a more complete briefing see the enclosed link. 

 https://fasterskier.com/fsarticle/mount-van-hoevenberg-to-receive-first-major-makeover-since-1980-winter-olympics/

Taking advantage of great weather, for some good workouts ...

Yesterday, after breakfast, I did a 30 minute ergometer workout to the tune of The Morning Joe news program. Then, as a novice mountain biker, I headed out on the Olympic biathlon trails for a little over any hour. I finished the day off, with a 50 minute run, on a dirt road in Keene. Doesn't get much better.

When was your last Alpine Start?

I can't remember, which means, it was too long ago. Time to get after it!

Bill Briggs ... a ski mountaineering legend

A wonderful interview, with 87 year old Bill Briggs, about the Tetons and his ski mountaineering adventures. 

https://backcountrymagazine.com/stories/a-grand-design-bill-briggs-reflects-on-his-groundbreaking-ski-descent/

Beautiful sunset over Street and Nye



A good week of training ...

Last week I logged 14.5 hours of exercise, which included: 43k running, 26k biking, almost 5000' vertical, Some good bouldering, as well as yoga and the ergometer for warmups or cool downs.

Research on Teton glaciers

National Parks grappling with impact of climate change.  A good article from the regional magazine Western Confluence. 

http://westernconfluence.org/national-parks-respond-to-climate-change/

Follow my daughter’s biathlon blog

https://lucyhoch.wordpress.com/blog-2/?blogsub=confirming#468

A follow up on Fenn’s Rocky Mountain Treasure



https://www.outsideonline.com/2414537/forrest-fenn-treasure-found-what-happens-next 

Another poem from THE EQUILIBRIUM LINE

Treasure hidden in Rocky Mountains Is Found

I remember reading about this, several years ago in an Outside magazine article.  I thought it might make a good retirement project ... oh well, plenty of other things to keep me busy.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/08/us/treasure-chest-rocky-mountains.html

McKenzie Pond Trail Run

An easy out and back, afternoon jog, with a terrific view.

Mountain poetry by David Wilson

This poem comes from the book, The Equilibrium Line which was shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Award.  It speaks to my exact feeling this past summer, sleeping about a 100m from this refuge, after a filling supper and some beer.

Ascent 2020 ... a freebie

Many terrific stories, but be sure to read "Leper Chai."

https://issuu.com/rock-and-ice/docs/263-z/1?ff

Two easy bouldering sessions this week

One indoors and one on anorthosite.

September in the Tetons ... an added bonus

With Covid 19 still too serious a problem, I ditched my plans for an early summer climbing trip. So, currently I am looking at a September trip to either the Tetons or the Sierras. Despite all the time I have spent climbing in the park, I had no idea that September was a month long arts festival, which culminated in the Jackson Hole Art Auction. Of course, I won't be doing any bidding, but it will add a nice cultural element to what will essentially be, a dirtbag climbing trip.

http://westernconfluence.org/stories-told-in-paint/

MOVIE OF THE DAY ... visma ski classics

In return for giving them your email address, you gain a three week access to footage (In English) of the best classic ski marathons of the world.

The website is perfect for those pining away for a missed ski race because of the quarantine. Or maybe like me, you need something to get you pumped for a strength or interval workout.  Or, are you looking for some motivation to log the kilometers necessary for the 160k Canadian Ski Marathon or 40 mile Grand Traverse?

I am going to watch a bit of the Vasaloppet before I head out on the trails this soggy Saturday.

https://play.vismaskiclassics.com/visma-ski-classics

YAHOO ... back home

By late afternoon I had dropped the rental car in Plattsburgh, and Selden drove me home to our farm. Almost a 5000 mile road trip! To say that my back aches and my joints creak is an understatement.

After dragging my gear indoors, I went for a short run with my dog Stash. I was only away for two weeks, but the green-ness of the pastures and woods was eye-opening, and the sounds of birds and small animal life a veritable cacophony. The seasonal transformation was amazing.

680 MILES TO GO

I am so psyched to get back home. I am missing Selden, and my runs out the back pasture of Fairhope Farm with Stash.

Although, my Sunday run along Pelican Lake was not too shabby.

Great article ... So you want to be a ski mountaineer

Another great article from the folks at TGR ...  a great model to quantify your readiness.

https://www.tetongravity.com/feature/ski/feature-journal-so-you-want-to-be-a-ski-mountaineer

Skimo ... the heavyweight manifesto

Well, I do agree with his premise - get yourself leaner and fitter - don’t just purchase the performance enhancement. But, I also don’t believe its an either/or proposition.

My response would be: of course eat your kale, do your single leg squats, and stop your whining, but then add your superlight gear and see what enhanced  backcountry missions you are able to tackle!

Great day in the Bridger Mountains

Yesterday, I did a three hour run/hike with spectacular views of Bridger Bowl, Ross Peak (left), Sacajawea (right), and Absarokas off in the distance. This is my final morning in Bozeman before I head home, and I still have not come up with a workout plan!

The art of getting shafted in the mountains ...

The article shared by the folks from TGR is written from the perspective of a skier, but you can easily substitute the word alpinist and it applies just as well.

https://www.tetongravity.com/feature/ski/feature-journal-the-art-of-getting-shafted

A great morning in Bozeman ...

After my daughter - a ratchet strap ninja - moved a used mattress into her apartment, she went for a 2.5 hour rollerski. During the rest of the morning, I did a boulder tour of the various climbing structures in city parks. A 75 minute run in Sourdough Canyon is on my agenda ... after a nap.

Excellent workouts in Bozeman

Sandwiched between an oil change, grocery shopping, picking up a rental car, and greeting Lucy's ski buddies at the airport; I did an excellent strength workout and an hour long run up Kirk Hill and into Hodgeman Canyon.

Bozeman is definitely feeling like a wonderful spot.

Yesterday afternoon in Bozeman

We moved Lucy's stuff into her - awesome - apartment, she unpacked and I took a nap. She ran for an hour, and I did the classic short hike up to the M, which has wonderful views, although as you can imagine quite popular on a sunny afternoon.

On our way driving to Bozeman we got terrific views of the Absaroka range, which still has an impressive amount of snow.

Bozeman by noon!

This afternoon Lucy will move into her apartment, shared with three other nordic skiers. Tomorrow she will start training as part of the Crosscut Mountain Sports Biathlon Team. Yahoo ... back in BIG SKY COUNTRY.