Semi-rad again ... ain’t it the truth

Early mountaineering history of Andean ascents

I am back to reading Echevarria's magnum opus, The Andes: the complete history of mountaineering in high south america.  A century before Mount Blanc was climbed, El Misti - over a 1000 meters higher - was climbed by the Spanish conquistadors in Arequipa, Peru. Of course, they found evidence that the Incas had climbed it even a century earlier.  Truly, reading this scholarly, and meticulously researched book, makes it clear how Eurocentric our conception mountaineering is. 

Kilian Jornet on training ... the art of suffering

https://mtnath.com/the-art-of-suffering/

Blog I am starting to follow ... skimo life

http://www.skimolife.com/journal/2019/9/24/blown-life-after-my-acl-rupture-6.html

Good week of training ...

Probably the last time - until November - when skiing mileage exceeds my running volume.  A quick recap: 15.5 hours, 5100' vertical ascent, and 144k. Specifically, that's just shy of 97k biking, just shy of 20k skiing, almost 18k running, and a bit over 10k rowing. 

A Great Loss ... Adirondack climbing guide Karen Stolz dies of cancer at age 65

http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web21s/wfeature-karen-stolz-remembered

Put away all my skis, except a pair of alpine touring boards ...

Still time for a trip to Tuckermans Ravine, or maybe some turns on the east snowfields. 

An amazing week of ski mountaineering for Simi Hamilton

For those that follow Nordic skiing, Simi Hamilton is a well known figure; the best American male sprinter over the past decade. As a world class nordic athlete his talents as a rock climber and big mountain skier, take backseat and are only visible during April, the month "off" for World Cup racers. 

He retired in March, and so maybe we'll see these other talents bloom in retirement, now that he doesn't have to log thousands of kilometers on rollerskis.

Last week, Simi put together an amazing week of ski mountaineering. In a five day span he skied Chute the Moon Couloir on Peak 10,696, the Skillet Glacier on Mount Moran, the South Teton, as well as the Grand Teton.

An amazing skimo week, both physically and mentally demanding with big vertical and steep slopes.  Will we see him tackle some big domestic and international skimo races ... the Grand Traverse, the Patrouille de Glacier, the Pierre Menta? Maybe he will partner with his former teammate Andy Newell. 

Back on snow again

Another spring snowstorm brought 5-6 inches of snow, and so yesterday afternoon I headed up the toll road. My ski today will be the 120th day on snow.

Pioneers of steep skiing by Kilian Jornet

https://mtnath.com/steep-ski-pioneers/

A possible skimo option for next year ...

The Stellaronda Skimarathon in the Dolomites.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn1ZOxAgJ1I

Pretty good week for exercise ...

Just over 15 hours, with 4300' vertical, and 144k; however it is clearly a transitional season. At 14.3k skiing accounted for the smallest portion of the week, ergometer netted 16.7k, running is starting to pick up with 25k, and the exercise bike yielded the largest chunk with 88k. 

The 3D map view, is a portion of a 2+ hour cardio potpourri workout I did yesterday ... bike-run-bike.

Skiing some of the big north faces of the Alps

It blows my mind, the things they ski!  Having climbed the north face of Liskamm, bailed on the Gervasutti Couloir, and gotten a good look at the north face of the Ober Gabelhorn, it is hard to imagine making turns on them. So, the next time you are stretching, rowing on the ergometer,  biking on your wind trainer, or just having a beer ... take a look.

https://www.redbull.com/int-en/films/la-liste

A series of essays about skiing by Kilian Jornet

Over the next couple of weeks I will share these historical essays, about various aspects of skiing from skimo training to skiing 8000 meter peaks. All the essays have great video links embedded in them. ENJOY.

https://mtnath.com/ski²/

Back on snow again

Yesterday, was my 117th day on snow since May 1, 2020.  It snowed off and on all day, with accumulations directly related to elevation. Above 3000 feet, the total was 4-8 inches, with more accumulating over night. The skiing will be good this morning, and may even last through tomorrow. 

Caffeine and athletic performance

https://www.podiumrunner.com/nutrition/10-things-the-latest-science-tells-us-about-caffeine-and-athletes/

I haven’t put the skis away yet, but ...

Starting to transition to a new season. Second day in a row jogging dirt up Jay Mountain Road. I have spent time on the exercise bike, and this weekend will get the mountain bike out of the garage. However, I may drive over to Killington and log some laps skinning up Ramshead; still hoping for a Tuckermans Ravine trip.

Jennifer Pharr Davis

Listen to her awesome TedTalk, and plan your next adventure.  She is the author of several books, an ultra-runner and owner of several FKT records, as well as a National Geographic Adventurer Of The Year.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zjLI7qK7_tU

Highest recorded wind velocity

On April 12th, 1934 (87 years ago), a gust of 231 mph was recorded at the Mount Washington Observatory.

Closing day at Mount Van Hoevenberg was April 11th ... 136 day season



Great new book ... OUT AND BACK

This is the story of sky running champ, Hillary Allen (aka Hillygoat), and her horrific accident from a fall on the highly technical Tromso race in Norway. A story of grit, resilience, determination, and patience. Well and candidly written. 

Penultimate day skiing on the new World Cup trails

Sunny, slushy, great scenery, and mushy yesterday, doing laps on the 3k loop. I will be out there shuffling today on the last official MVH day of the season. 

Animated climbing video

https://vimeo.com/ascensionlefilm/ascensionlefilm

Starting to think about Tuckermans



Chamonix to Zermatt in one push!

Pretty burly; this is about 180k and beaucoup vertical.

A MUST SEE MOVIE ON NETFLIX: the 12th man

Awhile ago I had read the book, We Die Alone, which this movie is based on. It's gripping, an unbelievable story, and for once the movie rivals the book. The movie was filmed in the Lyngen Alps, where Slingsby made many, many first ascents in the 1890s, and which are supposedly one of the best kept secrets for ski mountaineering.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AFP3vKR81E0

A good week so far ...

I used Monday as a rest day (first in two weeks) and enjoyed a sauna, followed by a snow rubdown. Tuesday I went back for some skinning on Killington and time hanging out with buddies; today I checked out Owls Head, and it's ready for bouldering

THE ANDES: the complete history of mountaineering in high south america

I am currently reading an 80 page kindle sample of Echevarria's magnum opus. Written well, incredible research, and clearly authoritative.

I need a rest day or two ...

Last week was meant to be for recovery, however I logged just over 13 hours and almost 8500' vertical ascent.

Back home in time for a great sunset

Great day in the mountains

With skin transitions, it was three hours of skiing, with a bit over 10k and 3000+ vertical feet of ascent. The weather was perfect.

Skin up Ramshead Mountain

Did a couple of laps before my college buddies showed up for the weekend.

The passing of a legend: evelio echevarria



http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web21s/wfeature-evelio-echevarria-obituary

24 Hour Record ... vertical skimo ascent

https://trailrunnermag.com/people/what-57890-vertical-feet-in-24-hours.html

Unlikely, but keeping fingers crossed that I win something in the drawing ...

With the cancellation of the main event, Red Bull ran a virtual event. Instead of 30 hours to complete 220k you had 30 days.

Simple strength exercise for trail runners, alpinists, and skimo racers

Also, great for aging and creaky knees, like mine!  However, I am not quite ready for some of his advanced versions of the exercise. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T4-TC9Z2nVE&feature=emb_title



Spring isn’t quite here yet!

Yesterday it snowed before our morning shakeout jog, and we have more snow coming on Thursday afternoon. However, today will be another warmish, red klister day.

Book review: norway the northern playground



Having put a return to Norway on my bucket list - my only visit was 1972 - I have started to read, dream, and scheme. Of course, the big problem is it a winter ski trip, or a summer peak bagging trip? Anyway, I am reading this Slingsby 1904 classic, a freebie complements of Google books. The link is a great review, from Foot Less Crow.

http://footlesscrow.blogspot.com/2021/01/remembering-slingsby.html

QUOTE OF THE WEEK ... from chasing the Olympic dream

"We did not dream at night. We dreamt during the day, and we chased those dreams with such intensity that at night we slipped into a coma-like slumber."

"Being an elite cross-country ski racer in America can be compared to going through medical school while being homeless."

Longest Ski Race In The World ... Nordenskiöldsloppet

A 220k course dating back to 1884. You get 30 hours, and it is classic only. This years race - except for a small elite division - has been cancelled because of covid. 

However, Red Bull has sponsored a month long virtual race to ski at least 220k. (I have a few more days, and 30k to go ... to be eligible for the drawing of five pair of race skis.)

https://www.nordenskioldsloppet.se/en/history/

One of the secrets to spring Nordic skiing ...

Gotta have some handy when it's klister time.

An introduction to the Chamonix based Blue Ice ...

When they first became available in America I bought their leashes for ice tools. I have been on their mailing list for a few years, and I just put myself on their waitlist for when their superlight, ski mountaineering crampons (Harfang) become available.  Here is a nice short introductory essay on winter alpinism and their core values. 

 

Another good day of spring skiing but the rains are coming

Yesterday morning I did a nice classic ski on the new trails at Mount Van Hoevenberg and in the afternoon, I skinned laps on Mount Pisgah.

Book Review: Celebrate Winter by John Morton

This is a delightful collection of short essays and brief radio talks in Vermont media over a span of several decades. For those who have read his two previous books - A Medal Of Honor and Don't Look Back - much of this is ground he has plowed before. That said, these short vignettes are perfect before bed, and guaranteed to give a pleasant sleep to any nordic enthusiast. 

Another good day of spring skiing

In the morning, once things softened up I skied biathlon loops for over an hour. In the afternoon I did laps on Mt. Pisgah which is closed, but still has great snow.

A beautiful spring day and a beautiful ski tour



March 22nd marks 100 days on snow

Hopefully another 20-30 before I put the skis away for the season.

A great week considering ...

My knee is still recovering from the horrendous ski wipeout last week. The totals for the week were just under 4000' of vertical ascent and:

92k exercise bike
69k skiing
12k ergometer
6k hike

Article on the traditions of alpine pastures in Europe

Apparently, for several thousand years, farmers in the alps have moved livestock to alpine pastures as summer approaches. In three months the tradition of celebrating the move up, and then in fall, different traditions about the move back to town. Of course, in Zermatt there is also the daily movement of the goat herd, up and down the mountain.

https://journal.alpsandmeters.com/journal/2019/9/17/the-history-of-the-almabtrieb

Book talk ... the winter army

The link below is to a book talk and slideshow about the 10th Mountain Division, by Maurice Isserman, a Hamilton College history professor. He has also authored Fallen Giants a history of Himalayan climbing,  as well as Continental Divide, a narrative about American mountaineering. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Zchm8UDo8&list=UUOpVs1mnFPRG_0vB2XCAWzQ