Extreme skiing … 1981 POWDER magazine about Chamonix (page 38)

https://features.powder.com/Powder-10-2/?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-powdermagazine&utm_content=later-27897639&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio

Great climbing site, well worth a visit … Ari’s Base Camp

http://ari.rdx.net/abc/mountains/mountains.htm

MUST SEE VIDEO … Famous 1978 attempt on Latok 1

This documentary is only six minutes long, however it is an outstanding piece of cinema and mountaineering history.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ATQrfsWiwzM&feature=emb_title

Speed records set on the Slovak Direct on Denali

http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web22s/newswire-denali-slovak-direct-speed-ascents?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Read%20more%20»&utm_campaign=UA-2270135-1

Another good week of training …

I will bike today and do the bottom third of the Whiteface VK course, and then start to dial it back a bit for the next two weeks.

Whiteface VK coming up!

Next couple of Saturdays will be sufferfests … the Whiteface Vertical Kilometer and then the 50 mile Prouty gravel ride. 

David Hochschartner (Hock)

Mind v. Body In Athletic Performance … an interesting article

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/mind-vs-body-exercise-research-2022/

Climate Change and Antarctica

The trailer from the moving 2015 documentary.  The full video is available on Amazon Prime, and other platforms. 

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

Climate Research On Mount Everest

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/22/opinion/climate-everest-china.html

17 days until the Prouty

Last week I biked almost 200k and 26k hiking, with 5700' vertical.  Yesterday, I biked 35k, and hiked 5k, with a total of 1875' vertical. I think I am almost ready.



Mark your calendar … World University Games

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qT36sP6Yl8U&feature=emb_title

The eternal debate … Light is right or beefier and the fun meter

https://www.wildsnow.com/31825/light-and-fast-or-fun-and-functional-the-eternal-decision/#more-31825

Well, there is no right answer, but there are two good take-aways that I think we could all agree on … wax your top-sheets, and splurge on your skins.  An article worth reading. 

Getting ready for the Prouty

Riding mileage is going up, sleep is good, although heat rate should be lower. A total rest day is included in these totals.

Broken Arrow Vertical Kilometer starts at 4:30 EST

The first of three sky races in Olympic Valley this weekend.  What is Skyrunning:

Skyrunning is a sport of mountain running up to or exceeding 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) where the minimum average incline is 6% over the total distance and at least 5% has an incline of 30% or more. The climbing difficulty does not exceed II grade UIAA. Poles, crampons and hands may be used to aid progress.

This weekend there will be a vertical kilometer (4 miles 3130' gain), a 52k, and a 26k race.  There are individual podiums, as well as a podium for the Triple Crown winners.  I will be doing the Vertical Kilometer race at Whiteface on July 2nd. 

The link is to the YouTube highlight of the 2021 race:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hT240tWDuw4

Starting to ramp up the daily volume for the Prouty

Glaciers melting faster than expected

https://planetski.eu/2022/06/08/glaciers-around-the-world-melting-faster-due-to-increasing-climate-change/

BLAST FROM THE PAST … 2013 canadian ski marathon

Lucy at 14 years old, skis all 160k on classic touring skis. (At age 61, I managed 120k, and unfortunately it was cancelled the past two years because of Covid. It's on the list for this coming year.)

Tracking your accumulated training load



https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/training-load-research-2022/

After reading this article, it seems that using %tmax makes the most sense to me.

The “Aspenization” of the American West

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a40078485/montana-land-rush-rich-migration-2022/

An ode to lost toenails by Semi-Rad

After a fall 2021 ultra, I have lost both big toenails in the past couple of months …

https://semi-rad.com/2022/06/goodbye-toenail-and-thank-you-for-your-service/

Getting ready for a VK and gravel ride in early July

Watch one of the top female sky runners, power up the Zegama VK, last week.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4wcR4RAZ4p0

Must see … The Sanctity Of Space

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oOw4eOs7KJM&feature=emb_title

Another good training week

I logged 18 hours and just under 4400' vertical. A total of 186k (149k exercise bike, 31k running, 6k ergometer).

Thinking about a September climbing trip …

At the moment, possibly destinations are Sierras, or Chamonix, or Cascades, or the Tetons.  If we head to Wyoming, I think Cube Point would be a good warmup climb. If we head to Chamonix, I think Point Lachenal would be a good warmup. 

Selden turns 63

A festive, but quiet birthday evening. We had some Prosecco and dinner from the Dack Shack, followed by a fun movie - I Am Your Man - and then we split a piece of birthday cake. Needless to say, the presents were all used books!

Grand Traverse Race Report that doubles as a skimo race binding review

https://www.wildsnow.com/31738/grand-traverse-worthy-the-atk-revolution-world-cup-double-take/#more-31738

New York Times … users manual for knees

Nothing revolutionary here, but a great review, and reminder that strengthening muscles around joints is critically important. Intellectually I know this, but I find occasionally reading stuff like this, helps solidify my commitment to strength training.

https://www.nytimes.com/guides/well/a-guide-to-your-knees-1

Another good workout

The morning included a 2.5 hour workout, followed by lunch and a nap; after which I took Stash, for an easy hike up to the mid-station at Whiteface.

I did wonder about this crag, however I could not find a mention of it in the Adirondack rock guide.

Yesterday were the first intervals of the new training year

I did 3 x 7 minutes on the new competition trails. Full recovery on descents, and my heart rate was Level 3/4 on the hill repeats.

Union College Lacrosse loses to RIT 12-10

A close game, only decided in the last five minutes; however a great reunion with some buddies from the class of 1974.

WOW … the ultimate run

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fbqHK8i-HdA&feature=emb_title

Tim Burke Biathlon Hill Climb

This morning I did a casual trip up this route with Stash.

Once or twice a summer I do a time trial on this 2.5k run with 1200' vertical. About a decade ago the biathlon team started using this course as part of their annual battery of physical tests.

In another couple of weeks I'll take a stab at setting a new PB … shooting for 25 minutes. The men's biathlon record is 11+ minutes and the women at 13+ minutes.

Spring and summer are nice, but …

Soon we will be dreaming of winter again!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=klZz1DyNc8s

Another fine Adirondack day

The bugs are not bad yet, and Stash and I spent a morning hour doing hill repeats, bookended by 90 minutes on the exercise bike, for warmup and cool down. A strength and stretch session for late afternoon.

Another Harfang Crampon Review

https://www.wildsnow.com/31690/revisiting-the-blue-ice-harfang-crampon/ 



The bottom line is they seem to be the real deal. Another bottom line, is that availability is still a big problem.  Given limited American distribution, and given a a skimo boot without a welt, I went with the Petzel hybrid. It weighs a tiny bit more, it's a bit clunkier, but it has a work-around for any boot, and does it's job well. However, I imagine we will see more companies entering this niche market. 

A wonderful rest day …

Lots of reading, and chores. I put away skis and winter clothing. I put away all the clothing that was washed from my recent trip. And after finishing the tenth season of Call The Midwives, we were treated to a great sunset.

Yesterday and today, I felt back in the grove

Saturday was a full training day: yoga to start with, followed by the exercise bike, and then out for a jog with Stash. I finished the day with a bouldering session at High Peaks Cyclery.  Today I began to ease into my strength and core sessions with a warmup and cool down on the exercise bike. This afternoon, another easy bunch of 1980 biathlon loops. 

It’s been years since I hiked up Mt Jo

A beautiful day for it, and as I remembered, a spectacular view.

Back from the Sierras

It was a great trip. I didn't scare myself as much as Kilian or Honnold, and I certainly didn't make myself suffer as much as Diggins; but I did get out there on the East side of the Sierras and push it a bit!

Partway home …


On the first flight, just as the sun set, we got a view of the Three Sisters in Oregon. My next flight is from Portland to Chicago, then on to Albany, and finally a 2+ hour drive to our farm.

Day 15 in the Sierras … heading home on a red-eye flight

This was a great trip; reconnecting with Mark and Danny, as well as the entire Ewing clan. The fun meter was high and lots of new memories, but the dry statistics are as follows:

6 days on skis
6 trail runs
3 bouldering sessions
8 yoga sessions
5 hikes
10,000' vertical gain

Who is the most famous cross country skier in America?

MOST FAMOUS … probably Jessie Diggins, maybe Kikkan Randall, or possibly Bill Koch. However this statue reminded me, that my vote would be Snowshoe Thompson. He carried mail on skis to Sierra mining towns from 1856 to 1876.

Back in Tahoe

Day 13 was a very full day. Three cups of chai, launched a quick trip to Tahoe City to say hello to Danny, and get some gear I left at his house. Then a superb breakfast burrito at the Dam Cafe.

Back at Mark's House I geared up for some Skimo laps at Alpine Meadows (which was closed), then we perused the arts festival at the Squaw Valley Stables. Late in the afternoon at Mark's I did some yoga and had my first shower since May 3rd!

We are ordering pizza and having a mellow evening.

Wonderful ski tour on day 12 in the Sierras

Spent 90 minutes doing a skimo tour - wish I had my skate skis - in Yosemite, starting at Tioga Pass. On the drive back to Tahoe we loaded up on Walker Burgers and milkshakes.

June Lake, Silver Lake, Fern Lake, and Wild Willy’s Hotsprings

Day 11 in the Sierras … a great terrific 2.5 hour hike up to Fern Lake with 1600' vertical. Mark fished, we checked out Mammoth for me to do a bit of skinning tomorrow. And of course soaking weary bodies in a hot spring is a great end of day experience.

Casual morning in the Sierras

It has been unusually cold and windy thus far. Tahoe has gotten 15 inches of snow during this period, and just yesterday there was snow on the east side down to the 9000' level. The weather has finally taken a turn. Today while we were leisurely caffeinating ourselves I was able to air out, and rinse out my feet for the first time … wow did that feel good.

Hillary Gerardi and What It Takes

https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=266&v=ROW0XD9N45Q&feature=emb_title

Day 9 in the Sierras

Yesterday started off well, with a leisurely breakfast of yogurt, bananas, dates, as well as a great deal of caffeine. Then an easy, but terrific, 70 minute trail run (picture) followed by yoga.

And then the day got away from us. We spent four hours looking for Mark's wallet - checking all the places we visited the day before - only to find his wallet in the far corner of his tent. Of course, while asking the Mexican restaurant for Mark's wallet, they returned mine, (I didn't even know it was missing) as I left it on the table when I paid the bill.

Not enough time to boulder so I went for another trail run, followed by pizza, and much talk about Mark's current vision quest, while sipping wine at the campground.

Despite the shit show, it was a good day.

Rock climbing paradise

The Bishop area has an amazing amount and variety of climbable rock. The bouldering guide has over 3000 routes in it. Just north the Mammoth guide has another 1000 boulder routes. The Owens River Gorge has hundreds of bolted sport routes. And of course, the high mountain, alpine rock routes are legendary. The weather is good, the hot springs make for fine rest day diversions, and the camping scene is mellow.

The sunrise showed some great crags, I had never noticed before. Later today we are going to Boulder at Druid Rocks an area I have never visited.

Day 7 in the Sierras

Yesterday was a potpourri of activities.

A sunrise yoga and tai chi session. Lots of tea, coffee, and bullshit in the warm sun. A nice 90 minute trail run with great views. Then some sniffing of new gear at Eastside Sports as well as Sage to summit. We finished up with some very easy bouldering at Happy Boulders in the Owens River Valley.