Knees are still creaky from long day in the Whites

USATF uphill championship

Given a hectic last five weeks - drive east, new job, new apartment - Lucy's training has not been the central focus. She pushed hard, reconnected with some old nordic racing pals, and so it was well worthwhile, even if she wasn't really in race shape. 

Great day in the White Mountains

Hiked and skinned up to the floor of Huntington Ravine. (From left to right in the picture is South and Odell's Gullies, then Pinnacle Buttress and Central Gully.)

After lunch we skied and hiked out, and then skinned up to Hermit Lake. We then skied down the Shelburne Ski Trail, and finally hiked out the last two miles. A superbly beautiful.

Level 4 uphill intervals

Earlier in the week I did my first interval session of Old Mountain laps, to start out the new running season.

BLAST FROM THE PAST … thinking about one last trip to the Cordillera Blanca

Huaraz, the Chamonix of South America.  I have had four wonderful trips to Peru, and am hoping for one more before I hang up the spikes!

Nice Adirondack spring day with some snow flurries

BLAST FROM THE PAST … the right reverend bardini

An extended obituary and a salute to Alan Bard.

https://earnyourturns.com/17796/profile-the-right-reverend-bardini/

How much endurance do you have to lose when you age?

https://www.trailrunnermag.com/training/most-people-get-slower-with-age-but-is-that-inevitable/?_hsmi=255642873&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--6KtgOZltwQB7Vy4uoEVJ8a7CINBOAwYr6PF7POoACEVyrEiMucbwfyoiHaWXy6ImZhAUIBWqQ75NDWgyN8gCFopqQJw

Getting excited about trail running again

Of course, I am looking forward to ski touring out west in May, but now my mind is about a return to trail running and hiking. I will certainly run some uphill races again; I will also want to do a few long trail runs (20-30k range) in scenic mountain terrain; but I think I am going to retire from the yearly ultra-running race. 

Last week finished a 2-3 week transition back to the summer mode, of running, hiking, and biking. I managed to log 15+ hours, just over 4500' vertical, and 128k (93k exercise bike and 35k on foot). This week I will pull out the mountain bike.

The link is to a ten minute video, about trail runner Dylan Bowman, his company Freetrail, and the Gorge Waterfalls race. Gets you ready to lace up your shoes.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RfmL3KQefvY

Mezzalama: the last skimo Grande Course race of the season

The Mezzalama race just finished and ended the 2023 skimo race season.  The race alternates every other year, with the PDG (Patrouille des Glaciers) as the unofficial world championship of team, long form, skimo racing. Enclosed is a link to the history of this race, as well as a short video.

https://www.dynafit.com/en-us/trofeo-mezzalama-history

First spring trip up Owls Head

As always balance seems off on this first rocky trail of the season. And as always, a beautiful view for such a short hike.

Next week LUCY will be running in the Sunapee Scramble

Dipping her toe in the trail running water, she is not likely to jeopardize anyone's spot on the team to travel to the World Championships in Austria. But this will be a good shakeout to clear the cobwebs out after her frenetic move east. 

https://trailrunner.com/trail-news/scramble-at-the-inaugural-sunapee-scramble-for-team-usa-opportunities/

Hiking laps up Mt Pisgah

Its mud season in the Adirondacks. During this time my quest for vertical workouts finds me on steep dirt roads like Jay Mountain or Old Mountain Roads, or Baxter and Roundtop Lanes, or yesterday, on the cat track, service road at Pisgah.

BLAST FROM THE PAST … 2013 silvretta traverse

A multi-day ski mountaineering trip in Austria, from Ischgl to Galtur.

Highlights of the last 2023 skimo World Cup in Tromso

https://youtu.be/Dd1QgvK4G0Q

Check out the summary of my 2022-23 ski season

The video is available for your viewing pleasure at https://vimeo.com/818522467

Exploring some new places to do hill intervals

On my way back from visiting friends in Burlington, I stopped to do a run on Baxter and Roundtop lanes. Steep and well graded dirt roads, with some nice views.

A pretty decent transitional week: just under 14 hours, 113k (76k exercise bike, 23k run, 14k ski), and 4850' vertical. I also managed to alpine ski on two mornings, and do two yoga sessions.

Transitioning off skiing

Well, with the exception of a late spring ski trip to the sierras, it's back to hiking, running, and mountain biking.

Ski season isn’t over but remember these chores when it ends

Holmenkollen: the modern vikings valhalla

I am re-reading a thin, self-published skiing autobiography of Henry Ives Baldwin. The Skiing Life is an often fascinating recount of the sport from pre-WW I days in Saranac Lake, to his Scandinavian travels, as well as early days skiing in New Hampshire during the 1920-30s. This small excerpt captures the thrill of spectating the 1924 Holmenkollen.

Mount Washington Avalanche Center

The link, is a short video describing the elements of their daily forecast; well worth watching. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UJTynkEwllY&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org%2F&feature=emb_imp_woyt

Marcy, Colden, Wright, and Algonquin

On my rest day yesterday, I had a sauna at the cabin, and then after lunch a short nap, followed up by a trip to see if the Marcy fire road was still snow covered. (A bit sketchy but still skiable, as you can see, plenty of snow up high.)

Continuing the seasonal transition

A good week, however one with totals lower than usual. Two mornings of alpine skiing, three yoga sessions, and an easy strength session replaced the heavy cardio sessions of past weeks. Still, 13 hours, almost 4000' vertical ascent, and 110k (73k bike, 29k+ ski, and 7.5k on foot), was nothing to sneer at.

SellaRonda Skimarathon … yikes, too many things on my bucket list

Not sure I can get to them all … https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=210JjZnyApU&embeds_euri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sellaronda.it%2F&feature=emb_imp_woyt

Spring is coming, but …

The Mount Van Hoevenberg competition trails are in prime condition. So, while pretty soon we will be carrying our skis from trailhead to the snow line, for a bit longer it's just park your car and go.

Recent U20 Skimo World Cup in Crevacol

It's likely that a bunch of these kids will be setting the pace in the 2026 Olympic skimo events in Cortina.



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Me4Ot_ZcPc

Skiing the Presidential Traverse.

Some pretty amazing footage. A beast of a day, not to mention, that by the time he drops over the Lip in Tuckermans Ravine, it all looks pretty casual.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?mc_cid=d0deee74cc&mc_eid=6c1c37a800&v=P0ZSpzQMu0M&feature=youtu.be

April: with rain and warmer temps … it’s almost that time of year!

Yesterday was my 110th day on snow!



A good week of training

I logged just over 14 hours, almost 5500' vertical ascent, and 132k (72k bike and 60k bike). Great to see my buddies, and a bit tired with late nights watching March Madness.

Skinning laps at Killington

Logging some good vertical and hanging out with college buddies.

Stunning winter Yosemite picture

Taken last month when the park was closed, by a Park Ranger (I think).

Next year at Holmenkollen

I am determined to tick this off my bucket list, camping out for the Holmenkollen 50k races, and then ski the Norwegian Birkie, the following week.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/14/sports/skiing/holmenkollen-norway-diggins.html

Big Wall - Bev was a historical badass

An excellent article from Adventure Journal about Bev Johnson, an outstanding Yosemite climber in the 1960 and 1970s.  In 1978 she made the first female, solo ascent of El Cap. While she was on this week-long ascent of the Triple Direct, I was directly across the valley, on my first big wall, Warren Harding's north face route on Middle Cathedral. I remember seeing her at the bar after she finished, I was thoroughly trashed from my two days on a far, far, easier route, while she looked like she had just gone for a walk in the park!

https://adventure-journal.com/blogs/news/big-wall-beverly-johnson-changed-the-calculus-of-yosemite-climbing

Brief history of alpine touring bindings

From a 30 year anniversary book about the Dynafit binding.

Beautiful morning skiing at Whiteface

Back to skiing in the Adirondacks

Late March, it's snowing again, and we have excellent conditions. Although, still a little jet lagged and travel weary, but did two modest ski sessions on the 1980 biathlon loops.

Everything was great until I was skiing downhill, and Stash who always runs along side, timed his crossing poorly. I slammed into him. He was knocked around, I went airborne, glasses bent, and me with a sprained thumb and maybe a cracked rib.

I can diagonal stride with ibuprofen, but compressing on a double pole is out of the question for awhile. Tomorrow I will see if I can still make some turns.

Another 1992 memory …

Skiing up the skin track last week to this viewpoint, I was reminded of another incredible tour I did on a previous visit to Zermatt. Skiing to the summit of the 14,940' Signalkuppe, brewing some tea in the Margherita Hut (highest in Europe), and then doing telemark turns on the 10,000' descent to Zermatt on the Grenz Glacier … a great day in the mountains with Gary.

Fond memories from Zermatt 2023 and 1992

This past week while skinning laps from Riffelberg to Rotenboden, I had fantastic conditions, and amazing views.  You couldn't ask for a better outing. 

One other highlight from that day were the memories it brought up, of the incredible Schwarztor tour that I did three decades ago with Gary, Susie, and Ben.  Starting from a hut near Theodul Pass, we skied past the Breithorn (which we had skied the day before), climbed Pollux, and skied telemark turns down the glacier to the Monte Rosa Hut?

It was a memorable day … on both occasions!

A 100 days on snow!

On my last ski day in Zermatt, I hit my 100th day on snow. There is still a good bit of skiing to be done this season!

Zurich: day 7 and heading home

What a great trip; Lenny exceeded expectations on the hikes, and of course, his wry sense of humor was greatly appreciated. Mountains off in the distance from the airport.

Zermatt: day 6, and last

Another beautiful day.

Rather than cram to much in with a partial ski day, I went for a hike instead. I have done the hike to Zmutt many times but it never disappoints. Up and down was just under two hours, not counting the obligatory stop for a snack. My ascent included about 30 minutes of easy level 3.

On a related note, Strava directed me to the leaderboard, and Remi Bonnet Skimo World Cup winner did the uphill in 13+ minutes!

The picture, taken from the deck of the hut, shows the north face of the Dent Blanche, one of the many 4000m peaks in the Zermatt area.

Zermatt: day 5

Another warm and wonderful day. I did two laps on the wanderweg from Riffelberg to Rotenboden, and back. Unlike a few days ago, visibility was superb which brought to mind many fond memories. The big climbs of the 1970s (Triftigrat, Neruda Route, and Northwest face of Dent d'Herens), as well as some major ski tours in the early 1990s. Of course, my time here has also revived memories from the more recent 2018 and 2020 trips as well.

Day 4 was spectacular

I alpine skied all day at Sunnegga. The weather was sunny and warm, and conditions were quite good. I skied mostly easy groomers, and enjoyed the amazing vistas. The picture below is of the North Face of the Breithorn, back in the summer of 1978 I did a route on it called the Triftigrat.

Zermatt: day 4

Morning sunrise view from my deck … it's going to be another good one!

Zermatt: day 3

Well, it started as always, with a sumptuous breakfast in the ornate Zermatterhof dining room. Then a hike up to Zmutt - some apple tart - and then a hike over to Furi (picture with Zmutt in the background. The tiny hamlet of Zmutt is the oldest (almost a thousand years) in Canton Valais.

After Lenny hopped on a tram to Schwarzee, I headed off to skin some laps. Todays data: 164 min of exercise (hike, ski, and yoga) with 1850' of vertical ascent.

First Full Day In Zermatt

Spectacular bluebird day, starting with an over the top buffet breakfast. Hike up to Furi; gondola yo Riffelberg; and then a couple of skinning laps to Rotenboden . The data: 157 minutes, 2325' ascent, topping out at 9300' . A drink on the deck, followed by a sauna, and dinner.

Made it to Zermatt

A long travel day which went off without a hitch!

Heading to Zermatt today

Mid-March, it doesn’t get much better than this