Ian McNaught Davis

In the 70s and 80s he covered the British climbing scene with a deft pen and a large dollop of humor.  His pieces,  like this one, were often printed in Mountain magazine. This one dates back to issue #27 from 1973.

And while, back in those years, I often agreed - full stop - with his views, now I find myself at the other end of my climbing career.  So, I am glad that I saved some of the grand snow plods for my old age … because those are the only routes I might be able to get up! 

First morning riding lifts

Now that I got skis and boots back from my daughter, I used beefier Skimo gear instead of my race setup.

Another early season ski tour

Crusty as hell, but skiable; the toll road continues to enable maniacal types to get on snow.

Volume down, sniffles and a slight cough … but a terrific Thanksgiving

It was a quiet holiday, as we tried to be sure we stayed healthy for Selden's post Thanksgiving - six hour - infusion to combat her neuropathy.  I seemed to be battling a low level cold, and cut my training load to 13 hours, 125k (88k bike, 25k ski, and 12k run), as well as 4200' vertical.

Whiteface is open, it's snowing today, and so I look for more tours on the toll road, some downhill turns, and the eventual opening of the nordic center

Epic first weekend of nordic World Cup races

Great racing, with some very notable results from American men and women.   

https://fasterskier.com/2023/11/epic-day-in-ruka-diggins-second-brennan-third-in-20-k-freestyle/

Not sure why they didn’t groom and open the nordic center!

The past few days have provided excellent snowmaking conditions … what the heck are they waiting for?

Finishing my tour to a rising full moon

Well an inch or two of new snow makes all the difference

I had glorious early season turns on the toll road this morning.

Ice Coast Skiing

Well, my 12th ski tour of the season was good exercise but not much fun!

Interesting article from 2017 Alpine Journal

A detailed analysis of the clothing and gear used on the famous 1938 and 1966 Eiger climbs, and how they compare to what you would use today.

http://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_2017_files/AJ%202017%20155-166%20Parsons%20Rose%20Eiger%20Direct.pdf

Great ski at Jay Peak golf course

Encouraging 10 day forecast

Looks like more inches of snow are coming.  I am heading over to the Jay Peak resort, as the word on Strava is that the golf course has skiable snow. 

A decent week of training, with three nice ski tours on the Whiteface toll road. I logged

13.5 hours, with 123k (79k bike, 26k ski, and 18k run), and 5200' vertical.  I also managed two yoga sessions, and one good strength workout.

Back to running on the nordic trails

Hope to be back on snow tomorrow or the next day.

On The Brink | Shrinking Glaciers in the Swiss Alps

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=zxaYJLZ4VOJMAEVS&v=ya_lPlXsUzQ&feature=youtu.be

An excellent, but alarming video.

Tai Chi For Skiers

This past Tuesday was the last of six, one hour sessions. It was an engaging class, with the $60 fee, donated to the local nordic combined program. The snapshot is a course summary; I particularly enjoyed working on my balance which is such a critically important piece for fossils alpinists, and seniors in general.

ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR … do you need to replace the big 3?

Beacon, shovel, probe are the non-negotiable items for backcountry ski touring.

https://skimo.co/avalanche-class-gear-list

A goo toll road ski “with” Lucy

Except for the very beginning she skated several kilometers ahead of me, while I was slowly skinning up the road. Brilliant day, and excellent conditions.

Ice climbs are forming in Cascade Pass

It looks like "Three Flows" will be ready in another two weeks; of course the larger question is when will the lake be frozen?

BLAST FROM THE PAST … best mountain boot I ever owned

From the famous 1972 Chouinard mail order catalog, they lasted for over a decade of intense wear. 

Good week with temperatures more winter-like

After last week's recovery week, I was back at full tilt logging just under 17 hours, just over 5600', and 127k (77k exercise bike, 29k ski, and 21k run). I also managed two strength sessions, and some good flexibility work in my "tai chi for skiers" class.

Things looking up …

With colder weather, and a dusting of more snow, skiing on the toll road continues!

Fallback site until they start making snow at Mint Van Hoevenberg

Despite another good toll road ski this morning, I am not sure we will have reliable skiing until Thanksgiving. Not sure I am up for the drive to Labrador City, but Quebec is looking more hopeful, and a more manageable drive. This is the nordic center webcam at Mont Sainte Anne … only a five hour drive. 

 

BLAST FROM THE PAST … bagging a peak on 2013 silvretta traverse

Guillaume, Hock, with Harry just around the corner, while Dick and Ted were making some turns.

Another good toll road ski tour

BLAST FROM THE PAST … bagging a peak on 2013 silvretta traverse

Guillaume, Hock, with Harry just around the corner, while Dick and Ted were making some turns.

Ice climbing recon

On the north side of Pitchoff, ice climbs - like "Central Pillar Of Pitchoff - are starting to form. It won't be long now!

North American Snow Cover At This Moment

The big picture view.  The Menihek Nordic Center in Labrador City is tracked and open for business. Frozen Thunder in Canmore is hosting races right now, and Mont Sainte Anne in Quebec is not open, but is covered (top to bottom) with a 3-4 inch layer of natural snow. 

Get psyched for skimo

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=virM14yzhmZQUt_w&v=E7uL80rDFsM&feature=youtu.be

Anniversary present arrived - a robot vacuum cleaner - which we named Rosie

The 1962 animated show the Jetsons, about a sitcom about a family in 2062 had an android cleaning maid named Rosie.

On a different note, I had a good recovery week. (Usually after three or four high volume weeks, I take a casual week, with a 10-15%  volume reduction.)  So this week I logged: just over 14 hours, 4100' vertical, on 125k (87k exercise bike, 21k run, 17k ski), two yoga sessions, and a single strength workout.  A new training block starts tomorrow. 

BLAST FROM THE PAST … ski mountaineering in the Alps

Selden was looking through her old blog posts and found this entry about me which she passed along.

Pretty scratchy …

Nothing pretty, but still skiable. Yesterday, was my third ski tour of the season on the Whiteface toll road.

First days ski touring on Whiteface toll road

The past couple of days I had two excellent tours, with 2.5 inches of snow … just barely enough. Fun start to the season.

Hoping to make a pre-Thanksgiving trip to check on ice in the ravines

Halfway through my training year … are my goals in reach?

At the six month mark, it's time to assess if I am on track with my goals. My training goals for this 2023-24 were:
- maintain an overall volume of 725 to 775 hours
- continue with yearly accumulated vertical between 200,000' and 250,000'
- increase balance and flexibility work with more yoga sessions (100-120 this year)
- mitigate knee issues with cross training, strength sessions, and limit running to 40k
- continue with 110-130 overall days on snow
- do more nordic skate sessions
- increase days riding lifts to 30-35 sessions and work on technique

Given that I put up the biggest numbers in the year during the winter, I look to be on track, with current figures pointing to just over 700 hours, around 240,000' vertical, if increase in yoga, and incrementally more strength sessions than the previous years. Moreover, I have more spring/summer on snow days than ever before. All of this should enable me to do more mountain trail racing, more nordic and skimo racing, as well as adding more overall climbing, adventure, and big mountain days.

100 Years of Scottish Mountaineering (part 1 of 6)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RayznZfgDp8 



Chomping at the bit for ski season

However, it was another good training week: 17 training hours, 4800' vertical ascent, 133k (93 exercise bike, 40k run), 2 strength and 2 yoga sessions. But, I am ready to transition to a new season.

FYI … another episode just dropped in the 90 pound rucksack podcast

If you listen to podcasts, this series is awesome. It will eventually encompass 18 episodes and a book release. 

I have listened to the first seven episodes of The 90 Pound Rucksack podcast and they are riveting. It's a history of WWII, history of the 10th Mountain, and the history of skiing and climbing in America, all rolled into one. It is co-sponsored by the American Alpine Club. Well worth a listen; the production quality is excellent; and it is available on google-Spotify-Apple podcasts.

https://christianbeckwith.com/

Keeping fingers crossed

Maybe if the storm over performs, I'll be able to ski the upper 3-4K of the toll road tomorrow. 

Slapstick, hilarious 14 minute video about Pierra Menta skimo race

Good race footage, humorous cameos with Kilian, and of course, spectacular scenery.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=nB5JPh5yja0c3W61&v=IzG3YIM-QLI&feature=youtu.be

Almost November and we are having 60 degree days

Next week temperatures will drop to more seasonable levels, but it has made for good hiking weather.

Some strength training for ski season

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/26/well/move/skiing-injuries-workouts.html

First books on loan from AAC Library arrived

I have two novels by Roger Frison-Roche, and North Face In Winter by Toni Hiebler, about his first winter ascent of the 1938 north face route of them Eiger. 

Another AI generated mountain scene

Needless to say, I am looking forward to getting back to the Alps. Selden and I just made reservations for a week in Chamonix next fall for our 40th anniversary.




AAC video: Ice Climbing in a Changing Climate

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=G_aNuzAi8ioalFco&v=O2Uc4o8y2Ng&feature=youtu.be

Weekend snow did not materialize, however the forecast …

Looking like the next ten days will bring below normal temperatures; so I assume snow making will begin, and if we get precipitation at least some of it should come as snow!

Last week was another good training week: I logged just under 17 hours, 4450' vertical ascent, on 146k (106k exercise bike and 40k run). I also managed two yoga sessions, and one strength session using the Chamonix Mountain Physio model.

History of Mount Van Hoevenberg

To read the remainder of the article, and to get to this fabulous website use the enclosed link.

https://nyskiblog.com/directory/ski-area-history/mount-van-hoevenburg/

BIT OF A BUMMER …

Selden has our car to make a trip to see grandkids, and then do some historical research in southern Connecticut.  So, it looks like I will miss out on an early season ski on Monday, up the Whiteface Toll Road. 

Walter Breeman Performing Arts Center at NCS …

On December second will host the Mountaineer Backcountry Ski Film evening.

Jay Peak Off In The Distance

On the drive towards Jay Mountain Road, where a did a couple of laps with a 15 pound pack for a muscular endurance workout.

Skiing the Catamount Trail in Vermont

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=ajHc8Al5F_gGuYJm&v=SDWeKa-VKEQ&feature=youtu.be