Fossil Alpinism

I just went out for an easy 45 minute ski on the campus trails. Later today 2-3 laps on the "Ladies Five." The enclosed picture ...

The book I am reading (The Ice Maiden) is fascinating. In 1995 this well preserved 500 year-old girl was found on the summit of Nevado Amapa...

One of the premier distance events in America. Climbing over 3000' in the 50K course. We have superb snow conditions, come on up and st...

The Lake Placid Loppet is fast approaching. Gary is definitely coming up ... Brian? Mark? The painting is a historic one, of an artist re...

As I skinned up and over the top of the NCS ski hill this afternoon, I was amazed at how much ice the crag has collected. The photograph sh...

Tori and Greg exploring the Drakensburg mountains in South Africa, as they wait for their apartment to be ready in Maputo. A different part...

Today I was working on tip #74 in Allen and Mike's Really Cool Telemark Tips. Keep those hands pointed down the fall line during the tu...

The enclosed diagram is our tail map; click on the photograph to enlarge it.

Gorgeous day. My first turns of the season at Whiteface ... Somebody has to look after the students! (Click on the picture to enlarge it.)

I am getting ready to show this film to my nordic racers as much of the action takes place a 1000 years ago on skis. This film, based on an ...

I have logged about about half of the mountain library into the blog. FYI ... You may use the search function on the blog to find the books...

On the drive back from four days in Manhattan - working with trustees - it was great to see all the ice dripping off of the Chapel Pond Cra...

Click here to access Michael Chessler's list of the 100 best and most important mountaineering books. (How many do you own or have you r...

Click here to watch video coverage of the 1.6 K classical sprints at Whistler. Andy Newhall finishes in the top ten and several other Americ...

Click here to watch a 45 minute profile of the alpine god, the focus of the film is his exploits on the Himalayan giants.

Click here to watch this 90 second video about the Huber brothers.

Click here to watch this short video ... guaranteed to get you motivated and off the couch. C

Or, maybe we should call him the NCS Dean of Skiing. Click here and watch a 15 second video of Nick taking time out from discipline and par...

Another PenMen cartoon ... you can find them on Climbing magazine's website. (Click on the cartoon to enlarge it.)

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW A SOBERING 90 SECOND VIDEO.

Coming to Lake Placid Center for the Arts ... In 2008 Huaraz Satyricon Cinema produced a documentary film about a Shikashika business in the...

This time a 7.5 k tour with Lucy on the biathlon trails.

The temperatures have risen thirty degrees as I return from my noon ski to warm up in the cabin.

So far I have just heard from Gary? Brian is waffling a bit as he is still recovering from nordic skiing over New Year's. (Is he a whimp...

The Cassin Ridge, like Ahab and the White Whale, has consumed much of my psychic energy in the mountains. One of the most beautiful hard alp...

Gary Hemming lead a mythical alpine life until his suicide in the Tetons. Robert Redford always wanted to make this film and play this part....

UPDATE - 12/04/08: Andy Parkin documentary wins Special Jury Prize at Kendal! We are delighted to announce that Andy Parkin: A Life in Adapt...

PENMEN® was created by 12 year old artist Gary Blehm in 1977 in a one room school house near Aspen, Colorado. The first official poster was ...

Steck Solos Grandes Jorasses in 2:21 By Dougald MacDonald / The Mountain World Enlarge The Colton-Macintyre Route (1,100m, ED2 WI6 M6) on t...

Click on this link to read Guy Waterman's account of the ice climbing history of this important climb in New Hampshire ... see pages 86-...

Selden feeding Birch, after giving hay to the sheep, and milking Katika.

Now that holidays have past, and I have eaten too much, I can reflect on how special the time was. Of course, this card from Santa in my s...

Moderately thin conditions, much harder than listed, and Larry just flew up Cascade Ice Dance. The first pitch was delicate and technical...

As Don Mellor says the best line at the Cascade Lakes, although often not in shape. Today it was in thin but manageable conditions.

Some of you may ask, what does a one pound hunk of fruitcake (a Christmas present from my sister) have to do with Michael? Well almost 30 y...

Lucy and her friend Teresa in the loft of the Fossil Cabin. Meanwhile 10-15 people were crammed below munching on Selden's homemade pig...

Click here to access the New York Times article on the humorous side of yoga.

The NCS tow house, powered by a 1957 Ford engine. The rope tow gets spliced regularly and it eats ski gloves for breakfast.

Temperatures are dropping fast. I headed out for a quick ski tour on campus (rossignol stratos and Ramer bindings from the mid-70s) before o...

Click here to link to the website, with a five minute recording of the first several pages in the allegorical Mount Ananlogue. (The photogra...

MOUNT ANALOGUE ... do you know it? A reissue of a twentieth-century classic in the acclaimed Tusk Ivories series A twentieth-century classi...

Click on this link to see a short video from NE Ice.

In spite of 24 hours of rain and warm temperatures the Porter Mountain Loop is in pretty good shape – hardly a bare spot – best enjoyed with...

Gary took a big ice chunk in the face while climbing in Chapel Pond Canyon today ... Still reasonably "cute" for a guy who will b...

Happy Holidays. Never fear the stockings are anchored with an alien and a knifeblade ... bomber protection. I hope your days are full of f...

Last laps on "Pitchoff Right" before the 6+ hour drive home.

Brian putting in a "stubbie" to protect the last 15 feet of "Ice Slot."

Gary doing the honors on "Ice Slot."