A Beautiful Spring Adirondack Day

I got in at 2 am after a three day road trip, my second trip in ten days. I managed a pretty hectic Monday on campus - including teaching my ethics class - in sort of a haze. I did however, take advantage of the great weather to do a short 40 minute hike on my favorite section of the super-loop. I am home for ten days so I ought to be able to get into a more regular training pattern.

Staff and students are busy in the greenhouse where we have about half of our 15,000 seedlings already started.

Chamonix: they are still skiing powder in May

Take a look at this trip report from Andreas Fransson:

http://andreasfransson.blogspot.com/2012/05/perfect-last-day-of-season-first-tracks.html

Ski Mountaineering Video

The title is a bit of a misnomer, as most of the video is about skiing in Alaska (Denali and the Wrangells), skiing in South America, skiing Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, and Mustagh Ata. Nevertheless, the footage of the failed attempt on Everest is good, the interviews interesting, and the history of high altitude ski descents informative. You can stream it from Amazon.com.

Another Blast From The Past

A picture that Francis - a former NCSer - sent to me. Back in the early 1980s he took this stuffed animal wherever he went including to the top of Adirondack peaks, like trailess Seward, or even to the top of Tungurahua and Cayambe in Ecuador during Treetops West.

Chouinard the unlikely business guru

Click on the link below to access the Wall Street Journal article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303513404577352221465986612.html

Blast From The Past ... Nike circa 1976

I have been trying to get my Nordic racers to do a bit of running this Spring. (Hard to manage as the weather has been crap, there are too many things going on at school, and of course, hiking is more fun.) They get bored easily and so I mix things up, and yesterday we went down to the Lake Placid track and did some timed runs: 100 meter, 400 meter, and 1200 meter.

It has been ages since I have done any running, this from someone who used to run a lot from 5k to ultras, and there was even one period in my life when I averaged 60-90 miles a week.

Anyway, I have now used my rowing machine to watch three movies about running in the late 1960s and 1970s: WITHOUT LIMITS, PREFONTAINE, and FIRE ON THE TRACK. I am also reading am excellent novel about a serous runner, with a mid-life crisis returning to his sport (AGAIN TO CARTHAGE).

Finally, I bumped into this original Nike ad, which came out just as I put down the lacrosse stick and started to lace up training flats and EBs. At this point in my life, I am not sure running is ever going to be a big part of my "training routine" but it has brought back some great memories.

YOSEMITE: the range of light

Stockpiling Snow For Next Winter

The Telemark Resort stockpiled a massive amount of snow in March - covered with sawdust - and they may host a summer Nordic race. Click on the link below to read the article.


http://blogs.fasterskier.com/continentalcup/2012/04/30/a-big-pile-of-snow-waits-at-telemark/

A Gotta Have Item ... ski crampons

I think my college buddies need to pass this article along to their guide (vehemently against these devices) before their next trip to the Alps. Click the link below to read this excellent blog article.

http://www.getstrongergolonger.com/journal/2012/4/29/the-essential-ski-crampon.html

New study shows that time in the mountains increases creativity and problem solving abilities

To read the study click on the link below ...

http://www.news.ku.edu/2012/april/23/outdoors.shtml

Algonguin

PRE ... steve prefontaine

Earlier this week I was surfing through the Amazon.com "free streaming" movie collection to find some videos that I could watch while I was doing rowing machine workouts. I happened across this little gem, "Without Limits." This mostly true story of the short lived, fantastic long distance runner, and the tempestuous relationship he had with his coach, his friends, and the amateur athletic establishment is highly recommended. You can buy it or rent it from Amazon.com, however you can also find it on YouTube.

You might also look for the pure documentary entitled, "Fire On The Track." Both are available from Amazon or YouTube, and both are something of a walk down memory lane, as many of us can remember watching some of those great races, especially the Olympic Trials, and the 1972 Olympic 5000 meter finals ... as someone who became something of a runner during the 1970s the names of Shorter, Kardong, Moore, Lingren, Viren, and Young were oh, so familiar.

1980 Winter Olympic Nordic Relay

As I headed out on the beginning of the Porter Mountain Loop yesterday for the last ski tour of the season, I could't help but give a thought to all the historic races that have been run over at Mount Van Hoevenberg.

World Masters Championships, World Junior Championships, Junior Olympics, Nor-ams, College carnivals, and not to mention Josh Thompson's 1987 silver medal in the 20k World Biathlon Championships. However, Bill Koch's spectacular leg in the 1980 Olympic relay (captured here) was certainly one of the most important highlights. It was a particularly bright spot in a disappointing games for Bill Koch who expected so much after his 1976 silver medal. (Know that he did go on in subsequent years to win both the world cup and a world championship medal.)

Click here to watch the ABC coverage of the relay ... Koch is in white ...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5S2znOGfSs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Squeezing in another ski tour

After I returned from Alta, I almost put the skis away down at the Fossil Cabin. However, on second thought I reminded myself that, after all this is the Adirondacks, and we have had snowstorms in May. It has been snowing off and on since Monday, and I finally caught up enough at work to head out for a 40 minute jaunt last night, just before dark.

Will Trade Husband For Tractor

Folding laundry last night, I snapped this picture of Selden's favorite T-shirt. There is more than a grain of truth here!

Summer Climbing Plans

This summer I intend to be away for three weeks to celebrate my 60th birthday. At present the two most likely options are Peru and the Alps. If Peru, then the usual red-eye to Lima, the eight hour (B grade movie filled) bus ride to Huaraz, and a couple of nights in La CASA de ZARELA. Then off to warmup on Urus, Ishinca, with the major objectives being the West Face of Tocclaraju, and the French Direct on Alpamayo. If its the Alps, we have a more user friendly flight to Geneva and a 75 minute car shuttle to Chamonix. To keep expenses low we would combine bivvies in ski maintenance buildings, some tenting, and the occasional hut. The agenda would look like: COSMIQUE arête, Chere couloir, Index, and Pointe Lachenal as warm ups. We might follow this with one (or two if good weather) of these: Frendo Spur, Brenva Ridge, Coturier Couloir, Jäger Couloir, or even change venues for the Matterhorn.

The Eiger Nordwand

Maybe this afternoon, rather than ski on this snow, I will head out to the crag and pretend I am mixed climbing on a big alpine face!

My Training Loop

We have three inches of snow this morning so I may head out on rock skis today.

However, on Saturday I had a good 70 minute hike on our 4K, 500' loop. For a bit of extra vertical it included ten laps on an easy 30 foot high 5.2 rock climb. Starting today I will add a 10 pound pack, and increase the weight five pounds every 2-3 weeks until we go to Peru or the Alps.

Believe It Or Not, The Nordic Racing Season Is Not Over!

Yesterday over 12,000 people raced in one of the largest Nordic marathon races in the world. Johaug won, and the Norwegian women swept the podium. I guess I am just living in the wrong country or too far south! Use the link below to read about the skarverennet:

http://fasterskier.com/2012/04/johaug-takes-sixth-skarverennet-title-jespersen-holds-off-northug-for-win/

Running Biathlon

Today Lucy and a few ther NCSers had their first sampling of a real biathlon race with a .22 caliber rifle. They only shot prone - at 30 meters instead of 50 - and Lucy cleared 9 of ten targets. She ran well too.

The Commercialization of Climbing

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS SHORT ESSAY.

Adirondack Ski Fest 2012

Argentiere Dry Tooling in April

Glacier d'Argentière Mont-Blanc massif dry tooling by tvmountain

South Face of Superior

The day after I snapped this picture at our reunion a couple of local hardcore ski mountaineers, we're pushing things in the new snow when things went badly. CLICK HERE TO READ THEIR TRIP REPORT ON THE SLC SAMURAI WEBSITE.

Still deeply engrossed in skiing over in Chamonix

CLICK HERE ... to read a trip report about a col du passion tour. Even I have put my skis away after my WASATCH trip, however those Euros keep on going.

Hiking in the Adirondacks

Lucy and a bunch of NCSers recently hiked up Giant Mountain ... Amazingly for April they were able to get to the top without snowshoes or creepers!

Ski Cartoon

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE THE CARTOON.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

WASATCH VIEW

Great to be back in the Wasatch, after 10 inches of snow last night and 6-8 more today, the clouds learned and we got our first view of Superior. It should be great skiing tomorrow, and more snow coming for the weekend.

Skiing in Alta

I am obviously a little worse for wear - too little sleep, too much time on the plane, and too little time at altitude. An hour after I landed in Salt Lake City I did a ski loop with almost a 1000 vertical feet of climbing.

The most significant ice climb of 2011

The National Wilderness Preservation System

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FAMOUS LETTER WRITTEN BY WALLACE STEGNER WHICH WAS USED AS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BILL WHICH CREATED THE NATIONAL WILDERNESS SYSTEM IN 1964.

Finish your hike with a sauna!

Great skiing website

Click here to go to the Break Through On Skis website. Fantastic. The work of Lito Tejada Flores, it also showcases Dick Doworth, and other literate ski buddies. Of course climbers are most familiar with his seminal essay "Games Climbers Play," however as important to me, was his little white Sierra Club Totebook, "Wilderness Skiing." Dave Goodman's thoughts are not unique, just well written, and more important now than in 2001.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Are you old enough to remember these coveted purple sacks, how about the Rivendell, or the Whillans Alpinist? CLICK HERE TO SEE A TIMELINE OF OUTDOOR GEAR HISTORY FROM 1855-2007

Yoga and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

When I hit the rowing machine and the yoga mat, I usually channel surf to keep from going crazy watching the odometer. So, a cable channel was playing this vintage 1969 classic. Some great lines of dialogue, as for instance in THE BIG JUMP:

Butch Cassidy: I'll jump first.

Sundance Kid: Nope.

Butch Cassidy: Then you jump first.

Sundance Kid: No, I said!

Butch Cassidy: What's the matter with you?!

Sundance: I can't swim!

Butch Cassidy: [laughing] Why, you crazy — the fall'll probably kill ya!

OR IN THE SCENE WHERE THEY DECIDE TO GO TO BOLIVIA::


Sundance Kid: [to Etta] What I'm saying is, if you want to go, I won't stop you. But the minute you start to whine or make a nuisance, I don't care where we are, I'm dumping you flat.

Butch Cassidy: Don't sugarcoat it like that, Kid. Tell her straight.

Etta Place: I'm 26, and I'm single, and a school teacher, and that's the bottom of the pit. And the only excitement I've known is here with me now. I'll go with you, and I won't whine, and I'll sew your socks, and I'll stitch you when you're wounded, and I'll do anything you ask of me except one thing. I won't watch you die. I'll miss that scene if you don't mind.

Yoga and long distance running

CLICK HERE TO READ A SHORT ARTICLE ON THE NORTH FACE BLOG.

Lotus Flower Tower

Spring Training For Peru

My goal is to do at least two or three workouts a week on the ski hill loop. The loop is about 3k, with 350 vertical, and it includes the option of five solo laps of one of the easy climbs on the crag ... In mountain boots about 35 minutes a loop. (This iPhone GPS app is so cool.) Given a heavy travel schedule this spring, the rest of my workouts will probably be on the rowing machine.

She is a stud!

Miro: an extraordinary ski mountaineering racer, as well as top of the heap running alpine trails ... obviously a cutie ... don't we fossils wish we were 30 years younger!

Matterhorn Disintegrating

CLICK HERE TO READ A SUMMARY OF AN IMPORTANT GEOPHYSICAL STUDY CONDUCTED ON THE FAMOUS PEAK.

Hard mixed route on the Dru

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SUPERB PHOTOGRAPHY AND TRIP REPORT ON THE ALPINE EXPOSURES WEBSITE.

What is the ideal mountaineering boot setup for skis?

THOSE OF YOU THAT FOLLOW THE COLD THISTLE BLOG KNOW THAT DANE IS SERIOUS ABOUT HIS GEAR. CLICK HERE TO SEE HIS RECENT RENOVATIONS TO A PAIR OF SCARPA CLIMBING BOOTS. WILL THIS SPAWN A REVOLUTION?

A Summer Fossil Gathering?

The flock is grazing in the pasture, the cabin has a good supply of wood, the sauna is complete, and now all we need is for the Ewing family to pin down a date ... All are welcome!

Last Nordic Race Of The 2012 Season

Getting Ready for the Haute Route 2013 Trip

A must watch for my Union College buddies, especially Dick!

Ski Mountaineering Stage race

The Tour du Rutor with three stages, is second only to the Pierra Menta as the burly randonnee race.

Fast And Female

After months on the road, and scores of races, after the Super Tour Finals and the 30k National Championships ... A bunch of women from the Canadian Nordic Team, US Biathlon Team, and US Nordic Team did a clinic for girls. We sent five NCSers over to Vermont for this special event ... the picture is of Lucy with Chandra Crawford the 2006 Olympic Sprint Gold medalist.

Tairraz Family

Anyone who has climbed or skied in Chamonix has, no doubt, run into these iconic photographic images. For over four generations the Tairraz family has captured alpine scenery since the very first days of photography. Check out the online issues of the Alpine Journal and read the article from the 1960s on this important family.

First day bouldering

It may be the earliest appearance of my rock shoes in the Adirondacks! Often I have done some climbing in March - Owens River Gorge, Gunks, Great Falls, and Ragged - but to have sticky rubber shoes on in the Adirondacks on April 1st feels very weird.