Dusting of snow and first jog of the year on 1980 biathlon trails

Over night lows tonight will, again, be in the twenties.

BLAST FROM THE PAST … canadian rockies 1974

Bill Trollenberg, Stephanie White, and I spent three months hiking and climbing in the Canadian Rockies. This was my first big, and long, climbing trip. Among others, we climbed Mount Rainier, Mount Athabasca, Mount Olive, Saint Nicholas Peak, Snowdome, Mount Woolley, and a failed attempt on the Wishbone Arete of Robson. The picture was of me honing technique on an early season frozen waterfall.

Excellent Rest Day

Starting with some tea and ginger snaps, then proceeding to a sauna down at the Fossil Cabin.

A beautiful spring week with solid training

Last week the weather was clear and mild; I logged over 16 hours and over 6500' vertical, on 115k (61k mostly MTB, 45k on foot, and 9k ergometer). I also did three yoga sessions, a strength session, and I am looking at putting a racing bib on next Sunday.

The benefits of altitude training

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/10-rules-for-altitude-training/

Scouting ski tours for Memorial Day in Tahoe … IMPRESSIVE!

Of course, this SNOTEL data is from May 11th, but with many places still showing snow depth over 100 inches, it seems likely I'll be doing some ski touring!  Quite the resource … check it out. 

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/quicklinks/imap#version=167&elements=&networks=!&states=!&counties=!&hucs=&minElevation=&maxElevation=&elementSelectType=all&activeOnly=true&activeForecastPointsOnly=false&hucLabels=false&hucIdLabels=false&hucParameterLabels=false&stationLabels=&overlays=&hucOverlays=&basinOpacity=100&basinNoDataOpacity=100&basemapOpacity=100&maskOpacity=0&mode=data&openSections=dataElement,parameter,date,basin,elements,location,networks&controlsOpen=false&popup=&popupMulti=&popupBasin=&base=esriNgwm&displayType=station&basinType=6&dataElement=SNWD&depth=-8&parameter=OBS&frequency=DAILY&duration=I&customDuration=&dayPart=E&monthPart=E&forecastPubDay=1&forecastExceedance=50&useMixedPast=true&seqColor=1&divColor=3&scaleType=D&scaleMin=&scaleMax=&referencePeriodType=POR&referenceBegin=1981&referenceEnd=2010&minimumYears=20&hucAssociations=true&relativeDate=-1&lat=39.1481&lon=-120.2787&zoom=9.7

SKY RUNNING article in the Wall Street Journal

https://www.wsj.com/articles/skyrunning-endurance-race-sports-343cfd52?st=ltht10k8xxqxbc3&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink&_hsmi=257515908&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Z_9HbK3PtrQeCySDOa_USfP44DyQeIC6PWaOWkyk43pPDmZkgHA6Y0TIQbc0Z38ADm2CrG1itBFqtDPtltHihk1-OeQ

Legendary American climber Tom Hornbein passes away at age 92

On the 1963 American Everest expedition, Hornbein and Unsoeld did a two person alpine style ascent of the unclimbed West Ridge, which was far ahead of its time.

https://adventure-journal.com/blogs/news/tom-hornbein-legendary-everest-pioneer-dead-at-92

Beautiful day and a nice hike up Prospect Mountain

BLAST FROM THE PAST … the backside of beyond

https://earnyourturns.com/12155/rerun-the-backside-of-beyond/

First week of new training year

A good first week - with mostly crappy weather - however I managed just under 15 hours, just under 4000' vertical, and 111k (72k bike and 39k+ run). I also did three yoga sessions, a strength session, and my first MTB ride of the season.

As you can see from the picture on the Jackrabbit Trail, it has been pretty wet.

Nordic skiing in June

https://fasterskier.com/2023/05/great-skiing-in-june-its-real-and-mt-bachelor-has-your-ticket/

What was in your skimo pack this winter?

Not too different from my pack, except a warmer parka, warm hat, and another lightweight wind shell for over the puffy.  (The 'dacks are colder and more blustery than being on a piste in the alps.)  But, this list will be perfect when I head out into the Sierras in three weeks. 

https://www.dynafit.com/en-us/what-s-inside-my-skimo-pack

Not logging big mileage but …

I feel like I have had a successfully transitioned back to running, after the ski season. Next up, is hopping on the mountain bike.

Book Review … Born To Run 2

https://news.ultrasignup.com/born-to-run-2/

Video highlights of 2023 Trofeo Mezzalama skimo race

An exceptional 12 minute video - no narration - just stunning footage of this La Grande Course. The race begins in Cervinia and 45k later ends in Gressoney, in between there is 3300m of ascent, including three 4000 meter peaks. 

https://youtu.be/jBlHPWE1GaM

Quick review of 2022-23 training year

So the highlights were as follows: 772 hours of training, 226,000' vertical, 127 days on skis, 4 uphill running races (2 age group podiums), one 50k+ ultra, one Skimo race, and two trips to the Sierras, as well as a trip to Zermatt.

A couple of big disappointments: no climbing or mountaineering just a bit of bouldering. I was only able to average one strength workout a week. And, I did not do any of the planned nordic ski marathons.

In summary, a productive year to kick off my 70s, now it's time to set goals for the next year.

The Nordic Training Season … is defined as May 1 - April 30

So, last week was the "official" end of the 2022-23 nordic season. It was a good week in a qualitative sense, although totals were much lower.  

The highlight was getting into Huntington Ravine, as well as the spectacular views of Boot Spur, and the head wall of Tuckermans Ravine. Skiing down the Sherburne Ski Trail was a New England classic, although the lower portion was melted out. And finally, despite the rain watching my daughter put a race bib on for the USATF uphill run, at Mount Sunapee, was a treat.  Hoping to get to Huntington Ravine next year in late March or early April to climb up South Gully, down The Escape Hatch, and ski all the way out to Pinkham Notch. 

So, for the final week of my training year the totals were: just under 16.5 hours, just over 6300' vertical, and 91k (49k exercise bike, 36k run, 6k ski).  Today will be the day to total up all the data, look at last years goals, and make some goals for the 2023-24 season. 

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).