Fitness in old age

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/01/16/fitness-aging-richard-morgan/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most

The Definitive Ranking of the Best and Worst Snow Conditions

https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/opinion/the-definitive-ranking-of-the-best-and-worst-snow-conditions/?utm_source=outside&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=onsiteshare

What is the minimal amount of strength training you can get away with?

Because, to borrow from the Robert Frost poem, "I have kilometers to go (run or ski) before I sleep."

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/minimum-strength-training/

Well the 8-12 inches never appeared …

However, I imagine the Tug Hill Plateau, on the western - lake effect - side of the Adirondacks got plastered. 

That said it was a good week, with lots of skiing on all types of conditions.  I managed to log 14.5 hours, on 133k (105k bike, 28k ski), and just under 3000' vertical.  I also spent two mornings alpine skiing on skimo gear, and also managed two strength sessions, and another yoga session. 

Yesterday’s slushy Scott’s Cobble tour



Hock’s mountaineering, skiing, and trail running books

My personal library, has a new customized book stamp.

Suspecting that my children and grandchildren will not want anything more than a few choice pieces from my alpine library, I imagine I will eventually give my library away. After all, do I really want to leave it all behind when I pass away, and give my children the chore of what to do with 60 boxes of books!

So, in coming years books will go to friends for birthday and Christmas presents. While select portions of the collection will go to North Country School, Camp Treetops, the Keene Valley Library, ADK Welcome Center, Union College Library, and the American Alpine Club Library.

Yesterday was my 50th day on snow since June 1

The future of snowfall in the northern hemisphere

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/10/climate/climate-change-snowpack-decline.html

A Wilmington Surprise

The "banana belt" of our region is the area around Wilmington. As it is east of the high peaks region it often is snowless when Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and our home are fully covered. However, in the recent storm - which for us produced huge rain - it covered the town, and the Whiteface Toll Road with a nice blanket of snow.

So, checking out the toll road yesterday I was delighted and surprised to find full coverage and pretty good skiing.

Another big storm turns from snow into mostly intense rain

I gave this neat old book - vintage late 1960s - to a couple of different buddies as Christmas presents.  Now, I find myself re-reading this book on the Internet Archive; 

perusing websites; and dreaming of a return to the alps. 

Selden and I already have exciting plans to be in Chamonix this fall, celebrating our 40th anniversary.  My current dilemma: Should I do a ski mountaineering trip to the Alps this winter (Lech or Andorra), or a spring skiing and hiking trip in the Sierras or Cascades? 

Not the big storm we expected

But, five inches on top of the two we already had, is better than nothing. Ski toured with Stash on the 1980 biathlon trails.

On a related note, last week I logged just over 13 hours, on 117k (80k bike, 25k ski, and 12k run), and just over 3000' vertical. I also managed one morning of alpine skiing, two strength sessions, and a single yoga session.

Another big day for American nordic skiers

Sophia Laukli won the final Tour de Ski stage - the climb up the Alpe Cermis - while Jessie Diggins won the overall TdS, and continues to lead the season long race for the Crystal Globe.

https://fasterskier.com/2024/01/diggins-wins-tour-de-ski-as-laukli-soars-up-alpe-cermis/

Back riding lifts at Whiteface

Now that the holiday crowds have dispersed, I spent the morning riding the new lift - Notch - taking you directly to the mid-station. A fine morning with temperature in the 20s and three inches of new snow on top of the piste.

Hiking in Rochester Vermont with college buddies

Happy and Healthy New Year

The Magician’s Glass by Ed Douglas

One of my Christmas presents from Selden was this collection of interesting mountaineering essays. Who could resist after reading this blurb from British climber Andy Kirkpatrick: "A man with a mind like the teeth of a brand new ice-screw. Ed's words are never dull."

On a different note, I have finally put Covid behind me, and the past few days, I have even been able to approach my regular volume. That said, the overall volume for the past week was still low: logging 10 hours, a bit over 3500', 87k (49k bike, 33k ski, 5k run), as well as two strength, and one stretching session.

Hoping for a healthy 2024.

The return of winter

After a two week thaw - with rain and quite warm temps - we got a dusting of snow and normal temperatures in the teens.

Another breakthrough for American men’s nordic team

https://fasterskier.com/2023/12/ogdens-first-podium-third-in-tour-de-ski-sprint/

Tour de Ski starts tomorrow at 8:30 eastern

Watch the freestyle sprints on Ski And Snowboard Live.

https://youtu.be/1dB4U0qvVew?si=xbwBmm2GA5G2p-Pb

40th day on snow

Since June 1st I have nordic, backcountry, or alpine skied for 40 days.

Tune in to Ski and Snowboard Live tomorrow for a freebie

Rebounding after the Covid Rebound

Despite unseasonably warm temperatures yesterday, I had my first ski since Saturday. The fever, and nasal congestion, as well as the washed-out feeling of the past two days have all abated.

Another look at Killian’s training year

A peek at Killian Jornet’s end of year training log

Pretty impressive, and a pretty diversified multi-mountain sports athlete.

Merry Christmas

A brief lull, before opening presents. The big present for me was Covid Rebound … yuck!

Getting ready for Christmas

Covid has squashed much of our holiday spirit and traditions. However, with N95 masks on The Crèche came out, in front of our oil painting of the NCS sugar house, Stash snoozed, and Lucy put the last ornaments on a tree, from our back 20 acres.

Great Ski Touring Video

https://youtu.be/qnIbv6TTxOM?si=cUrqWgFh1CoXV5Bv

Post-Covid and easing back into skiing

Yesterday morning was riding lifts at Whiteface, and skiing easy terrain.  Today, I skied laps on the World Cup trails for 50 minutes.

A nordic, alpine, and snowboard update on a great World Cup week



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSxqtlw3jfw

Getting excited about skimo racing season



 https://youtu.be/YTjfyOnOpYg?si=UCebzqw4xT37f4ie

The Demise Of The SkiBum

https://writersontherange.org/ski-bum-culture-hits-reality/

The week started on a high note and ended quite poorly

From the first big snow storm, to a few days of great skiing, onto Covid, and ending with a Sunday/Monday massive rain. Thankfully, the drug paxlovid quickly mitigated the "I was run over by a truck" feeling of Covid. However, it's obvious that exercise last week, and this week, will be severely curtailed.

That said, I still managed just under 11 hours of exercise, on 91k (75k bike and 16k ski), with 1000' vertical. Additionally, I did a morning of alpine skiing, one easy strength session, and four yoga sessions (mostly PT related).

Mürren Inferno

The largest and toughest, amateur downhill ski race!  Excellent article from OUTSIDE.

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/snow-sports/inferno-ski-race-switzerland/?_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ZKpdv0iTHivGTUPnwvz6eo0wr5f8fYjYFw46SDiWPRK_gO0asGH_QBuQBnt3ae625cntQVqurCUpYis57a0Qs4Pjipg&utm_medium=email&utm_term=ool&utm_content=20231215&_hsmi=286593525&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=long%20reads

Importance of weight training for octogenarians

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/02/20/aging-weight-training-health/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F392d33d%2F63f3a8811b79c61f879e3037%2F5f257dce9bbc0f3a78f16f54%2F44%2F72%2F63f3a8811b79c61f879e3037&wp_cu=0f088327ad99ed2801a3ae9e64df18fe%7CABD2A91CBFD21DADE0530100007FA15B

Holiday gift book suggestions from the sweat science guy

https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/books-media/2023-sweat-science-holiday-book-list/

A few great nordic ski days

Including yesterday morning when I took out my fat AT gear and spent almost 50 minutes skiing in a solid track to the 1980 biathlon trails. Then in the afternoon, I classic skied for another 50 minutes on much lighter gear.

Of course, then last night I caught some kind of bug, and am feeling quite awful. So, no PT today, no race for me tomorrow, no High Peaks Cyclery holiday party, no skiing on the toll road with Gary, and no AT demo clinic this weekend.

Hard to imagine … Mark Ewing turns 75

Just 35 years ago he had these celebratory hats made up for his climbing buddies!

A wonderful morning at Whiteface

Making turns with Skimo gear.

First big storm of the winter

We got just under 12 inches. 

Americans continue to be on a nordic World Cup roll

Both women and men continue to have a good day in the 10k skate race on Sunday in Sweden. The women placed three in the top ten, and another - Julia Kern - scored World Cup points finishing in the top 30.  In the men's race we placed three young athletes in the top 30 scoring World Cup points. 

On a different note, we got our first good snowstorm of the season, with 6-7 inches this morning, and another 2-3 coming by the afternoon.  As for me, last week I logged 15 training hours, on 121k (83k bike, 27k ski, 11k fun), and 3675' vertical. I also had two mornings of alpine skiing, two PT/strength sessions, and the equivalent of three yoga sessions doing PT stretches. 

https://nordicinsights.news/2023/12/10/jessie-diggins-continues-mastery-of-10km-skate-with-win-in-ostersund-rosie-brennan-5th-sophia-laukli-8th/

An amazing day of racing at the World Cup sprints

Swedish women dominated. Klaebo is back on form, and distanced the field. However, Rosie and Jessie finished fourth and fifth, but the big surprise was JC finishing third and Ben fourth.  To see these young 24 year olds, going toe-to-toe with the top dogs from Norway was pretty incredible.

https://fasterskier.com/2023/12/great-day-for-usa-schoonmaker-podiums-in-classic-sprint-ogden-fourth/

Not excited about this weekend thaw and rain, BUT …

Forecast looks exciting for Monday!

30th day on snow since June 1, 2023

I have never been but would love to ski Sun Valley

Reading this interesting - name dropping book - about the first three decades of this famous resort. It is available to borrow for free on the Internet Archive.

Mount Van Hoevenberg getting their act together

Grooming was top notch today. They opened up the World Cup sprint course, so three nice hills; they had other terrain available but they were blowing snow on it, so I stayed away.

One of my best routes … sentinelle rouge

The history behind the first ascents on the Brenva Face and the feud that ensued.  An article from the 2014 edition of the British Alpine Journal.

http://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_2014_files/AJ%202014%20221-230%20Foster%20Jones%20Brenva.pdf

Snow picture seems grim, however …

There was just enough snow for me to have 18 ski days since November 1st.  

The expected overnight storm did not materialize, however I believe the toll road is still skiable, Whiteface is open, and Mount Van Hoevenberg has a 1k loop as well. So, I will be able to ski, until we finally get a real storm.  (Moreover, parts of northern Vermont and New Hampshire have done better … I may visit the Jay Peak golf course again, and word is that the Sherburne Ski Trail is open.)

As for the training log, I managed just under 15 hours, 2100' vertical, and 137k (113k bike, 18k ski, 6k run). Pretty modest, but in addition to three nordic sessions, I added my first two alpine ski sessions, as well as adding two PT sessions and daily ZPT followup. So, it seemed like a pretty full week to me. 

Reading a variety of skiing literature

Helping to get me through the late October/November seasonal transition, I have read (and re-read) a variety of ski favorites: The Story Of Skiing, A Medal Of Honor, Sun Valley: a biography, The God Of Skiing, The Downhill Racers, Wild Snow, Presidential Skiing, as well as the delightful volume pictured below. Of course, I have also dipped into Chouinard's Climbing Ice.

North Face Of Jannu Climbed Alpine Style

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/01/us/climbing-jannu-north-face.html

Courtney Dauwalter

https://www.outsideonline.com/running/news/people/courtney-dauwalter/?_hsmi=284879197&utm_term=ool&utm_campaign=long%20reads&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_vrWCOZ3uMLt2U2142O5M8zlSB4ZvW2UlbaYr1sPhNoP-XzyjjLwCFEtg75LU4Z6ZYBy49Xd4PVA0N-enJXDJFeiXHLw