A new extreme ski line on Mount Cook

https://www.skimag.com/adventure/first-ski-descent-mount-cook-new-zealand/

2024-25 adk Tour de Ski schedule

A good week despite election anxiety

Ski-able snow on Monday, and a dusting of snow at weeks end. I logged 16:40, on 159k (122k bike, 30k run, and 7k ski), with 4325' vertical. I had my fourth day on snow, and did two strength sessions, and two good stretches.

Another thought on the aging athlete

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/declining-muscle-power/

The ski mountaineer running for the Senate

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/caroline-gleich-senate/?utm_term=ool&utm_campaign=ool-longreads&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--jaw9WfxkOEUB0MzOlBHGKvt9qs0E5r32g1tvr4E4vuNbNz_Cb4SasOjY3qIxD2NsGfNeUarSjWE_mVU2e5SCXM7n15g&_hsmi=331854297&utm_source=newsletter

Endurance performance and aging

It's going to take me awhile to digest this, but of course the bottom line is obvious … performance declines!

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2375571/

Looks like Quebec might be good for a November 8-10th trip

I am going to keep my eye on Foret and Mont St. Anne, and maybe gas up the Hockmobile for an adventure. 

A good reminder for all FOSSILS

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/27/opinion/body-muscles-40s-aging.html

Yesterday was day four on snow



A good week, with a little bit of everything

The spectacular fall weather continued, and I logged just under 15 hours, on 136k (113k bike and 23k run), with 3250' vertical. I also did two hours of alpine turns, a great mountain bike ride, a good strength session, as well as some stretching. Great to visit Harry, also great to chat with college buddies on our monthly zoom.

And, I woke up to some snow, so I am leaving in another 40 minutes - when the sun rises - to check out the toll road.

Hard frost in the morning, sunny but chilly days

Great fall weather continues.

Away for two days …

But, now I am back trail running in the 'dacks. It's deer hunting season, so dressing accordingly and picking trails wisely.

Day 2: downstate in the Catskills

A great MTB ride in Minnewaska State Park with Harry; and perhaps even more exciting was the cheesecake his girlfriend baked!

Start to scout signs of snow for drive-able early ski trip

Heck, Lab City and the Menihek Ski trails are only 16 hours away!

Third day on snow this season

Of course, I was not skiing the terrain park!

Another good trail run with Stash

The good weather continues, and today I am heading down to see an old college buddy. The trip will also include downhill skiing at Big Snow, the only indoor, all year-round ski area in America. My trip will also include some mountain biking in the Catskills.

Sorry to say … not much snow in the near future.

Looks like and inch or two might happen just before the election, but probably not enough to ski on the toll road.

Anton Krupicka and the FKT on the LA Freeway

The LA Freeway, stands for the 34 mile ridge line, including 24 peaks, that extends from Longs Peak to Arapahoe Peak.  Anton Krupicka was a brilliant ultra-marathoner from roughly 2007-2015.  A significant Achilles injury was the impetus for him to branch out and become the multi-sport athlete he is today. He uses rock climbing, skis, and multi-day adventure bike packing trips to tie together various "adventure runs" while in the mountains. This fall he got a couple of "golden tickets" for his second place finish at the Grindstone 100 miler.  He anticipates that he will do either the Hardrock 100 or make a return to the UTMB 100 miler next summer.

This is a great "How to do look" at the LA Freeway route.

https://www.lasportivausa.com/blog/la-freeway-fkt-anton-krupicka/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADohTkpa7JCtMdLHXkya_UkIp-T_I&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmt24BhDPARIsAJFYKk2TUW2bu6kQfcukXwQiOp2GMVpP0kZ7BboCsFFj2HIxc9OCJAid4IsaAij2EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

A great week in the ‘dacks

You can't ask for much more: skiing, great trail runs, good strength sessions, and some glorious weather. As for the stats, I logged just under 16 hours, on 141k (105k bike, 22k run, and 14k ski), with 4750' vertical. I also managed two strength sessions, as well as some yoga.

Extending ultra-running and FKT efforts into the mountains

On some level alpinists, rock climbers, and mountaineers have always been interested in speed … the "Nose" in a day, some nordwand in a day, or an 8000m peak in a day! Well now we are talking about the Nose and North Face of the Matterhorn in under two hours, and Manaslu in under ten hours!  

Not sure how I feel about it - these guys have impressive engines - but I know these type of challenges are not going away, anytime soon. So, an interview well worth reading.

https://www.irunfar.com/tyler-andrews-manaslu-speed-record-himalayas-2024-interview

Another good trail run

Another hard frost this morning, as the overnight low was 22 degrees. By 10:30 am the temperature had risen to 50 degrees and Stash and I went for a run at Mount Van Hoevenberg, on the East Mountain trail.

Running a few hill intervals at Whiteface

A nice workout which included two level 4 repeats, each at 6:30 minutes. After the warmup and cool down, the workout logged 5k, 750', in 68 minutes.

Look for it!

This comet won't be back for another 80,000 years.

Frost on the pasture, moon setting, and a dusting of snow

Second ski tour of the season

Snow season has started!

First day on snow, skiing up the whiteface toll road.

Thanks again to Lucy!

Here she is running by the Fossil Cabin, and out to the 1980 Olympic trails with Stash. Selden and I could never have managed the Chamonix adventure, without her taking care of the farm.

As for my training, another good week despite the travel, the jet lag, and the lack of sleep. I logged just over 14 hours on 117k (81k bike and 36k run), with 2050' vertical.

Another Patagonia running vest option



The other option is much smaller, and would be a perfect replacement for my current running vest … perfect for a 1-2-3 hour trip.  Whereas the 18 liter (previous post) would have a wider range: alpine climbing, ski touring, and adventure runs. 

Patagonia® Slope Runner Endurance Vest youtube.com

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KgvMxaBJM-4

Thinking about a new running vest/pack

My first generation 5-6 year old Salomon running vest is showing its age. Thinking about this item ….

Use the link to read a review. 

https://alpsinsight.com/stories/patagonia-sloperunner-exploration-pack/

Home running trails with Stash

Thanks to Lucy for making it possible for mom and dad to have an adventure, to celebrate their 40th. Lucy took care of the sheep, chickens, geese, and our dogs; additionally she took Stash on some nice long runs.

New remains found on Everest of “Sandy” Andrew Irvine

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/sandy-irvine-body-found-everest

Excellent book about running into your 70s an 80s

Seems to only be available in England and various European countries, so I bought a copy in Cham. A long time fell runner, working through what is going on with his body as he approaches 70.

Lots of science research cited, but it's written for the lay person, with enough information for the curious to get to the clinical data.

I was hooked by his back of book blurb, " Welcome to the uphill struggle of going downhill."

Heading for home

We get picked up at 6:45am, and our Geneva flight takes off at 11am. The picture is from yesterday is of the Argentiere terminal moraine, with the snout of the glacier just barely visible. As with the other local glaciers there has been a substantial retreat in the past 100 years.

We had a great trip, and a wonderful 40th anniversary.

Last workout in Cham

After lunch with Selden and a nap, she went to the hot tub and I went for a workout. I ran 2.5k to Gaillands, bouldered for 45 minutes, ran back to the hotel, and then took a sauna.

A great day, a great trip, and early wake up, and hoping the hurricane does not play havoc with Dulles airport traffic.

Back in Chamonix

We did some grocery shopping for our last day in France, and I was checking out new running vests.

Next stop in Argentiere

Was the cemetary, among the gravestones - old and new - were a memorial to guides who have died in the mountains, and a memorial to local men that died in WW II.

Exploring in Argentiere

We spent the morning walking around this tiny town, and our first stop was their small, but ornate church.

A rainy day in Chamonix

So, I thought I would trot out some pictures from some of our more photogenic moments.

However, it was a good day: caught up on reading election news, did some easy stretching and strength work, went to the steam room, had a nice run on the Promenade d'Arve, and had a wonderful dinner with Selden.

Another easy bouldering session at Gaillands

The rock was wet from a bit of rain last evening, so I stayed in my approach shoes, and did not go too far off the deck.

The jog out was on the first couple of kilometers of the UTMB race.

Continuing to have a great time in Chamonix

Aside from Saturday, it has often been cloudy with an occasional drizzle. However, most every day we have seen some clearing, allowing us to soak up views of these tremendous peaks.

This picture of the Aiguille Rouge - taken from Montenvers - brings back fond memories of my 2008 trip. In this range, Larry and I climbed routes on the Index, Gliere, and Crochues.

On a different note, despite some jet lag, as well as the long travel and packing days, I was still able to have a good training week. I logged just under 13 hours, on 82k (44k run, 38k bike), with 3,325' vertical. I also managed to get in my first bouldering session of the season.

October 6: Sunday in Chamonix

This morning I did an easy hike - out and back - to Lac Gaillands, and then spent about 45 minutes bouldering at the crag there.  The afternoon was spent reading, sitting in the hot tub with Selden, and then another hike to La Pierre a Ruskin.

John Ruskin (8 February 1819 – 20 January 1900) was an English writer, philosopher, art historian, art critic and polymath of the Victorian era. He wrote on subjects as varied as geology, architecture, myth, ornithology, literature, education, botany and political economy.

He spent a great deal of time in Chamonix, and this rock was a place where he used to sit, think, paint, and gaze at the Mont Blanc massif. 

A beautiful sunny day in Chamonix

We took the 11:30 cog railway to Montenvers, at the tail end of the Mer de Glace. Selden and I spent two hours, absorbing the views, digesting the historical and glacial exhibits, and then had a light lunch.  By 3:30 pm I was out on the trails enjoying some more amazing views.

From Montenvers the views of the Dru, Grandes Jorasses, and Aiguilles Rouges are spectacular. Immediately behind Selden is what is left of the Bonatti Pillar, after the recent major rockfalls. The link connects to a wonderful historic piece on this 1955 route, both before and after the rockfall. 

IN FOCUS: The Ghost of Bonatti - A Brief History of the Petit Dru Rock Scar ukclimbing.com

Chamonix trail run

In addition to a nice walk and dinner with Selden, I did a trail run on the Petit Balcon Sud. I started up the very steep first kilometer, just as clouds were lifting to unveil the Bossons Glacier.

More about the Chamonix Guide fresco

From left to right: Louis Lachenal, Lionel Terray, Roger Frison-Roche, Rene Claret-Tournier, Armand Charlet, and below the balcony – Gaston Rebuffat.

The Oldest Guiding Company in the world

The company was started in 1821, and there is a wonderful mural in the center of town - near Snell's Sports - which has full scale paintings of the most famous guides.

The bottom mural, are of the earliest guides, from left to right … From Lt: Edouard Cupelin, Francois Devouassoud, Joseph Ravanel, Michel Payot, and Michel Croz.

Maison de la Montagne

Selden jumped in to make a rope of three, with this mural of a guide leading a client on the Mer de Glacé during the 1800s.

My fav … Snell’s Sports

The first of four floors!

Pretty tired but glad to be in Geneva

Waiting for our shuttle to Chamonix … yahoo!