Another good holiday week

I logged just a bit over 14 hours, on 166k (126k bike, 31k ski, 9k run), with 2600' vertical. I also managed to do two stretching sessions, and a strength workout, but no alpine skiing

Weekend with extended family

On Friday afternoon, I hooped in the Hockmobile to drive to a dinner in Manchester, New Hampshire with 14 siblings, cousins, spouses, neice and nephews. Great dinner, and an even better dessert.

After a wonderful two hours catching up with folks, I parked the Hockmobile at a 24 hour McDonalds, spent awhile reading my Christmas books, and then "sacked out" in the van.

I used quotes because from midnight until about 2 pm - I kid you not - the local teens were racing their muscle cars on a stretch of near bye highway. It seemed like all the winners came to the McDonalds drive through windows afterwards … needless to say, none of their cars had mufflers. No sleep was had, but I did listen to "Deadman's Curve" by Jan and Dean from the sixties.

On Saturday, I was sipping tea at McDonalds at 5am. By 6am I was at a local Walmart looking for a replacement cable as my iPhone was at 3%. Between 7-8am I was picking up some post Christmas specials on ornament storage boxes that Selden had ordered. Back to McDonalds for some egg McMuffins.

The long drive home was broken up by a stop at a New Hampshire State Liquor Store, Sandy's Bookstore and Cafe, Rikert Outdoor Center, and numerous stretching stops. When I got home at 3 pm, I kissed Selden, took Stash for a 30 minute warmup hike, and jumped on the exercise bike.

Snow, wind, and Lucy heading back to Maine

No doubt when I ski today, tracks will be drifted over. Lucy did leave me a pair of touring skis with fishscales though. (She has quite a large quiver.)

Anxious these days jumping into very hilly races - like Norwegian Birkie - with race skis, so I am trying a bunch of different light touring skis, which fit into groomed tracks but offer me greater stability. THE KNEES AND THE BALANCE ARE NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE!

Waxable? Metal edges (full or partial)? Fishscale or skin tec? Waist of ski between 50-55cm.

WINTER IS BACK

Happy New Year … by Friday 5-10 inches of new snow!

Horse packing ski trip



THE WAY BACK - OFFICIAL FILM youtube.com

We have had great striding and gliding over the holidays

However, yesterday it started to get very warm, and then rain, which will continue today and tomorrow. So, the skiing will be crappy, except for the man-made competition loop and Whiteface.

The weekly total are: just over 13 hours, on 156k (110k bike and 46k ski), with 1850' of vertical gain. I also did a 5k race, two stretching sessions, and one strength workout. Given that I was on flatter terrain this week, I managed to do some good work on my double poling.

Lucy had a good week. In addition to logging lots of kilometers on her race skis; winning a local 10k skiathlon; she also toured in Avalanche Lake and did the Jackrabbit Trail from end to end.

Thankfully, by mid-week it will be snowing again.


The Devil’s Climb … spectacular

Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell bike 2600 miles, sail for a week, and then hike for another week to get to the base of the Devil's Thumb in Alaska.  Tommy is coming off two years of rehabbing a totally torn and wrecked Achilles' tendon. They don't just climb the Devil's Thumb but traversed the five peaks that surround it. Spectacular footage, and great insight into what drives these two elite athletes.

Available on: Disney, National Geo, Apple TV, Hulu, and possibly a few others. 

Skiing a section of the Jackrabbit trail by Lake Clear

Christmas additions to Hock’s Alpine Library

Great gifts from Selden, Jon and Amanda, as well as Lucy. Of course, I also got two political type books: one non-fiction (The Return Of Great Powers) and one fiction (The Flame Throwers).

Where is the snowiest place on Earth

Chile … in the southern Andes!

Can you guess the snowiest place on Earth? washingtonpost.com

Merry Christmas

A beautiful day: nice giving of gifts; a wonderful feast of roasted ham and pecan pie for dessert, and of course a short ski (my 30th day) tucked in there as well.

My most memorable ski ascent and descent … done with Gary in 1992

Part 1 of 3

My most memorable ski ascent and descent … done with Gary in 1992

Part 2 of 3

My most memorable ski ascent and descent … done with Gary in 1992

Part 3 of 3

Cold snap continues …

However, today the high temperature will be 21 degrees. Despite the rain earlier in the week, it was a good week of skiing.

I logged 16.5 hours, with 140k (112k bike and 28k ski), and 1,225' vertical.  I did three mornings of alpine skiing, two PT stretching sessions, and one strength workout. 

First below zero temperatures of the season

It's a couple of degrees colder out here on the farm, and the high temperature will be +2 degrees.

Another lunch with a college buddy

Stegs … fraternity brother and one of my first steady climbing partners.

Lucy’s home, we trimmed the tree, and temperatures have dropped below freezing!

Another good morning skiing at Whiteface, before the mountain gets jammed over the holidays.

Rain has stopped, temperatures above freezing

But, skiing at Whiteface this morning was pretty nice. Late this afternoon, temperatures dropped below freezing, and flurries began. Just an inch or so forecasted, although it will feel like winter again.

A good morning skiing at Whiteface

However, yesterday the temperature rose all day into the 40s. This morning it's 43 degrees and it will not drop below freezing until midnight. After that temperatures will hover above and below freezing for most of the day before dropping steadily, heading into Thursday … so I am not a happy camper!

Of course all is not lost, as I can ride lifts or ski the 2.5k hamster wheel (manmade snow) at MVH.

The week in review

The main story was the big 30 hour thaw and rain, which curtailed snowmaking, and quashed our superb conditions. Some flurries at the end of the rain storm were a bit of a consolation. So, our conditions are not as prime-time as Craftsbury, but we still have skiable snow (rock skis) in multiple places.

I logged 15 hours, on 134k (110k bike, 20k ski, and 4k run), with 2,250'. I rode lifts at Whiteface for two mornings and did two PT stretch sessions.

Wonderful lunch with college buddies in Clifton Park



A good day of skiing at Scott’s Cobble

Superb American Alpine Club Podcast … kilian jornet

Available were every you get your podcasts.

Blustery morning at Whiteface

Yesterday brought day-long flurries, windblown snow, and the occasional whiteout; however there was some good powder to ski.

Also, every now and then, there was a clearing and I was able to grab this picture of Bear's Den.

20th day on snow

However, I checked on my blog, and by December 8, 2023 I had already hit my 30th day on snow. I only managed that because I spent a week in late May, and early June, skiing in the Sierras. (As per most other retirement years, this year is squarely on track.)

After yesterday's rain, as we went to bed last night it started to snow, and we picked up 2-3 inches, with flurries continuing today. I will spend the morning at Whiteface and the afternoon at Mount Van Hoevenberg.m

2024 NOAA ARCTIC REPORT CARD

At the link below, you can read a summary, print out the full report from a PDF file, or watch a great video summary. Either way you look at it, climate change is happening ever faster, in this critically important part of the globe.

https://arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/

Just found this cool podcast

This podcast mostly covers sub-ultra mountain running, however he also has a healthy side order of Skimo.

In the past couple of months he has had U.S.Skimo team members and multi-sport athletes David Sinclair and Cam Smith on his show. He has interviewed Slovenian Skimo racer Rea Kobl. Also, there have been multiple episodes by Hagan - Skimo company - about gear.

Atmospheric river is headed our way

However, today the skiing was awesome at Whiteface.

Every so often Strava entices me to upgrade

Seems like every month on some random day, they give me a snapshot of the data I would have if I upgraded. I have resisted thus far, but I must admit it's tempting.

Anyway … seems like I had a good November.

Mount Van Hoevenberg finally opened this past weekend.

They have 2k with a deep base of man-made snow, which has been meticulously groomed and tracked, as well as 40k which has been rolled.

It was a good week for exercise, with below freezing temperatures, and almost continual flurries. I logged almost 17 hours, on 153k (112k bike and 41k ski), with 2,250' vertical. I also alpine skied at Whiteface, did four PT stretching sessions, as well as one strength workout.

New innovative ski development

Key concepts: 1) Completely recyclable, easier to manufacture, and a lower energy footprint. Of course, no idea if niche products like nordic or backcountry skis are in the pipeline. Also, no idea of what the eventual price point will be.

https://www.wired.com/story/the-worlds-first-ever-all-aluminum-skis-have-arrived/?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIR_Backchannel_112924&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&utm_content=WIR_Backchannel_112924&bxid=5cc9e1d13f92a477a0e91062&cndid=50856636&hasha=6198c0660e1ecd8a9ea08421374cb0d3&hashb=c95623bb46171b59573e9f8a7bd0ad5e4571a909&hashc=86bf94b5bfbe63d58552888eab4341e98e3a1503133c77c01bd9649801b08541&esrc=sign-up-page&utm_term=WIR_Backchannel

Got my season pass to 12 ski areas …

But, you have to earn those turns!

Holiday book suggestions from the sweat science guy

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/2024-sweat-science-holiday-books/

Getting a little more snow every day

The skiing at Scott's Cobble Nordic Center has been pretty good. Tonight the projection is from 1-8 inches of snow in the winter advisory, which suggest they don't have a clue.

That said, I am well over a 100k of nordic skiing, a milestone which suggests I am well adjusted, and can start specific training in earnest.

Case study: small struggling ski areas becoming non-profits

Wonderful video by Teton Gravity Research

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1VbO4ZXTM4o

First South American Country To Lose All It’s Glaciers

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aFDi81KyK3Q&t=164s&pp=2AGkAZACAQ%3D%3D

The Ray Jardine story





https://www.backpacker.com/stories/people/profiles/ray-jardine-ultralight-backpacking-profile/

A full week on snow

The first full week of the season, and despite all the snow being made at Whiteface and MVH, all the workouts were on natural snow. As you can see from the enclosed screen shot … it seems like winter has come to the Adirondacks.

So, this past week I logged 14:42, on 152k (110k bike, 40k ski, and 2k run), with 3200' vertical. Yikes … no stretching or strength!

Diggins ends first Weekend taking a win in the 20k

Three days of racing in Ruka saw lots of highs and lows. Saturday being a very disappointing day, with none of the American men making the classic heats, and only Jessie (27th) and Rosie (28th) able to make the quarter-finals, but unable to advance.

On the previous day in the classic 10k there were bright moments with Jessie finishing 7th, Rosie (9th), and Sophia (17th). For the men, the bright moments were Gus finishing 18th, Ben (29th), and Zander (30th).  

However, it was the final day with the mass start races, where the magic happened: Jessie taking the win dropping Johaug, Weng, and Sundling, with Sophia taking tenth, and for the men Zander grabbing seventh and Gus eighth.  Now it's on to Lillehammer.

Skiing the 81 highest peaks in New York State



Brothers make history skiing 81 mountains in Adirondacks, Catskills adirondackexplorer.org

Starting to feel like winter

The ground is covered in white. Next week the temperatures are consistently cold. There is enough snow for Scott's Cobble and MVH to roll some trails; Whiteface is open although not top to bottom. Moreover, I have enough days on snow to start planning which projects I might do this winter.

HIGH ON THE LIST: return to Mount Washington, tour into Avalanche Lake and the round trip to Rock and River, do a couple of skimo races, use my uphill pass at various resorts, go to Norway and ski the Birkie, and ski at least two ADK Tour du Ski events.

Mount Van Hoevenberg … no idea when they will open

BUT, they are finally making snow.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Among many things to be thankful for: Selden, Jon and Lucy, my family, my grandchildren, our farm, the wonderful Adirondacks where we live, Stash and Phoebe, my fossil buddies, as well as snow to ski on.

Today was my tenth day on snow this season … yahoo!

Still skiing on the toll road

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and it will be my tenth day on snow. With Lucy gone, and Jon's family unable to travel, it will be a quiet - and a little bit lonely - Thanksgiving day.

Back in my youth, I always looked forward to the massive amounts of football you could watch on TV on this holiday weekend. Others look forward to Black Friday sales. But with the advent of live streaming in the past decade, I look forward to the start of the nordic and biathlon World Cups.

Something else to brighten up the day is the three inches of new snow forecast for Thanksgiving, and the opening of Mount Hoevenberg on Friday for cross country skiing.

Continuous Lacate Monitoring … the holy grail for cycling

But will it also be useful for elite ultra and mountain trail runners?

https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-training/continuous-lactate-monitors-are-poised-to-reshape-pro-cycling-the-most-important-revolution-since-heart-rate-monitors/

Yahoo … back on snow

Plenty of snow on the Whiteface toll road, which given colder temperatures this week, should stick around for a long time.

It was a good week of training, and I logged 15.5 hours, on 132k (95k bike, 21k ski, 16k run), with 5100'. This also includes two PT stretching sessions, and one strength workout.

Kilian Jornet website … excellent resource for alpine climbing, skimo, and mountain running

https://mtnath.com/