On my second trip to the Cordillera Blanca with Edward Kenney and Matt Hoffman, we climbed this gem. Although, Edward struggled with the altitude, later in the trip we were not able to get up Tocllaraju. After 4-5 trips to Peru, I am still hoping to go once more before I hang up my spikes.
Two very light sessions this week, but maybe I should have waited until after the Prouty. However, I do have another rest day planned for tomorrow, so I should be alright.
Cutting back on my volume so I can push the uphills on Saturday; since I am such a whimp, I’ll be riding the breaks on the downhills. (A few more pictures from our Trapp Family Lodge visit.)
Today, I helped out with Treetops Expedition: belaying, sharing stories from my time in the 1980s, and practicing placing and removing protection. A beautiful morning on Owls Head, and then an afternoon warmup with Stash and an exercise bike shakeout.
To visit with our grandkids in Vermont. It was my rest day; and looking over my log in the carI had a high volume tuneup week for the Prouty. I logged 16 hours, on 253k (246k bike and 7k run), with 3200’ vertical gain, three stretching sessions, and one strength workout.
Between my exercise bike and my MTB I logged just under 250k. Going to put in two rest days in the coming week, and cut back on the volume. The hot weather has abated, and tomorrow we are heading off to see our grand kids at Trapp Family Lodge.
Despite the extreme heat, I am logging a fair amount of cycling mileage this week. With three days left in the week, I have already hit 132k … hoping to hit 200k.
I will wear it for two weeks, with the aim of diagnosing arrhythmias and evaluating risks of heart issues in the future. Thankfully, technology has made the data collection easy and unobtrusive, with a stick on patch.
Getting over the Broken Arrow Ascent, traveling for 26 hours, adjusting time zones, and putting a persistent cough behind me, were all the key goals for the past week. That said, I logged 11 hours, on 146k (134k bike and 12k run), with 2700’ vertical gain, and three stretching sessions. On a different note, I saw this picture of Jessie Diggins on the Stairway to Heaven at the Broken Arrow … not surprisingly she was a lot faster, and more composed than I was.
In 2002, Lewy, Hock, Callie, and Mark climbed the Dana Couloir.
The lead pack of men went over the pass just 40+ minutes into the race. With unusually cool weather, no snow on the course, and a deep elite field … breaking the course record seems likely!
Planning on ten days of hiking and possibly an alpine snow climb on Pollux. (I will also test my endurance level on the Matterhorn Fitness Trail.)
Well, nobody loves a red-eye, but the older I get, the more brutal it gets. Wonderful to hug Selden, scratch the dogs, sit on the deck, looking out at our pastures, as well as Street and Nye in the distance.
A long travel day! Next up: The Prouty 50 miler, afterwards ten days in Zermatt, followed by knee surgery on August 31st.
Excellent day; stretch, hike with Mark, nice trail run, and a cruise on the bike. GREAT TRIP.
It will be sad to leave the Sierras, but delightful to be back with Selden, our dogs, and the view from the farm! As per last week, I was tapering/recovering for the Broken Arrow, so totals were modest. However, I did log just a bit over nine hours, on 72k (52k bike and 20k run), with just under 5000’ vertical, as well as five stretching sessions.
So, in the recent uphill trail races I have run in the Sierras I am four for four podiums.
I am feeling pretty decent after the Broken Arrow Ascent. I spent most of the day watching the 46k - livestream and at the finish - as well as doing some stretching, biking, and an easy jog.
With big drops into the void on both sides, scrambling, hauling on fixed lines, trying to get up a bolted ladder - the stairway to heaven - with heart rate at maximum, this race does not disappoint. The Broken Arrow is the epitome of a sky race!
The weather was perfect; it was an incredible international field, and despite being several minutes slower than 2024, I finished on the podium. The Nike livestream coverage - available of YouTube - was phenomenal.
This three day race series, brings in an international field, and hundreds of racers. The uphill race is approximately 5.5k with just over 2800’ vertical gain. A couple of years ago I did it in 1:45. Given the state of my knees, I expect to be slower, but hopefully still under two hours.
A beautiful last night on the east side with a slim crescent moon sinking behind the mountains, and Venus beaming brightly. I did an easy morning bike ride, and an easy jog for a late afternoon shakeout.
The Broken Arrow Ascent is three days away. I did a 61 minute run this morning. It included 3x5minute uphill intervals on technical terrain, with a rough accumulation of 1.2k and 500’ vertical, at a Level 4 pace. I took the descent recovery quite easily to save my knees. The remainder of the week will be short and easy shakeout jogs and cycling.
Reading, washing up, root beer floats, and emailing with wifi … probably a little stretching and easy cycling when it cools off. Tomorrow, hoping to go up to Tioga Pass, and do a little snow climbing.
Having a wonderful time in the Sierras, and the weather continues to be excellent, although a bit hot for my taste. I logged just under 13 hours, on 82k (43k bike and 39k run), with 3874’ vertical, and two stretching sessions.
Another hot day, with two trail runs, but also an unusual heart rate spike as I had two weeks ago. DISTURBING.
Camping at Crags - elevation 2168m - just off Twin Lakes outside of Bridgeport. We had a relaxed morning. I was up reading at 5:30, then some stretching, and over to the store for tea, a breakfast burrito, and some wifi. Finished the morning with biking, reading, a short warmup walk with Mark, as well as a jog to the store and back for a root beer float. (Oh, and using the solar charger for my iPhone.)
Yesterday was a long travel day, but I managed a 40 minute jog when I got to Olympic Valley, and I managed to stay up with Mark - shooting the breeze - until 9:30.
Yesterday was summery weather with clear skies and temperatures in the low 80s. Klink and I hiked up Baxter Mountain and then Owls Head in the morning. Afterwards, I packed feverishly for several hours, then dinner, goodbyes, and a drive to Albany to catch five hours of sleep at Klink’s house.
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