A great story, a fantastic tiny college and a wonderful video.

I bump into these Nordic skiers all season long. In late October they are doing laps on the Whiteface toll road whenever 2-3 inches of snow falls. As soon as Mount Van Hoevenberg starts making snow they are there. https://cms.fasterskier.com/2026/10/paul-smiths-dougherty-national-title/

My plan for upcoming months

In the past two days I have had good conversations with my PT guy and my surgeon, now that I am in my fifth week post-surgery. I mostly just asked them if my concept of a walk-jog-run progression, as well as my thought on volume and vertical progressions seemed realistic. With their proviso - (“don’t do anything stupid”) - they seemed to think it was manageable. Then of course, I set out alterations to include inevitable seasonal change of activities.

Another sketch of my climbing history

The North Ridge of the Grand is a fantastic route, and at the time of its first ascent (1931) probably the hardest alpine climb in America.

More thoughts about ski season

In a humorous sort of way …

More World Cup photos from my buddy Klink

It was a good week, with UCI races and continued incremental post-surgery gains. I continue to log more exercise, this week managing 13.5 hours, on 108k (96k exercise bike and 12k hike), with 900’ vertical ascent, and also several stretching and PT strength sessions.

Starting to think about ski season

Skiing has started in Ruka; in two weeks there will be tracks also in Canmore; and of course there will be tracks over Thanksgiving at Mount Van Hoevenberg. Given my new knee, I am hoping to be nordic skiing on easy terrain after Thanksgiving.

GREAT DAY at the UCI MTB WORLD CUP

I am exhausted having logged more kilometers on the new knee than I ought to!

Semi-rad’s take on the question: Did you win?

Sketching through my climbing history!

Including the ones that got away! I first saw the Matterhorn in December 1972, at the tail end of a semester off from college with Dick, vagabonding about Europe. I was smitten, and when I came back in 1978, I was an “aspiring hard man” and had just knocked off 3-4 classic ice routes, thus I vowed “I would get on the hornligrat as I descend it, from one of the sexier alternatives.” Of course, the partner I had hooked up with, had to go back to work, and I got sick. (I count that three month European climbing trip, as my longest bivy … no money for campgrounds, huts, or lifts) Thankfully, Lenny and his travelers checks nursed me back to health, and for my payback I was meant to guide him up the Matterhorn, but alas the weather was crappy. I came back in 1992 with Gary with designs on the North Face; then came back again in 2012 with Carter Rowley; in both cases we had great ski tours and some good warmup climbs, but never enough settled weather to jump on the Schmid route. So, it seems the Matterhorn will have to wait until my next reincarnation.

Swiss glaciers shrink dramatically

 https://www.aol.com/articles/swiss-glaciers-lose-more-5-230131000.html

Article about hotel at the base of the Eiger mordwand

So much drama and history surrounds the little hamlet of Kleine Schidegg where all the climbing epics have played out in front of the telescope on the porch! A quick google will bring you to the site. 

Google Adirondack Explorer to read this article

Today is four weeks post-surgery

I had another good rehab week! I logged 11:45 hours of exercise, on 88k (79k bike and 9k run), with 775’ vertical gain. I also managed a bunch of stretch, and PT work, some with weights as well as band resistance.

Good article on the proliferation and confusion of training zones

https://cms.fasterskier.com/2026/09/training-zones-zone-2-heart-rate/

BLAST FROM THE PAST: 1978 my first route in Zermatt

I had just spent a month climbing in the Lake District, Wales, and the Dolomites. I headed to Zermatt for 3-4 weeks, met a Brit (about a decade older than me) and proceeded to simul-solo a bunch of classic routes … the Triftjigrat being the first.

Excellent documentary about ultra running

https://youtu.be/MnZlcm0KZrk

UCI mountain bike World Cup back in Lake Placid

Next week the best competitive mountain bikers return to Mount Van Hoevenberg and Whiteface from October 2-4. Looking forward to be able to hike some of the course!

Adirondack Sky Center and Onservatory

I can not make a visit tonight, but it is on my “to do” list for the future.

Explore this wonderful ski mountaineering website

Just google The High Route, and enjoy poking around. Additionally, I have just finished reading their recent journal publication, as well as getting ready to download some of their podcasts.

Barn laps

Part of my rehab work, is to do two daily walks on our gravel driveway. Depending how far up or down the driveway I go, the laps tend to be 5-8 minutes long. So, yesterday on my easy walks, I covered a total of 1.5k with 125’ vertical gain, in just under 30 minutes.

Day #20 post-surgery

Well, it’s obvious that my left knee is still swollen, however it appears that the swelling is much reduced. This reduction is most notable by the ripple of individual quad muscles which are now discernible, and the tendons in my left foot which are clearly visible as well. The additions of two short “hikes” a day with my dog, and range of motion exercise biking, have clearly improved my mood. These “exercises”bring huge psychological benefits even if the physical benefits are purely incremental. Obviously, my weekly log is quite modest, with 9.5 hours, on 47 kilometers (39k bike and 7k run), and 700’ vertical gain, with many stretching and PT workouts.

Another fond Teton memory

Brought to you by chatGPT; my recent stay at the Climbers Ranch with Klink, brought back many fond memories from the 1970s and 80s.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: buck mountain

With the help of chatGPT I turned an old, blurry, Kodak picture of me bouldering in the woods into an oil painting. Memory tells me, I was guiding a group of teenagers up the East Ridge of Buck Mountain in the Tetons. (On a rest break on the approach, I did a bit of bouldering on this erratic in my vintage Nike Cortez running shoes.) The peak is a fourth class scramble, but I recall setting up two rope lengths which campers climbed with prussik self-belays.

Day #18 post-surgery

Knee flexion is up to 108 degrees, enough to do some range of motion cycling (not aerobic) on my exercise bike. A few days ago at my two week visit, I was cleared for easy walking on flat, and obviously, non-technical terrain. So, my movement world has enlarged. Until I can drive - probably another three weeks - my go to place will be laps on our gravel drive way. (Supplemented by some hiking on the roller ski track at MVH, when I can get Selden to do drop-offs.)

Underrated mountaineering films to watch



As I am spending time icing during my rehab, I am going to watch them all … the summit, the eight mountains, the wall, and the last mountain.

Day #16 post-surgery

Yesterday, I had my two week followup with Dr. Bryne. Staples are out, swelling going down, and a thumbs up from doc for easy walking laps and easy stationary bike … YAHOO. He did say, I was ahead of the curve in all departments!

NORDIC INSIGHTS posted some good new articles

Full coverage of the two important fall rollerski races in Lake Placid this past weekend, as well as an article about training advice for the over 65 year old athletes. The rollerski race coverage was particularly interesting, as it came at the end of a week long women’s camp for both nordic and biathlon team members. Google the website and check it out!

Starting this witty and engaging book

I have included a book review to give you a better sense of its scope, tone, and tenor!

Quick look at what Jessie Diggins has been up to since retirement



She has been doing quite a bit of trail running, including: finishing the Broken Arrow Triple Crown in fourth, a respectable finish in the incredibly competitive Sierre-Zinal, and yesterday winning the Superior 100 miler, finishing fifth overall. Obviously, she is still one incredibly fit gal. https://www.trailrunnermag.com/people/profiles-people/jessie-diggins-is-running-into-retirement/

Day #12 post-surgery: first outdoor adventure

Selden dropped me off at the handicap parking at Mount Van Hoevenberg, and I watched the Keys To The Castle Roller Ski race. A beautiful day, with a handful of women Olympians in the field. I logged about 2k over 45 minutes moving time … interspersed with sunning myself in a deck chair. A great mental health boost!

Fastest Know Time: teton crest trail

Anna Gibson skimo Olympian, Brooks trail runner, winner of the 2026 Broken Arrow Ascent, and multi-sport athlete, recently set the standard on this iconic trail loop.

Day #11 post-surgery

Spectacular sunset, good PT workouts, swelling continues to slowly decrease, able to help a bit with doing some dish cleanup … so feeling good!

Another pre-season snow prediction

Day #10 post surgery

As of yesterday, I pretty much ditched the walker except for excursions outside the house … so it’s hands off!

Great video about history of Thunderbolt Ski Run



https://youtu.be/CuL3eWWHFN0

New documentary about Yosemite plane crash in 1977

 https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/yosemite-weed-plane-crash-documentary/

Day #8 post-surgery and our anniversary

It was a busy day, as I started PT, Selden was getting the vet to write an antibiotic prescription for Stash, and our anniversary celebration was limited to popping the cork and raising a glass of prosecco. (However, I was pleased to see that my initial measurement was 74 degrees of flexion, and after a few exercises I measured 87 degrees.)

News from the Arctic

I have always been interested in polar exploration and mountaineering in the Arctic. The Denali Range, the Wrangells, or the Brooks Range, have long fascinated me. From Baffin Island, Greenland, onto Svalbard, Lyngen Alps, and Lofoten. This is an interesting article about how melting ice is opening a trade route through the Arctic. China has begun the first regular service, part of its polar ambitions. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/world/europe/china-arctic-shipping-trade-route.html?unlocked_article_code=1._lA.llJf.UxC22VwjBmMJ&smid=em-share

Day #7 post-surgery

Monday is typically my normal rest and recovery day. A night of poor sleep, led me to think that I needed to reduce my rehab “mileage” today, to assure myself, that I was not over doing things. So, it was a day with more icing, and time on the continuous passive movement machine. Another highlight was venturing out on the deck and having a small whiskey with Gary.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: storm point

Mark led the 5.10; it’s such a Teton classic! We did it sometime in the late 1970s - early 1980s.

Day #6 post-surgery

The bulk of my days are focused around: icing my knee, taking and organizing my meds, strapping into the machine for continuous passive movement, taking a zillion laps around the house with my walker, doing the exercises suggested at discharge, napping, and keeping buddies apprised of how I am doing. Given, that my pain management has gone well, I have often also been able to read or listen to audio books. Currently I am finishing the last 20 pages of Regime Change, knee deep into two novels (Summerland and Separation of Power), as well as reading Matterhorn Vision. When I finish that I will start to dip into a favorite collection of climbing fiction.

What this winter might bring

David Hochschartner (Hock)

Day #4 post-surgery

Pain management continues to go well, and I continue to log many laps with my walker, inside the house. Things seem to be going well, and I am more able to concentrate on reading and listening to audible books for a bit. I also daydream about getting better, and going to Chamonix and climbing on the Gaillands, as well as maybe doing Pointe Lachenal, and the Cosmique Arete again.