Adirondack Sky Center

I couldn’t make it last night. I have never been, but it’s on my hit list for this summer!

A fond memory from my first alpine climbing trip

In late July of 1978 I was camped on a pasture high above Zermatt. After a long approach and climb of the Triftigrat on the Breithorn, I was begrudging the final hike to my bivy site. But, then I saw this sight, a grandma lugging a huge load over to the hayrick, and realized that maybe I was a wimp!

I found this while perusing The Alps on Anna’s Archive, published in 1904, described by Sir Martin Conway and painted by A.D. McCormick.

Needless to say, you don’t see this type of scene anymore … alpine pastures are still grazed, but small tractors working on ski trails take the back-breaking work out of the task.

Knee injections June 5th … YAHOO!

Despite significant knee pain, and an increase in daily ibuprofen consummation, I had a good week of training. I logged 15 hours, on 151 kilometers (124 k bike, 23k run, 4k row), with 4225’ vertical gain, as well as two strength and stretching sessions. Starting to use my burly mountaineering boots for some sessions to be sure I won’t get blisters in the Sierras.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: tour ronde

In the winter of 1979, after a couple of wonderful climbs in Scotland, Jonathan Waterman and I got fed up with days of torrential rain and made an epic train journey to Chamonix.

Not having planned on the alps, we were under equipped - no skis or snowshoes and no heavy duty winter sleeping bags - which meant floundering in deep snow and cold night bivies in cable car stations, at well over 12,000’.

However, after lowering Waterman off the crux pitch from a Mjolnar ice tool (he had a broken crampon) I managed to lead us to the top. The route is direct and goes right through the black ice in the narrow part of the hourglass.

Nice hike up Mount Van Hoevenberg

Klink - a college buddy - came up from Saratoga to stretch his legs and chat about a trip to Switzerland. Clouds were moving in, but he got some nice pictures. Fond memories of climbs on the north face of Gothics.

Black flies are out and about!

Selden dressed to work in the garden.

Selden set up our deck for the summer …

And, we were treated to a delightful sunset.

Re-reading Starlight And Storm

Gaston Rebuffat’s account of his six climbs of the classic north faces of the alps. Poetic, and full of delightful black and white photos; this is a treasure of mountaineering literature. I have passed my copy along to a good buddy. But, I have downloaded a PDF from an online library … Google Anna’s Archive.

A good week of training

I logged 13.5 hours, on 133k (105k bike and 28k run), over 4500’ vertical, and one solid strength session at the gym. I also started to tune into getting ready for some climbing: checking harness, getting a pass to the bouldering gym, and doing an itty-bitty hike in my mountaineering boots.

David Hochschartner (Hock)

Skiing History

A shout-out to another great issue from the International Skiing History Association. In particular, the articles on Mount Van Hoevenberg (my home ski area), and the British Columbia Powder Highway were superb. A great rag, that published six times a year, and keeps the history alive!

Murder In The Alps

A quick read which is well written. A cozy mystery, set in St. Moritz, during the post World War I era, when winter sports were starting to take off.

BLAST FROM THE PAST … Refugio Teodulo

Back in the winter of 1991, a much simpler and rustic hut was perched on this col at an elevation of 3,317 meters. As per law and custom, boarded up huts, had an open and unheated “winter room” accessible by ladder to the second floor. Ben and Susie, as well as Gary and I camped there for a week. During that time we skied and climbed the Breithorn, Pollux, Shreckhorn, and Monte Rosa.

A great resource for outdoor books!

Google “Mountaineer Bookstore” … in addition to 20% off you have helped raise money for local libraries.

Thinking of these routes for late summer in Zermatt

Getting ready for climbing season

Yesterday, I checked out my choucas light climbing harness (85 grams … Google this sweet item), made sure my daisy chain, ATC, and requisite locking biners were all accounted for. Today, I popped into High Peaks Cyclery and got a three month membership to their bouldering gym.

Slower than expected but good recovery from my first race

The log is more modest than I wanted, BUT still solid for the first full week of training, in the new season. I logged 12:30 hours of exercise, on 137k (111k bike, 24k run, and 2k row), with just under 3500’ of vertical gain. However, only one stretching and strength session.

Back for a college reunion

A beautiful day, and a wonderful time reconnecting with buddies. In the early afternoon, we headed up to have a beer at the parking lot, where our DPhi used to be. We met a trio of DPhi brothers - back for their 35th - doing the same thing!

Lucy’s Ski Fleet parked at our house!

So, I need to cart it all down to the cabin or the bunkhouse. Of course, she has her best boards back in Maine where she lives.

This marks the official end of my ski season

Well, Killington and Jay are closing this weekend, and of course, there is still Tuckermans Ravine. However, given the poor winter out west, I have decided not to take skis to the Sierras on my upcoming trip, in three weeks. So, this officially is the end of my 2025-26 ski season.

I have cleaned and waxed ski bases, as well as moving them in to storage at the Fossil Cabin. Today I moved ski boots to the basement, as well as taking skins, corks, scrappers, and waxes downstairs.

I am getting this book for my grandkids

A fun story, with nice illustrations, about a Saint Bernard puppy named Hugo set in the Swiss Alps, training to be a rescue dog. Google it to find a bookseller.

Shooting the breeze with Gary about what to climb in our 70s

Also drinking a little whiskey!

Post Race Thoughts

Well, maybe it was rash to be racing so early in the season! The left knee is still creakier than usual. The heel blister is no fun; I never even felt it during the race, as my left knee hurt so much. And despite keeping my pace at a reasonable level - 120 to 130bpm - I really didn’t log enough kilometers in April to be racing. Then of course there is the obvious: the older you get the more judicious you need to be in metaphorically putting yourself on the line.

Good start to the new training year

The log was modest; but it was good to do one good interval session, jump into an early season race, do some strength and stretching, as well as some climbing prep fitting crampons to mountaineering boots for my upcoming Sierra trip. As far as the regular metrics: I logged 10 hours, on 83k (58k bike and 25k run), with 3800’ vertical gain.

First race of the new season

Given that this was my longest run - by far - since October, I was pretty satisfied. This is the earliest I have raced in the new training year, so I consider it as more like a Level 3 and low Level 4 workout. My left knee really hurt on the two flat sections; needless to say I am counting the days until my gel injections. (I am even starting to consider if it is time for an early fall surgery.)

Some other goals for 2026-2027

I am aiming toward 3 running races, two nordic races, and at least one bike ride of 50+ miles (the Prouty). The first of my running events is Prospect Mountain, then Broken Arrow in June, and either the Stratton Mountain or the Mount Mansfield uphill in August.

The Grand Classic Giro starts today

Plug this into your browser for a great video preview.

https://youtu.be/ZybRVqvDdME

Goals for 2026-27 training year

The basic metrics remain the same: 750 hours, 200,000’ vertical gain, and 115 days on snow. With a gym membership, I am now looking to make a major - much needed bump - in strength, to 75 sessions for the year. I am also looking to do a big increase in MTB, to 85 sessions.

Finally, I am going to once again, join the HPC rock gym, so I can get ready for a major 75th birthday summit.

Fond memories from my recent trip to Switzerland

We had ten days of perfect weather this past March. I had some great hikes and ski days; and as always when I am in Zermatt it brings back memories from the 1970s, first with Dick and then with Lenny. Looking forward to my next trip, maybe in September … with Klink and Harry?

One of my best Zermatt moments was doing the Welzenbach route on the North Face of Lyskamm in the summer of 1978.

The past week bridged two different training years

The new training year started in the middle of the week, so the data is on two different spread sheets.

It was a good week, and I logged just a bit under 14 hours, on 100k (69k bike and 31k run), and 4065’ vertical gain. I also spent time in the gym managing two strength and stretching sessions.

Additionally, I did another snow school outing to work on crampon and axe skills. Now that the seasonal transition is complete, I have returned to tracking my speed per kilometer, as well as vertical per kilometer on foot.

27 tips from Chouinard’s CLIMBING ICE

Published in 1978, they still stand the test of time!

Spring in the Adirondacks

Last night before dinner I had a delightful run with my dog on the 1980 Olympic trails. This morning I woke up to a snow squall … you just never know what you are going to get!

The start of a new training year!

For nordic types, May 1st is the beginning of the 2026-2027 year. I spent the last hour looking at my spreadsheet and crunching the numbers. By this weekend I’ll commit to some goals for the coming year, and fully analyze last year’s performance.

At first blush, my key metrics - volume, vertical, days on snow - we’re all spot on, or close to goal projections. My 2025-26 goal was to log 750 hours, on 200,000’ of vertical gain, and 115 days on snow. When all is said and done, I managed 747 hours, almost 189,000’ vertical, and 113 days on snow.

Of course there are other options …

Celebrating my 75th on the Matterhorn or the Grand Teton would be pretty cool. If not those peaks, there are obviously other options including short cragging routes on the Riffelhorn, or in the national park.

But, having a guide for a day or two, leading all the 5.2-5.4 climbs that I did in the Gunks 50+ years ago would be fun too!

A list of possibilities to celebrate my 75th next year

High on the list would be some big snowy peaks: Shasta, Mount Hood, Ishinca, Castor and Pollux, or maybe a route on the Breithorn. With snowy mountains looking appealing, I did another morning of snow school.

Re-reading Chouinard’s classic book, Climbing Ice

Getting ready for the start of the 2026-2027 training year

 Working on goals for the upcoming season. Last week was a good one, and I feel ready for a new season, with my body fully adapted for running, hiking, and biking. Of course, I will also need to focus back on my climbing skills.

I logged 13.5 hours last week, on a total of 108k (85k bike, and 23k run), with 4600’ of vertical gain. I did three stretching sessions, two strength workouts, and a couple of snow school practice sessions.

We were also blessed with wonderful weather, chilly mornings, warming up nicely throughout the day, and mostly blue skies.

Another morning snow school

Another hour long walk up Whiteface snow slopes, with some laps climbing up and down, on a steeper section. Given my thought of doing a big climb to celebrate my 75th birthday - 15 months from now - I realize I need to begin to polish my dormant climbing skills. Crampons are working well on my old skimo race boots. I think I’ll need to renew my membership in the High Peaks Cyclery climbing gym, and try to do some occasional bouldering.

Lows in the 20s but sunny days in low 50s

SPRING HAS COME TO THE ADIRONDACKS.

His Family: painters, writers, photographers, and cinematographers.

https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_2021_files/AJ%202021%20Vol%20125%20110-115%20Hood%20Gos%20Family.pdf

Big day for NCS/CTT

Another piece of the master plan is moving - literally - into place. Woods House, which is the oldest residence on campus, was moved to make way for more classroom and fine arts space. Selden and I were houseparents there from 1986-88. FOND MEMORIES.

Going back to snow school

When I worked as a guide in the late 1970-80s, you would go through a progression of activities getting people comfortable walking on a glacier with crampons, climbing moderately steep gullies, as well as learning how to self arrest. Yesterday, I spent an hour wandering around on the Whiteface terrain park, practicing those same skills, and making sure my crampons were well adjusted to my skimo boots. Hoping, to visit Mount Washington next week and climb one of the snow gullies on Boot Spur.

Whiteface VK

I think it will be on my summer list!

Snow flurries all day yesterday!

It was starting to feel like spring had finally come to the Adirondacks, but not quite yet. Its monday morning with snow flurries, and temperatures will remain in the twenties until Tuesday afternoon. A decent week of training, as I continued to transition into the 2026-27 training year. Last week I logged 13:45 hours of excersize, on a total of 139k (119k bike, 18k run, and 2k row), with just over 3500’ vertical gain. I also managed two strength sessions, a morning of riding lifts with my skimo race gear, a bit of stretching, and my first three short rides on the MTB.