More hiking and mountain biking …

With the return of nice weather; however I pushed things a little too hard, and have a slight hamstring pull.

Lactic Acid … what you know and don’t know

Quite a bit of this is a recycling of the early chapters of his book Endure.  That said, it is interesting stuff, and while he ties it in to the recently popular use of baking soda to enhance performance … he doesn't really give it a thumbs up or down. Worth reading.

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/lactic-acid-muscle-fatigue/

Two modest runs and two modest MTB rides today

YAHOO: Another Spectacular Day

Last week was a wet one, and while I made the best of it, I was disappointed to only get out on the MTB twice. That said, it was a productive week of training, as I start to get ready for my trip to the east side of the Sierras.

I logged 15:18 hours, on 163k (128k bike and 35k run), with 4405' vertical, and one strength workout. This week will be drier and warmer, so I anticipate more time on the MTB, and am also looking at seeing old friends at the college reunion.

Mother’s Day

YAHOO … finally a spectacularly beautiful day.

I took Selden and Alison out to the Grand Adirondack Hotel for a big breakfast. Then came home for an easy run, before I met Lindsay Putnam - former NCS teacher - for a 25k gravel ride. After which, I had a short cool down run with Stash.

Sitting inside, waiting for Selden to finish mowing the pasture. Then it will be time for some bubbly prosecco.

Mountains And Painters

I just pulled this interesting anthology off my shelf; published in 1966, I opened it to one of the final essays, written in 1928 by Katherine Chorley. It's been ages since I have dipped into this collection of climbing literature.

An engaging article, whose thesis is that JMW Turner came the nearest to depicting on canvas what it actually feels like to be among mountain landscape. Of course, after that article I re-read an all-time classic by Tom Patey, about the first ascent of Zero Gully on Ben Nevis.

THE HUT TRAVERSE In Winter … a new FKT

A short film, well worth viewing.

 https://youtu.be/_q7S2SH0v-8?si=olzALREg3LkBat0T

Selden’s morning chores

Just a few of her chores include: moving the electric fences so the sheep have fresh grass to feed on. Replacing divots that were torn up from this winter's snow plowing. Finally, making sure that all the chickens and geese get back in the barn.




The US Biathlon Team is back on snow

Starting their Olympic training out in Bend, Oregon.  This is the usual place where the biathlon and nordic teams conduct their first on-snow camp. It has consistently good snow in May, as well as great opportunities for dryland training in the afternoon.

Slowly increasing the running volume

Also, focusing on increasing the vertical as well.

The week that spanned two training years

As a nordic ski racer, your official training year starts on May 1st, with April having been spent recovering and transitioning. May 1st came in the middle of the week this year, and this also happens to be my first week without skiing since late October.

Now that my ski season has finally ended, it's all about running, hiking, biking, and maybe some climbing. So, this week - logged on spreadsheets for two different training years - was an excellent start to the new season. I managed just under 16 hours, with 189k (161k bike and 28k run), on 4360' of vertical gain.

My goals for the coming year start with maintaining a foundation of 750 hours of training, 200,000' of climbing, 115 days on snow, and 75 strength sessions.

I also am pointing towards 4-6 races or special endurance events. These would probably include some of the following: Baxter Mountain 3.5mile race, Prouty 50 mile (or perhaps a metric century) the SMS Stratton Mountain Uphill, Climb to the Top of Vermont race, two nordic ADK Tour du Ski events, and the 24 hour skimo at Mount Abrams. Finally, hoping to tag some modest alpine summits in the Sierras, Rockies, or maybe Europe.

Excellent Essay … the importance of intention and attention

From 2005-2015 Anton was one of the best ultra-marathoners in the world. Injury and subsequent inability to run high mileage weeks led him to become a multi-sport athlete. Combining rock climbing, cycling, trail running, backcountry skiing in extended - often weeks long adventures - is now his preferred jam. Well written, and touching on many things personal and existential. ENJOY.

https://antonkrupicka.substack.com/p/snow-shovels-and-singlespeeds

Short reflections on my 2024-2025 season

As is often the case, many ups and downs, with a mixture of pleasant surprises as well as disappointments. (I was tempted to write "bitter disappointments," but I realize that in your 70s if you are injury free, putting on a race bib, and still having adventures … count your lucky stars.)

On the positive side of the ledger, I met or exceeded three major goals: overall volume of training, total number of days on snow, and logging adventures in Sierras, Tetons, Switzerland, and Norway.  Adding to this, I logged my longest MTB ride ever(67k). Strava verified that the 41k I skied in the Birken was the longest in over a decade.  Moreover, I finished third in my age group in the very competitive - gut busting - Broken Arrow VK. 

I wished I logged more vertical, stretched more frequently, and did more strength sessions. I also wish that I did more than four races, but my beefed up travel seemed to preclude more racing. 

For comparison, enclosed below are my reflections on the 2023-2024 season.

New training season started on May 1st

Given my background as a nordic racer, as tradition demands, yesterday was my first day of the 2025-2026 training and racing season. I had a good start to the new season logging 152 minutes, on 30k (25k MTB and exercise bike, 5k run), with 1,115' vertical.

The top level statistical summary for the 2024-2025 training year is as follows: 767 hours, 174,240' of vertical climbing, 117 days on snow, 249 combined days hiking or running, 274 days exercise biking and MTB, 75 days of stretching or yoga, and 60 strength sessions. 

Well, almost all of my exercise stats for the year were in the proverbial ballpark, with the exception of vertical ascent which fell quite short. No doubt, this was the result of doing more nordic "track" skiing and less skimo, as I prepared for the Birken in Norway, last March. 

How Vail Destroyed Skiing

An excellent twenty minute video.



https://youtu.be/0bfD4NiiMfo?si=Yp7odAjvF-P49O5y

GREAT ADIRONDACK TRAIL RUN



The15 Steepest Mountains In The World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4nLV9oLBJU

A good recovery week

A week full of rain, some sunny days, snow squalls, and the real arrival of spring.

Given the previous week I was pretty tired - ramping up seasonal transitions too quickly - I decided I needed to dial it back this week. In the name of recovery, I vowed no more than an hour in the morning, and another in the afternoon.

So, the volume was 12 hours, on 115k (81k bike, 27k run, 7k ski), with 3100' vertical. I managed one strength workout and had my first two modest MTB rides of the season.

Heading out for a warmup jog as the snow squall starts

Amazing 77 year old runner

Snowiest parts of the Adirondacks

Another sign of spring

I saw this on a run this morning, convincing me that spring has finally come to the Adirondacks!

Orthopedic consult and rail trail jog

I had a good chat with Dr. Byrne, who 15 years ago 'scoped my right knee. After checking me out, looking at the pictures, and hearing how things have gone since then he said, "well your knees are ripe for surgery, but mentally you're not there yet. So, let me get you in as soon as possible, and I'll inject some gel, which will help you out."

Afterwards, I spent 40 minutes on a leisurely rail trail cruise (picture below), and followed it up a strength session focused on my knee PT exercises. This is an easy recovery week - keeping volume at or below two hours a day - so I'll bike up a portion of the Whiteface toll road.

Still skiing but making the transition …

Trail running, biking, and bouldering will occupy me until October. (Of course, with my monthly visit to BIG SNOW in New Jersey for my fix of indoor lift skiing.)

THE RUSTY PITON

HAPPY EASTER.

Typically, when I am schmoozing with fossil buddies, I fill up this bottle with either bourbon or scotch; helps keep the funny stories flowing! And, if my buddy Mark is in attendance, you can be sure he'll tell the story of when I cut the sled I was hauling on the Kahiltna glacier loose!

On a different note, I had a good week of training. I logged just shy of 15 hours, on 152k (109k bike, 28k ski, 15k run), just under 4000' and managed to squeeze in one strength workout. Hoping to just do a few more ski sessions, so I can end the 2024-25 season on April 30 with 120 days on snow.

Hoping to head up to Mount Washington sometime soon

A picture of the ravines snapped yesterday, by the webcam at The Wildcat ski area.  Spring is often the best time in the ravines, with maximum snow depth, warmer temperatures, and a more consolidated snowpack. However, it's always wise to check avalanche conditions. 

https://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/

Vallunaraju … closest 18,000’ peak to Huaraz

This has always been on my list of "must do" Cordillera Blanca climbs. A rescue training session got out of control. Thankfully everyone was OK. 

https://abcnews.go.com/International/video/part-glacier-breaks-off-training-exercise-peruvian-andes-120942781

Framework for evaluating outdoor risks

https://skimo.co/backcountry-risk-perception

First tracks …

And perhaps the only ones at Mount Van Hoevenberg. Despite the 2 inches of new snow - which made skiing sublime - I get the sense that most folks have shifted to spring mode.

Fossils having a drink at the cabin

Gary and a buddy Rob are up to do some work on his cabin, so they came over to shoot the breeze.

Long day, but good to be back home …

Selden and I drove just east of Glens Falls - about two hours away - to look at, and test drive several lightly used Subaru cars. Many hours later we drove off the lot with a 2022 Forrester. 

Selden spent hours and hours, spread over many weeks … it looks like she found a real gem.

Day 110 on snow this season

Yesterday, in addition to a nice jog, and some exercise bike, I also had an enjoyable classic workout on my touring skis. It was a good week of training: a volume of 15:35 hours, with 171k (131k bike, 23k ski, 17k run), on 3080' vertical ascent. I did one morning of alpine skiing at Whiteface and two full body strength workouts. 

The Dark Side Of The Sport …

Lift ticket prices escalating out of sight, ski patrol strikes, demise of the small local ski areas, and of course, affordable housing for all the workers who make our powder days possible.  This piece focuses on one ski region's partial solution … is this the American Dream?

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/realestate/colorado-homeless-parking-lot-affordable-housing.html

David Hochschartner (Hock)

Still cross country skiing at Mount Van Hoevenberg



Impact on our public lands

https://www.adventure-journal.com/2025/02/now-is-the-time-for-us/

Remembering April 8, 2024

What an amazing total solar eclipse; so glad to have a bunch of college buddies on the deck with Selden and me.

Managing knee joint pain

In managing my knee pain, I have embraced all options in the pyramid, with the exception of the total knee replacement. I may eventually get to that step, but right now I am shying away from those two surgeries which would put me out of commission for 18 months. However, just heard about this LDRT and will be looking into it … seems encouraging.




Early spring in the Adirondacks

The two faces - yesterday and this morning - of early spring in the north country.