Olympic nordic and biathlon upgrades

The work on trails, range, roller ski loop, lodge, and snow making are proceeding at a fast pace.

Another in the AAC Legacy Series: allen steck

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qTTGBq04csg

BLAST FROM THE PAST ... and a great new multimedia project in the Times

Click on the link below for a great article-photo-video display of the Grand Traverse in the Tetons, done by Jimmy Chin, Conrad Anker, Savannah Cummins, and Manoah Ainu. This wonderful piece brought back many Teton memories of my frequent climbing trips in the 1970s-80s which I did with Stegs, Murph, Mark, Franklin, TTW, and a South African Richard Wilmott who I met in Chamonix.

I have climbed Teewinot, Mount Owen, and the Grand Teton, as well as Middle and South Teton numerous times. But never in one go, linking them, as they do in this project. Of the dozen (or more) times I have climbed the Grand, the classic North Ridge (sketched in below) is my favorite. (Other favorites, on lesser Teton peaks, were Irene's Arete, Guides Wall, and the Durrance Ridge.) 

The New York Times article is well worth a look.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/23/magazine/jimmy-chin-grand-teton.html

Great mountain bike loop near Jay Mountain

https://www.relive.cc/view/vKv2RVNyZ4v

The White Mountains Triple Crown

Jordan Fields becomes the first person to hold the fastest known time on the "White Mountains Triple Crown" ... AMC hut traverse, Pemigewasset Loop, and the Presidential Range traverse. The times are amazing.

Check out his interview on Run The Whites podcast.



Garmin watch badges ... who knew?

Just a few of the many badges I have been awarded while exercising! Yesterday, I perused the seemingly infinite list of badges I can still aspire to! It's clear I am never going to get the badge for doing an underwater dive with trimix. Nor, will I get a virtual climber badge for the stair stepping machine. But, I am hoping to get the 50k badge this fall, when the knee heals.

History Of Mountain Gazette

https://mountaingazette.com/pages/the-down-and-dirty-history-of-mountain-gazette

American Alpine Club Legacy Series: John Gill

I have only climbed in the Needles of South Dakota only once, about 35 years ago. During my 3-4 day stay, my focus was bouldering, and in particular John Gill problems.  Most of them were mind numbing - I did manage two or three easier ones - and of course, I did boulder the first dozen feet of the Thimble before bailing (like everybody else). 

A short, and worthwhile video ... a guy way ahead of his time!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p9yaGXFkC8M

Another hard frost ...

Yesterday morning it was 28 degrees, and so I had to bundle up for my morning run. It was casual and my knee is getting better. However, it was the start of another spectacular Adirondack day.

Knees are feeling better

An early morning shakeout on the ergometer, was followed by a 70 minute - bundled up - run in a brilliant, but chilly, 35 degree morning. In the afternoon I mountain biked for 45 minutes, and my day finished with the sadness about RBG.

The autumnal equinox is a week away ...

But the trees are starting to turn colors. Fall is here in the Adirondacks, as we have already had two hard frosts. 

A different type of Sky Race ...

Over a typical Sky Race, three-day weekend, after the short and brutally steep Vertical Kilometer, there are usually 1-2 longer races.  The 32k Ring Of Steall in Scotland is one such example. As you can see in the short video, these are highly technical running races. (I have not done either long run in the Whiteface Sky Race weekend, but I had planned to do the long run in the June race at Squaw Valley, which of course was cancelled.)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W0k9J4USB88

Reading NET OF FIREFLIES: an anthology of 130 haiku

Enjoying a glass of Pinot Grigio at the Fossil Cabin while perusing an old favorite, as my dogs frolic in the pasture.

First training injury in over a year

Early in the week I tweaked my knee, as it seemed to momentarily lock up for no particular reason. I backed off focusing on yoga, ergometer, and mountain bike. I also added two strength sessions back into the mix, as dropping them the past three weeks probably wasn't a good idea.

The past two days I have re-introduced an easy trail run each day which has - mostly - gone pretty well. I suspect I will continue to keep running mileage down in the coming
week, and continue using the ergometer and mountain bike more frequently.

Sky running ... the VK



Once Covid is behind us there will be a return to the sky running circuit. These most technical and challenging of mountain trail runs come in three flavors ... the first is a Vertical Kilometer.  I have run the VK on Whiteface twice, and it's a gut buster. 

Take a few minutes to look at this VK example from Fully Switzerland.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VrR5AP32OZ8

Adirondack 46er Fastest Known Time

https://trailrunnermag.com/people/two-women-tackle-the-adirondack-46-high-peaks.html

First year of retirement ... miscellaneous data

- I read, re-read, or listened to 96 books.
- During just the previous month: I ran 135 miles, biked 61 miles, and spent 34 hours doing a variety of other workouts (yoga, ergometer, strength).
- On average, every 2 days I unload dishes.
- My longest run was 54k in the JFK Ultra.
- I camped out in the Hockmobile for 20 nights this winter.
- I spent 30 days in the mountains of Peru, 30 days in the mountains near Chamonix, and 8 days in the mountains of Zermatt.
- I have driven to Bozeman and back twice, which is roughly 10,000 miles.
- Last week my running and hiking outings netted 6650' of vertical climbing.
- I was on snow for 115 days last year.
- So far, my top 12 retirement books are:

Call Sign Chaos
The Secrets We Kept
Push: a climber's search for the path
The Rise Of The Ultrarunners
Lost Horizon
The English Patient
The Girl With The Dragon Tattooist
The Fellowship Of The Ring
Angels Of Light
Once A Runner
The President Is Missing
The Last Campaign: RFK and 82 days that inspired America

Is Kilian Jornet the best all-round mountain jock?

Undoubtedly, he is the best, most versatile mountain trail runner there is, equally at home on a Vertical Kilometer course, or a technically demanding 100 miler. However, he also leads 5.12 trad climbs, solos long alpine routes, has speed ascents on everything from the Matterhorn to Mount Everest, has won every imaginable skimo race, and occasionally skis steep chutes, like the Fiva Route on the Troll Wall in Norway.

He's got my vote!  Read this excellent profile (and book review) in The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/sep/06/one-step-beyond-the-ascent-of-mountain-runner-kilian-jornet

Boardman-Tasker shortlist of books

http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web20c/newswire-boardman-tasker-shortlist-2020

Dharma Bums ... a seminal work of the Beat Generation

I am reading Jack Kerouac's 1958, semi-autobiographical novel for the umpteenth time. In this book, many of the characters are thinly veiled portraits of famous literary beatniks like Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder, Kenneth Rexroth, and Michael McClure.

Key passages in the novel relate to Kerouac's introduction to the mountains. So, we are treated to his escapades on Matterhorn Peak in the Sierras, and Desolation Peak in the Cascades. (Of course, as an aside this was the year of the first ascent of the Nose on El Cap.) 

The reader is treated to many memorable - often irreverent - wine induced ravings, all of which prophetically give way to hippies and the 1960-70s counterculture  ... "give me a slug on that jug," "The Rucksack Revolution," "Work-Produce-Consume-Work-Produce-Consume," and of course, we are all going to turn into a bunch of, "crazy zen poets."  Sixty-plus years later, it's still worth reading.

The Art Of Skiing

A 1941 Disney film featuring Goofy, which introduced gelandesprung, slalom, kick turn, and schuss to mainstream America. 

Well worth watching, it launched a series of "how to" cartoons with Goofy.

https://video.disney.com/watch/the-art-of-skiing-4be3880daed0ca0e1266b068

Uphill time trial on St. Regis

For almost two decades the SLU nordic team has used this mountain run as part of their pre-season training. My daughter Lucy has the all-time record of 34:53. Knowing that the peak would be crowded on Labor Day weekend, I got up early, made the 45 minute drive, and started running by 7:45.

My time of 59:18 seems respectable for a 68 year old geezer. Had the summit to myself with it spectacular views, but I passed at least 30 people on my way down, and it was still early morning!

https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvrNQXMRLv

Hiking up Jay Peak

A beautiful day, which felt like a New England fall day, and not the tail-end of summer.

https://www.relive.cc/view/v7O9yGZyoQO

Training thoughts from Link Sar and the Piolet d’ Or

If you are familiar with the Uphill Athlete website you'll not be surprised ... mostly Level 1/2 aerobic fitness, muscular endurance, rounded out with technical climbing at the specific level necessary. Nevertheless, a good essay to refresh your memory.

https://www.uphillathlete.com/training-for-link-sar/?utm_medium=&utm_source=&utm_campaign=training+for+link+sar

QUOTE OF THE WEEK ... thoreau

 "Methinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow"

Both Stulberg and Magness, and the research they cite, make it clear that rest breaks in between bouts of intense intellectual, creative, or physical work are essential. Going for a walk, a bit of yoga, enjoying some quiet time in nature, are all great ways to recharge.



I am re-reading this wonderful and important, cross disciplinary book ... highly recommended.

American Alpine Club Legacy Series

The first in a series of short videos, to interview and capture the ethos of historical climbing figures in America. This video interview is with Glenn Denny, a big wall climber in the late 1950-60s, who captured the Yosemite scene in iconic black and white photos. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=emb_title&v=Hv7Ick9QH1w

Monday is a rest day ...

For nordic ski racers, that is a pretty common tradition. I catch up on chores, maybe stretch, read a bunch, and often take a sauna. It was a chilly morning, feeling more like Fall than Summer, so it was perfect to fire up the wood stove for the sauna. 

CBD for the endurance athlete?

An informative podcast In which Coach Jason Koop speaks with Joanna Zeiger, CEO of Canna Research Group and CTS Coach Corrine Malcolm about all things cannabis for endurance athletes.

https://jasonkoop.com/koopcast

Excellent climbing video ... Free As Can Be

A rope team, that crosses several generations, with up-and-comer young Jordan Cannon, teamed with Mark Hudon, a hot-shot from the 1970s. 

I knew Mark briefly in the mid-1970s, as my parents lived in Manchester, New Hampshire, where Mark was still in high school. I was just back from my first post-college climbing trip, having spent several months in the Canadian Rockies. I spent a winter living with my parents, working at my uncle's store, and cragging at Manchester's scruffy Rock Rimmon. I did some modest routes with him and his pals, all rock climbing well above my grade, however I fared a little better on ice. Mark cruised out to the valley and became the youngest person (16 years old) at the time to climb El Cap.

An excellent video, as this unlikely duo try and free climb El Cap.

https://vimeo.com/449058597 

Super runnable Adirondack peak

https://www.relive.cc/view/veqzGmjYJ7v

Fastest Known Time for the Adirondack 46ers

https://treelinejournal.com/sarah-keyes-and-alyssa-godesky-race-to-the-fkt-on-the-46-adirondack-high-peaks/

Training in the mountains

Another good week in the mountains.

I logged 18+ hours of exercise and almost 6000' of vertical. The details included: a couple of summits, 50k running and 20k mountain biking, as well as three easy strength sessions, and 5x30 minutes on the ergometer.

Nice sunset last evening

Lucy’s biathlon training ...

Is going well. She loves Montana, the mountains, and her teammates. Take a look at her blog for more photos.

https://lucyhoch.wordpress.com/2020/08/21/off-the-beaten-path/

Mount Pisgah and Lake Willoughby

Yesterday was a superb summer day, with a hint of Fall in the air. 

Up early, I took Stash for a 45 minute jog, before I headed out on my 3+ hour drive to Lake Willoughby. A modest but spectacular hike up Mount Pisgah with a former student, was followed by ice cream, and then the long drive home. I broke the ride up with a track workout when I passed a high school near the VT/NY border.



https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOPPY94L2O

Given trail races cancelled by Covid, many turn to Fastest Known Time challenges

Last years UTMB winner, Courtney Dauwalter made a recent attempt on the 500 mile Colorado Trail. Sabrina Stanley just crushed Nolan's 14 FKT for the women's "supported record," in 51 hours and 15 minutes. (The enclosed picture is a screen shot of her gps data.) The video link below is of Joe Grant's "unsupported record" for those same Colorado 14ers.  And at this very moment there are two women trying to break the record for the FKT of the Adirondack 46 peaks.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=39&feature=emb_title&v=ZzghU_wLbQ4

The afternoon thunderstorms are clearing out

Wonderful running on Adirondack dirt roads

Check out my route on Jay Mt Road and the Upland Meadows loop ...

https://www.relive.cc/view/vdORWwNYEr6

QUOTE OF THE WEEK ... by Dick Dorworth

"What is it that the long-distant driver and all the other explorers suspect can be found somewhere else but where they are?"

                   Dick Dorworth

As I start thinking seriously about a western road trip this Fall, I decided to re-read this collection of essays, most of which were published in Mountain Gazette between 1965 and 1975. The title of the book comes from an essay that speaks to a subsequent generation as On The Road spoke to Kerouac's generation. As an aside, Mountain Gazette is going to be revived, coming January 2021. 

Dorworth was a noted skier and climber (part of the famous Fun-Hogs Expedition), and as social security eligible member of that era, I can more-or-less relate to his stream of conscious screed. 

Deep water soloing ...

Swimming, and steeply overhanging rock, has certainly never been my forte. At 68 years old, this leopard is not going to change his spots. But, this does look like a superb place for a rock climbing vacation!

https://www.adventure-journal.com/2020/08/deep-water-soloing-the-surreal-limestone-spires-of-vietnam/

Change of pace in Vermont ...

I combined a big Costco grocery shopping trip with a nice hike. Check out the hike with the link below.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vxOQnn9o7M6

Honnold and Caldwell ... the Continental Divide Ultimate Linkup

A route in RMNP that included 65 pitches (Up to 5.11), 35 miles, 20,000 vertical feet, in 36.5 hours. I have done 4-5 of those routes, but it in this mind blowing fashion!

http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web20c/newswire-honnold-caldwell-rmnp-ultimate-linkup

A wonderful Adirondack morning ...

Jay Mountain

Yesterday morning, I got an early start anticipating a big crowd on a beautiful day. Terrific hike with a 4K cool down jog afterwards.

Thinking about ski season ...

While I am getting ready to do a 22 mile trail race in early September, and then later in the Fall, head out west for a hiking/climbing trip; I do think about the upcoming ski season.

Some of my goals have been carried over from this past year, when the pandemic made them impossible. So, I am looking forward to the following during the 2020-21 ski season:

- the 160k Canadian Ski Marathon,
- the Grand Traverse from Crested Butte to Aspen,
- more days riding lifts,
- a multi-day trip to Tuckermans Ravine,
- a multi- day trip to the Chic-Chocs.