Pre-wedding hike

Sam, Lenny, and Hock along with two other guys from the wedding party took a 90 minute stroll on the new Mount Van Hoevenberg competition trails. 

As glaciers melt ancient artifacts are revealed

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/23/climate/arrow-glacier-melting-norway.html

10th Mountain Division and the evolution of climbing

A fantastic podcast.

https://m.soundcloud.com/americanalpineclub/climb-the-10th-mountain-division-and-the-evolution-of-climbing-after-wwii

Smiling as I top out on my first race lap

Fall foliage is popping

The "Dog Bone Hill" on the 1980 Olympic biathlon trails is in full of color.

Another good week, and a week of beautiful weather to come!

I logged just under 11 hours this week, on 59k (30k run and 29k bike), with 6650' vertical ascent. My body seems to be recovery nicely from the uphill race.

A few more words about the event this weekend. Strategically, there are two key reasons that I do these "backyard ultra" type events. First, a couple of times a year these lap courses allow me to push myself to near exhaustion, to see if my body would stand up to the rigors of climbing a big mountain or managing a multi-day hut traverse. Second, these lap courses, allow me to mitigate risks. At 70+ years of age, I am not going to go off testing myself on a long run or ski (say 50k of the Jackrabbit Trail) and risk collapsing from exhaustion, or spraining an ankle in the middle of nowhere.

A tactical comment about my race is called for as well. In hindsight, I think I was punching above my weight, and suspect I went out too fast, and didn't take the time to fuel and hydrate properly between laps. My sense is, that had I done those first three laps at 55-60 minutes, there would have been gas in the tank - and time - to tag the summit five times. Of course, being the oldest guy in the race (by almost a decade) I don't want to beat myself up too much.

Great Uphill Vert Race In Maine

The picture was taken 250 meters from my finish, having tagged the summit four times. I managed just under 5000' vertical feet of ascent, and am clearly in the pain cave, with the Mahoosuc Range in the background.

My uphill laps were 47 minutes, 46, 49, and 68 minutes. Given how my last lap felt, and how far my time dropped, I retired gracefully with time left on the six hour clock. (My caution was not wanting to take a spill on the steep, wet, and muddy mid-section.)

A great event; I slept in the Hockmobile at the race site the prior evening; if I do it again, I think I would spend another night on site - cheer the 24 and 12 hour studs - allowing more recovery time before the hellacious drive home.

The seasons are changing

And the leaves are turning here in Lake Placid.

The 24 hour race just started

My race starts tomorrow at 7am … 3k and 1200' laps, riding down on the gondola after each uphill lap.

World’s best nordic skier

https://fasterskier.com/2023/09/that-guy-rollerskiing-around-utah-by-himself-yeah-its-5x-olympic-champ-klaebo/

Mammoth Trail Fest 26K Livestream

https://m.youtube.com/live/f-ERmOx-Sh0?si=aF1RWP9yQ804AtPb

The last of the Golden Trail races goes live tomorrow at 10am from Mammoth California; this is the last chance for elite athletes to qualify for the finals in Italy. I raced the inaugural uphill race - the dragonback - last year and placed 1st in my age group. 

Difficult new route on Ranrapalca

Well, my hard climbing days are over, but I would love to make at least one more trip to the Cordillera Blanca. Stay at La Casa de Zarela, re-climb the classic easy routes - Urus, Ishinca, Pisco - as well as hike a bit and trail run.

https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/alpinism/ranrapalca-nw-face-climbed-peru-pou-brothers-micher-quito.html

Free Climbing the Leaning Tower in Yosemite

Athletic climbing, great footage, spectacular scenery, and a look at the process it takes to free climb these big wall routes.



https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=aWLzPPQQUWgZsmth&v=bcnsDIamHjM&feature=youtu.be

A good transition week …

From Lassen Peak to Mount Van Hoevenberg; with two travel days off, my focus was on recovery. Still, I managed to log a respectable 12 hours of exercise, which included 61k (35k run and 26k bike), five yoga sessions, and just under 4200'. Much of the aerobic work was at altitude between 6-10,000' … with my last two kilometer splits to the summit of Lassen being 16:30 and 19:09.

The picture of Mark dropping me off at the Reno airport, captures two guys who have just recaptured their dirtbag selves after 2+ weeks in the mountains!

However, Adirondack scenery is looking pretty good!



The first avalanche transceiver and the man who invented it

https://www.skiinghistory.org/article/skadi-man

Missing those Sierra views

The view of Mount Dana, and the couloir I climbed many years ago with Mark, Callie, and Lewy.

“The Impossible Record” … running up Pikes Peak

https://www.outsideonline.com/running/news/people/will-the-impossible-record-running-up-pikes-peak-ever-be-broken/

Day #15 … back home

Twenty-four hours after Mark dropped me off at the Reno Airport, I was back at the farm in Lake Placid.

Day #14 in the Sierras

Yesterday was another beautiful day in Tahoe. A low key, lazy morning, unpacking from our trip to the Lassen area. We also managed to squeeze some yoga and a hike on the original Western States Trail into our morning.

We had a leisurely lunch in town with - Danny Hyde - another fossil friend who goes way back. Afterwards I had a run, followed by tacos, and a viewing of the 1976 version of Midway. Heading home tomorrow.

Lassen Peak

Also known as Mount Lassen, this is a lava dome, and the southernmost active volcanos in America. This 10,457' mountain last erupted in 1921. I managed to make the round trip in under three hours.

Glaciers Disappearing on Mount Rainier

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/climate/mount-rainier-glaciers-climate-change.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Climate%20and%20Environment

Day #13 in the Sierras

The focus for today was packing up camp, hiking up Lassen Peak (10 580'), driving to the southwest National Park entrance, and then heading back to Mark's house.

A great day, a wonderful trail, and fantastic views.

Day #12 in the Sierras

A superb day, with a great run on the Pacific Crest Trail and a hike with Mark on the Spatter Cone Trail. Volcanic rocks, collapsed lava tubes, columnar jointing, and deep holes where the lava exited; not to mention great views of Lassen and the other dormant volcanoes peaks.

However, Mark failed to hook any fish, so we had salami and cheese instead of fish tacos.

Day #11 in the Sierras

A long drive north to the Hat Creek Campground. I managed a good yoga session and then a wonderful hour run on the Spatter Cone Trail … great views and awesome volcanic features.

Day #10 in the Sierras

We spent a casual day at Mark's house in Olympic Valley. We concentrated on washing dirty clothes, cleaning our pots and pans, having fun with Mabel and Liz, watching CNN to catch up on news, and I managed a good yoga session as well as an hour run on the old Western States Trail.

We will head out in two hours for Mount Lassen; after hiking up to the summit tomorrow, we may head to Mount Shasta. 

Courtney’s triple crown, and finally an American male wins UTMB

https://www.irunfar.com/2023-utmb-results

Day #9 in the Sierras

Closing out, Part One of this fossil adventure. 

After an hour run - out and back - to Sawmill walkin campground, we broke down our camp, and headed back to Tahoe.  I managed an easy sunset run, before a dinner of lasagne and salad prepared by Liz. Post dinner activity was peek-a-boo with Mabel. 

Tomorrow or the next day, we hope to head up to Mount Lassen National Park.

Day #8 in the Sierras

REST DAY … a bit of yoga, breakfast at Nicely's, reading, getting a few groceries, answering some email, and charging phones.

Another beautiful day. Capped off by fish tacos from three trout Mark caught.

Day #7 in the Sierras

Mark and I spent the afternoon doing snow school with Tori (although I squeezed in multiple laps). Although she is a 5.11 rock climber, and expert skier, Tori has far less experience with snow climbing.

The curriculum included: snow anchors (pickets, deadman, bollard), boot axe belays (pictured below), glacier travel, and stacking tools while climbing steep ice. Needless to say, Tori is a quick study.

Day #6 in the Sierras

A cold night, with a low of 28 degrees. However, it gave way to a beautiful day with yoga, a run up to and on the Gardisky Trail, and another bunch of snow laps with ice axe and crampons. Left to right: Hannah, Mabel, Hudson (getting ready to leave) Tori, Liz, and Mark.

Day #5 in the Sierras

A terrific yoga session and run into the Buttermilk Boulders. The climbing problems were well beyond me but Tori, Hannah, and Hudson got up some 5.10-11 routes.

Day #4 in the Sierras

A casual day doing a trail run toward the Druid Stone, and got lost on a MTB trail. Nice run though. And of course, before we heading back up to Tioga Pass, I stopped at my favorite … Schat's Bakery

Day #3 in the Sierras

A casual morning, snagging camp sites for the rest of the Ewing clan who arrive later in the day. I had a good session doing practice laps with my ice axe and crampons. Afterwards I also had a good yoga session.

Day #2 in the Sierras

A beautiful day, which I started with an easy 30 minute hike followed by 30 minutes of yoga and core work. In the afternoon, we snagged a campsite at junction (just outside north entrance to Yosemite. After that I did a two hour out and back hike to Saddlebag Lake.

Day #1 in the Sierras

A day of packing, stretching, and traveling to the east side of the Sierras. I only managed four hours of sleep after my late arrival into Reno. However, I slept pretty well last night at the Lower Lee Vining campground. We arrived just before sunset at Mono Lake, and ate dinner in town.

Packing in the shed

Pulling out crampons, an ice axe, as well as a snow stake and fluke. Maybe a snow slog is in our future, on this road trip.

A 20 hour travel day

Nothing direct about my route … Lake Placid to Albany, then to DC, Dallas, and Reno. The last leg was the drive to Squaw Valley and in bed by 12:45am (local time).

Tough conditions for the next race of UTMB Week … the 140k TDS

The race started about 12 hours ago, but many folks will be out for another dozen hours.  Some snow has fallen at higher elevations, making this very technical course, even tougher.  The enclosed link will inform you, and let you follow racers as they make their way around this course. Stop and watch the three minute video of the 2023 highlights. 

https://montblanc.utmb.world/races/tds

A Change Of Pace

Getting ready to head to the Sierras; if all goes well, after about 18 hours I should arrive in Squaw Valley.  For a change of pace, here is an update on the ballot initiative that Lucy is helping to lead.



https://www.levernews.com/the-campaign-to-keep-electricity-bills-high/

Good Morning, Mont Blanc

Now that UTMB WEEK has started, tune into this daily show - on the FreeTrail YouTube channel, or the FreeTrail Podcast channel. Of course, you also need to go to the UTMB website, and follow along on UTMB Live. 

Bulking up for the Sierras

This past week was an easy one, as I was a bit fatigued coming in, and I didn't want to "shoot my wad" before heading west. (My knees were also bothering more than usual.) In addition, I had an extra day off for the Yankee game, and I also tried to be the dutiful ex-headmaster at the alumni reunion.

Still, I managed to log 12.5 hours, 81k (37k exercise bike, 36k run, 8k ergometer), 4150' of vertical ascent, and three yoga sessions. NOW ITS ALL ABOUT PACKING.

First race of UTMB week is the PTL (LA PETITE TROTTE À LÉON)

At 8am tomorrow morning (Chamonix time), a 100+ teams head out to complete 300k route with over 25,000m of vertical, around the Mont Blanc region within the 151 hour time limit. The link below has all you need to know about the event, links to follow team progress, and a great 12 minute video of the highlights from 2022. 

https://montblanc.utmb.world/races/PTL

The 20th UTMB week starts on Monday

Next year I hope to be back in Chamonix, to soak up all the good vibes, and perhaps even run the short ETC (15k and 1200m vertical). 

A fun day at Yankee Stadium

Well the Bronx Bombers lost again, but I had a great day with Len, a long time college buddy and Best Man at my wedding. 

Two beautiful back to back days …

And I started each with an easy cruise up to the summit of Mount Van Hoevenberg.

Hard winter climbing on the Noire … excellent video





https://youtu.be/6K4CftXlXVw

Another good week of training

I logged 16 hours, 143k (101k bike and 42k run), and just a bit over 5200' vertical.  I also managed a short yoga session, and two strength sessions. I am looking forward to heading to the sierras in eight days. 

Delightful climbing/Murder Mystery

Rainy days continue, and while my training volume is on track, I do find myself grabbing for some page turners off my shelf, to pass the time between thunderstorms. I have read this one before, but memory tells me it's worth another go.

Also, the novel is set around a body which comes out of the snout of theGlacier des Bossons, and of course with climate change, this is an event which becomes ever more frequent.

Interesting article about indoor skiing

https://coloradosun.com/2020/01/09/big-snow-new-jersey-ski-industry-indoor/