Gaming the Alyeska Climbathon

The Alyeska Climbathon is tomorrow and I’ve a score to settle. Last year I ran and trudged my way to 11 laps, which earned me second place. I did about 23,000 vertical of climbing in 9 hours and 10 minutes. I had 10 hours to race but it looked unlikely for me to finish another lap so the organizer called it for me.

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Bold Peak

After enjoying one of the sunniest and warmest early summers in 35 years, south central Alaska has returned to its usual rainy summer self. In fact, August was one of the wettest in history. Awesome. So, I thought I’d put up a quick post from better days when the sun was high and temps warm. This was a great day on a big Chugach summit.

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Rock Gym Dry Tooling - Dry Ice

I know, it's weird. Two posts in one day. But I came across this interesting video and website and figured readers would be keen. The video and pictures tell the tale so I won't say much else. But the folks at Furnace Industries have come up with an interesting idea for indoor training. I know ice climbers who have set up gyms in barns and such using bolt hangers for holds and using their actual ice tools. This works fine. But this product seems to open up a huge expanse of training opportunity in commercial climbing gyms. Intriguing.

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Matterhorn Record - Kilian Jornet

Kilian Jornet, arguably the finest mountain athlete of his generation and, likely, in history recently set a new standard for up and down the Matterhorn's Lion Ridge, the shortest route on the iconic mountain's main ridges. He started and finished from the Italian town of Breuil-Cervinia, ascending in 1:56 and finishing in 2:52. 

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2013 Outdoor Retailer Show - Rab

It’s hard to believe it’s been that long but the first time I came across the Rab line of outdoor clothing and sleeping bags was during a climbing trip to New Zealand in 1995. I specifically remember the sleeping bags and puffy jackets. They were super clean and the shell material was curiously lighter weight than what I was used to. Americans had no access to the brand since I’m nearly positive Rab had no market penetration in the states. But the products left an indelible impression on me ever since.

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