Trekking: Oh boy, this has been quite an amazing few months. I don’t want to spoil travel blogs but there has been heaps of mountain activity as of late. In February, I didn’t complete any “treks” but had a blast in an ice climbing class in the whites. I had only been ice climbing, or let’s be honest, officially in crampons once before, and this was in 2022 with some borrowed gear led by some friends of an ex who put me up on Frankenstein Cliff’s “Standard” (WI 3 rating) when I didn’t even know how to kick in holds properly. Fast forward to Feb 2024 and I not only had my own crampons, winter trekking boots (although they are too big, and need to resell), and techy waterproof gear, but I joined an actual class. I learned how to kick in properly, use the A technique for body position, “butt out then move the hips up” and even tried my hand at ascending with one ax rather than two. Granted, I did this with alpine crampons rather than front points which upped the challenge rating.
The crew was chill and I appreciated the wisdom and the way one of them really egged us on and challenged us like a true climbing partner. While I’m not crazy about rock climbing as I see it more as a stepping stone to further my alpine skills, ice climbing truly sunk its teeth in. There’s something so satisfying about the tactile connection with the ice and the simultaneous attack and reverence for the wall. After a morning of lapping the beginner routes near the Flume Gorge, and a more intermediate route, I was buzzing for the next fix. Unfortunately, the season warmed up before I could get another “stab” at it, but I’ll hit next season up and running with new (used) gear that fits, and a goal to learn how to place anchors and lead WI3 class ice.
Oh jeez, I lied, I actually did do some trekking. Upon editing, I nearly forgot about my virgin backcountry ski experience. As a snowboarder since high school, I probably hadn’t been on actual skis since 7th grade. What better way to get reacclimated than to rent a pair of monster-wide Black Crows brand planks and skin up Mt. Washington. If you are shaking your head, no I didn’t do Tuckerman’s ravine, nor even thought of it. For one the snow was thin, and also, I really don’t know how to ski. Nonetheless, I skinned up to the beginning of the Sherburne trail. “Skinning” is more like walking with skis at that incline, I had done XC skiing before and there wasn’t much gliding as it was more like shuffling by centimeters. I lucked out with fresh snow on the way up and the trail was packed with ice climbers coming down from routes up Huntington or skiers going for their first tracks or 2nd lap on the Sherburne ski trail. I made it to the hut in a little over 90 minutes and made sure to announce to all the skiers that I was a snowboarder so give me a wide berth. Maybe this was seen as fishing for compliments as folks were eager to dish them out. After a quick snack break, and adding a few layers now that I wasn’t going uphill anymore, I was ready to ski down. I let a big group start ahead of me and then I let it rip. The top had fresh powder and I managed to snowplow turn through the thick pow, taking a few stops on the side to let folks pass or just soak in the experience. It was a new movement for me and my muscles so I was glad to pause with stiff legs, more used to the wide snowboard weight shift than the faster carve of skis. As the trail got more technical with moguls and ice I was able to improve my turns or snowplow around them. I crossed my skis a few times like a newb, but I didn’t fall! The end of the trail was thin and flat, so I was glad to have ski poles rather than having to unstrap a snowboard. It was later in the day so I was satisfied with one lap but piqued my interest in learning how to ski for backcountry versatility. Though I may not truly leave the dark side, for there’s nothing that beats boarding through sick pow, wide tree runs, or just beasting down some blacks and hitting lips and soaring through the air. Okay maybe I haven’t done that last bit since I was in my early 20s, but hey, who’s to say you can’t BOARD and SKI?
Running: Oh baby, I hit my first 10-mile run. Sometimes everything just lines up, no shin splints, nice weather, good breathing, and you just start mentally adding distance after each milestone. I can’t believe that my January log was like “yay 10km!” and now I’ve beaten that by 4 miles. I pretty much ran the perimeter of the whole city of (redacted) first along the water and eventually through the heart of downtown where upon the 8-mile mark I committed to shoot for 10 rather than puffing home. I’m learning to master the pain cave and take it in stride. Curious to see where the next months will take me, I’m not aiming to keep making increasing distances but rather run with more regularity and make improvements to pace.
Climbing: Ice Ice baby! WI2-3 on belay. Gym Climbing is more of the same 5.9 – 5.10s but I’ve also been checking out other gyms and taller walls. I’m getting better at ATC belaying and confident belaying randos and semi-regular climbing partners. Much better than when I wasn’t even certified in Sept!
Lifting: Experimenting with high rep range and splitting strength and hypertrophy. Some days I just stick to 5 sets of every exercise but work HARD. I.e. new bench day:
Bench: [225] 5 seconds down “pause” 3 seconds up 5 sets
Incline bench: [135] 5 sets of like 12
Peck Deck: 5 sets descending weight 100, 90, 80, 70, 60 lbs with 30-45 seconds rest. I’ll AMRAP last set for 40-50 reps
Knuckle pushups: 5 sets
Then it’s a wrap! A big part of my weight training is doing it quickly, like 40 -50 mins tops even on leg day. I try to lead by example and WILL NOT be seen SITTING ON MY PHONE between sets. Shit half of the time I do another set after just I’m just grabbing a sip of water from my Nalgene or dabbing off with my sweat towel before I’m cranking up the rave cave BERLIN TECHNO SOUNDCLOUD MIXES & getting after it. I’m back to deadlift pain-free but need to be wary of front squats, even with light weight I will pull a lat muscle or something. I now split back and leg days rather than combining them. One thing I’m writing down so that I commit to it is ALWAYS straining my neck on shoulder day. Sometimes it’s a warm-up rep at like 155 on OHP that just pulls the wrong way. Or on a 45-plate raise just a little too much movement in my neck. I’m working to keep a neutral neck and perhaps should incorporate neck training. I know Nsima on Mark Bell’s Power Project has worked on that. What do the homies think about neck training?
Leanface RPG: Work travel has struck once again and will again for the next two months. I’m not totally off my goals but it doesn’t make it easier. I’m good 85% of the time which means for slower weight loss but I know where I need to tighten up and move to one cheat meal a week and log alcohol. It’s just a matter of making it happen. What’s the sense of spending 45-60 min on the Stairmaster if your weekend cheatos are killing your deficit? The food scale is out in full force and limiting the drinks.
Stay strong,
Anders