• Training

    Winter Trail Running in Colorado

    Winter Trail Running is one of my favorite training routines. I love the cold air. I love the snow underfoot. It’s much softer than running on pavement. This morning it was 2 degrees F in Keystone Colorado. I had some other things to do, or I would have run first thing in the morning. My 12 year old son wasn’t up for Winter Trail Running, but decided to go snowshoeing instead. I gave him a little head start. After a while I started up the road behind Keystone Resort in Colorado. The Ski Patrol uses this road to haul injured skiers down to meet the ambulance. Sure enough at the…

  • Weighted Backpack Training

    Weighted Backpack Training – 60 lb pack

    Weighted backpack training is almost essential for mountaineering success. Most types of climbing and hiking adventures require you to carry a backpack. If you train with a heavy backpack previous to your trip, you will most likely do better. I went in and put my bags through the x-ray, forgetting my passport in my bag, causing the poor door guards minor consternation, since I had to go past the gate to collect my passport, but could not pass the gate without one. We got it sorted out, and I went to the check in desk. My completely full backpack was only 14 kg. — Elbrus, My Waterloo (Seven Summits Quest)…

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  • Exercise

    Bodyweight Exercise One Legged Band Sissy Squat

    I like to do some type of bodyweight exercise for warming up. It’s also great for working the smaller stabilizing muscles that I think shouldn’t be trained under heavy load. Unilateral bodyweight exercise is particularly good for the stabilizers and core. In this example, the one legged band sissy squat, it takes a lot of effort to stay level. It’s definitely not for beginners. You should get in a few hundred reps on the two leg version of this bodyweight exercise before trying the single leg version. Try it with your feet and knees together to work your way into it. This simulates the balance of doing it with one…

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  • Workout

    Concept2 SkiErg Upper Body Warmup Series

    I have been using the Concept2 SkiErg for a while now for cross training primarily. I also like it as a warmup for upper body training. The resistance is a large fan, similar to the Concept2 rowing machines, only upright. Inside the post are ropes exiting the top at two rotating swiveling pulleys. There are 10 resistance settings, depending on your training goals and personal fitness level. For my upper body warmup, I set the Concept2 SkiErg (Ski Ergometer – the movement simulates the arm/hand motion of Nordic skiing) to level 5, about halfway on the resistance scale. I mix it up a bit, but in general do a little…

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  • Training

    Training Logs – October Part One

    While writing my book, recently released on Kindle Elbrus, My Waterloo (Seven Summits Quest) I adjusted my program slightly to emphasize weights and cut down on cardio quite a bit. This is the first half of October. Training Logs for early October Saturday October 13 Hike: 5.8 miles up Keystone Gulch 600′ elevation Thursday October 11 I: 3:00 Rest Day Wednesday October 10 I: 2:00 High Box Squat: 25 @ BW; 155; 205; 235; 235 lb Incline Bench Press: 2 x 25 @ 45 lb Low Row: 2 x 25 @ 45 lb ITM: 787′ .40 mi – 24:06 – 40% – (0.996 ave.) – [60:15 pace] – 844.8′ – (2103/35.05 vert…

  • Training

    Training After Elbrus

    For the past few weeks after my attempt on Elbrus, a volcano in Russia and one of the Seven Summits, I have been working to regain my strength and fitness, and I have to admit, this is probably the fastest I’ve ever gotten back into the groove for training after an expedition. In addition to doing some heavier weights in this training cycle, I’ve also done some family hikes and road bike rides with my 11 year old since returning from Elbrus. It’s fall here in Utah right now, and the colors are just awesome, with a lot of reds this year. I’m looking forward to going out to Colorado…