Unconquered Mountains

How many discoveries are left?

The secret is there is no secret.  Consistency over intensity.  Progress over perfection.  Fundamentals over fads.  Over and over again.

- Brad Stulberg

Reflecting

I’ve long been fascinated by Mount Kailash, an unclimbed mountain in Tibet near the border with India and Nepal.  There isn’t much left on Earth to be discovered.  This is one of the few peaks that has never seen footprints.  Climbing it is prohibited due to its religious significance to local religions.  I wish that I was alive at a time when there were more firsts left for explorers.  But I will settle for collecting as many places that are firsts for me.  NomadMania is a fun way to track your progress.  Last week I left the Azores eager to book new adventures.  Next expeditions include Mallorca and Dolomites.  There may not be many geographical discoveries left that are new to man, but there are many left that will be new to me.

Being good in the woods is more about skills than stuff, but some stuff helps.  What’s in my vest/pack on long backcountry runs?  It varies based on climate and terrain but here are some basics.  My gear goal is to be as light as possible consistent with survival.  What do you need?  To stay about 98 degrees, hydrated, and with your brains inside your skull.  Survivable involves minimizing 3 risks – head trauma (so always a helmet climbing/belaying), dehydration (so always water and filtration), and hypothermia (so always gear to overnight).  If I keep my soft parts inside the hard parts of my head, hydrated, and warm then I will have enough time for backup.  Everything else is just a matter of comfort. 

• Comms lets me call in backup when needed for me or (far more likely) for others.  1.04 pounds that is the most likely way you will save a life. 

• Backup comms, the world’s loudest whistle ‎0.7 Ounces.

• Compact puffer 9.2 oz that could make the difference between surviving an unexpected night or not.  One of my friends who is one of the strongest trail runners I know (making her one of the strongest trail runners) is fearless and started a trail run that unexpectedly snowed so deep that it both got her colder than expected and slower than expected overnight.  She survived.  Barely.  This would have make the difference in making it safe.  A generation ago cold weather gear was heavy.  But no longer.  Today I am sorry for people who die of cold but it is an unforced error.  They will look great in the open casket, well preserved in the cold, but they will have been stupid.

• Matches 2.11 ounces.

• Light 0.04 Kilograms.

• Food is not that big a deal.  Just bring food you like.  You won’t starve to death for weeks and help will arrive far before then (especially with your Garmin).  But you shrivel up and die pretty quickly without water.  So I carry enough (I prefer flasks to bladders) and backup with a filter 0.1 Kilograms small and cheap so I carry an extra for charity if/when I come across someone in the backcountry unprepared to survive. 

• Movement is life.  Protect your skin in general and feet in particular with anti-chafe cream 9 mL to avoid blisters. 

• Change of socks to keep your feet dry.  I’ll spare you images of trench foot but “hot or not?” Most definitely not. 

• Anyone trained in first aid with a tourniquet (ideally that's everyone) should carry one. My favorite trauma first aid kit (one in each home, vehicle, and range bag, as well as hiking/trail running) 20 oz.

Anything I’m missing?

Training

This morning’s white board:

Every 4:00 x6 --

• 3 16” Box Squats as heavy as possible

• 100’ Sandbag Carry AHAP

• :30 Weighted Plank 45 lbs.

Next run:

10 miles through the Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park.

Fueling

Been loving these Venison Frenched Rib Racks from Wild Fork.  It is like lollipops for men.  I make it for myself at home but it also works well to take to parties; I took it to a CrossFit party and everyone just grabbed one by the bone and ate it without utensils. 

Supplementing

Psyllium husk is a boring but well studies supplement.  If everyone had enough, it could avoid half of all colon cancers.  Thanks to a Vale Tudo reader for pointing out the rare creatine that mixes well. 

Measuring

Struggling to gain muscle mass; taking measures.

Recovering

The best way to bounce back after intense workouts is with lower intensity movement.  I’m always looking for ways to keep moving when I’m recovering from lifting and running.  In the past, that’s included rock climbing and yoga.  Next addition: sailing.  I live near the Long Island Sound and have a friend who’s an accomplished competitive sailor.  He’s been convincing me that we need to get small high-performance sailboats.  Will let you know how it goes.  My first impression is that these foils might take a bit of practice but make the boats go incredibly fast.  Results TBD…   

Closing

A gym friend asked for some help breaking into running.  He’s super strong but new to endurance and wants to do some more after we recently ran a half marathon together.  My plan is to do everything possible to make it sustainable, especially since so many people briefly try running then quit.  They generally go out 1) fast 2) alone 3) on the road.  I prefer the opposite – zone 2/conversational pace that can increase over time with the increase in cardiovascular fitness, with friends, on the trails or bushwhacking.  It is more fun, more beautiful, and thus more distracting.  Even with tough terrain, you can get in more miles each week without the pain and drudgery of pounding pavement.  Then slowly amp up mileage and speed.  Finally: always train for a specific goal such as a first ultra; you can find worthy ones here.