i_like_sun

Are you all a bunch of freaking girls or what??? 7/3: 174 lbs. @ 5% bf..... Goal: 185 @ 5%.

ACTUALLY.............. guys, from the researchers I've chatted with high skeletal loading is NOT detrimental so long as one's biomechanics are spot on. Cartilage, although nearly completely A-vascular (without blood supply) responds to physical stress just like any other musculoskeletal tissue: it will strengthen and hypertrophy itself so long as the stress is APPROPRIATE (meaning good biomechanics). Also, without physical activity, cartilage atrophies (breaks down) just like any other tissue. Pointing to "use it or lose it" here..... For years they thought running was a bad idea because of the high loading in the knees, hips, and lower back. Now the research shows otherwise: life-long runners (as long as overtraining wasn't a factor) seem to have much healthier joints than non-athletes. Basically, we can't avoid physical decline with age, but we CAN slow it down. I'm not promoting going out and attempting to squat 500 pounds. I am saying that actively loading one's body with a progressive high intensity resistance training program can give massive benefit to any athlete. Young or even as old as 90 years (I've got research on this as well). You just have to remember that like any other type of exercise you can overtrain. I would argue that any athlete overtraining is doing damage to his/her connective tissues, regardless of the type of exercise. Since I tend to go off, I'll re-cap my post: What I do know for sure, is that high loading has been shown to build up joint cartilage, and overtraining breaks it down. The same principle goes for muscles and bones as well. Its pretty simple.

More than the average wanker.

Leave the skis at home. I'm typing up a TR for a Fisher Chimneys weekend adventure I just got home from. We tromped around in boots just fine. Although there is still a shit ton of snow, its pretty consolidated now.

Last September I put together a research project on the importance of muscle power in older adults. Without pasting the paper in here, I learned that power is a more important factor than strength when determining functional capacity. Power is defined as Force x Velocity (or Force x Displacement / Time). Basically, training one's ability to move as rapidly as possible with the maximum amount of force is the prime way to get the most out of any resistance training program. Also, I learned that even long slow endurance athletes (climbers) experience greater cardiovascular adaptations when they integrate high intensity resistance training into their programs, rather than ONLY doing cardio activities. So, after learning all of this I started training with some of my track buddies, and began a powerlifting and explosive running routine. Ten months later, I've gained roughly 20 pounds of lean mass, and am experiencing greater physical fitness than ever. The training I'm taking about is: power cleans, the snatch, box jumps, heavy and explosive squats, sprints and stair running (including giving picky-back rides up stairs to my 180 lb pal Mitchell). Also, medicine ball throws, weighted pullups and dips, heavy chest presses, military, and bent-over rows. I also bought two 60 pound sand bags and threw them in a giant duffel bag, threw it in my truck, and try to carry the whole mess up Taylor stairs once or twice a week... The next endeavor is to find a giant monster truck tire and start flipping it over.... 3 weeks ago Mitchell and I ran up the Coleman Demming, and for kicks we each decided to carry 30 extra pounds of junk with us. My pack came out to be about 72 pounds (don't ask me exactly why, just visualize "party time" on the Hogsback). From an exercise science standpoint, this was a very interesting activity. Not only is carrying a heavy pack a super high resistance exercise, in order to carry it up 5000 feet (snow on the road added A LOT) requires a tremendous amount of muscular endurance. It blows me away how much our bodies can do..... Well, long story short, the 20 pounds of muscle I gained this year is helping....... I'm not sure why I posted this, I just feel that a lot of athletes could benefit from this kind of mentality. Oh, I forgot to mention that I now require roughly 4000 Calories on training days. This, for me, is super important seeing as I nearly killed myself a couple years ago by starving myself in the mountains. Nutrition becomes more and more important the harder we train... Yep. Have a killer day everyone

This is almost as bad as the time when I was a kid and smashed my fingers with my dad's 2 foot sledge hammer.......ON PURPOSE...... I guess doing such things are just plain fascinating to a 7 year old who's never experienced pain....... Thats rad Carolyn.

Mitchell and I are thinking of heading into Lake Anne tonight and going up the Chimneys tomorrow. Anyone have any beta????? Also, what does anyone think of descending via the Sulfide - rather than heading back to Lake Anne??? We were thinking it could be an interesting adventure to try the wandering amuck approach and hitch hike to and fro.....

No. You do not need snowshoes. The snow is plenty firm now, especially while still under the cover of trees. We began bootpacking about 3 miles short of the trail head, but I'm thinking its more like 2 miles now.... the snow is melting out pretty fast. You should have a great trip up North Ridge, weather permitting. It looked in superb condition last weekend. Hey, anyone come across a Black Diamond Raven ice axe on route below the Hogsback lately??? My buddy can't find his anywhere, and we're thinking he may have dropped it on one of our glissades. We'll buy a bunch of beers for anyone who finds it!!

Fantastic guys!! I climbed the exact same route last Sunday, man, Baker is a fantastic mountain isn't it?! Great photos.

Heading up there on Saturday and plan to summit Sunday. I'm not sure if we wanna bang out Coleman Headwall, North Ridge, or just a standard route... but I'll throw in a trip report regardless. Hope everyone is stoked on being pumped!!!

Hell yeah buddy! MAY 16TH BABY!!! WOOT WOOT!

Hoping this hot weather opens up the road for next weekend.... Anyone been up or near Coleman Headwall this year??

I'm hoping to head up there that weekend as well. If anyone has information on the approach conditions and general state of the glacier that would be fantastic!!

Holy crap, I'm never getting married!!!

I think we'll all be pretty bummed when Rainier does the same....

Yep.

Nothing but raw, bloody meat seems to work best for most high-caliber athletes.

Ghey.

Has anyone listened to Ed Veisters speak in person?

Another question I have is: How WELL did you guys ski this route. Was it slipping down the whole way, or were you slicing new asshole with every turn? There's no point in riding a line unless you make it LOOK good.

Anyone know of snowboarders dropping this? I've had my eye on this route for quite a while and am trying to get my hands on a splitboard. Skiers certainly have the advantage when it comes to backcountry access.

Thats because in the winter the air is cold and wet, and its dark: meaning that our immune systems are already working overtime. I've actually read that simply being in the sun increases anabolic hormone levels..... not to mention feelings of wellbeing. I don't have any good research on this, but it all seems to fit together.

I do less cardio and focus on light resitance stuff when I am sick. What I've learned is that there is a major immune response difference between catabolic and anabolic exercise. The difference between the two is the hormonal response to each - catabolic exercise (cardio) generally releases more corisol than resistance training and will break down a greater degree of immune biomolecules. Keeping the intensity low on resistance training will minimize stress hormone release while stimulating the release of testosterone and growth hormone, both of which will build up your immune system. You also need to ask: why are you getting sick? Are you underweight? Are you constantly overtraining? Do you neglect your sleep schedule? Are you always cold? Diet etc.... I hope this helps some.

Yeah except for the fact that professional road bikers have the lower extremity bone density of 80 year old women. In terms of training for climbing, I believe running is superior for a few reasons: 1) The high loading in running makes it the best bone-building exercise possible. So especially if you are female, running now can help prevent osteoporosis. Also, the high eccentric impulses into the lower extremity causes more deep tissue breakdown, thus over time making the muscles and connective tissues denser and much stronger (if you don't overtrain). 2) There is a greater "transfer of training" effect. Running (especially on uneven and steep terrain) makes for a very similar set of movement patterns as in hiking. Because of this you are training the same balance patterns and exact muscles as in climbing (well, speaking of the hiking part that is). I also find it interesting that the literature shows that barefoot runners have the lowest incidence of lower extremity injury.....

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