The Peakbagging Team heads up Marcy on a clear cold morning.

The snow-drought that has crippled the NYSSRA season has opened up more opporunities for the Peru Nordic Peakbagging Team.  Cancellation of the NYSEF Harry Eldridge Freestyle Race allowed Jim “Harvester of Sorrow” Kobak to rally Jake “Jackal of Judas” Gittler, Patty “Peakbagger of Pugnacity” Hurlburt and Jason “Willbury of Woe” Fiegl to hammer out a trip up Marcy, Gray and Skylight on Jan 22.

Lake Tear of the Clouds... in the shadow of Mt. Marcy

The quartet of nordiques battled spruce traps and survived the “revenge of the Seafood Lasagne” to climb the trio of high peaks.  Conditions were cold, but clear and calm on Mt. Marcy, New York’s Highest Peak.  Climbing conditions were also excellent on Skylight Peak.

Entering the Wall of Trees... Spruce Trap City

The ascent up Gray Peak was uneventful, until the sledding herd-path 46er pixies challenged Peru Nordic, “…I don’t think you should try the bushwhack back to Marcy we did it once and it was thick.”  Well, the Peakbagging Team, with well over 30 traverses of that route between them, was bent on opening up the route and to dove headfirst into the wall of trees to break out the route along the ridge from Gray to Marcy.

Out of the trees... "woah that lasagne is not sitting so good"

Powered by black licorice and Swedish fish, Fiegl pushed through most of the spruce traps.  Kobak got the ball in the late innings before turning it over to Hurlburt who, with “Enter Sandman” blasting over the PA, finished the bushwhacking trailbreaking job.

The Top of New York

The lone casualty of the day was Gittler who succumbed to the curse of the Seafood Lasagne, and deposited much of his pre-hike meal on the slopes of Gray Peak.  ”I swear it wasn’t too many ‘Iced Teas’ at the Peel Pub... It’s the lasagne, I swear…” Needless to say, Gittler recovered and made it back in time to stress out during the Giants overtime victory over the Niners.  (note:  Research has determined that spoiled hummus, and not seafood lasagne may have been the culprit, whatever the case, GitRichter managed to do his part to help the summit stewards fertilize the fragile alpine flora on Gray).

I think I've got some black licorice in here...

The Peakbagging Team will continue to assault the High Peaks as Fiegl, Gittler and Hurlburt all chase the elusive “W”… and as long as every ski race in the state gets cancelled.   Hike and Destroy!

Racers hammer the Gauntlet 2.0 Prologue!

Keith Kogut skied the third fastest prologue sprint, then teamed up with Ed Lis and won the Gauntlet 2.0 overall title.  Kogut and Lis were in an epic duel with Stan Hatch and Evan Greenberg, before Kogut took advantage of the conditions and attacked Hatch on an icy corner in the final lap to seal the victory.  Lis’ relay victory was his second in the last two seasons and now has an unprecedented 4 Gauntlet Relay championships.  When Ed’s in the race it’s “Money in the bank credit union” that he will be on the podium.

Lis puts it in the vault!

Desperate for a race after the NYSEF Harry Eldridge cancelleation, the Peru Nordic Masters met at New New Gauntlet Stadium for a do-over of the cancelled 2012 Gauntlet.  Dubbed Gauntlet 2.0, skiers raced a mass start 1.5 km prologue for seeding.  Then were paired up for the 6 x 1.5 km freestyle relay.

Stan punches the line!

Chris Rose and Jim Kobak battled tooth and nail during the prologue, with Rose out-sprinting Kobak at the line.  These two definitely left it all on the course for that hot lap, and it most likely cost them during the relay.  Kobak teamed up with Mike Tuthill and managed to hang on for the relay bronze.  Rose and Pete Minde ran out of gas and finished in the familiar wooden medal position.

Tuthill pushes Lis, raises his credit rating!

Kogut’s fast prologue, combined with his relay win, gave him the overall Gauntlet 2.0 championship.  Teammate, Ed Lis took the overall Silver, while Jim Kobak won the Bronze.

Overall Standings

mass start... Batter Up!

Keith Kogut was sharp at the plate, and got some timely hits from his DH in order to leapfrog over the two fastest skiers on the day to win the second race in the War Ensemble season.

Intensity in the range

The race celebrated the adoption of the Designated Hitter by the American League on this date in 1973.  In the race skiers traversed two laps of the modified Viking Helmet Championship Course, and threw three tennis balls in between laps.  Each tennis ball “hit” earned the skier 30 seconds of bonus time.  After completion of the race, each skier drew the name of a “Designated Hitter” whose hits would also count as bonus time for that skier.

skiers heading back back back... waaaay back!

The race featured a huge field of Peru Nordiques, which made for some interesting chaos in the range (thanks again to Danielle and Zoe for ball retrieval and photography!).  A number of Skiers were perfect in the range, including last years top rated USTBBA biathlete, Chris Rose.  Rose had the fastest time of the day, but was not helped by the poor hitting of his DH.  Kogut was also perfect in the range, as well as rookie Mike Tuthill.  Janet Findlay was also three for three at the plate,  disclosing that she worked all summer with a personal instructor, spending countless hours in a Gauntlet Stadium replica range throwing thousands of tennis balls.

One of these guys can't hit the broad side of a barn

The worst performance on the range was put in by Jim “warning-track power” Kobak who, in spite of the second fastest time of the day, managed to go 0 for 3 in the range, followed by another 0-fer by his DH.  ”Well, it’s back to the Venezuelan Winter League…”

Rounding third and heading for home... Holy Cow I think he's gonna make it!

The race featured a number of rookies getting their cup of coffee in the show.  Evan Klein hit well enough to jump into the Bronze medal position.   Alaina(sp?) and Shannon Parker both got their first taste of the big leagues and put in solid performances.

The Peru Nordic Peakbagging Team atop Saddleback Mt. on January 7

The Peru Nordic Masters Peakbagging Team has been especially active this winter.  Low snow totals and mild temps have actually led to exceptional climbing conditions in the Adirondack High Peaks.  Thus, instead of moping about the lousy skiing, the Peru Nordiques have decided to take advantage of the conditions and peakbag the crap out of Winter.

This Colvin ladder ascent courtesy of High Peaks Cyclery... Your Nordic Specialists

Bob “Lord of Destruction” Maswick is finally just a couple of peaks shy of completing his Adirondack 46 list (…in approved format!).  A recent January climb up Mt. Colvin and Blake’s Peak with the Harvester of Sorrow gives him 44 High Peaks.  The Lord of Destruction finally has the fever.

"This would be even more awesome if Mike Richter were here..."

Jakob “Jackal of Judas” Gittler took a break from watching the New York Rangers to continue to pursue his “W.”  On an early January climb of the Seward Range, Gittrichter swore he heard “… ghostly chants of ‘1940!’ as we climbed” (Ed. Note:  Rangers Suck! Go Devils!!!!!)

Patty shows great mixed climbing technique on the Saddleback Cliffs.

Patty “Peakbagger of Pugnacity” Hurlburt has dusted off her crampons and re-upped her pursuit of the Winter 46.  She abandoned the attempt a few years ago to have children, but in typical Soviet-Sports-Science fashion has returned post-partum to be stronger than ever.

Jason peers over the icy Saddleback Cliffs, looking for CHUMPS

Finally, Jason “Wilbury of Woe” Fiegl has jumped back on to his pursuit of the Winter 46.  Fiegl recently joined Patty H, Liam and Jim “Harvester of Sorrow” Kobak for a January assault of the Upper Range.  Fiegl “the unfrozen caveman hiker” is probably not technologically up-to-date enough to read this post, but if he does, he would be pleased to know that recent research has shown that “Fiegl” is the French-German word for “St. Bernard Barrell Necklace.”

Harvesting Summits... Hike and Destroy!

Hopefully, Mother Nature will cooperate enough for Winbriefs to report on ski races, but until then the Nordiques will continue to take to the Mountains to HIKE AND DESTROY!!!

There’s just enough snow to hold a race!

The VHCS season finally kicked off with a real race as members of the Peru Nordic Masters skied an awkward 4 km skate race around the flats of Mount Van Hoevenberg.   Chris “Hand of Doom” Rose won the day and counted it as his first “Real” victory.  ”I refuse to accept the Tour de Ski Chalice without any on snow racing… this is my first true victory since I won the Zoloft Depression Bowl on Rollerskis last week.”  Jim “Harvester of Sorrow” Kobak finished seconds behind, with Keith “Krakken of Katastrophy” Kogut winning the bronze medal.  Janet “Banshee of Bedlam” Findlay dominated the womens’ race.  And Dave “Tile-Cutter of Terror” Hunter had a strong showing. With any luck at all, the series will continue next Wednesday night…. Ski and Destroy!

What's that strange white stuff????

The annual Peru Nordic Tour de Ski managed to take place in spite of the lack of snow across the Northeast.  Race officials, desperate for VHCS points to be scored, changed the race format and tried to inspire members of the Peru Nordic Masters to get out and show Mother Nature that her bitchiness would not defeat them!

Tour de Ski Stage one…. Through the Never!  12/28/11

Amanda Zullo…Mt. Baker–seriously windy!

Tom Moffett… Bare Mt.- only 5 months until the Patch Sprint

Los Caballos Lentos!

Tour de Ski Stage two… The God that Failed 12/29/11

Chris Rose…Ran sugarloaf Mt. (like Caballo Negro) from the 1812 with Tommy Gunn. With the exception of an icey patch here or there, trail conditions were excellent. Even the traditional muddy spot on the Fresco Trail was filled in and graded. Nevertheless, regardless of the conditions, I ran light, easy and smooth like the Tarahumara of the Copper Canyons on Mexico…

Tom Moffett… ditto

Keith Kogut… Town of Tupper Lake Trails, conditions fair. Thin on golf course, better in woods.

Stan Hatch…Thurs night I skied New Land Trust in Saranac. Enough snow for classic on most trails, not groomed of course, about 4″ powder on top of mixed ice and crust. I skied for an hour with one spectacular fall- I went over a stone wall.

Tour de Ski Stage Three…. Struggle Within 12/30/11

Kobak… Seward, Donaldson and Emmons.  The Peru Nordic Peakbagging Team headed out to the Seward Range while snow totals were low enough to drive all the way in to the summer parking lot.  Good hiking conditions in spite of the boot-swallowing Calkins Creek.  Microspikes used on the upper reaches of Mt. Seward.

Ed Lis… Peru Nordic invades Bolton Valley, VT Recreational Center. Joseph Korzenecki, Lisa and Edward Lis traveled over to Bolton Valley VT. Worth the trip. Plenty of snow, burning lungs and legs. It’s not MVH, however, with that said, it was nice getting on snow. It felt like winter today.

Jerry Curcio… News from the western boundries of the Evil Empire! Just got back from a 10K classic at Osceola ski touring followed by a 10 K skate through the middle of Winona forest at the intersection of N. church & Bargy roads. ( the tracks at osceola were good, but I still didn’t use my good ski’s yet) I drove north up to Winona to skate to avoid the crowds at osceola. I knew the snowmobiles would have the seasonal roads packed down for skating, which they did. Only 4 snowmobiles passed by me in the time I was out there. I had the place almost to myself.

Rose… Graig Wood Golf Course gerbil wheel (approx. 600m): skate technique

Kogut…Town of Tupper Lake Trails, conditions still fair. 15 skiers today so it’s a little thinner than it was yesterday.

Mike Tuthill… I went skiing at Tupper. We went through the golf course and then on some trails near big tupper. I was with Keith Kogut and Amanda Zulo. The conditions were decent, not to bad but not the best. We had a lot of fun and defiantly worth doing again.

Zullo… 45 minutes of flexible warrior yoga….75 minutes of riding the indoor trainer to loops of the 2011 tour de france then off to ski!

Evan Klein… I went with Kogut to a place off the tupper lake golf course, conditions were okay, I didnt have good kick so I had to double pole a lot, and I had my good race skis and I was concerned about rocks, but it doesnt look like they got too much damage

Shannon Parker…Dreams of war, dreams of liars Dreams of dragon’s fire And of things that will bite

Tour de Ski Stage Four… Unforgiven  12/31/11

Kogut… Running in the rain in TL. Worst Winter Ever.

Rose… Ran on treamill while it rained outside with 27 degree temps. Did manage to get into a AMC Channel Walking Dead marathon and watched every episode from the beginning. I know we’re all bummed about the weather, but at least it’s not the zombie apocalypse.

Tour de Ski Stage Five… My Friend of Misery 1/1/12

Kobak… Climbed Mt Colvin and Blake Peak with the Lord of Destruction.  Just over 6 hours, great hiking conditions, microspikes all day, warm temps.

Rose… Icey trail/road run around my old stomping ground in P-burg and on the Blue Trail.

hoping for a little more of this in 2012

When it was all over, the Viking Helmet Super Computer churned out points based on skiers’ effort to get out and train in spite of the dreary conditions.  Other factors were involved, like amount of despair and amount of soaking rain endured.  When the Tour finally came to an end the final results were as follows:

Name   Pts.  notes

GOLD: Rose… 70.8999 points,  perhaps the most miserable!

SILVER: Kogut… 68.5324 points, his skicitement lags just behind Rose!

BRONZE: Moffet… 54.8821 points, Patch Sprint already on the Brain!

WOODEN: Zullo… 53.1324 points,  Flexible Warrior Yoga!!!!

Thanks to all who participated, and hopefully the Ski Race season will kick off for real soon!

SKI AND DESTROY!!!!!

The Peru Nordic Tour de Ski has yet to get off a single stage…. this has led to desperate times for the VHCS supercomputer.  Hence, a last minute format change has been instituted.

Instead of organized races, Peru Nordiques can report in to the super computer and recieve points for skiing or hiking from now until Jan 1, 2012

Let the VHCS Supercomputer know how/where you have been skiing/hiking and it will spit out some arbitrary points for your efforts.  Just get out and do something… you never know how the VHCS Supercomputer algorithms will fall!!!  Use this link… https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dFNwQlVUVUFXNzN6cVNVcVZJYk1yZVE6MA#gid=

Pray to Skitan to deliver us some snow!

This year, celebrating the 20th anniversary of METALLICA’s triumphant “Black Album”

Due to the Sketchy Nature of the current snow conditions, Each of the Stage format/ Distances are “TBA.” Just show up ready to race! Sad but True.  Follow Peru Nordic on Facebook or Twitter and stay tuned to Windbriefs for updates.

FAQ:

1. Do I have to do all the stages to take part in the TdS? No, do one stage, do all stages, you will be counted in the TdS standings. New for 2011… if you go hiking instead of skiing on a certain stage, you will receive points. So, get out there and enjoy winter in the High Peaks!

2. How do the TdS standings work? Skiers will score VHCS points in each stage. The points from each stage will be added together to determine the overall champ.

3. I would really like to do all the stages, but I am busy on some of those days. That’s OK, you can do any stage on any day and enter your results, in fact, you can do all of the stages on one day if you wish, however bonus points are given for completing a stage on it’s assigned day.

4. Is there an official start time for each stage? There are official start times for each stage, but again if you can’t make the start, that’s OK, just complete the stage on your own and enter your result online into the VHCS computer.

5. What are the Stages?

REMEMBER POOR SNOW CONDITIONS HAVE MADE THE STATUS FOR EACH STAGE TENTATIVE.  THE OFFICIAL CALL ON THE STAGE FORMAT/DISTANCE AND LOCATION WILL BE POSTED TO FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE PRIOR TO THE EVENT. 

A. Into the Never: 12/28/11 Mt. Van Hoe Wed War Ensemble Season Opener… *VHCS Series points race. 3 pm start

B. The God that Failed: 12/29/11 4 km classic TT at Mt. Van Hoevenberg * VHCS points race 11 am start

C. Struggle Within… 12/30/10 Tour de Ski Hillclimb! Hopefully Upta GOAT! Mount Van Ho *VHCS points race 11 am start

D. Unforgiven: 12/31/11 Glenville Hills Classic, NYSSRA Series, * VHCS points race

E. My Friend of Misery… 1/1/12 The Gauntlet Relay 6 x 1.5 km free/classic Mount Van Ho * VHCS points race 12 noon start

6. Do I have to listen to METALLICA’s Black Album during the TdS? Of course, This album is a classic and in spite of it’s commercial success, it had awesome tracks. It is an all time Metal Classic. Crank it up!

Remember, VHCS points will be awarded for each stage, the skier with the highest total of VHCS points will win the Tour de Ski Chalice. (Skiers do not have to ski in every stage in order to be eligible, but don’t be a wuss… ski ‘em all!)

Snow... Praise Skitan!

A green holiday was upon us until Skitan delivered with a timely snow storm event of a couple of inches on Dec. 22.  This enabled the Evil Empire to stretch their legs on the groomed terrain of Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid.  Conditions were rock-ski good, and the flat terrain was rolled and packed.  Look for the Nordiques to be at MVH early this upcoming weak to beat the throngs of skiers that will be at MVH.

Peru Nordic now has a relationship with Toko Wax!!!  WELCOME TO HELLX!

none more black

The Peru Nordic Tour De Ski will happen… events and sequence TBA based on snow conditions.  Stay tuned to facebook and Windbriefs for Tour de Ski updates.  This year’s theme… the 20th anniversary of Metallica’s Black Album…. Sad but True.

Will Maz finally finish his 46?

The Peru Nordic Peakbagging Team will also be out working on the “W.”

Peru Nordic reminds you that during this holiday season “you can’t spell Santa without S-A-T-A-N!”

SKI AND DESTROY!  Happy Holidays from the Evil Empire!

With time winding down, negotiations continued in September and October. On the VHCS point, Winter, in their newest proposal, called for a system that had moderate transparency, allowing the VHCS Supercomputer to keep some of its mystical algorithms, but uses intuitive data to determine Viking Helmet points.  There has been agreement on this point, and now the VHCS Supercomputer algorithm is transparent.

As a last-ditch effort to avert a lockout, Winter and skiers met again on Thanksgiving to negotiate, even with quality snow in November, both sides failed to reach a resolution on key issues.  The two sides remained far apart. Winter demanded a larger share, claiming that they were losing grip on winter activities. The skiers, on the other hand, were willing to make concessions, but they refused to completely cave in to Winter’s demands.  Negotiations broke off, and the VHCS CBA expired at midnight on December 1.

Winter has locked us out!

In an effort to end the lockout, some Peru Nordiques have purchased backcountry ski equipment and even put snow tires on their vehicles.  It appears that Nordic Skiers will be faced with a shortened schedule, but hope is there that hard work and negotiations over the holidays may finally bring an end to the lockout.