It's been a while since we had a winter with a much uninterrupted cold than we have this year. While we haven't had a big dumping of snow (yet), there has been some amount on the ground almost continuously since December. Until today, I hadn't ridden anything other than a fat bike since New Years …
I did my longest run ever yesterday -- 22.5 miles, all on trail, in the snow. It was harder than I expected. By mile 11, I was feeling like I would just like to be done. My ankles, knees, and hips were starting to hurt. I was feeling this way earlier than I have on …
It was a little over a year ago that I discovered a lump in my armpit. They'd been really itchy -- my armpits, that is. I wasn't itchy anywhere else, so I thought I had developed a sensitivity to my deodorant. I switched brands, then quit wearing deodorant altogether for a while, but the itching …
That was the theme for most of February. See-sawing temps and storms that dropped more sleet and ice than powder kept convincing me that conditions would be terrible for skiing, fat biking or just about any other activity in the woods, but every time I was (delightedly) proven wrong. February 14: Single digits sunrise at …
There is a sense of urgency that comes with having good snow for skiing and fat biking that I don't feel at any other time of the year. I love a gorgeous 65-degree, sunny, low-humidity day as much as the next person, but the fleeting nature of snow is different. It isn't guaranteed to last, …
Continue reading "Fat on the Front: Prince Gallitzin to Black Mo Snowmobile Trail."
Zwift, for those unaware, is a cycling app that allows users to interact and compete with others and ride through a variety of virtual landscapes with a bike on a trainer. It's basically like a video game, and it's taken the cycling world by storm. These days, as we're deep into January, my Strava feed …
In the month of February, I spent almost twice as much time skiing as I did riding my bike. I absolutely love fat biking and I certainly enjoyed plenty of that as well, but this year I also discovered a new winter sport in backcountry skiing. A constant stream of snow and more consistent winter …
Continue reading "Altai Hok skis in the Pennsylvania backcountry."
I love really cold runs. I'm not sure what it is about getting outside and exercising in the frigid air that is so exhilarating. Maybe it's the empowerment it brings to have beaten the temptation to stay hunkered down in a warm house. Maybe it's the fact that everything looks and feels so crisp. All …
Conditions were absolutely perfect. The gravel roads had seen heavy snowmobile use since the snowstorm Saturday night, resulting in a packed highway for our fatbikes. It was cold -- in the low 20s -- but calm. I heated up quickly on the climb, opening up my vest and stuffing my heavy gloves in my stem …
I took a break from my run and stood in the middle of the trail, looking at the unending ribbon of slush-covered rocks ahead. My feet and ankles were starting to ache from sliding and trying to catch my balance. I'd gone about 2 miles but it felt like 10. I looked at my phone for …
helena kotala 