http://www.amazon.com/Catskill-Peak-Experiences-Mountaineering-Exploration/dp/1883789591

 

 

 

 

 

Alaskan Photo Blog Go...

Asswrangler took Alaska by storm in an effort to put off serious training another few weeks...

Korn getting it done in New Mexico... a bit of a detour on the way to AK...



Keeping it interesting on the road...



Mt. Rainer... perhaps a late summer 08 Goodfellas target.



Denali...



The beggining of Stampede Rd which turns into the infamous Stampede trail after about 5 miles. I got my Supertramp on a bit.



Iditarod?? Seward to Nome... the GF's could pull this one off.



The lower 48 are overrated...




We'll close this blog with Amy Lee who has beautiful eyes and my man Fieldy from Korn doing it dirty...

Weekly Review: 8.13.07 to 8.19.07 & 8.20.07 to 8.26.07

I missed the mark on both goals for the week of 8.13 to 8.19. However, I did get out on the road for two runs (one of which was in D.C. while I was down there), so I was happy with that.




Because I fell short the previous week, I recycled those goals for the week of 8.20.07. I hit both goals and I got in my best week of training to date. Of particular note, was my workout on 8.23. I compared the results to my workout from 8.2 and noticed that in the same amount of time, I covered another 4 tenths of a mile in distance with a slightly lower average heart rate. I took that as an encouraging sign of my increasing fitness. I also dropped down below 200 pounds for the first time, which was a nice mental barrier to break through. The hike on Sugarloaf was also encouraging (more on that in the trip report).

Weekly Plan: 8.13.07 to 8.19.07

Goals for the week are:

- 3 hours of training during the week over 5 sessions (4 35 minute sessions, 1 40 minute session)
- Workout in morning before work
- I'm undecided on exactly what to plan on for the weekend. I'll be away for the weekend and I'm not going to be able to ride my bike or hike. I'm going to try to get in a 40 to 60 minute run
-Get weight under 200lbs

Unrelated to training, I'd also like get up trip reports on Brace Mountain and Mt. Washington before the end of the week.

Weekly Review: 7.30.07 to 8.5.07 & 8.6.07 to 8.12.07

AW called me out after he posted his Colorado trip report for my lack of recent posts...so here are the belated weekly reviews.

For the week of 7.30.07 to 8.5.07 I fell a bit short of my goals. I did very well monitoring my food intake and counting my calories. I used Fitday, which is a great resource, to record and count everything. I also got in a great long work out over the weekend when I climbed Mt. Washington (trip report to be posted later). However, I only got in 3 35 minute workouts and I managed to only do 1 of them in the morning, before work.

TRAINING LOG


Since I only met half my goals for the week of 7.30.07 to 8.5.07, I kept the same goals for the week of 8.6.07 to 8.12.07. Unfortunately, I was not much more succesful in keeping them. I continued to monitor my caloric intake with Fitday and I also got in a nice bike ride on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail and part of Route 22. However, none of the workouts were in the morning, and I again fell short with only 3 workouts during the week.

TRAINING LOG
WEIGHT LOSS/BF%
-Starting Weight/BF%: 208lbs/32%
-8.13.07 Weight: 201 lbs/30.0%
-Total Change: -7lbs/-2%

Asswrangler photo blog from the road...

I was looking all over for these fuckers...
Mountain climbing blows...

The sherpas I brought along...

Can't get away from these fr's...

Quandary Peak (14,271)... I saw god near the top...

Everything looking all innocent and shit at the beginning...

My dream home in Colorado...

My post hike entertainment...

Columbine HS...

Weekly Plan 7.30.07 to 8.5.07

My goals for this week, in no particular order:

-Continue to monitor food intake with an emphasis on recording and counting calories.

-2 hours, 25 minutes of total cardio training in the gym during the week. I really pushed myself climbing Brace Mountain yesterday and my legs are little sore, so I'm giving myself a rest day today. Tuesday through Friday, I'm planning 4, 35 minute works to reach my goal for the week.

-Do all work outs in the morning, before work.

-1 outdoor activity/workout on the weekend (likely to be another hike, but possibly a longer bike ride also).

Weekly Review 7.23.07 to 7.29.07

I met all of my goals for the past week;it was a successful week. The Training Log below has all the details.

TRAINING LOG

Monday 7.23.07:
-No workout

Tuesday 7.24.07:
-30 Min on Elliptical Machine on L10
-2.05 Miles
-143 Average Heart Rate ("AHR")/157 Max Heart Rate ("MHR)
-368 Calories Burned

Weds 7.25.07
-30 Min on Stationary Bike on L9
-7.45 Miles
-148 AHR
-385 Calories Burned

Thurs 7.26.07
-30 Min on Elliptical Machine on L10
-2.07 Miles
-139 AHR/151 MHR
-353 Calories Burned

Fri 7.27.07
-30 Min on Stationary Bike on L9
-7.46 Miles
-135 AHR/145 MHR
-334 Calories Burned

Sat 7.28.06
-No Workout

Sun 7.29.07
-Climb Brace Mountain, 3 hours 5 minutes (A trip report will be in a subsequent post)
-3.8 Miles
-145 AHR/177 MHR
-2,332 Calories Burned

WEEKLY TOTALS
-Training Time: 5 hours, 5 Minutes
-Calories Burned: 3,772

WEIGHT LOSS/BF%
-Starting Weight/BF%: 208lbs/32%
-7.30.07 Weight: 204.4 lbs/30.5%
-Weekly Change: -3.6lbs/-1.5%
-Total Change: -3.6lbs/1.5%

Weekly Plan 7.23.07 through 7.29.07

While writing my review for the past week, it occurred to me that it would also make sense to post my goals for the upcoming week. I'm going to try to do this on a weekly basis as well. For this week my goals, in no particular order, are to:

- Eat breakfast every morning (I usually skip breakfast and gorge myself during lunch and dinner);

- Record my food intake each day;

- Go on one hike or bike ride or do some other outdoor activity over the weekend;

- Total training time (NOT including weekend bike ride or hike) of 2 hours between Monday and Friday. My plan is to limit myself to either the elliptical machine or the stationary bike in the gym for this week because they're easiest on my joints. I plan reaching the 2 hours of time with 4 30 minute sessions. I'd like to get these workouts in during the morning, before work. But right now I'll settle for just getting them in, regardless of what time I do them.

Weekly Review 7.16.07 through 7.22.07

Part of the reason the Goodfellas resumed publishing here is to keep ourselves honest. In keeping with that goal, I plan to post, on a weekly basis, my progress with regards to physical training and weight loss.

At our planning meeting last weekend, AW and I resolved to start slowly with our training. We came up with a three pronged attack for this past week: 1) Accurately record our starting weight and body fat percentage; (2) Record whatever we ate for the week; and (3) Perform at least two physical activities, each lasting at least 20 minutes.

With respect to (1), I am starting at a weight of 208 pounds and 32% body fat, both of which are all time highs for me. I reviewed some of my prior training journals to see just how "far" I had fallen in terms of physical fitness. One year ago (July 2006) I weighed 190 pounds and had 28% percent body fat. Thus, in the past year I've added 4% body fat and approximately 18 pounds, that's ugly. I had some training journals from early 2005 (Feb to May), but at that time, for some reason (probably because I wasn't concerned about losing any weight at that time) I was not recording my weight, so I don't have totally accurate numbers from then. However, I do have a fairly good recollection that at time I weighed approximately 175 pounds. I had settled at that weight after approximately 2 and 1/2 months of continuous training (varying between 4 and 10 hours a week of cardio in anticipation of an expedition to Mount Rainer which never materialized). As a result, I have set a goal of weighing 175 lbs by the end of this year. I'll need to be at that weight in order to be able start training in earnest for the half ironman come January 2008. My feeling is that I need to be at that weight in order to allow my body (mostly my knees and back) to handle the longer running and biking training sessions.

With respect to (2), recording my food intake, I failed miserably. I only half-recorded my intake for Monday and part of Tuesday. However, I will say that I was more cognizant of what I was eating this week and made a deliberate attempt not to stuff myself at any one sitting.

Finally, with respect to (3), some physical activity, I passed with flying colors. I hit the gym three times this past week, the details of which are at the end of this post. For days which there are no notes, I did not work out.

TRAINING LOG

Tuesday 7.17.07- I went for an easy 20 minutes on the elliptical machine. The battery in my heart rate monitor was dead, so I don't have any stats from this workout. I will say that it was pretty ugly.

Saturday 7.21.07- I went for 30 minutes on elliptical machine in my apartment building gym at Level 9. In that time I covered 2 miles with an average heart rate of 136 and a max heart rate of 162. I burned 337 calories. After eating bar-b-que at my parents' house in the afternoon, I went for a 30 minute walk over a fairly hilly course on the streets near their house. I didn't have my heart rate monitor on, but going up some of the hills, I was only able to get out a couple of sentences at a time while talking to my companions before needing a breath. As a result, at those times I'd estimate my HR was up around 155 or so.

Sunday 7.22.07- 30 minutes on elliptical machine at Level 10. Covered 2.19 miles, 141 average heart rate, 155 max heart rate, burned 359 calories.

Weekly Total: 1 hour 50 minutes of training time. Remarkably, I have no soreness in my legs. Admittedly, I am taking it VERY easy. After over a year of little to no physical activity whatsoever I'm hesitant to push very hard at this point.

These old boys are calling...

Coming In Hot

The first stop on the Comeback Trail for the Goodfellas was an impromptu strategy and planning meeting in Lake Placid this past weekend. After Nipplehonker ("NH") finally decided to ditch his prior commitments for Saturday afternoon allowing for a Friday night departure, the Goodfellas settled on Lake Placid as a venue. We reserved a top of the line cabin at Whispering Pines Campground in Lake Placid.





Everything being an adventure for the Goodfellas, we coasted into the campground at 2AM on fumes as a result of poorly judging our fuel level and every gas station north of exit 25 on I-87 being closed. Immediately, the Goodfellas reverted to top form using their exceptional wilderness skills to create a large campfire worthy of this epic reunion. After the fire was tended to, the Goodfellas consumed fine libations courtesy of the Busch family, discussed their plans for the future, and then retired to bed at an hour that most would consider early morning.

Saturday morning brought a delightful round of golf at Whiteface Country Club.



After golf, the Goodfellas procured provisions for a feast and proceeded to stock their bodies with protein for the coming months of training.



After consuming their feast, the Goodfellas again built a prodigious campfire and proceeded to map out their plans for the coming year.



The discussion carried on late into the night and spilled over to the early morning. The result is this: the Goodfellas have mapped out two ventures for the coming year: (1) to compete in and complete the 2008 Florida Half Ironman (see link on right); and (2) a top secret 2008 Catskills venture which we believe would be the first of its kind. With respect to (2), the Goodfellas respectfully decline to elaborate any further in order to protect the virginity of the venture. While we would never expect another trail duo to "steal" our idea (the mountaineering ethos frowns upon such behavior), the venture would lose a great deal of its appeal to us should it first be completed by someone else. As time goes by and we come nearer to the starting date of this Catskills venture, we will reveal more details.

With respect to (1), the Goodfellas have laid out an ambitious weight-loss plan and subsequent training plan, the details of which are forthcoming in a later post. Of course, our efforts to train for the Florida Half Ironman will bring us to the mountains again as the mountains offer excellent training opportunities. You can expect those mountain excursions undertaken in the name of Ironman training to be fully reported and documented here in the coming months. These training sessions in the mountains will also, in most cases, serve the dual purpose of preparing us for our secret Catskills venture as well.

So, there is it...a broad road map for the Goodfellas upcoming year...stay tuned for more, we'll be coming in hot all year long.

We're Back

In a monumental event, the Goodfellas have unanimously decided, on the two-year anniversary of the birth of this blog, to emerge from retirement. We have some big plans for the remainder of 2007 and 2008. In future posts we'll get to the details of our new adventures. However, we'd like to tie up some loose ends before we get to that.

We know that our loyal fans have been waiting 2 years for the final trip report and conclusion of our 2005 Northeast Climbing Tour. For those who can wait no longer, the short version is this: we drove, we camped, we climbed, we drank, and we slept. After we summited Katahdin and returned home, we decided to hang up our boots and retire from the climbing game. Nipplehonker has not set foot on a trail since leaving Kahtadin. Asswrangler, in a moment of weakness, completed a solo ascent of Mt. Tremper in the Catskills last year. Otherwise, Asswrangler too has avoided the call of the mountains. Since the conclusion of the 2005 Tour, the Goodfellas have led rather ordinary and uneventful lives while toiling away for 'the man' at their white-collar jobs. The long hours chained to our desks and blackberries have taken their toll on our bodies and spirits. We have become mentally and physically soft. Today, the Goodfellas say "no more" and have begun plotting their triumphant return to greatness with the same vigor and enthusiasm that brought about the 2005 Tour. Stay tuned for further details.

PS- For those who can wait a bit longer, we'll be posting a full trip report with pictures of the 2005 Tour. Obviously, since we'll be writing the trip report nearly 2 years after the fact, it won't be as vivid as you'd normally expect. However, it will provide a satisfying conclusion to those who followed the planning and preparation stage of the 2005 Tour.

In the words of Al Bundy...Let's Rock

The day of reckoning is here. I'm about to leave Queens and head up to Pawling to meet Asswrangler later this afternoon. Hopefully he can get his sorry ass out of work slightly early so we don't arrive in Lake Placid after midnight. If not, the mountains will punish him.

In recent developments, Asswrangler and I have selected "Good Ol' Boys" by Waylon Jennings as the official theme song of our adventure (for those lame asses out there, this is the Dukes of Hazzard Theme Song). The official motto of our adventure is "The mountain might get 'em, but the law never will." Feel free to use these themes in any press releases or related paraphanalia about our adventure.

Asswrangler procured for us suitable transportation last night in the form of a rental vehicle, a Ford Escort I believe. Its no General Lee, but it will do.

If we get the chance and we run into an internet connection during our travels, we will be sure to post an update from the road. However, I will make no guarantees as to whether it will be comprehensible or not as our sobriety is likely to be kept to a minimum during the course of this trip.

If I don't return alive, kiss my ass....
Love,
Nipplehonker

Nipplehonker Takes Plateau Mt.

After the Goodfellas emotional reunion on Graham Mt., this past Saturday Nipplehonker was rolling solo again in the Catskills. I approached Plateau from Rt. 214/Stoney Clove via the Devil's Path. The first mile is hell. Between the heat that day and the fact that the trail gains nearly 2000 feet of elevation in the first mile, I was pretty depressed. The best views come from Orchard Point, an open ledge 1 mile in, after which the climbing ceases.




After snapping these pics, I strolled along the flat summit for nearly two miles. I was moving pretty quickly, so I didn't really notice much. Most folks write that they enjoy the summit of Plateau, but I found nothing special about it. In fact, I found it somewhat boring. From Orchard Point the trail gains 240 feet over 2 miles. The difference in elevation is not noticeable and one is hardly aware when they pass over the actual summit. At the far end is a small view of Kaaterskill and Roundtop Mts. through the trees. All in all, I completed the nearly 8 mile hike in 3 hrs and 20 minutes. The climb was difficult, but the recent training helped some.

Nipplehonker

The Goodfellas take on Graham Mtn

The bucolic relay tower on the summit greeted us to this fine Catskill summit. The excitement was unbearable. Graham is assuredly named after some douche bag so we found this a suitable peak for the Goodfellas to do somewhat of a cleansing climb. This trip confirmed that climbing mountains is indeed a sport for those who lack any thing resembling a life.

Nipplehonker Takes Panther Mt.

Now that the torture of the bar exam is over, I can devote myself full time to training for and preparing for the Tour.

Last Thursday night I once again drove up to Woodland Valley to camp for the night so that I could embark on a my second training climb. This time I tackled Panther Mt.. I drove up late Thursday night and the trip started with an exciting moment. About a mile down the road from the campground, a black bear jumped out in front of my car, ran down the street in front of my car for a few dozen feet, and then veered off into the woods. I have "seen" a black bear twice before, but neither time did I get a really good look at one. This was one of my best looks at one, albeit only from behind while he ran away from my car. As cool as it was to see one, it wasn't exactly the most comforting thing to see right before you're about to camp for the night. Unfortunately, my camera was in the trunk with the rest of my gear and I wasn't able to get a picture.

I arrived at Woodland Valley around midnight, set up camp and was asleep by 12:30 AM. Like last time, I was up early, around a quarter after 6 and was off before 7. I stopped at the White Shack Deli for breakfast again and was on the trail towards Panther by 7:45AM.

About a half hour later I hit the trail junction between the yellow blazed Denning-Woodland Valley trail and the blue blazed Giant Ledge-Panther Mt. trail.
Around 8:40AM I made it to Giant Ledge. At around 3200 feet, the views from Giant Ledge were great, much better than when I had last been on Giant Ledge in Feb. '04. I managed to snap a self-portrait using the timer on my camera and take a view other pictures of the great views while I relaxed on the ledge for about 10 minutes.


Below is the view of Cornell and Wittenberg Mts. from Giant Ledge.
Next the trail descended into the col between Giant Ledge and the summit of Panther Mt., from the col the trail climbs about 750 feet to the summit of Panther at 3720 feet. I managed to snap this self-portrait on the summit of Panther by rigging my camera to a tree. I plan on ordering a lightweight tripod from REI for the Tour and future trips to use for more of these self pics.

After a small rest break on the summit, I headed back toward the parking area and was in my car by 11:15, having covered the 6.6 miles in about 3 hours and 15 minutes. Just one week of training in the gym made a huge difference in my pace and how I felt compared to the last climb on Slide Mt.. Hopefully a solid month of hikes like this and daily training in the gym will make the climbs on the Tour marginally less painful.

Next up this weekend: Asswrangler and I have tentative plans to do an overnight in the Catskills, possibly Graham Mt. A full trip report will follow whatever we do. Later on in the week, I'll post the gear lists I've been working on and a more detailed report of my training since I have nothing better to do now.

Nipplehonker.

Of Mountains & Men Part Deux

"In the 1920’s when asked, 'Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?' and George Mallory asserted, 'Because it is there,' he was only stating the less important half of the equation. The unspoken half is that we are here. Striving and achieving is part of our nature, built into our genetic makeup. The evidence of man’s nature manifests itself in rocket ships to the moon, skyscrapers hundreds of stories high, and flags planted on summits all around the world."

-Erik Weihenmayer, blind mountaineer
Touch the Top of the World

Another good update.

Given that the bar exam is over next week, I suggest you stop shaving and use this blog as a journal of you facial hair growth. By the time of the trip, you would have some excellent growth.

Let me know what you think, inter alia.

Asswrangler