Summer in the ADK's

Hey team,

Hope everyone is having an awesome summer. Following Eric’s post about his adventures out west, I figured I’d write a long overdue update on my summer in the Adirondacks. As many of the current members of the team know, I am working at a rustic family resort called Timberlock. The camp is located on Indian Lake, right in the middle of the Adirondacks. It’s a place where families come for a week’s vacation, to cabins with no electricity, no cell service, and limited and slow internet. Being unplugged is a great experience, and something everyone should try. Check out the camp website (www.timberlock.com) for more info, I’ll also post some pictures when I have faster internet.

I’ve worked at Timberlock for 5 summers, and have spent many summers as a guest before that. My dad’s family has been coming for years, and he was on staff when he was in high school and college. It is really hard to describe my job, as it shifts every day. I can go from serving breakfast, to cutting trees and building horse trail in the morning, go back to serving lunch, then teach people how to waterski in the afternoon, and then serve dinner, before calling it a day. It’s a busy day, but the fact it constantly changes every day is a lot of fun.

In this crazy schedule it is hard to find time to train. In the few hours I get off in the afternoons I usually have time to squeeze in a workout, though sometimes the work I did that day is more than enough for a workout. I subscribe to the old school workout method like Terko mentions in his blog, occasionally I’ll split wood or do other manual labor for my workout for the day. My one full day off a week also is a chance to do epic adventures. I have done many long mountain hikes and runs on my days off, like Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge mountains in the rain and fog today.

Looking at other people’s training logs; it seems everyone is having a lot of fun this summer. I’d love to hear more about other people’s adventures. I’m in the Adirondacks until August 4^th, and then I fly out to Denmark for my semester abroad on the 18th. I’d be interested in a hiking adventure in the Whites or the Adirondacks before I leave for Europe, let me know if you’re interested in making it happen. Hope everyone has a good rest of summer,

Bill

Training out West: Sun Valley, ID

I arrived in Sun Valley, ID about 16 days ago. Before driving across the country training in Burlington in the morning and working in the afternoon was getting a little repetitive. Not that I couldn't have continued to do that all summer, but I decided to take the opportunity to move west with my brother (Ben) and a bunch of other Middlebury skiers. Together, Ben and I went from VT onto Interstate 80 and from there continued on the same road at the same 75 mph for three days. With only one "slip up" near Chicago the drive went very smoothly. Turns out you can't get a hotel if you're under 21. Pretty frustrating as I am pretty close to that age. No big deal the Honda Element sleeps two comfortably.

On arrival Ben and I promptly looked around town and fell asleep in our new home. The next morning was a 1.5 hour double pole with the other Sun Valley ski teamers.... at 8 AM. I don't think I have ever had such a hard time moving on roller skis. I've been at altitude before this, at JNs this past spring. But I was really feeling it coming off a tiring car ride. Anyway it took a while to get used to the lack of oxygen here. It really hit me at the 10 km race that I signed up for without really knowing what it was. Turns out you run up a mountain twice. Uphill running has never been a strong point in my training so this was an experience. Overall, it was a good effort but I was really feeling the altitude.

Since then, Ben and I have had some amazing experiences, seeing a friend's cabin on Lake Pettit, running through the Sawtooth Mountain range, mountain biking up Bald Mountain, rafting down the Salmon River, and hiking over 11,000 ft at Mount Glassford. I do find it a little difficult to do anything but adventure out here. Workouts like strength in a stuffy gym and the Canadian Strength Test, while crucial, are frustrating with mountains all around me. Nonetheless, I am excited for future workouts and future adventures. 

I'll post some photos of the trip so far.


Also, I'd love to hear from some other teammate's summers so feel free to add!

Eric

 Saying goodbye to Burlington

 Ben chillen in the Honda Element Lounge

 Next time we'll will fly over Nebraska

 First glimpse of mountains after Nebraska. This is either Colorado or Wyoming, can't remember

 Bike up Bald Mountain

 Working our way up Glassford

 Ben @ Glassford

Cant say no to these mountains