Rondane is a raw and beautifull place in winter time - fantastic for Ski touring. We chose to go there in the beginning in January, outside the season. This way you can have the place for yourself and as soon as we left the lower marked parts of Rondane, we did not meet a single person for three days. The risk is that the weather can be extremely cold and harsh, but we were lucky and even though every day and night was between -20 to -25ºC, the sun was out, the sky was clear and the wind was hardly blowing at all.
The experiences you find in nature, cannot be found anywhere else. This summer I was mountaineering with three friends in the Alps, and it was no exception.
Saturday 21.07.2012
I met with my cousin at 10.00 am and threw my backpack, loaded with towels and waterbottles to add volume and weight, in the back of his car. The two others could not make it today, but the sun was shining, the temperature was around 25 ˚C and it was time for a good, long training walk.
We parked at the small parking lot at Poulstrup Sø, changed to our mountaineering boots, put on the backpacks and started walking.
The forrest stood in bright green colors and time flew past, as we enjoyed having nothing else to do than just walking and talking - Catching up since the last training trip. Living in each end of the country means that it is not that often we have the possibility to train and prepare together for the trip. After a coupple of hours we took a break, ate our lunch and rested a bit in a sunny spot on a open grassfield. Our feet, back and shoulders felt fine, so we agreed to walk the same, two hour route, back to the car.
After four hours of walking, and still without any pain or troubles, we made it back to the car happy and in great speed. It seems that we, and all the gear, is ready for the mountains.
Wensday 22.08.2012
The last couple of days we have been in the mountains with Paolo, who is a Italien mountainguide and a instructor on the Italien mountainguide and rescue education. He has been teaching us about safety and crevase rescue and helped us prepare our six summit tour. A amazing guy with lots of experience and he challenged us in every way. (If you ever want a course in the Monta Rosa area, then look up Paolo. You can contact him through Mountain Spirit Guides).
It has been two great days of learning and having fun, but it is also hard to get up in the altitude, without much acclimatization, and then following a guy who is used to the thinner air.
The body has worked hard and the optimal would have been to take a coupple of days for acclimatization before the course, but to get the most of the time that we are here, we have chosen to do it this way. It is also good to get the feeling of being a bit out of breath and exhausted sometimes.
Right now we are having a day off in the valley, resting and preparing the next tour on the mountain. So fare this has been done with a lot of food, water and enjoying the sunshine while our gear is drying before being arranged and packed again.
Friday 24.08.2012
Today we was forced down the mountain by bad weather. Yesterday we made the final preparations for our five summit tour and after a look at the weather report, which said it was going to be a cloudy afternoon with better weather in the evening, we decided to make a go for it. We left Alagna and headed up the mountain at around 13.00 and to begin with everything seemed perfect.
Unfortunately, as we got higher up the mountain, the weather kept getting worse. When we arrived at the bottom of the first glacier, the sky hit us as hard as it could with hard winds, hail and rain. We literally fought our way across the glacier, standing still and covering us self as much as possible when the hails was worst and at one time the wind pushed us back about three meters.
Just as we reached the other side, where we could take cover behind the cliff that we had to climb next, the weather cleared as out of nowhere. The wind stopped blowing, the hail and rain stopped and the sun started to break through. After a short, well deserved rest, we agreed that it seemed as if the weather report would keep what it promised and decided to keep going. The rest of the walk to our camp spot was accompanied by sun and blue sky, and for the rest of the afternoon and evening, it seemed as if the good weather would keep on.
However - during the night we woke up to the sound of rain on the tent, and when we stood up at 05.00 this morning to get going, heavy clouds was on their way towards the mountain. The temperatures was to high for walking in the glacier snow and if we made it to the top of the mountain before the thunder clouds arrived, we would probably just get stuck up there. Therefore we decided that the only right thing to do, was to accept that the weather had made a 180 turn, and get down the mountain before getting trapped in a thunder storm.
Monday 27.08.2012
After being forced down the mountain by bad weather three days ago, finally the weather has cleared and we are again on the mountain, ready for our three days, five summits tour.
Today we walked up to our campsite in about 3600m., put up the tents and preparred for tomorrow.
Now the bags are packed with what we need for the next two days, and we have done a bit of practice with the ropes, to refresh safety and rescue techniques. The mood is high, the weather report looks good and we can not wait to get going, but right now we are enjoying the quiet evening on the mountain and getting ready to eat, rest and sleep.
Tuesday 28.08.2012
After a quick breakfast in the sleeping bags we got out of the tents at 05.00 AM. It was a cold, beautiful morning with a clear sky, and after putting on the gear, we started to walk up the mountain. Around 10.50 we were at the bottom of Zumsteinspitze and after a snack and shortening the ropes, we went for the top. At first the sky was blue and the sun was shining, but just as we were halfway up, clouds blew over the mountain from the Swiss side. We agreed that the clouds did not look as if they were bringing thunder and therefore we decided to keep going. At 11.40 we were standing on the top of Zumstein in 4563m. The Swiss side was covered in clouds, and a cold wind was blowing on the top, but still we took a bit of time to enjoy the moment, before we headed back down.
At the bottom of Zumstein our next goal was waiting right in front of us. The top of Signalkuppe and Europes highest placed mountain hut. On the way up to Signalkuppe, the clouds dissapered just as quickly as they had come. The last steps for the day was made in just as beautiful weather as the first ones. At 13.15 we were at the top of Signalkuppe and took shelter in the mountainhut.
Here we are now, enjoying a cup of hot, fresh made coffee and killing time until we goes to sleep. Beside feeling a bit light headed from a long day and the high altitude, we are all feeling fine. Locals told us how sleeping in the hut could be a nightmare for some mountaineers because you walk up to the hight and stay there for sleeping instead of walking a bit down again, but it seems that we have spent enough time in the hights the last 10 days, not to have this problem.
Wensday 29.08.2012
Again we woke up to a beautiful morning. We got up at 05.00 AM and after a quick breakfast we packed our bags and left the hut. However a bit later than planned, because I could not find my hat! - Luckily we found it, because the wind showed it self from the really cold side today. The goal was three tops on the way back down the mountain and to our campsite.
The first top was Parrot in 4436m. On the way to the top we had the most fantastic morning view. The sun rising over the mountains made it look as if they kept going forever. After a break, admiring the view, we continued to the top.
The wind had picked up during the night, and as soon as we were no longer sheltered by the side of the mountain, it got really cold. Only one way to get warm - after some photos on the top and taking a look at the view - we kept going.
We climbed down the other side of Parrot, where there was a bit of shelter for the wind, and headed towards Ludwigshöhe. The whole way up to Ludwigshöhe was on the wind side of the mountain, but putting on a fleece and some thicker gloves made it all more comfortable. After Ludwigshöhe in 4342 m. we headed further down the mountain where Balmenhorn was going to be the last top of the trip. A small, easy top in 4167m., but with a great view of the area and the tops on the Monte Rosa Massif.
The rest of the way back to our camp was a good, fast and fun walk, and after some lunch, we packed up the camp and headed down to the valley for a deserved Pizza and a cold beer.
The team: From left; Søren, Thomas, Karsten (me), Henrik
Ariving at Willingen at around 11 pm, the rain had more or less stopped, so we found a good spot, close to the lift station, and sat up our tents. During the night we had a bit of rain, but when we woke up at 8 am, the sun was shining from a clear blue sky.
The first day we started with a slow run to check out the lines. After the first run, we standing in the line for the lift, and got to talk with a german guy. Soon after another guy entered the conversation, because he had heard we were speaking english. He told he was from California and was there to do some work. When we got to the start of the DH track, he suggested that he could go first and show us the lines, because he knew the track. He went flying down the mountain taking the biggest, fastest line on every section of the track. We followed him down, going in front when he stopped, so that we could see his lines, set off and landings. We thought: "SHIT! These lines are sick and this guy is ripping it" but it was the best start we could get, because now we had seen how to do it, so there was only one thing left to do - Practice the lines and do it. Later on I found out that the guy was Rose rider Bobby Root and he was in Willingen to teach at some courses. I can only suggest to everyone, that if you want to go to Willingen and want to have some professional teaching and develop your riding, then you should get in contact with Bobby. He is a cool guy and just looking at his riding inspires you to push your limits. By the end of our first day in Willingen, I was riding most of the big line and was ready to continue the work the following day. There was a big hip jump and three other sections that I still needed to hit the fastest lines on, but they were not impossible. During the night it rained heavily, but when we woke up the sky was just as blue as the day before. However the track was pretty muddy and some sections on it was slippery as hell. It was not the ideal conditions for trying new lines, and after taking a pretty hard crash, because of a slippery rock section, I decided that today was not the day for trying new stuff and instead I tried to get even faster on the things I had started with the day before. We only had until 13 pm. where we had decided to go back to Denmark, so the track would not have the time to dry up before we had to go and instead of taking the risk and maybe injuring myself, I took a lot of runs, just having fun on the lines I already knew. This was defiantly not my last visit at Willingen and next time I am going to try the last things that I did not get to do this time.
The last day in Bad Wilbad turned out to be a tuff one for both people and bikes. It started out with Daniel going down hard on a root/rock session, hurting his knee, elbow and a rib or two. We hope he can be ready for Willingen tomorrow, but right now his rib hurts a bit and his knee and elbow still needs to get back to normal size. After that Anders had an encounter with a rock that for some reason did not move. Instead it got a nice white paintjob from Anderses fork - unfortunately damaging the inner leg of the fork as well. However after some fine craftmanship by Anders and some sandpaper, the innerlegs was fixed and able to take on a rematch against the track. After that it was my turn. In a second of unawerness, I hit a root that I was not ready for - resulting in me lying flat on my stomach eating dirt. Fortunatly it only cost me a scratched elbow and a big hole in my bodyarmor. My Scott bodyarmor proved to be my best friend in this situation.
It is all part of the game and other than that it was another awesome day with nice weather a perfect track, good runs and a lot of fun.
Right now we are on our way to Willingen, driving through some heavy rain that we hope to pass before we get there!
Bad Wilbad with a perfect bluebird and a track that got better and better with every run. It is a must try for every downhiller and I am defiantly coming back. By the end of the day we were hitting everything there was to hit on the track and I am looking forward for Willingen after shredding this track, but first we have another day on this awesome track here in Bad Wilbad. The Giant keep on impressing me. Every time I find something bigger or rougher than what I have done before, it just goes straight through it. I have still not managed to find anything where I do not feel confident on the Glory.
The road trip is on. The car is packed, the mood is high and the highway is as good as empty. We are on the way -First stop Todnau and the Downhill tracks of south Germany.
I will post updates if i get near internet. If not the full story will come when we get back do Denmark.
The recipe of a good Sunday in my life could look something like this:
A 26 km. mountainbiketrack with four friends, two hours of bouldering followed by a couple of big homemade burgers and a movie with another good friend.
I tested it last sunday and yes - I can recommend this recipe to everyone who is looking for a good sunday.
This last week summer has shown its true face in Copenhagen. It has been a week with sun, low wind and temperatures around 20*C. That means outdoor climbing, beach volley, slack lining and perfect weather for parkour and mountainbiking. You can probably guess that I love summer and this first week of good weather was spent with all of the above mentioned activities together with good friends, enjoying the good weather.
The first race of the Dust cup 2012 was held on Amager as a single start race. The track was 3,5 km. long and we had to go four rounds - fastest time won.
The climbs was not that long, but they were pretty steep and there was a lot of them. There was one really good jump and a pretty fun drop on the track. Hitting the jump and the drop was probably not the fastest way, but it was without a doubt the funniest - for both riders and spectators. I finished the race on a 35th place, in my class, in the time 43:31 min.
The next race is coming up this week and I hope to be in a better shape - without sickness and other stuff to hold me down. I am looking forward to see the track for race 2 and to see how the competition will be this time. People can race the whole cup or just ride a single or a coupple of races, so you never know how hard the competition will be.
"I have to say that this is one of the best, most versatile and fun tracks I have ridden in Denmark. It is really well marked and there is a bit of something for every kind of riding in it."
At easter I travelled to Northern Jutland, where my family lives. One of the days, I met up with my cousin to do some mountainbiking and orientation running, before sitting down to arrange some of our mountaineering trip this summer. My cousin had a mountainbike track he wanted to show me and he had some maps of the area and planned a 9km orientation run in a mix of forrest, sandy hills and beach to finish it/us of.
I have to say that this is one of the best, most versatile and fun tracks I have ridden in Denmark. It is really well marked and there is a bit of something for every kind of riding in it. There was especially one part of the track that I really enjoyed - actually so much that I had to stop and cheer a bit after riding down it. If I was still living in northern jutland, I would be building a push bike downhill track there. It was a pretty long, quite fast and technical section with some good size roots and loose sand - going down - off course. It would be a perfect place to put in some burms and jumps - but I do not live there, and it is a lot of fun just the way it is on a 100mm XC bike. If you are in Denmark and have not been riding at Svinkløver - you have to put it on your list of future places to ride!
After finishing the 25 km mountainbike track, we made a quick change into running gear and headed back into the forrest for our orientation run. It was a great terrain for off-road running, with varying running surfaces from dirt to sand to hard packed forrest roads to beach running. There was some good steep climbs and the view from the top of the hills and out to the ocean was amazing. The last 2 km. of the run was on the beach, which was really soft and really hard to run in, so my legs was pretty happy when we made it back to where we started.
"A quick stop for a picture before running down the hill to the beach, to the finish"
"Bottom line: If your body is tired - get it some rest. If you are tired - get yourself some sleep. If you do not have the possibility to rest or sleep at the point of feeling tired - then do it as soon as you can. If you get the opportunity to rest and sleep, but stays up late to watch a stupid movie and surfing the internet instead, then you goddamn had it coming and you have been just as stupid as me ;)."
The last two to three weeks my training has been on overload. First getting ready for the Fitness.dk MTB race, then the race itself, and after the race I had one and a half week with training everyday. A mix of running, mountainbiking, bouldering and parkour. I did not really think about it - if I had, I had probably given my self a break once and a while, but I felt strong and in good shape. Right until last wensday. When i woke up, my body felt tired, really tired - like a beaten piece of meat. I knew that this was my body telling me what i already knew - If you push it to hard for to long, at some point it goes from making you stronger to making you weak. Luckily - this day was already planned to be spent at traveling from one end of Denmark to the other. Unluckily one of the reasons for why I traveled from one end of Denmark to the other was that, the next day, I was going to have a training session with my cousin, who is also one of the guys that I am going to Mont Blanch with. Our plan was to do a 21km. mountainbike track and then a 9 km. orienteering run afterwards.
There only was one thing to do. Get as much rest, food and sleep as I could on one day and then see how it would go.
The next day I felt pretty good again - a bit heavy in my legs, but I was surprised how much one day of power resting had given me. Maybe my body had been kind enough to send out the warning signal before shutting down completely. We did what we had planned to do and I had no problems on the way. The last two kilometers of the run was on the beach in some killer loose sand, so when we made it to the finish point, my legs was heavy as stone, but they had carried me through and I was ready for a couple of days rest and relaxation with the family in the easter holidays.
The day after I felt surprisingly well. When i woke up, my legs actually felt better then they did the day before, and I felt pretty on top of things. I went out to help a bit in the garden that was being prepared for the spring. In the evening I started feeling tired, but instead of listening to my body saying: "I have been nice to you and recovered fast. Now give me some sleep!" I stayed up late, watching a movie and looking for mountaineering gear at the internet. Stupid! The next day I had to get up for a appointment and I was so tired and off course I could feel a cold sneaking in on me. Even though I relaxed as much as possible the rest of the day - ate lots of fruit, vegetables, garlic, ginger and whatever else is said to help, it was to late and the next day I felt like shit. All of that Sunday and Monday I could not do anything but relax and blow my nose.
Now it is tuesday and I am once again sitting in the train, traveling from one end of Denmark to the other. Thankfully I am feeling better, but the cold has still got the best of me and I am only wishing that I have learned a lesson from this. I have done it before - training to much and having to bite the grass for it. Probably I am going to try it again sometime, because sometimes the body just cannot handle as much training as it normally can, but I hope this is the last time that I am going to ignore the signals of my body and refusing it to get some sleep and proper rest, even though it has already sent me all the warning signals that it can. How stupid is that?
Bottom line: If your body is tired - get it some rest. If you are tired - get yourself some sleep. If you do not have the possibility to rest or sleep at the point of feeling tired - then do it as soon as you can. If you get the opportunity to rest and sleep, but stays up late to watch a stupid movie and surfing the internet instead, then you goddamn had it coming and you have been just as stupid as me ;).
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