Monthly Archives: August 2011

Preparing for 80 miles in the wilderness

I’m collecting information, gearing up, getting permits and getting ready to do the Central Wilderness Grand Tour in the Golden Trout Wilderness in CA. The book Hiking the Golden Trout Wilderness has a complete description of this backpack. The book … Continue reading

Posted in Trips | Tagged | 5 Comments

Acute Mountain Sickness strikes

On a backpack this weekend up the Fish Creek Trail to San Gorgonio (11,503′), my backpacking partner was struck with Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) on Aug 20.  As with all of the cases I have run into including the times … Continue reading

Posted in Trips | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Tyre training modification

After half-wasting another chain into metal dust, I carved a hole in the old tire with a 1/2″ drill bit. After a couple of cuts, I was able to punch through a link to the outside of the tire. Now … Continue reading

Posted in Training, Training session | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Training session – tire dragging

Dragging tire around neighborhood: 35 minutes Getting that tire uphill is a beast.  I need to measure how much pulling force needed to move the tire so I can get on target as quickly as possible. Tore through the chain … Continue reading

Posted in Training session | Leave a comment

Tyre dragging vs the chain

After tearing through 3/16 chain in a half hour, I decided I needed to step it up with a much heavier chain.  For this 40 minute session, I dropped by Home Depot this morning and purchased some beefy chain. As … Continue reading

Posted in Training | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Breaking the chain

When purchasing a chain to drag a tire along the road, the first concern is to make sure the chain is long enough to wrap around the tire.  Virtually any classic chain will do.  At least I thought. I wanted … Continue reading

Posted in Training | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Rossignol BC 90 Positrack Backcountry Skis Review

The Rossignol BC-90 Positrack Backcounty skis ended up being a great ski for me on my second expedition across Yellowstone in January 2011. In Jan 2010, I had the 189 skis with no skins and could not tow my sled … Continue reading

Posted in gear | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tire chains

Training for the south pole trekking can be a daunting task.  On top of all the coordination with different companies, you have to be extremely fit to even consider attempting this.  If you look at the baseline fitness training schedule … Continue reading

Posted in Training | Leave a comment

Getting to the pole via a swimming pool

The first humans arrived at the South Pole 100 years ago.  It was essentially a race between several of the world’s best explorers of their age: Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton.  One made it and returned, another died on the way … Continue reading

Posted in Home | Leave a comment