4,600 mile hiking trail!

I'm a bit misty eyed as I write this. Today may mark the last day that my photos run in the NY Times "Escapes" section. I have heard a nasty rumor that the section is slotted for removal by the paper. [ Curse you economy! ] I'm not really too upset. If this is the end of 3 years of getting paid to sail, camp, mtn. bike, climb, hike, ski, mountaineer, snowboard, etc... I think I can learn to cope. It has been absolutely amazing and I am grateful for each of the dozens of assignments I have been called on to shoot. So, farewell, old friend... you will be missed.

Today the article on the North Country Trail ran. This trail is kind of amazing. It will be all the more so when it is completed. I'll give it to you in a nutshell, but you need to go read the article for yourself. The trail starts in NY and (at this point) ends in North Dakota - making it twice as long as the Appalachian Trail (also the grandfather of N. American trail systems). Lace up yer boots!

Go read: NY Times article

Velodrome Season is back!

Of all the new things I have tried in the last few years ( yoga, criterium races, archery, maple syrup-ing, blogging, to mention a few) racing on the velodrome in Blaine, MN is among my new favorite things to do. If you have never seen it, I urge you (again) to visit the velodrome on a Thursday night sometime this summer.

I will soon be neck deep in a new photo project at the track. Stay tuned for shots from that. Till then you will have to make do with these regurgitated images from last summers' Fixed Gear Classic race weekend.



Seriously now, go watch some track racing.

Ragnarok Report

Me, about 1/5 of the way through the course.





Whew. Really glad to be done with this race and off my bike for a day or two. It turned out to be a fantastic day to race. Highs about 70 degrees and almost no wind. The dry, fast course made for some fast finish times. The winner blitzed the 105 miles in barely over 6 hours. He was hauling.

I managed to finish in 7.5 hours, which I felt really good about. I came in 25th overall and 4th in the single speed category. My bike set-up was really good and allowed me to climb almost all of the hills - though a few times I thought I might pop. The last 25-30 miles was a mental battle. I knew I could finish, but my body really wanted me to stop. I think a lot of people were dragging by that point, because only one person passed me in the last 25 miles. I felt like I was grinding to a halt and that everyone behind me would come whizzing by any minute. Not so, gladly.

I'm posting a link to a site that Scott Haroldson (Minneapolis wedding/portait shooter) maintains. He and a few buddies shot a lot of images. That is where I got these. If you'd like to take a look at more, go here: Ragnarok Photos.

Thanks to the race organizers for a great event - for free! I hope that I can do it again next year.

Off to rest now.

The Ragnarok 105 race

Tomorrow I am leaving my home at 5:00am in order to get to Redwing, MN in time for the start of the Ragnarok 105. It is not a very conventional race. It is as much an adventure race as a bicycle race. Riders must bring enough water and food for the duration of the race and cannot accept outside support in any way. It follows as many gravel roads (especially hilly ones) as the race directors could find. So, it is neither a road race, nor a mtn bike race. Racers are given "tulip" notes - a sort of simplified map to follow, and all of us are really hoping not to get off course. Every mile you ride in the wrong direction must be retraced. Add that to the 105 miles of normal race course and you get a REALLY long ride. Last years winners finished in a little over 8 hours. I hope to finish within 10. I am hopefully not as slow as that goal suggests, but am riding a single-speed bike and will cover ground a little slower than those with a full set of gears. Think - Tortoise and hare.

I am going to carry a small camera and hopefully get a few shots of the race course. It should be beautiful! Southern, river valley Minnesota is easy on the eyes. Lake City is like a little paradise tucked away in the hills. I just hope that the blinding pain will subside long enough for me to take a few images. I will post whatever I end up with sometime later this week.

To learn more about the "Race", click here.

Skiing Lutsen Mountain - Northern Minnesota

I love my job. I've said it a lot, but it bears repeating. One of the most fun days lately was going to Lutsen Mountain up on the north shore of Minnesota. It is a pretty large ski resort for the midwest - larger than I expected to see. It is known for its gondola lifts - not something you see too much of east of the Rockies. It was a great time. I am not a highly skilled boarder, but I make it work. Jim Vick, marketing director for the resort was kind enough to show me around the place and carry my bags, telling me " I haven't fallen in years". My equipment was much safer on his back. Thanks again, Jim!

Go read ski writer extraordinaire Stephen Regenold's first hand account of his times at Lutsen Mountain. Don't forget to watch the Slideshow too.

Hiking South Dakota: Harney Peak

Every time I ask people if they have heard of Harney Peak, nobody has. I certainly never had, but having hiked it, I try to preach it to people. If you fancy yourself a hiker and hike for the sake of seeing a beautiful place, then Harney Peak should be on your shortlist. It's in an area that is better known for Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park, so I think that explains why few know about it. The area is swarmed with families in campers pointing at mountain goats and bison from their air conditioned perches. That tends to repel the outdoorsy folks. The hike is not for the weak, but you do not need to be an adventure racer either. Just take water and snacks, and give yourself enough time. Even though I have climbed the trail, I already want to go back.

Go read the Article and watch the Slideshow and see if you agree that this is a place worth visiting.