Summer Mountain Biking in Minnesota

Riding my non suspension bike, shooting a short vid, a little bumpy. It's great to get out in the woods.

We caught up to 2 guys ahead of us later in the ride. One of them hit a skunk on a twisty section and got sprayed, the smell was unbearable. We stayed ahead of them the last 2 or 3 miles back to the trailhead. I'll bet that was a nasty ride home for those 2 in their car. The spray got on him and his clothes and all over his bike. Never had that happen to me.

Jeremy Jones

Check out my link to Jeremy Jones. The guy just finished 27 days in remote Alaska with a group of guys that are at the start of a 2 year filming project. The goal for Jeremy is to explore remote areas on snowboards using primarily human power, to film their experiences and open new ideas.

They were flown in by a bush airplane to a remote area in Alaska on a glacier. Then set up a base camp from which they would hike up to the surrounding peaks. One or two runs a day, then back to base camp. It sounds like Cliff Bars were one of the major food sources... they are fairly easy to prepare. Read his story to find out more.

New Training Blog

I'm starting to ramp up a new blog geared toward athletes in training for... well anything, biking, snowboarding, ice hockey, hiking, endurance training, ect.. My email is on it and I posted a few sample weekly training schedules. I'm still trying to find a good format. Any questions are good and I can help work with training issues.

The link is, MJ HALL / ADVENTURES / Training on my link list. The site is slightly different, at www.mhall-mtb-snow.blogspot.com

I've got over 35 years experience coaching, personal training, motorpacing bicyclists with a motorcycle, running clinics, consulting and competing in hockey, mountain biking, snowboarding, Ski Patrol, mountain backcountry snowmobiling (powder boonedocking... ever try to wrestle a 500 pound machine in 6-9 feet of powder. Not ditch banging, or trail riding, big difference). Have much experience with altitude and adapting. How about airline flying with 2 bikes and 200+ pounds of gear. Questions? I'll try and help.

Any ideas, comments, link to the new site and comment or drop me an email.

Thanks, Mike

THINK SNOW!!

Going out to Snowboard Patrol today. Getting out about 3 times a week right now. Haven't done any trips for over a month. Just boarding here keeps ya sharp, the snow has been soft during the day and stiffens up in the evening.

Try to find some time for a run out to the mountains soon. There's plenty of snow out there.

I put a new link to Jeremy Jones on my blog links, check it out. The best big mountain snowboard rider in the world. The guy rocks in Alaska in some videos, just punch in his name on u-tube or check out this trailer.

Teton Gravity Research :: TGR TV :: Video Viewer:: "Lost and Found: Teaser 2"

March Maddness

Spring Storms

I have 12 years of snowboarding and winter travels, with more and more winter backcountry travel, along with a fair share of backcountry mountain biking. My wife and I have done several mountain bike trips to the Marble, Crested Butte area of Colorado, awesome rides. Someday I want to do a winter travel trip to this area. I bought a book a while back, Dawson's Guide / Colorado Backcountry Skiing by Louis Dawson, check it out.

I have been using my sled to access areas, scouting terrain for snowboarding. I mentioned earlier about learning to ride the snowmobile, it takes time to master riding in the mountains. If I get myself into a tough situation I want to be able to handle it. My plan was to ride with riders that were more experienced than myself. It really has paid off. I had the chance to ride with 2 different groups this past January, both trips were total powder fests. We got feet of snow not inches. It was a great challenge, with some great boonedocking in the trees. I found some potential snowboard slopes on each trip.

Boarder Patrol / Sneakin up and getting the wave off.

Ski Patrol / Board Style

Snowboarding under the lights.

Arctic Cat 660 4 stroke Turbo / Wide Track

Training

-2 Degrees

Cold Smoke