Thank you alert readers of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ADVENTURE Magazine who spotted the quote and picture of “Controversial Steve Ilg” on page 34 of the November issue. Good thing i am no longer a sponsored athlete however, since the image of me is one in poling transition while inline skiing and the editor unwittingly reversed the slide so that my Sponsor’s jersey at the time cannot be read! Mainstream America still remains amazingly uneducated in the vast array of beautiful outdoor sports and modalities.
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FIRST TRACKS BABY!!!!!!!
Back in Rocky Mountains, the absolute worst sin an outdoor athlete could make was to miss out on the First Tracks of the First Winter Storm of each year. I’ve always had a knack for grabbing the Hole Shot and today was no exception baby! it’s hard to beat ol’ Coach to the first snow! This morning, i nabbed it again…some say LA is a horrible place. Well, not MY LA! come on, Noble Fitness Warrior…the first snow of the season is FAR too important for you to miss! Come, i’ll take you along on my snowshoe workout this morning:
The nearest snow line to me is on the east side of the San Gabriel Mountains…it’s about an hour and fifteen minutes away, up Highway 14.
AHHH!!!! My first sight of snow for the year! This, to me, is what a REAL BIRTHDAY is all about! Mother Nature’s birthdays have always been of far more meaning to me than human birthdays. The Dance of Brahma orchestrated by Vishnu, watched over by Siva…who waits for Spring!
Neoprene Warrior! Neoprene socks, running shoes with an overbootie, Goretex� pants, and of course Atlas sport snowshoes! Minimal equipment, maximal fitness training and fun!
SWEEEETT!!!!!!!!! HOW I ADORE MY BEAUTIFUL LIFELONG and LOYAL FAMILY OF SNOW, WIND, AND TREES!!!!!!
Hollowed trunk of Ponderosa…
…lifting her limbs toward Father Sky!
My route went up a gorgeous little creekbed which held for my eyes only…
..such quaint splashes of magic! Thank You God for gifting me physical fitness and the ability to APPRECIATE your Work!
i think “ilg” must mean “up” in Teutonic Germanic…this mountain yogi is always happiest when i find a mountain steep enough to make my spine shiver…looks like i found one!
Crotch shot at 7,800’…what it looks like to my view; sport snowshoeing up steep terrain is totally ‘Blue Collar’, baby! head down, hands drive into the snow, feet kick the spikes of the snowshoes into the steep snow and you just keep doing this over and over…i maintained a steady climbing tempo for 35 minutes, drenched in sweat, singing with spirit, until…
i climbed my way directly into a fractured granite headwall! EXCELLENT!!! Upward, Onward Noble Warrior!
some sections of the Headwall were steep enough i had to take gloves off and make some rock climbing moves…
the Art of Snowshoeing up granite cliffs! Mountain Yoga 101…i LOVE IT, BABY!!!! Air beneath ones britches is what keeps life full and passionate! CHI UP or it will be a “Direct Lines” straight down!
“The Gods speak clearest when your heart rate is Highest!” – Coach Ilg in Zone 4 Heart Rate…nearly sucking Goose Eggs!
After 1 hour of climbing over 25% steep, thigh deep snow i reached the top ridge…now the SUPER FUN PART!!! What goes up, must come down! The most effective way to get down steep, technical slopes like this? Start what i call, “intentional avalanches,” and just run and glide and sometimes swim on top of the mini slab avalanches! it’s GREAT FUN! SNOW SURFING baby! Heart Rate and Adrenalin Rate stay way high on the descent!
The best tracks a human can leave; snowshoe tracks. Without snowshoes, human civilization may not have ever survived. Snowshoeing…a real sport for real fitness warriors! I consider snowshoes the winter equivalent to bicycles…vital for a fitness warrior’s spiritual education and appreciation of our human Tribe. Wanna walk on water? Go snowshoeing baby!
Wholistic Fitness�…since 1982…we’ve been more than just out there…we’ve been IN THERE!
May this DL ignite your Tribal Spirit and may you find the Dance Of The Winter Warrior Within Your Workout today!
i bow to you,
your feeble coach
These teachings are the "Rasas" or "sap" of Wholistic Fitness. You’ll find insights to ponder, student chi to keep your own chi topped off, and plenty of proven training techniques to test on your own body, mind, and spirit! Also, you’ll find my very popular Race Reports, and news of our Sangha’s (community’s) latest transpersonal fitness adventures!