Stephen Koch

I love swimming, and going for dips in extremely cold water is great too…it is invigorating, a way to appreciate warm clothes, environments, the sun and to simply have an intense physical experience that is psychologically challenging too.
This morning I went for a short run, which I rarely do, with my host in Chicago, Gene [...]

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If you are training for mixed martial arts or for your next UFC/cage match, adding ice climbing on an indoor wall or cave will benefit you with stronger hands, forearms (both good for grappling) as well as back and biceps (good for all around strength and punching power) as well as a strong core (good [...]

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This is a short video of Kim Young and me doing part of our Mountain Athlete workout (see below video for workout) today. I enjoyed having Kim to workout with. She works hard and is a talented and dedicated athlete. Additional comments that I sent to Rob Shaul, my Coach and the main man at [...]

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Below is part of an answer to a question a reader had. He is getting back into climbing after taking some time off and asked my suggestion for how to go about the training to prepare for his launch onto the rock.
Whether you are training for rock, ice or mixed climbing, the most important thing [...]

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This post is from an email conversation I had with (I believe) Lou Dawson, blog master of www.wildsnow.com and a visionary ski descent master to boot, several years ago. I try to define the nuances of mountain descents. I would love to know your comments…
Stephen Koch rides some firm ’snow’ on Puncak Jaya, New Guinea, [...]

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Below is a short video of my son, Axl Luke, running and playing before bed recently. At the end of the video he offers me some words of wisdom which are quite appropriate at the moment.

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Stephen Koch
This was first published in Alpinist Magazine in June, 2004.
On January 17 at 4:45 a.m. Mark Newcomb and I began the Grand Traverse, a route that comprises ten peaks (in order: Teewinot, Owen, Grand Teton, Middle Teton, South Teton, Ice Cream Cone, Spalding, Gilkey’s Tower, Cloudveil Dome and Nez Perce) in Grand Teton National [...]

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I had a great time at the 2009 Ouray Ice Festival and Competition.
This was the second year I competed and I am very pleased with my 5th place finish. Last year I did not make it into the finals. My success this year must have had a great deal to do with the weight of [...]

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On Sunday I drove to the Grand Teton National Park with my family for something fun to do because it was too cold (-28) to go skiing with my son Axl, age 2 1/2. As we drove north on the highway the first crown I noticed was one I had seen the day before from [...]

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This is a short video of me from Mountain Athlete, the gym where I train, in Jackson, WY. I was able to figure 4 many more times than just a couple weeks ago, so I know I am getting stronger from the training. My goal for all this training was to make the finals at [...]

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