Post Lake Michigan Winter Swim

This morning I went for a short run, which I rarely do, with my host in Chicago, Gene Marcowka, seen below in the running photos. What a beautiful morning we had getting out early for the short run and swim. It was quite tricky running with verglas (thin layer of ice) in places. It was reminiscent of being in the mountains after a fall storm, potentially treacherous.

Gene running along the shore of Lake Michigan.

A couple friends, musicians who I know through the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole, came over this morning for a workout after my run with Gene (and a warm shower to heat up my toes and fingers!). We did a bunch of Burpees, tele-lunges, wall sits, hamstring exercise, dips, core workout and my favorite, simply jumping up as high as possible from a crouch and repeating 10 x! These and other exercises are available on Mountain Athlete’s website.

Off to Northwestern to give a lecture to music students about keeping your cool under extreme circumstances. For me it was during and after a 2,000 foot fall in an avalanche. For them it will be during auditions!

I am taking a deep, relaxing breath right now, which reminds me to be more conscious of the ever present moment, all that is. And I, and the world, benefit.

Stephen Koch

I spoke yesterday at the Sports Academy in Krakow, Poland, to about 120 students. The school is for those studying physical therapy, athletics and hotel management, among other things.

My host was Mikolaj Bielanski (first name pronounced Nikolash more or less…so challenging this lovely Polish Language due to sounds we do not have in English…voul/voul/voul etc.), I met in Zakopane, while hiking and trying to climb in the Tatra Mountains.

Actually tried to change my ticket to come home and work, despite having a wonderful time in Poland, but it would have been $800, so I am staying another few days in Poland.

I am missing my family but if I had to be “stuck” anyplace, Krakow Poland is top on the list! The people (my experience has been in Lodz, Krakow and Zakopane) are kind, generous, warm, helpful and have gone out of their way my entire trip to make my stay in Poland an absolutely wonderful experience. And this is despite not being able to climb in the mountains. I have been getting schooled on the many small limestone crags around Krakow and Zakopane!

In the city center of Krakow there is an old limestone quarry that has a long traverse for bouldering and several drytooling and rock climbing routes to train on! Incredible to see and experience all the climbing people have access to from a beautiful city of over 700,000 people.

Krakow is the former capital of Poland. Story goes something like this…King way back was from Sweden or Norway and wanted to be closer to his mother so moved the show to the countryside (formerly Warsaw).

I am heading out for a drytooling session with the interpreter I was going to have for the Krakow Mountain Festival. I say was because I am not going to speak there due to a conflict with the Lodz (pronounced woodge more or less) Explorer’s Festival. Anyway I am excited to hear Rapheal Slawinski and Tommy Caldwell speak as well as see the films from Banff Mountain Film Festival which I missed when they rolled through Jackson.

Looking forward to hearing how the snow is back home and getting out for some turns on the Pass and at the Village soon, and to taking Axl skiing!!!
Cheers,

Stephen

3 grudnia 2009 r. (czwartek), g. 15.30

Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego w Krakowie
Sala G – budynek główny (Al. Jana Pawła II 78)

Stephen Koch (USA)

Opowie o swoich niezwykłych dokonaniach.

Stephen Koch jest zawodowym przewodnikiem wysokogórskim, alpinistą, ale przede wszystkim pionierem ekstremalnych zjazdów na snowboardzie w wysokich górach.

Na długiej liście jego dokonań można znaleźć min. pierwsze i nigdy nie powtórzone zjazdy ze wszystkich głównych szczytów Teton Peaks
w Wyoming (USA).

Poza tym, jest jedyną osobą, która zjechała na desce z 7 najwyższych szczytów każdego z kontynentów (w tym Mount Everest).

Stephen wspinając się wspólnie z Marko Prezelj i Dean Potter dokonał pierwszego wejścia południowo-wschodnią granią na Cerro Torre.

www.stephenkoch.com

ZAPRASZAMY WSZYSTKICH SERDECZNIE NA SPOTKANIE!!!

Wydział Turystyki i Rekreacji
Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego im. Bronisława Czecha w Krakowie
mikolaj.bielanski@awf.krakow.pl