While compiling my Garmin data earlier today for this Winter's Nordic skiing, I discovered I was 5 kilometers shy of 1,000k. How could I resist? Out came the waxless classic skis I drove off in search of snow. After a short hike into the woods, I found about one kilometer which ranged from snow to ice to slush, but was very skiable.

Success!

My Winter's results now total 1,001 kilometers with a total elevation gain of 40,051 feet. All of this skiing was classic in the Lake Superior region. Click the image given below to see more details.

As we move through Spring training, and the United States gets ready for another season of America's favorite pastime, have you ever stopped to wonder how the computer may have changed baseball, or has it?!

Right now thousands of fantasy baseball leagues are conducting drafts, and each manager who thinks he understands the game is utilizing a wealth of statistics. Now let's imagine that is the Spring of 1954, how would you play fantasy baseball? What kind of stats would you use?

• The computer as we know it is years in the future
• The ability to share data is difficult at best

Enter Branch Rickey, the mechanical calculator and slide rule! Life Magazine published a fascinating article that Summer where many of the stats we now hold sacrosanct were first reviewed by Coach Rickey. Here is his formula:

• H = Hits
• BB = Base on Balls
• AB = Times at Bats
• HP = Hit by Pitch
• TB = Total Bases
• R = Runs
• ER = Earned Runs
• SO = Stike Outs
• F = Fielding
• G = Games

Here is one other important stat about Mr. Rickey: (reprinted from Life Magazine:

As the man who guided the St. Louis Cardinals to six National League pennants and the Brooklyn Dodgers to two. Branch Rickey, currently general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is considered baseball's brainiest and most successful executive. He was among the first to use such revolutionary practices as the farm system and the mass tryout camp, the first executive to see the value of using baseball statistics in putting together and running his teams. 

You can read a reprint of the Life Article via Baseball Think Factory, and an analysis with linkable follow-up stats via the Captain's Blog. Remember, in 1954 you would have had to pull out your trusty slider rule to calculate your statistics. Hmmm … that might have given the Northstar Nerd an advantage over the younger folks against whom I have played Fantasy Baseball in the past!

Check this advertisement out from Superman Comics (circa 1958). You could actually purchase a custom slide rule focused specifically on batting averages!

Here is one final image which says it all. Branch Rickey is explaining his statistical system to a computer nerd like myself. All I can say is … Play Ball!

In northern Ontario this past Saturday, the Algoma Central Railroad ran a special train which took 80 skiers north into the Lake Superior Wilderness. After an hour plus ride the engine stopped and let our guide get off the train to insure that the proper trail had been found. Apparently we were at the correct spot as the approval was given for everyone to get off the train in the middle of the forest (no town, village or even cabin sight!). Skis were unloaded from the baggage car and everyone traipsed through the thigh deep snow to start our 25 kilometer ski back to Stokely Creek Lodge. There were two stops for tea along the way, but not a single road was crossed. The first aide station was a small creek where tea was warmed by a small burner, while the second stop was Trapper Norm’s cabin in the Alogoma Central Highlands. After Norm’s we skied 10 more kilometers back to Stokely Lodge for a barbecue and band. Ski conditions were fantastic with 6 inches of new snow the previous night, on top of an extremely deep base. The goal of this loppet is fellowship, not racing! What a great end to Nordic Ski Week.

Here is a animated musical slideshow of the Wabos Loppet!

Wabos Loppet on PhotoPeach (pop-open window does not work in Chrome)

And two photos … (click to maximize)

Molly and I are snowed in … spending an extra day in the Ironwood, Michigan area at the Black River Crossing Bed and Breakfast (fantastic place) … which gave me the opportunity to create a video from yesterday's ski at ABR Trails.

I skied yesterday's Birkie Classic (54 kilometers / 33 miles). I wore my GoPro camera and took timed photographs every 5 seconds while wearing a chest mount. I did not keep the camera turned on for the entire race (storage limitations), but did get some nice sections:

• Moment of Start
• Classic / Skate Split
• Birke Warriors and Inge
• Bi.ch Hill
• My Wipeout on the Last Downhill

In total you will find 55 pictures (edited down from 554). My apologies for some snow smudges in later photos. I fell twice during the race, and some powder got on the lens. I was too tired to notice!

Unfortunately my camera ran out of file storage space 500 meters short of the finish. Bummer!

• Picasa Album
• Slideshow (full screen view)

This post is the first fron Nordic Ski Week which starts with the Birkie and ends with the Wabos Loppet (a 25 kilometer ski in the Lake Superior northern Ontario wilderness which starts with a one hour train ride to the small lumber village of Wabos).

Selected images including Garmin data: click upon to maximize

   
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