Pull-ups Till You Bleed

This week I started Cross Fit.  In one of the work outs this week, there was a total of 40 pull-ups; Since I can only do 40 pull-ups kipping and my hands have grown soft I ended up bleeding all over the bars I was using for pull-ups and dead lifts.  It kind of pumped me up.
Also this weekend I walked up towards Power Line Pass to check out my new Zeiss Spotting scope.  There was enough snowmobile traffic that we did not see any sheep in the valley, but what a beautiful day for a walk!

And again.

Haul Road Caribou

In August 2009 I went caribou hunting on the haul road in northern Alaska.  My hunting buddy (now my husband), Nicholai and I were hunting with rifles so the law required us to hike at least 5 miles off the road.  We set up our tent about 5 miles from the road and set off with lightened backs.  After walking and glassing for a short while we saw a couple caribou far away, right away I picked one out and joked about how I would like to shoot him.  They looked really nice but seemed too far away to ever reach.  We started off towards them figuring that we may run into another caribou anyway.  After several minutes it became clear that we were actually gaining on them.  They must have been been barely moving because there is no way humans can keep up with these masters of the tundra.  I set off by myself leaving my backpack, belly crawling towards one.  I was not feeling very confident until all of a sudden I was with in 500 yard of him.  I started to get very excited and continued to stalk him.  I got really focus on keeping out of sight so the final time I looked up I realized that I was within 50 yards of him and I needed to take a shot.  I took one shot with the 250 savage that had been cut down for a boys hunting rifle. He dropped.  Then Nicholai came running towards me asking if he should shoot the other caribou walking towards us. I said yes and I hid behind my caribou.  The other bull came walking up over a mound and the two cows he was with spooked when they saw Nicholai.  The three of them started to run off.  Nicholai whistled and the bull bent his run, slowing down to a gallop, the bull turned broad side, so Nicholai took a standing shot.  We now had 2 caribou down within 15 minutes.  The rest of the hunt was not so easy or quick.  It took us 2 long days to travel, the now 7 miles back to the truck over the tundra.  It was the hardest walking I have ever done.  I had tendonitis for over a year, but it was worth it.  Someday I will post the whole adventure...

Paleo Pumpkin Muffins

I find that when I start my day with a Paleo diet friendly breakfast, I make better health decisions the rest of the day.  In the morning I need something fast because I am usually in a hurry.  It is important to eat well year around to give you energy for your work outs and to achieve/maintain a healthy body weight.  Here is a recipe for muffins that you can make a head of time. 

·         2 cups almond flour

·         1 tsp baking powder

·         1 tsp baking soda

·         Dash of sea salt

·         1 can pumpkin puree

·         2 small zucchini, grated

·         1 apple, grated

·         ¼ cup honey or agave nectar

·         1 cup currents, dried

·         4-5 eggs (depending on size)

Flavor options

·         1 Tbs cinnamon, ¼ tsp fresh nutmeg, ½ cup candies ginger (the sugar on the ginger is not Paleo but it is very little about so I don’t stress about  it)

·         ½ cup natural dark chocolate chips

Mix together the dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately.  Then mix everything together.  Fill muffin tin lined with backing cups most the way. Bake at 325°F for 30 minutes.  Check with a toothpick.  If it does not come out clean bake 5 minutes and check again until the toothpick comes out clean. Makes 24.

Try these out and have fun making it your own to suit your taste.   Let me know what how it goes!

Less Chubby

Here's my plan: Cross Fit ( http://www.crossfit.com/ ), Paleo Diet ( http://thepaleodiet.com/ ), and cardio (hiking, biking, running)

Goat and sheep hunting here I come!

My 2011 Tok Sheep