#than i have in 4 months. I have Hot Months Slide. June to September slide.

[liebelesbe]

literally the temperature sensitivity thing is one of the worst parts of my long covid. you mean to tell me there's ppl with me/cfs who can take regular-ish showers?? couldn't be me

[lostinyourears]

Lost in Lucha’s Top 100 CMLL  Matches of 2018 List

Short forward before we get to the list. I hate to state the obvious, but this is mylist for CMLL’s best matches. I didn’t look through Arena Guadalajara matches which thecubsfan posts. All of these matches are from CMLL’s Arena Puebla(which airs monday night) as well as Arena Mexico shows(which airs on Tuesday/Friday). I’m not saying Guadalajara matches aren’t good, as they can be. I just choose to mostly stick to what CMLL officially uploads to Youtube.

I haven’t seen every CMLL match of 2018. If you think something isn’t listed that should be… say so! I’ll gladly watch/rewatch recommendations that people think should have been on this list.

I’m also not saying these are the best lucha libre matches or the best wrestling matches of the year. It says CMLL for a reason, I didn’t watch as much AAA or IWRG and didn’t want to have 90 CMLL matches and 10 matches from those two sources. So if you have other great lucha or wrestling matches this year you think I should watch, feel free to suggest them.  

1. Fenix vs. Barbaro Cavernario, Leyenda de Plata Finals, November 23rd

For my money, the best wrestling match of 2018 bar none. Some people say they prefer the other match these two had earlier in the year. I’m not going to call bullshit, as I really like that match as well as you can see from it’s placement on this list. I just thought this was a great escalation of that match and slightly better. The Leyenda de Plata every year is a great event and highlight from CMLL. Always a treat and these finals trump last year by having 2 younger and more surprising finalists who hit it out of the park!

This is a match I’d be surprised to hear isn’t universally loved. I don’t know how you could see Fenix’s flying skills and the brutality of Barbaro Cavernario in this match and come out calling it anything less than great. I thought similarly about their 2nd match on this top 100 as well.

A must watch for not only any lucha libre fan, but any wrestling fan in general. No doubt the best or one of the best bouts in 2018.  

2. Angel de Oro vs Cuatrero, mask vs mask at Homage to 2 Legends, March 16th

Between this and their title match a few weeks/months later it was hard to choose which match in this feud to give this number 2 spot. I went with this because… someone loses their mask here. I do really think the title match may be as good or better with a fantastic ending, but I didn’t want to spoil this match for any newcomers which gave this an edge. Granted as weeks/months and eventually years pass by this spoiler has become less important, but I wanted to preserve the surprise for any CMLL/Lucha newbies who come upon this list. My favorite lucha de apuestas of the year.  

3. La Park, Volador Jr. & Flyer vs. Ingobernables(Rush, Terrible & Bestia del Ring), May 25th

Did the amount of hype I had for La Park’s return match to CMLL color my perception of this match? Of course, this is my list! Still, away from the hype this match holds up. It’s ridiculous how hot this match is. La Park returns and reignited his feud with Rush and now that he is in CMLL that feud extends fully to Los ingobernables. Many people will poo poo the feud and this match because CMLL didn’t book Rush/La Park lucha de apuestas for CMLL 85th Anniversary. To that, I’ll say that the match is still great. My favorite from Rush or La Park in 2018 and really from any of these 6 in 2018, when pretty much all of them had great 2018′s… except Bestia del Ring, but he’s never had a good year.

4. Cuatrero © vs Angel de Oro for the CMLL World Middleweight Championship June 1st

This is another match from the Cuatrero/Angel de Oro feud and won’t be the last. I loved this feud and it won’t be the only feud to be in this top 10 twice. I think the feuds included in this top 10 are some of the best this year and are one of the great exhibits on why CMLL in 2018 far and away trounced 2017 and showed just how much CMLL has grown over the year. 2018 set a bar to surpass that 2019 might have a hard time living up to.

5. Barbaro Cavernario vs King Phoenix 2/3 falls(Fenix’s first singles match in CMLL) June 29th

When I saw this live back in June my immediate thought was MOTY. You might then be thinking, “well you have matches from earlier in the year you put above this.” Congrats on getting how the calendar works. I still put this at #5 and think it’s one of the best matches of the year. Certainly worth a viewing and I can certainly see why anyone would give this MOTY. A great first singles for Fenix that shows just what Fenix in CMLL can do, if given a spotlight. No doubt a vote of confidence for him and likely a large reason he was given a spot in the Leyenda de Plata finals above which happened a few months later.

6. Hechicero, Dragon Rojo Jr. & Polvora vs. Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr. & Black Panther June 22nd

The match I gave #1 over La Park vs. Rush singles match in CMLL, why? Because it’s one of the best trios matches of 2018. I love Rojo/Polvora as a team along with the Panther Dynasty. Add that to the technical wizardry of Hechicero and you have yourself a classic. One of the best matches of the year and the hidden gem pick for this top ten. Everything else here is pretty much regarded as a great match in the CMLL/Lucha fanbase, this one deserves more love and hopefully being #6 on this list will lead to that.

7. Sky Team(Volador Jr./Valiente)© vs. Los ingobernables(Rush/Terrible) for the CMLL World Tag Team Championships July 13th

My favorite tag match of the year. As said in my rewatch thread on twitter, that’s not saying much because they only ever have a few great tag matches a year with CMLL running mostly trios. Putting it at 7 overall for the year on the other hand is saying a bit more. This was fantastic and a direct look at why adding Terrible to ingobernables in 2018 was a brilliant choice. His no nonsense slap the shit out of people offense works great with Rush’s similar ‘to the point’ offense. The highlight of Atlantis’ 40th Anniversary show.  

8. Volador Jr./Matt Taven vs. Rush/Barbaro Cavernario for the hairs, CMLL 85th Anniversary iPPV main event September 14th (Poor quality, can be seen in better quality on RoH’s Honor Club)

Just short of the match at 7th place and the Anniversary main event sliding down 7 spots from 2017′s top 100 list. This being a tag match for the hairs isn’t as dramatic as the mask vs. mask main we got last year. I was happy to see this on Honor Club and got Gran Prix as well in the month timespan I had Honor Club, making it a good value. One that I might sign back up for now that Rush has signed a deal to appear more in RoH.

Volador Jr./Matt Taven was a good feud this year, but not as great as the other 3 feuds in this top ten. Barbaro Cavernario was a good replacement for the injured Terrible, but it makes one wonder what that match would have looked like.

Still this built Barbaro Cavernario for the future which is only a good thing and makes his argument for WOTY that much stronger. Than had he just won Leyenda de Plata, which may not have been planned before this performance.

9. La Park, El Hijo de La Park & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Rush, Barbaro Cavernario & Bestia del Ring September 17th

My second favorite Rush/Park match from their long running feud. They export it to Puebla which works great. I loved the wild action of this match and Park’s son continues to impress when given a chance to be in a marquee match. Barbaro comes along for the ride having just won the main event of CMLL’s biggest show of the year with Rush. This match won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you love a good brawl, that’s this to a tea.  

10. Leyenda de Plata torneo cibernético, 8 vs. 8 elimination to the final 2 November 16th

The preliminary match to our #1 on this list. The best torneo cibernetico of the year like it is most years. Last year’s was at #4 and I don’t think it’s that much better or even better than this one at all. Instead, I think the CMLL economy was different in 2018 than it was in 2017. Basically, I think we had more great matches in 2018 which pushed Leyenda de Plata’s torneo cibernetico down the list. Still a great match and a great way to get introduced to many of the best names on the roster… and Kawato San.

11. Soberano Jr.© vs. Magia Blanca for the Mexican National Welterweight Championship May 1st

This missed the top 10 by the slimmest of margins which spells a great future for both these talents, but a break out performance from Magia Blanca who sadly sat out the latter half of the year due to an injury. Here is hoping he comes back even stronger in 2019 and earns his spot as break out star of the year that he may have claimed in 2018, had he not been sidelined.  

12. Mephisto © vs Titan for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship January 23rd

One of the best title matches of the year despite these two not having much of a feud before or after this. These two had a tooth and nail fight that seemed like either could have won any given second of the match, once we got a few minutes in. Titan has had a secretly stellar year, even if this is his first appearance on the list(outside of the match with 16 men in it). These who had another title match later in the year with each other which isn’t as good and didn’t make the list.

13. Cuatrero © vs. Titan for the CMLL World Middleweight Championship November 6th

Back to back entries for Titan and with good reason. He had a great year and these two matches are proof positive. Hopefully 2019 can be Titan’s year to recapture gold instead of always being the go to challenger. Like Barbaro this year who unseated Atlantis as Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship, but had prior to that been in a similar role to Titan, but rudo.

14. Hechicero © vs. Stuka Jr. for the NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship August 14th

Hechicero and Stuka Jr. are both very fun. The feud for this belt and the matches that have lead up to it and fall out after were often some of the best matches of any given week with this match being the best of it’s given week. Lots of great action both Hechicero’s technical skill and Stuka Jr.’s flying skill are shown to full effect here. A classic that shouldn’t be forgotten.

15. La Park vs. Rush June 22nd

The first match I gave a #2 spot on CMLL weekly, all above this fell on #1 their given weeks. I’m sure many could be rolling their eyes at it being this high/low. “You think Rush/La Park was feud of the year, but their only singles match is number 15?” Yea, I think La Park’s big return to both CMLL and then Arena Puebla were more fun. This was a great match with plenty of action, but the end left me wanting more, which we didn’t get in 2018, as far as singles matches with these two in CMLL is concerned. Here’s hoping 2019 brings a lucha de apuestas match between these two.

16.  La Park, El Hijo de La Park & Caristico vs. Pentagon, Fenix & Diamante Azul 85th Anniversary semi-main September 14th

I really love this match and if you had told me a year prior that Pentagon/Fenix/La Park/Hijo de La Park would all be in a big match at Anniversary, I’d have laughed. Now that it happened, I feel like I could cry. It’s been just so cool to see all these guys in Arena Mexico and with La Park even Arena Puebla, I can’t imagine the excitement of those who attended some of these events live.

17. Fenix, Mistico, & Caristico vs. Ultimo Guerrero, Negro Casas & Barbaro Cavernario(Debut of Fenix in CMLL) June 8th

If there were any worry about Fenix and how he’d fit into the CMLL ecosystem, they were quickly squashed by this excellent match that showcased him vs. Ultimo/Negro Casas and of course Barbaro Cavernario. This was the start of that great feud between those two, which seems far from over as we start 2019.

18. Michael Elgin vs. Ultimo Guerrero October 12th

I wish on FantasticaMania this year we were getting a singles match of this caliber with NJPW vs. CMLL. Michael Elgin resident big man gaijin of NJPW won Gran Prix and his award other than a trophy was a singles match vs. The Final Boss of CMLL as the FantasticaMania promo package painted him as.

Elgin had some answers for some of Ultimo Guerrero moves. A very exciting clash of worlds between these two icons. Michael Elgin has been touring CMLL like clockwork and I assume we’ll see him again in 2019.

19. Caristico © vs. Gran Guerrero for the NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship October 2nd

It was great to see Gran Guerrero in a singles match again after most of 2018 was about trios matches for Los Guerreros Laguneros with their feud with The Cl4n lasting longer than it probably should have. I love seeing Gran Guerrero just powerhouse through Caristico’s offense and hope that with Barbaro Cavernario now having a belt, perhaps Gran Guerrero and Templario can be the favorite challenger rudos for various tecnico carried belts.  

20. Triton vs Audaz Lighting Match July 24th

Audaz and Triton had a barnburner of a lightning match. The best lightning match of the year and just slipping into the top 20. Last year I was hotter on Barbaro/Dragon Lee lightning which was the highest on it’s list.

I think 2018 was stronger than 2017 at pretty much every turn. So it’s more just about having more and better title matches than this being a lesser lightning match. Though to be honest this was more a proving match between two up and comers, while Barbaro/Lee was more a proving match between two main eventers.  

21. Rush & Terrible vs Ultimo Guerrero & Volador Jr. Incredible Pairs Finals February 23rd

This would be higher if not for the fact Terrible/Rush had the better tag title match listed above. Loved how this match played out and Terrible joining ingobernables was some new blood in that faction that was sorely needed after La Mascara was fired alongside Maximo Sexy in summer of 2017.

For those unaware : Incredible Pairs format is Rudo/Tecnico(Heel/Face) teams tournament and despite Rush/Terrible both being Rudo’s part of the ingobernables shtick is being a different kind of tecnico making rest on paper a tecnico… though his actions in this match say otherwise.

22.  Último Guerrero © vs. Sanson for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship November 19th

A great defense for this title that was vacated by Marco Corleone a few months prior. This match could have been better, which is they the Elgin match is above this. Still great to see the defacto leader of two rudos stables clash in Puebla and one of the bouts that made Puebla must watch this year.

23. Niebla Roja © vs. Sanson for the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship July 17th

Another good title challenge for Sanson which saw him go against Niebla Roja who he’s had a soft feud with. Sorta a byproduct of the Angel de Oro/Cuatrero feud which has mostly lead to trios match and of course this title match.

24. Hechicero, Dragón Rojo Jr. & Polvora vs La Excelencia Tapatia (Titan, Triton & Esfinge) May 11th

Another great CMLL trios bout and it’s no mistake that Dragon Rojo/Polvora are in it again. They may be the best rudo tag team in CMLL, but to be fair that’s because most rudo units are trios or more. I always like seeing Triton as well.  

25. Gran Alternative Finals Ultimo Guerrero & Templario vs. Volador Jr. & Flyer May 18th

Another tournament final, both of the big annual tag tournaments had big aftermath that sorta overshadowed the match, but this is likely the match that put Templario on the map and of course it’s after match angle of La Park showing up will make this one for the history books… even if the match sorta gets lost in the discussion of that and both Volador/Flyer looked better in following months teaming with La Park.

For those unaware  : Gran Alternative is a tag tournament with younger/established guys and a more seasoned partner. Ultimo/Volador being established and Templario/Flyer being newer talents.

26. Volador Jr. © vs Matt Taven for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship March 30th

The last singles male title match to get the #1 spot on CMLL weekly. This is a great match and the shocking outcome was great, but the follow up was really lacking. I would have prefered the follow up to play out in literally any other way, but it didn’t and we are stuck with a great shock win/loss that simply floundered in the following weeks/months.  

27. Cuatrero vs. Angel de Oro February 6th

The match where tensions between Angel de Oro and Cuatrero boiled over. I’d suggest watching all three of the singles matches with these two on this list(so far) as this rivalry was great from start to finish. (Even the Middleweight Championship match at FantasticaMania which isn’t on this list as I’m counting that as a NJPW match)

28. Euforia vs Caristico January 16th

Caristico and Euforia were two of the lucky few who were tasked to hold down the fort during FantasticaMania last year and did a great job in this singles meeting. Euforia is secretly a great competitor even in singles matches and this one showed in full what he could do with a great partner.

29. Barbaro Cavernario vs. Matt Taven August 31st

A great singles match to build towards Anniversary with both corner men getting involved in the last stages of the match. Barbaro has had a killer year and this is another testament to that.

30. Rush vs Kraneo April 23rd

The catalyst for the Kraneo tecnico turn. Things are crazy in this match, if you can’t appreciate the silliness of Kraneo, this likely won’t change your mind. If you can appreciate him and Mije, this match could be a contender for MOTY. It’s balls to the walls crazy, from start to finish.

31.  Negro Casas vs Sam Adonis, Hair vs Hair, January 1st

A pretty strong main event to start the year off on. Negro Casas still going strong at 57 and Sam Adonis looking better than he normally does. Negro Casas got hurt here and sat out the start of 2018 while Sam Adonis left for most of the 2nd year, so it feels like both men failed to capitalize on the surprisingly great match they had here.

32. Negro Casas vs. Soberano Jr., 1 fall no time limit, May 11th

Great match which was booked a few weeks after their lightning match which ended on a draw. This would be higher if it weren’t for the fact that a decent amount of this match felt similar to the above listed Magia Blanca match Soberano Jr. had.

33.  Dalys © vs Kaho Kobayashi for the CMLL World Women’s Title April 23rd

Is this a token women’s match on this list? Yes, yes it is. Sue me, I liked this match, but not much else from the luchadora roster from CMLL this year stood out. Kaho was a breath of fresh air and anyone who says they aren’t looking forward to Kaho returning to the division either doesn’t watch the division or is lying. CMLL could use more female talent in general, the norm of trios matches is hard to keep from being boring when you have a roster of around a dozen.  

34. Flyer vs. Magia Blanca, New Values Cup Finals, April 17th

This would no doubt be higher if it weren’t for the fact Flyer was roped into the La Park program and Magia Blanca similarly had a better match when he went one on one vs. Soberano Jr. for his belt soon after this. Still, these up and comer tournament finals are always must watch, because how can you not be excited for new guys getting a spotlight? Bonus for this making the New Values’ Tuesday night shows live up to the name.

35.  Volador Jr., Mistico & Valiente © vs. Gran Guerrero, Ultimo Guerrero, & Caristico CMLL World Trios Championship match April 2nd

A fun trios championship match for Arena Puebla which saw Caristico show up in a half Guerreros mask, which might be bumping this up a bit for me. I’m a Guerreros mark and if you have a problem with that… sorry?

36. Sanson © vs. Templario, King of the Underworld Championship, Day of the Dead iPPV, November 2nd

This would have tracked higher, but I honestly think the Cuatrero/Titan match came out better and was free on Youtube a few days later when the next Tuesday show aired. While this was the main reason to buy the underwhelming Day of the Dead iPPV, that was announced as an iPPV the day before.

37. Angel de Oro, Niebla Rojo, Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr. & Stuka Jr. vs. Dragon Rojo Jr., Luciferno, Misterioso Jr., Espanto Jr. & Templario, La Copa Halcón Suriano 5 vs. 5 Elimination, October 19th

The next best torneo after Leyenda de Plata, this and the King of the Underworld torneo imo took the shine off Gran Prix, which was still fun, but felt bloated while this torneo felt better paced and had better action across the board.

38. Mistico vs. Caristico April 9th

I was expecting more from this match, but it was still good shit. People loving Caristico and hating on pirata Mistico. Wish more came from this and that it was longer. Still this was good action between these two long rivals.

39. Cuatrero vs Mephisto lightning match July 20th

Two unstoppable rudos fighting it out for supremacy, what else could you want?

40. Dragon Lee vs Caristico, Lightning Match, June 15th

Much like Caristico vs. Mistico this isn’t higher mostly because it didn’t live up to the promise such a match has. This was supposed to happen before Dragon Lee went to Japan for the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He had a muscle scare though and it was called off early in the match. Glad to have this match rebooked when he came back, but was hoping for more.

41. Pegasso, Magia Blanca & Star Jr. vs. Templario, Sagrado & Virus, March 23rd

Really great ending stretch in this match with both Magia Blanca and Templaio seemingly being penciled in for a push this year. Templario got his and Magia Blanca won the New Values Cup, but has been sidelined by injury for the 2nd half of the year, hopefully CMLL is still hot on him come his 2019 return.

42. Gran Prix, 9 vs. 9 Elimination, Team Mexico vs. Team Rest of the World, October 5th

My 3rd favorite torneo cibernetico this year. Falling a long distance down the list. I thought Team Rest of the World was rather lackluster this year. No offense to guys like David Finlay/Briscoes/Dark Magic, but they felt like filler here. Even Gilbert el Boricua didn’t stand out as much as I’d hoped. This match seems less must watch than the Ultimo vs. Elgin match listed above, which was fall out for the Friday directly after this one. I hope this keeps being an annual event, but I could see CMLL scrapping it since they told the Elgin story over the last 3 years.

43. Soberano Jr., Niebla Roja & Angel de Oro vs. Ultimo Guerrero, Gran Guerrero & Templario, December 18th

Templario teams with Los Guerreros Laguneros again. This match has a better ending than the match about a month prior when he officially joined. That atomicos will be lower on the list as it was plenty of fun, but felt this was the better match overall. Hope we get a Templario/Soberano Jr. match in 2019.

44. Los Guerreros Laguneros(Ultimo Guerrero, Gran Guerrero & Euforia) © vs. Volador Jr., Mistico & Caristico for the CMLL World Trios Championships,  November 30th

Very akin to late 2017 when Los Guerrero Laguneros were challenging for the titles when Volador Jr./Mistico/Valiente had the belts. A little too akin for my tastes, but this is still a fantastic trios championship match. I could see many people putting this sprint in their top 10 for CMLL this year.

45. El Hijo de La Park, Soberano Jr., & Flyer vs. Hechicero, Negro Casas, & Mephisto, August 24th

A great showcase for all the tecnicos and Mephisto looks like a stud in his Villano III tribute gear. Villano III is who they are honoring before this match happens and had many members of his family to to the ring.

46.  Forastero, Negro Casas & Rey Bucanero vs. Mistico, Soberano Jr. & Hijo del La Park, September 28th

A great showing for Forastero and all 3 tecnicos were looking good. It’s always nice to see Negro Casas as well and it seems like every tecnico in the company excels when facing off vs. the old guard rudo.

47. #1 Contenders, 6 vs. 6 torneo cibernetico for Sanson’s King of the Underworld Championship, October 26th

Think this is the last torneo cibernetico that’ll be on this list. It was mostly pushed down due to some of the talents included seemed very unlikely to win and thus hurt the drama. Cuatrero/Forastero for instance, as much as I like them, didn’t seem to fit well here when their brother/cousin has the title. Would have rather had them in Leyenda de Plata which they could theoretically have won. Especially Cuatrero who of course had a breakout year.  

48.  La Park, El Hijo de La Park & Volador Jr. vs. Los ingobernables(Rush, Bestia del Ring & Terrible), June 1st

The second match for La Park upon his CMLL return. These trios/team matches with Rush/La Park were fun, but think they had diminishing returns. The 1st in Area Mexico and the 1st in Puebla stand as tall above the following weeks in both Arenas. Having fun brawls all summer and in the weeks following Anniversary in Puebla were some of the most fun I had watching CMLL this year, even if the dusty finishes of many left them feeling less impactful.

49. Soberano Jr. vs Barbaro Cavernario, March 27th

Feels like this was a blueprint for what both Fenix matches did later in the year. I honestly could have seen this being match of the year earlier this year, but with all the crazy action over the summer/fall/winter it was pushed down plenty. Still more than worth checking out these two great young talents in an epic.

50. Rush/Barbaro Cavernario vs. La Park/Hijo de La Park, September 24th

More Park vs. Rush in Puebla, this time with less fat!

51. Ultimo Guerrero © vs. Stuka Jr. for the NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship, May 22nd

A fun title match between two of my favorites, but both had better singles matches this year as listed above. The ending in particular felt a little weird here, but I still really enjoyed this match.  

52. Pentagon vs. Caristico, December 28th

Pentagon hasn’t hit the ground running as well as his brother Fenix in CMLL. He has still had plenty of great matches and this one would be higher on the list if the ending wasn’t so silly and deflating. Still a great match and a great way to end 2018, but here’s hoping his next singles match in CMLL has a better ending and perhaps a title on the line. Fenix for instance had his 2nd singles match in the company for a tournament win, that match of course being #1.

53. Los Guerreros Laguneros(Ultimo Guerrero/Gran Guerrero/Euforia) vs. Ingobernables(Rush/Bestia del Ring) & Barbaro Cavernario, August 20th

It’s pretty funny that despite the fact Los Guerrero Laguneros had a long running feud with The Cl4n for the CMLL World Trios titles, which even got a match at CMLL Anniversary, their best feuds this year were in Puebla vs. Ingobernables and…—–>

54. NGD(Sanson, Cuatrero & Forastero) vs. Los Guerreros Laguneros(Ultimo Guerrero, Gran Guerrero & Euforia), November 12th

Puebla is often seen as the weaker of the weekly shows, but CMLL have been putting some fun matches and rivalries in that arena to keep in interesting, depending on what week you watch it.

55. Mascara Año 2000 & NGD vs. Los Guerrero Laguneros, November 23rd

Think this is the 1st atomicos on this list. Just like trios you pin/submit the captain or two none captains to win a round.  

This was a great feel good moment for fans of Dinamitas and Mascara Ano 2000. He was honored then got to be in an exciting Friday Night Main Event. In my opinion the best ‘Anniversary of my career’ match we’ve had this year, which is a tall order when Blue Panther/Atlantis/Negro Casas all had them this year.

This was also the start of Templario as an official member of Los Guerreros Laguneros. Which is a big step up the cards for him.

56. Kraneo vs Hechicero lightning match January 19th

A great lightning match that shows how great the characters in CMLL can be despite story being rather thin in the company. I love Kraneo and Mije, if you don’t you may not find this as charming as I did.

57. Audaz, Fuego & Triton vs Raziel, Cancerbero & Nitro, January 30th

Audaz under a new name/mask this was only his 6th match after changing his name/mask from Fiero and Triton only came back from injury a little over a month before this match. Both looked great here and Raziel/Cancerbero are a great team who were awol most of 2018 with Raziel out on injury.

58. Hechicero, Mr. Niebla & Ephesto vs. Stuka Jr., Soberano Jr. & Angel de Oro, August 7th

This was the build up match for the following weeks Hechicero© vs. Stuka Jr. title match that is listed above. It got heated to the point that Hechicero ripped off Stuka Jr.’s pants. Which was a fun rudo move for Hechicero and something Barbaro did to Soberano Jr. this year as well.

59. Gran Guerrero vs. Niebla Roja, January 6th

A reprisal of their CMLL 84th Anniversary main event from a few months prior in September. This match is good, but doesn’t live up to the epic were both men had their masks on the line, which of course was my #1 match for 2017.

60. Titan vs Rey Cometa Lightning Match, January 12th

A very fun lightning match between two of the best tecnicos in the company. Rey Cometa seems like he is locked in midcard purgatory, but I have hope that CMLL sees the value in Titan who had a killer 2018.

61. Dragon Lee & Mistico vs. Sanson & Cuatrero, CMLL Tag Team Tournament preliminary match, March 2nd

Two pairs of brothers, both of which are over and beloved trying to knock the other brothers out of the tournament? Sounds good to me. These two teams as of this writing are set to meet in a FantasticaMania family tournament semi-final on January 18th.

62. Flyer vs. Magia Blanca, New Values Cup Finals, April 17th

A great finals for a great tournament. Not higher simply because Flyer had some good matches with La Park and his family, while Magia Blanca had his great title challenge vs. Soberano Jr. So this was pushed down the list because both men have had better showings this year and Flyer had some shakey moments.

63. Casas Family(Negro Casas, Felino & Tiger) vs. NGD(Sanson, Cuatrero & Forastero), August 31st

CMLL Anniversary was right around the corner and in the build we got this match between dynasties : Casas brothers Negro Casas/Felino along with Tiger, who is son of Felino vs. Dinamitas brothers Sanson/Cuatrero and cousin Forastero. I love these kind of family battles and this one is no different.

64. Hijos del Infierno(Mephisto, Luciferno & Ephesto) vs Soberano Jr., Dragon Lee & Titan, February 5th

I spoke very highly of this when it happened. It still holds up as one of the best trios this year. Demon’s as a full unit vs. 3 of the best tecnicos in the company, hard to go wrong with a pairing like that.

65. Dragon Rojo Jr., Polvora & Templario vs. Audaz, Esfinge & Soberano Jr., October 12th

Another fantastic trios match that included the duo of Rojo/Polvora. Before Templario joined Los Guerreros Laguneros it seemed like Templario might’ve joined Los Revolucionarios del Terror, him tagging with them a fair amount.

66. Cuatrero © vs. Angel de Oro for the CMLL World Middleweight Championship, July 16th

Another great match between these two, but this feels like continued fallout from the other matches and not as definitive or dramatic as the matches listed above from this feud. A reset point for this feud and the last singles match from the two of them(as of this writing). We could likely see this again in 2019, I’d be excited to see them reprise this great rivalry.  

67. Virus, Puma & Tiger vs. Audaz, Rey Cometa & Guerrero Maya Jr., Special Coliseo 75th Anniversary broadcast, April 7th

My favorite match from the Coliseo 75th Anniversary show they did, one of the few matches from that arena on this list as they don’t often upload shows from that Arena, but made a point to air this.

68. Pegasso, Blue Panther Jr. & The Panther vs. Templario, Puma & Tiger, April 20th

Another match with Puma/Tiger, their feud with the Panther Bros. is/was one of my favorite things in wrestling over the last 5 years. They’d likely be on this list more had Puma not left half way through the year.

69. Volador Jr. © vs. Barbaro Cavernario for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship, October 8th

This was a heated title match, but suffered from Volador Jr./Barbaro having had so many singles matches before this and even other title matches like this. Still, a good version of this match in Puebla so no doubt it was fun for fans there to see these two titans clash.

70. Mephisto vs. Dragon Lee, April 10th

I’m fairly cool on this match. It’s still a very good match, but I thought that the earlier in the year Titan vs. Mephisto match was better in pretty much every way. Which is they it cracked to top 15.

71. Dragon Lee, Soberano Jr. & Blue Panther Jr. vs Mephisto, Luciferno & Ephesto, March 6th

Demons again work well as a unit and we get Blue Panther Jr. in a bigger match than many of the midcard matches we see him in.  Lots to like here and of course Dragon Lee/Soberano Jr. this match is one that lead towards Lee/Mephisto listed just above about a month later.

72. Blue Panther, Panterita del Ring, Black Warrior & Euforia vs. Mascara Ano 200, Sanson, Cuatrero & Forastero, October 19th

The atomicos match that Blue Panther got for his 40 years in the business vs. NGD and their uncle Mascara Ano 2000.

Penterita del Ring taking up his old mask is better known as Ephesto in modern CMLL. Black Warrior being a legend who hasn’t been in CMLL lately or following this match/event.

All of Blue Panther’s team are Laguneros(a swampy region of Mexico) which is where Blue Panther is from and he is a major inspiration for basically any luchador who comes from that region.

73. Mephisto & Yago vs. Volador Jr. & Flyer, Gran Alternative Block A Finals,  May 4th

Finals of this tournament are higher on this list. Unlike that match this was a single round instead of the CMLL norm of 2/3 falls. Yago was given many small highlights year and might break out in 2019 if CMLL has confidence in him.

Flyer got that sorta push this year thanks to his relative La Park showing up in CMLL to save him after the finals of this tournament. With Flyer being in main events with relatives Volador Jr. & La Park.

74. Ultimo Guerrero & Templario vs. Kraneo & Audaz, Gran Alternative Block B Tournament match,  May 11th

The best match of Block B for that tournament. Audaz/Templario seemed poised for a singles feud that never really happened. Hopefully in 2019 CMLL gives these guys something to feud over.

75. Angel de Oro, Soberano Jr. & El Hijo de La Park vs NGD(Sanson, Cuatrero & Forastero), May 25th

Great debut for El Hijo del La Park that many will forget because his father being in the much more celebrated main event where he continued his feud with Rush. If you’ve come this far you’ll see Hijo got to tag with his dad plenty this year. Those matches are rated higher for various reasons the biggest being an actual feud. Hopefully in 2019 Hijo de La Park is given more to do, perhaps if he signs or takes a bigger role/more dates in CMLL?

76. Luciferno, Dragon Rojo Jr. & Polvora vs. La Excelencia Tapatia (Titan, Triton & Esfinge), June 26th

Rojo/Polvora were great this year and Triton is one of my favorite guys on the roster. La Excelencia Tapatia make a great Trio, as of this writing, Triton/Esfinge still hold the Coliseo Tag Titles they won in 2018.

77. Rush vs. Ultimo Guerrero Lightning Match, May 4th

Two of the biggest rudos clash in a fun and memorable lightning match, but it didn’t lead to much as most of Rush’s Summer was focused on La Park.

78. Fenix, Volador Jr. & El Hijo de La Park vs. La Peste Negra(Negro Casas, Mr. Niebla & Barbaro Cavernario), June 22nd

Fenix and Hijo de La Park in the same match. An impossibility in 2017 made reality in 2018. A sign of how much CMLL is shaking things up and will hopefully keep bringing in exciting names in 2019.

79. La Park, Fenix, & Volador Jr. vs. Rush, Terrible & Cibernetico, June 15th

At the time I watched this match I called it my 2nd favorite of the Park/Rush series, but this was still pretty early in the saga. Still a fun main event and Rush/Park feud was fun to watch from start to now and is about a dozen matches(in CMLL) and many of those made this list because they are great.

80. Kazuchika Okada, Ultimo Guerrero & Negro Casas vs. Mistico, Valiente & Diamante Azul, August 17th

Okada showed up in Arena Mexico in a balloon filled haze after losing his IWGP Heavyweight Championship earlier in the summer. It was a fun ride, but one of the best parts probably isn’t the actual match, but seeing rudo old guards Ultimo/Casas like proud fathers with Okada in the post match interview.  

81. Ingobernables(Rush/Naito/Bushi) with Evil, Terrible, Bestia del Ring & La Comandante vs. Volador Jr., La Park & Diamante Azul, August 31st

This match is a silly clash of worlds while Okada had a more straight laced normal match in CMLL, with better technical action and less..silliness. Both earn a place on this list less for being great matches and more for being cool moments. I’d like to see NJPW talents in CMLL more often. (Post match interview for them as well)

82. NGD(Sanson, Cuatrero & Forastero) vs. Caristico, David Finlay & Flip Gordon, October 9th

Great Tuesday night main event and Flip Gordon looks as good here as he ever has in CMLL. Hopefully in 2018 Flip Gordon can get a singles match in CMLL even if it’s just a lightning.

83. Titan, Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. & Flyer, June 11th

An explosive Puebla main event that showed Titan gunning for Soberano Jr. hard. One of the best main events Puebla had all year.

84. Soberano Jr. © vs. Titan Mexican National Welterweight Championship match, June 25th

Both great talents, but had stronger singles matches with other people throughout the year. Was strange to see Titan play the rudo(heel) since he has been a tecnico(face) for so long.

85. Pentagon el 0M, Rush, & Terrible vs. Caristico, Volador Jr. & Valiente, June 29th

Pentagon’s debut in CMLL came a week after he attacked Caristico in a main event. Pentagon hasn’t made as big of a splash as most would have hoped, but had lots of his thunder stolen by La Park and son along with his own brother Fenix who all did more in 2018(in CMLL).

86. Tiger, Puma & Misterioso Jr. vs. Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr. & Black Panther, July 10th

Another great match in the long running Panthers/Felino family rivalry.

87. Yago vs. Flyer, New Values Cup Semi-Finals, April 3rd

Good 1 fall singles match. Yago showed his awareness here helping save 2 near botches from Flyer. Both guys have a future in the business and it started here with this great New Values Tournament. A highlight of May/March and Tuesday shows this year.

88. Forastero vs Audaz Lightning Match, August 17th

Audaz had a string of great lightning matches, this was one of the better ones, but not the best which is much higher up the list vs. Triton. Forastero looked good here as well. Forastero has not been in the big singles matches his cousins Forastero/Sanson have. This still isn’t a big singles match, but obviously practice for one down the road.

89. Titan vs. Angel de Oro, Lightning Match, August 14th

Two great tecnicos fighting it out to see who the better good guy is. A nice upper midcard pairing where both guys seemed like they needed the win. (Titan failing to win titles, Oro losing both his mask/title in 2018) Glad to see something like this instead of two guys who are just thrown together.

90. Kawato San vs. Tiger, Lightning Match, May 8th

Lots of people have dunked on Kawato San since he made his way onto the CMLL roster. I think he has improved a lot and his only singles match of the year(on CMLL TV) is worth checking out. I’m a big fan of Tiger, I like basically everyone on this list though.

91.  Volador Jr., Michael Elgin & Caristico vs. Barbaro Cavernario, Sanson & Cuatrero, September 28th

One of the stand out trios matches featuring Elgin in CMLL in 2018. The main Elgin matches to watch in CMLL this year like all years is Gran Prix(He’s been in all 3 since it’s 2016 revival), but more importantly his singles match with Ultimo the week after.

92. La Park, Atlantis & Mistico vs. Gilbert El Boricua, Negro Casas & Mephisto

Gilbert El Boricua’s debut, better known as Mil Muertes on Lucha Underground of Ricky Banderas in AAA/TNA. He will be working more with CMLL in 2019, but didn’t leave much of an impact in his 2-3 appearances in 2018 which marked his CMLL debut having historically been a AAA talent.

93. Audaz, Stigma & Triton vs. Templario, Okumura & Kawato San, October 15th

Great tecnico team and the up and coming rudo Templario. Great talent in here, even Kawato San/Okumura as team Japan. I think Okumura is underrated even if he doesn’t show up too often on this list. (He was in Gran Prix)

94. Marco Corleone © vs Diamante Azul for the CMLL World Heavyweight Title, January 15th

A good big man match and I think Marco Corleone’s last big singles match on TV before leaving wrestling later in the year.

95. Tiger vs Rey Cometa in a Lightning Match, September 4th

Rey Cometa doesn’t get much to do, but is one of the most solid guys on the roster. This is a great match from him and Tiger.

96. Triton, Esfinge & Soberano Jr. vs. Dragon Rojo Jr., Hechicero & Templario, September 4th

Why not have all these guys on the list again?

97. Stigma, Super Astro Jr. & Rey Samuray vs. Templario, Universo 2000 Jr. & King Jaguar, August 6th

The ‘Super Astro Jr. wasn’t on the list yet, but I wanted him to be’ entry.

98. Atlantis/Octagon/Rayo de Jalisco Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero/Fuerza Guerrera/Máscara Año 2000, July 13th

Would feel wrong to not include the match that marked Atlantis’ 40 years in the business. This match relies on nostalgia, but feels in place on this top 100 because of the ending.

99. Felino, Puma, Tiger & Stigma vs. Pantera Blanca Jr., Los Gemelos Pantera I & II, & Stuka Jr., April 16th

Some oddball matches to end on. First a fairly rare atomicos saw Felino, sons Tiger/Puma and unrelated Stigma vs. Pantera outsiders(they work lucha indies, think primarily Texas) and well known CMLL talent Stuka Jr. this was one of the last few matches Puma had before he shockingly departed CMLL.  

100. Blue Panther Jr., Black Panther & Stigma vs. Costa Ricans(Ares, Escualo & Kaiser), September 24th

Another match of outsiders this time from CWE a Costa Rican promotions that at one point was called CMLL Costa Rica(might still have some relation to CMLL). They have their own Youtube where they host content, figured I’d give them a shout out here at the end.

Hope you enjoyed CMLL this year, see you next year!

[edgewaterfarmcsa]

CSA WEEK 17

P I C K L I S T

Onions - Sweet Habanada Peppers - Plum Tomatoes - Basil - Spinach - Carmen Peppers -

 Potatoes - Carrots - Jalapeno Peppers - Spaghetti Squash

Oh Summer CSA fam! This will be our last week together, and it is incredibly bittersweet.  Together, we completely rocked this season in picking, washing, packing, prepping, chopping, roasting, preserving, eating, etc…  My hope is that the weekly CSA share served as a marking of time as we nourished ourselves through this season.  We went from little greens and strawberries in June, Blueberries and cucumbers in July, Tomatoes and corn and more tomatoes in August, peppers and potatoes in September, Winter Squash and greens in October, and herbs all the way through.  With a whole summer of no-friends-covid, you CSAer and our field crew have served as my nearest and dearest and I love you all for it.  Though we never formally partied in person, we communed weekly through food!  Thankyou for inviting our farm into your kitchen all Summer long.  

I also want to take a hot minute to sing the praise of our unsung field crew heroes.  They range from the age of 1.5-60 something years old. Roy, Strong, Ramone, Jasper, Garnet, Petey, Jaarsma, Dave, Juliana, Gus, Mike, Mrs. T, Ray, Hobbes, Billie, Anne and Pooh.  These are the people that seeded, grew, planted, weeded, picked, cleaned, packaged, planted some more, picked some more, etc…  These are the people that made all of this food show up on Wednesdays and goodness gracious, I am so grateful to each and everyone of them.  Mrs. T took on the super-early-before-sunrise herb pick, Roy packed out each and every box with me, Strong and Ramone bunched the most beautiful bouquets of mizuna, Jaarsma delivered boxes all around town, Jasper and Garnet gathered all the cherry tomatoes from the field, Dave assembled and stacked every wax box for us to fill, Billie ate all the pepper rejects, and damn near everyone picked strawberries.  This crew is everything.  

Lastly, with the end of Summer CSA comes the end of the Farmstand.  We officially shut the sliding barn doors for the season on October 11th at 4:30pm.  If you are deeply saddened by this (i am!) you can find our harvest at the following spots:

All the COOP food stores (Lebanon, Hanover, WRJ) - Crossroad Farmstand in Norwich for onions and potatoes - Brownsville Butcher and Pantry - Woodstock Farmers Mkt - Sweet Beet Market in Bradford NH - Rumbrook Mkt in Grantham 

AND OF COURSE THERE IS THE FALL CSA: 10 SPOTS LEFT!!

HOT TIPS:

Jenny’s Note: The following recipe is a spinach staple in my house.  It is warming and earthy and absolute comfort food.  We have yet to start our Ginger harvest due to an extremely wimpy ginger crop (my fault im a terrible ginger grower).  So please source yourself a can of coconut milk, ginger root, and a pinch of cumin and we will take care of (mostly) the rest.  

3 tablespoons ghee/coconut oil/butter

20 ounces flat-leaf spinach, washed and drained

2 shallots (or onions), halved and sliced

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

2 teaspoons minced jalapeno chile

2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Pinch of sugar

1 cup coconut milk

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Heat scant 1 tablespoon ghee in a large Dutch oven over medium. Add spinach and cook, stirring, until just wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain spinach in a sieve, pressing to remove excess liquid. Let cool slightly, then roughly chop.

Return pan to medium heat and melt remaining 2 tablespoons ghee. Add shallots, ginger, and jalapeno and cook until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in flour, cumin, and sugar and cook for 1 minute, then slowly whisk in coconut milk. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.

Stir chopped spinach into coconut mixture and season with salt and pepper.

Oh my Gosh, Spaghetti Squash by Sarah Britton (read on for nutrition and eating)

Winter squash rocks because it is a powerhouse veggie. Unlike summer squash (re: zucchini, crookneck, pattypan), winter squash has had a lot more time to develop and pump itself full of vitamins and minerals throughout its lengthy life on the stem. We’re talking oodles more vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), vitamin C, manganese, potassium, and even some extra dietary fiber thrown in just for kicks. This combination of nutrients spells good news for asthma sufferers, those with heart disease, elevated cholesterol, or inflammatory conditions such a rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.

The other bonus? Nature designed summer squash to be rather delicate, with a high water content for those hot summer days when we need a cool down. Naturally, their shelf life is rather short during our abundant harvest season when produce is plentiful. On the flip side, winter squash has a tough outer skin and lower water content, which allows it to be stored for a very long time – some varieties up to six months. This means that we can keep these vitamin bombs around for a long time after the first frost to provide our bodies with the nutrition we need to see us through the long months of winter when there is nothing fresh in sight.  Put that in your oven and roast it.

Ingredients:

1 spaghetti squash

1 bunch kale (leftover from last week? Or try it wth spinach?)

1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 can)

3 cloves garlic

olive oil

sea salt

pinch crushed chilies

¾ cup toasted hazelnuts

Pecorino Romano (hard sheep’s milk cheese)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Prepare the spaghetti squash by cutting it in half lengthwise, removing the seeds, rubbing the inside of each half with a drizzle of olive oil, then seasoning with salt and pepper. Place face down on a lined baking tray and place in the oven – cook for about 45 minutes.

3. While the squash is baking, prepare the rest of the filling. Wash kale well and remove the tough center rib of each leaf. Roughly chop kale into small pieces.

4. Heat oil, ghee, or butter in a frying pan, then add minced garlic, crushed chilies to taste, and a pinch of sea salt. Cook 2 minutes until fragrant, then add chopped kale and cook until the leaves are bright green and just starting to lose structure. Throw in the chickpeas and cook just to warm. Remove from heat.

5. Remove squash form the oven when it is cooked through. Using a fork, scrape out the insides, which will pull away from the shell in strands, like spaghetti (whoa). Place all strands in a bowl, and toss with the kale and chickpea mixture. At this point you can either serve it from the bowl, or mix it everything together and place back in one half of the empty squash shells for a beautiful presentation. Sprinkle with chopped toasted hazelnuts and shaved Pecorino Romano. Enjoy.

I wish everyone out there a truly beautiful Thanksgiving; we sure have a lot to celebrate.

This year I am grateful for so many things: the incredible people in my life, a job that I love everyday, the warm food in my belly, sound sleep in the night. I also want to give thanks to you for reading this, for caring, and for getting back in the kitchen again to feed your body with the food it deserves. Even though we’ve probably never met, I can feel us standing side by side at our cutting boards, making so much more than dinner.

 JENNYS NOTE:  my goal in life is to always have a jar of pickled onions in my fridge- this is the recipe i use.  Fin.

 You can use any thinly shaved or sliced vegetable you like for this recipe. We love quick pickles on sandwiches because they add acidity and crunch. And you don't have to be someone who's "into canning" to make your own. Keep them in the fridge for days and put them on everything.  Makes about 1 cup

½ cup unseasoned rice vinegar

1 Tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. kosher salt

1 cup thinly sliced vegetables (such as carrot, red onion, and/or cucumber)

Whisk vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small bowl until sugar and salt are dissolved. Add vegetables and let sit, squeezing gently with your hands occasionally to help them pickle more quickly, 10 minutes.

Do Ahead: Vegetables can be pickled 3 days (months) ahead. Cover and chill.

[theasatrucommunity]

What are the old Norse/Germanic holidays and when do they fall???Btw beautiful blog.

Here is a simplified wheel of the year.

And here is some more in-depth information from The Asatru Alliance

SnowMoon/January

Snowmoon 3,

Charming of the Plow: This is the date of an agricultural ritual performed in Northern Europe from ancient times. Grains and cakes were offered for the soil’s fertility, and the Sky Father and Earth Mother were invoked to that end. Meditate upon your dependence on the soil, and crumble upon the earth a piece of bread as you call upon Odin, Frigga and the Land Spirits to heal the Earth and keep it from harm.

Snowmoon 9,

Day of Remembrance for Raud the Strong: Raud was a landowner in Norway who was put to death by (St.) Olaf Tryggvason for his loyalty to Asatru by having a snake forced down his throat. Rauds lands were then confiscated in the name of the king and his monks. Raise a horn in honor of Raud and all of his kinsmen who gave their lives, rather then submit to the enforced love of the kristjan empire.

Snowmoon 14,

Thorrablot: This holiday began the Old Norse month of Snorri. It is still observed in Iceland with parties and a mid-winter feast. It is of course sacred to Thorr and the ancient Icelandic Winter Spirit of Thorri. On this day we should perform blot to Thorr and invite the mighty Asaman to the feast.

Horning / February

Horning 2,

Barri: This is the day we celebrate the wooing by Ingvi Freyr of the maiden Gerd, a symbolic marriage of the Vanir God of Fertility with the Mother Earth. It is a festival of fertility, the planted seed and the plowed furrow. For those of you who garden, this is the time to plant seeds indoors, to later be transplanted in the summer garden.

Horning 9,

Day of Remembrance for Eyvind Kinnrifi: Olaf tortured him to death by placing a bowl of red-hot embers on his stomach until his body burst open. Eyvind’s crime was a steadfast loyalty to the Old Gods. A good day to reflect on kristjan kindness.

Horning 14,

Feast of Vali: This feast originally celebrated the death of Hothr at the hands of Vali. This late winter festival relates to the triumphant return of the light of the sun over the dark days of winter. Today it is traditional celebration of the family. A time for the customary exchange of cards and gifts with loved ones. It is also a time for the renewal of marriage vows and an occasion for marriages.

Lenting / March

Lenting 9,

Day of Remembrance for Oliver the Martyr: He was an adherent of Asatru who persisted in organizing underground sacrifices to the Gods and Goddesses despite decrees by St Olaf the Lawbreaker forbidding such activities. Betrayed by an informer, he was killed by Olaf’s men while preparing for the Spring sacrifice in the village of Maerin Norway. Many other men whose names are lost to us were also killed, mutilated, or exiled for taking part in such sacrifices.

Lenting 20,

High Feast of Ostara: This is the Spring Equinox. The end of Winter and the beginning of the season of rebirth. Today we honor Frigga, Freya and Nerthus with blot and feast. Pour a libation of mead onto the Earth; celebrate the rebirth of nature, Asatru, and the new hopes of our Folk.

Lenting 28,

Ragnar Lodbrok Day: Ragnar was one of the legends most famous Vikings. On this day in Runic Year 1145 he raided Paris. It just happened to be Easter Sunday. Today toast Ragnar and read from his Saga.

Ostara / April

Ostara 9,

Day of Remembrance for Jarl Hakon of Norway: As ruler of the western part of the realm, Hakon restored the worship of the Old Gods and cast out the alien religion. In the process, the common folk regained political liberties which were erased under the kristjan yoke, and the flame of our Troth burned brighter in an era of gathering gloom. It may be that Hakon’s defense of our ancestral ways helped encourage the survival of our traditions in Iceland, where they eventually became the seeds of modern day Asatru. On this day reflect on how the actions of the individual can impact world events and the future of Odinn’s Nation.

Ostara 15,

Sigrblot/Sumarsdag: Today we celebrate the first day of Summer in the Old Icelandic calendar. In Iceland it had strong agricultural overtones, but elsewhere in the Nordic world, it was a time to sacrifice to Odinn for victory in the summer voyages and battles.

Ostara 22,

Yggdrasil Day: On this day we realize the great significance that the World Tree plays in our culture, heritage, and native spirituality. It is from the World Tree that we came, and it shelters and nurtures the Asatru today, and will offer refuge to the Folk come Ragnarok. Trees are the lungs as well as the soul of Midgard. Plant a tree today, nurture it, and protect it. In this act the Folk must abide.

Ostara 30,

Walburg: this is better known as Walpurgisnacht or May Eve. Walberg is a goddess of our folk combining some of the traits of Her better-known peers. Reflect on this day on Freya, Hel, and Frigga as the repository of the glorious dead, and you will have an idea of Wulburg’s nature. On this day pour a horn of mead upon the earth in memory of our heroes.

Merrymoon / May

Merrymoon 1,

May Day: The first of May is a time of great celebration all across Europe, as the fields get greener and the flowers decorate the landscape with colorful confusion. Freya turns her kindly face to us after the night of Walburg. Celebrate the birth of Spring and the gifts of Freya on this day.

Merrymoon 9,

Day of Remembrance for Guthroth: One of the upland minor kings. Guthroth had to the audacity to make a speech opposing the policies of Olaf Tryggvason, who at the time was busy killing people who did not want to become kristjans. For exercising his Gods given rights to worship his tribal Gods, Guthroth was captured and his tongue was cut out. Use your tongue for the Gods today! Sing their praises and recite some heroic poetry, tell someone of the Gods glory, and call a kinsman to keep in touch.

Merrymoon 20,

Frigga Blot: Today we rejoice in the warmth and splendor of Spring. A traditional time for a Kindred campout, perform blot to honor the AllMother and thank Her for the health and vitality of the Family, Kindred and Tribe.

Midyear / June

Midyear 8,

Lindisfarne Day: On this day in the year 1043 Runic Era (793 CE) three Viking ships raided the Isle of Lindisfarne, officially opening what is the Viking Age. Toast these brave warriors who began the noble resistance of the alien invasion of the Northlands and sought rightful revenge for the slaughter of the Saxons by Charlamange.

Midyear 9,

Day of Remembrance for Sigurd the Volsung: He is the model Germanic hero. His wooing of the Valkyrie Brynhild, the winning of the treasure of the Nibelungs, and the constant theme of Odinic initiation that weaves itself throughout his story are priceless parts of our Asatru heritage, that provide endless material for contemplation and inspiration for action.

Midyear 21,

Midsummer: This is the longest day and the shortest night of the year: Now Sunna begins its ling decline, sliding into the darkness which will culminate six months from now at Yule. Identifying the sun with the brightness of Baldur, we celebrate in honor of both. Hold blot to Baldur and High Feast. This was the traditional time for holding the AlThing in ancient times.

Haymoon / July

Haymoon 4,

Founder’s Day: On this day we honor the unselfish personal sacrifice and unswerving dedication to our Folk exemplified by the founders of modern era Asatru, H. Rud Mills of Australia, Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson and Thorsteinn Guthjonson of Iceland. On this day reflect on just what YOU can do to promote the growth of our ancestral religion and protect our sacred heritage and traditions.

Haymoon 9,

Day of Remembrance for Unn the Deep Minded: Unn was a powerful figure from the Laxdaela Saga who emigrated to Scotland to avoid the hostility of King Harald Finehair. She established dynasties in the Orkney and Faroe Islands by carefully marrying off her grand daughters. As a settler in Iceland she continued to exhibit all those traits which were her hallmark-strong will, a determination to control, dignity, and a noble character. In the last days of her life, she established a mighty line choosing one of her grandsons as her heir. She died during his wedding celebration, presumable accomplishing her goals and worked out her orlog here in Midgard. She received a typical Nordic ship burial, surrounded by her treasure and her reputation for great deeds.

Haymoon 29,

Stikklestad Day: Olaf the Lawbreaker (“St. Olaf”) was killed at the battle of Stikklestad on this date in the year 1280 R.E. Olaf acquired a reputation for killing, maiming, and exiling his fellow Norwegians who would not convert to Christianity, and for carrying an army with him in violation of the law to help him accomplish his oppression. Today honor the Asatru martyrs who died rather then submit to gray slavery. Also honor the warriors who brought justice to the Lawbreaker.

Harvest / August

Harvest 1,

Freyfaxi: Freyfaxi marked the time of the harvest in ancient Iceland. Today the Asatru observe this date as a celebration of their harvest with blot to Freyr and a grand Feast from the gardens and the fields.

Harvest 9,

Day of Remembrance for Radbod: On this date we honor Radbod a king of Frisia what was an early target kristjan missionaries. Just before his baptism ceremony, he asked the clergy what fate his befallen ancestors who died loyal to Asatru. The missionaries replied that Radbod’s Heathen ancestors were burning in Hell-to which the king replied: “Then I will rather live there with my ancestors than go to heaven with a parcel of beggars.” The baptism was cancelled, the aliens expelled, and Frisia remained free. Drink a horn this day in memory of Radbod.

Shedding / September

Shedding 9,

Day of Remembrance for Herman of the Cherusci: Few mortals have privileged to serve our Folk as did Herman, a leader of the tribe called the Cherusci. We he defeated Varus’ three Roman Legions in 9 C.E. he blocked our amalgamation into the Mediterranean morass. Herman was very aware of his duties not only as a member of his tribe but also as an Asaman - indeed the two were probably inseparable with him. Shedding is the ideal time to give him praise, because the crucial battle for which he is remembered was fought during this month.

Shedding 23,

Winter Finding: The Fall Equinox; Summer and Winter balance for a moment and the cold, old man wins - for now. Brace yourself for longer nights and the onset, eventually, of the cold and darkness of Winter. Do blot to Odin for inspiration to get through your personal lean times, whenever they may strike. This is the traditional time for Fall Fest and the Second Harvest Feast.

Hunting / October

Hunting 8,

Day of Remembrance for Erik the Red: Praise the stalwart founder of Greenland, and father of Leif, the founder of Vinland. Erik remained loyal to Thor even when his wife left the Gods and refused to sleep with her Heathen husband. Pause in memory of Erik today; drink a toast to his honor. No doubt he gets enough warmth in Har’s Hall to make up for his wife’s coldness.

Hunting 9,

Day of Remembrance for Leif Erikson: this is a day that even the U.S. Government admits who should dedicate to the man who beat Columbus to the shores of Vinland by over 500 years. Don’t let it slide quietly - write your local newspapers and share the word of the Norse colonies with neighbors and friends.

Hunting 14,

Winter Nights/Vetrablot: In the Old Icelandic Calendar, winter begins on the Satyrday between Hunting 11th and 17th. Winter Nights celebrates the bounty of the harvest and honors Freya and the fertility and protective spirits called Disir, that She leads (often the Disir are seen as our female ancestors). Give glory to Freya and pour a libation of ale, milk, or mead into the soil an offering to the Disir and the Earth itself.

Fogmoon / November

Fogmoon 9,

Day of Remembrance for Queen Sigrith of Sweden: When Olaf the Lawbreaker had been king of Norway for three years, he asked Queen Sigrith of Sweden to marry him. She agreed, but when he insisted that she give up her ancestral Gods Sigrith replied, “I do not mean to abandon the faith I have led, and my kinsmen before me. Nor shall I object to your belief in the god you prefer.” As usual Heathen tolerance was met with kristjan imprecations and a blow to the face. The wedding was off - depriving Olaf of political power that could have sped the christianization of Scandinavia. As it were, history tells us that the Heathens held on for over 300 more years in the Northlands. Hail Sigrith, defender of Asatru, and women of stubborn virtue!

Fogmoon 11,

Feast of the Einherjar: The chosen heroes who sit in Odin’s Hall are the Einherjar. Today we honor those dead kin who gave their lives for Family and Folk. If you have friends or family who died in battle, visit their graves today, if that is not possible, drink a libation in their memory.

Fogmoon 23,

Feast of Ullr: The Feast of Ullr is to celebrate the Hunt and to gain personal luck needed for success. Weapons are dedicated on this day to Ullr, God of the Bow. If your hunting arms were blessed by the luck of the God of the Hunt, your family and tribe shared the bounty with a Blot and Feast to Ullr.

Yule / December

Yule 9,

Day of Remembrance for Egil Skallagrimsson: Odin was his God, and the blood of berserks and shape-shifters ran in his family. His lust for gold and for fames was insatiable. Yet the same man was passionately moved by the love of his friends and generously opened handed to those who found his favor. The same brain that seethed with war-fury also composed skaldic poetry capable of calming angry kings. Can it be by accident that Egil worshipped Odin, the great solver of paradoxes and riddles? Indeed all Asafolk - but especially those who follow the one-eyed God of battle and magic - can learn much from the life of this amazing man.

Yule 21,

Mother Night: As the night before the Winter Solstice, this is the time when the New Year is born. We honor the beginning of Sunnas return and the breaking of Winter’s spell. This is a time to honor Thor and Freyr, celebrate by Blot, Sumbel, and High Feast. Burn a Yule Log and jump the flames for luck and purification.

Yule 22,

High Feast of Yule - Beginning of Runic Year - Sacred to Thorr and Freyr

Yule 31,

Twelfth Night: This culminates the traditional twelve days of Yule. Each day of which is a month of the preceding year in miniature. Reflect on the past year. Take stock and lay a course for the future. Make New Years resolutions in the old way by swearing your oath on Freyr’s boar or on your Hammer.

[usabsportdevelopment-blog]

A Champion’s Resiliency 

FUNdamental Skills - Character Development Series

By Darren Fenster / September 29, 2017 

Perspective can be an amazing thing sometimes.

We can look back at some great accomplishment, and figure out all of the things that went into reaching that pinnacle. We can do the same with failure, and determine how and why the wheels fell off the bus. In both cases, our experiences into what was help prepare us for what may be down the road, knowing exactly what worked and what didn’t.

Perspective on our 2017 season with the Greenville Drive was indeed a beautiful thing. We won the first South Atlantic League Championship in the 12-year history of the franchise, and set a regular-season record for wins with 79 along the way. We had some incredible wins. Extra inning marathon wins. Great, competitive wins. Perfectly played, all-around wins.

And we had some losses as well… 62 of them, to be precise.  

Looking back now, there were four specific games over the course of the season that clearly shaped us as a team. Not a single one of them was a win. Some clubs create their team identity behind improbable comebacks. Our Major League club in Boston seems to have built theirs in extra innings, just finding a way to outlast their opponent late into the night. Meanwhile in Cleveland, the Indians, in the midst of their own historic run, have done so by pummeling teams from the very first pitch of the game, rarely ever trailing over the course of nine innings. The 2017 Greenville Drive? Our identity was born from potentially debilitating defeats. Our lifeblood was our unbelievably consistent ability to respond to them.  

May 30: Rome Braves 10, Greenville Drive 7

The first of these identity-building losses was quite possibly the worst. Not only the worst of the season, but it just might have been the worst loss I have ever experienced personally in my entire career on a baseball field, as a player or coach.

In the first game of a doubleheader against a Rome Braves team that was nipping at our heels in second place, we took a comfortable 7-0 lead into what should have been the final inning of the game. The frame opened with three hits, a walk, and a hit batsman; the score was 7-3. A base hit sandwiched in between two outs drove in another run with one out to go. 7-4. With the tying run at the plate, and us now clinging nervously to a three-run lead, we got the game-ending strikeout that we needed… but our catcher was unable to get a glove on the ball, and the pitch went to the backstop as the batter reached first with another runner crossing the plate. 7-5. The next hitter doubled off the wall to complete the unthinkable comeback, driving in two to tie the game at seven.  We had just blown a seven-run lead in the last inning of a game, and eventually lost after giving up a three-spot in extras. This was the kind of loss that could stay with a team for a long time.  

It was my job as manager to make sure it didn’t.

Very rarely would I ever address the team after a game.  Over the course of the regular season, it might have happened five times – maybe. Post-game speeches just weren’t my style; we would generally talk about the previous night’s game before stretch the following day. But after a loss like this, with another game to start 30 minutes later, it was a no-brainer to speak to the group about what had just happened, as I had to make sure the guys got that game out of their system and move on. With players shell-shocked, sitting quietly in front of their lockers in the clubhouse, most with their heads down wondering what had just happened, my quick team address went something like this:

“This was bad, there’s no sugarcoating it. But it’s not one person’s fault. We win as a team, and we lose as a team. We move on as a team. Right now. The best part about that game? It’s over. In 30 minutes, we get the opportunity to right the ship.”

And we did…

Not only did we win game two of the doubleheader – we went on to win four games in a row, part of a run in which we would win seven of our next 10 games, putting ourselves in a great position to close out the first half of the season on top of our division.

June 15: Columbia Fireflies 7, Greenville Drive 2

The 140-game South Atlantic League season is broken up into two, 70-game halves. The winners of each division in each half go to the playoffs. With four games to go in the first half, we were clinging to a half-game lead over Columbia, who came to town red hot, winning something like 12 of their previous 13 games. We had played extremely well over the course of the first 65 games of the half, pacing the division in first place from Opening Day on. If we took care of business on our end, we wouldn’t have to worry about what anyone else was doing below us, and that playoff ticket would be ours.

Well, we didn’t take care of business that night, and for the first time in more than two months, we found ourselves in second place with three games to go, on the outside of postseason baseball looking in. A three-game series awaited us on the road in Rome to play what was arguably the most talented team in the league. A thrilling comeback win on the final game of the half gave us a series win, and – with some help from Charleston against Columbia – the division title.

We were going to the playoffs.

July 7: Lexington Legends 5, Greenville Drive 2 (PPD, eight innings)

We stumbled a bit out of the gate in the second half of the season. Perhaps we were tired from the way we had to play the final two weeks under pressure to win the first half; but while playing the same brand of baseball we had been the entire season, we just couldn’t find ourselves on the winning side of the scoreboard like we had so often in the months prior. Our record, which stood at 4-10 going into this game, wasn’t a huge concern for me because we were going about our business professionally and competing in a similar manner as we had all season long… that was, until this game.

As we sleepwalked into the eighth inning, we found ourselves down 5-2, playing with very little energy, and even less focus. As a team, we had just one hit for the game, and it certainly wasn’t Clayton Kershaw or Corey Kluber who was on the mound. It wasn’t “just one of those days;” we flat-out were not competitive. Unfortunately, these days are bound to happen over the course of a 140-game season. In the bottom of the eighth, as the skies opened up and the ocean began to fall from above, our players’ enthusiasm was renewed.  As I sat on one end of the dugout, I thought to myself, had we had this kind of life when the game was actually being played, we’d probably be in a better position. The energy that this rain delay brought out in our team frustrated me.

And then, when the game had been officially called, a few guys thought it would be a good idea to go tarp sliding. After we had just lost a game. After we had gotten just one hit. Well, needless to say, this prompted a post-game “speech.” That “speech” had a clear message: even if it’s just for one day out of 140, a lack of energy, focus, competitiveness, and professionalism was not acceptable. Not even for one day.

The next day would be the start of a seven-game winning streak, and a stretch of winning ten of our next twelve contests.

August 22: Columbia Fireflies 14, Greenville Drive 7

In one of those days that was, truly, “just one of those days,” we were getting beat handily by Columbia, down 14-0 as we went to bat in the bottom of the eighth inning. A Rome-like, miracle comeback was hardly in the cards in a game where two touchdowns would merely tie things up. But from the third base coach’s box, I witnessed something pretty incredible during our last two times at bat, which spoke volumes about who we were as a team.

Down 14-0, with six outs to go and everyone – myself included – tired and hungry, as the post-game spread was getting cold, we didn’t give away a single at bat. Our competitiveness in the box during those final two innings was as good as it had been all season long. We were disciplined and made the pitchers work. We found ways to get on base beyond just base hits. We got clutch hits to keep the line moving, and the game going.  Eventually, the last out was recorded, and we had lost the game by seven runs when the dust had settled. But despite the box score that would show us losing, I remember thinking to myself how awesome it was to witness our guys truly play all nine innings, which was our Modus Operandi all year long.

In a game where we were dead in the water, the life we showed in those last two frames carried over to the next day, which put us on a run of eight straight wins, and got us on a trajectory to peak at the exact time of year when we needed to: right into the playoffs.

If someone asked me to describe this collective group of 49 players in one word, that would be simple: resilient. Time and time again, we got knocked down, and time and time again, we got back up, and responded.

As we moved through the playoffs, I had my “back against the wall,” or, “world against us” speech all ready to go, with those four aforementioned games as its backdrop. This team was battle-tested and as well prepared to respond as any group of players I had ever been around. It was who we were; it was what we did. And I was ready to give that speech to make sure every single guy in our clubhouse knew that.

But in the end, these guys played so well that I would never have to give it.

The natural ebb and flow of our game will always present adversity. Often times, we cannot control how, when, or even why that hardship will hit. What we can control is our response. When many others would have been crippled by it, in 2017, the Greenville Drive used adversity as a springboard that enabled us to leave our own mark on a franchise’s history. We responded better than any coach could ever hope for. We responded all the way to a ring.

For more resources, check out these links: USA Baseball Mobile Coach Amateur Resource Center Online Education Center The Mental Game

Darren Fenster is a contributor to the USA Baseball Sport Development Blog, and is currently the Manager of the Boston Red Sox Class A Affiliate Greenville Drive. A former player in the Kansas City Royals minor league system, Fenster joined the Red Sox organization in 2012 after filling various roles on the Rutgers University Baseball staff, where he was a two-time All-American for the Scarlet Knights. Fenster is also Founder and CEO of Coaching Your Kids, LLC, and can be found on Twitter @CoachYourKids.

[shannrussell-blog1]

Standing so powerful and beautiful, Mont Blanc is the grand monarch of the European Alps. Sitting at an altitude of 4,810m above sea level, this is the highest peak in Europe. And, what makes her so incredible is that she’s accessible to all. You don’t need to be an “alpinist” to reach her as there are cable cars that can help non-climbers get up close to experience her from up high.

Mont Blanc is situated on a 40km mountain range that enters 3 countries – France, Italy and Switzerland with her summit being on the French side. There are glaciers that cover around 100sq km of this mountain, which is why she is known as Mont Blanc, meaning white mountain.

Heading up the Col du Bonhomme mountain pass.

I first visited the town of Chamonix in France back in 2010 and saw the grandeur of Mont Blanc. This is when I fell in love with this area. My husband and I spent a few days exploring, playing as happy tourists taking the cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi, 3842m high, which is the highest I have ever been.

Up here you have the most stunning views overlooking Italy and Switzerland and on a good day, Mont Blanc shows herself proudly.

Hikers hopping in a cable car up to Aiguille du Midi. 

Our trip

Last year saw us back and ready to experience Mont Blanc in a very different way than we did before. We came back to walk the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB), which is known as one of the greatest long-distance hikes in Europe. The walk is around 170km with 10,000m of ascent and takes you through the three countries of France, Switzerland and Italy.

Our journey had us hiking through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery, forest walks, and deep into the valleys. We stayed in a different village every night and sometimes even in a different country!

  The Col de la Seigne pass crossing Italy to France. 

Hiking the TMB

Many people start in Les Houches in France and travel anti-clockwise. The trail is marked in both directions, so we chose to start in Chamonix and go clockwise. When planning your flight, it’s best to fly into Geneva. This is where there are shuttle buses that can take you through to Les Houches or many of the other villages in the valley. My recommendation is to first check in with the hotel you will be staying at on the first night, as a lot of the hotels provide this service.

The time one would take to hike the TMB is anywhere between 5-12 days, depending on what you choose to do. Some of the paths you will be following are of ancient ones that have been used for many centuries. There are old mule and Shepherd’s pathways, old trade routes, roads of the Roman Soldiers and Celtic tribes. I found it really interesting to learn some of this history as we walked along.

There are several ways you can experience this hike. You can walk it independently or use one of the many companies that offer package deals. These include a self-guided option or a fully guided walk with all luggage transfers and accommodation sorted out for you.

Looking out towards Trient, Switzerland. 

The independent way

Maps

Maps of this walk are easy enough to obtain if you choose to go this way and the waymarking is very clear as it is a very popular and well-used trail.

Accommodation

You will want to book accommodation ahead of time, as there are so many tour groups going through and they have pre-booked a lot of it, so it can be difficult especially during peak season to find anything despite there being an abundance of choice.

Camping options

You can camp and there are many campgrounds along the way. I do recommend checking out the camping laws for each country if you decide to free camp.

Hikers trekking through the Col de la Seigne pass. 

Choosing how many km to walk per day

Be realistic on the kilometres you choose to hike each day as some sections have quite a significant ascent and descent, this can make a 20km day in the mountains a lot harder than in the valleys.

Food and supplies

Do be aware of where you can obtain food as some of the mountain huts don’t stock food and other huts have a limited amount.

Using one of the many tour companies

The benefit of using a tour company is that they have a lot of choice in how you can walk the TMB. You can go with a guide and in a small group while having your luggage transferred. You can hike the TMB self-guided and the company will arrange all baggage transfers and accommodation. They will also provide you with up-to-date information and help along the way.

Higher up towards Col du Bonhomme. 

Best time to walk the TMB

There is a limited season for walking the TMB which does create a bit of traffic along the way. This is a hiking route you cannot do in the winter months due to the harsh weather. It’s only recommended in the warmer seasons from late June to early September. Be aware that Europe have their main holiday time during August/September so expect the trail to be at it’s busiest then.

You must also be aware that the weather in the mountains can be very unpredictable. They can have extreme cold snaps at any time, this can result in snow or blizzards especially on the higher passes. We walked at the end of August, being the height of summer and had a mix of hot and snowy days.

Another important piece of information to be aware of is that the mountain huts on the passes don’t open till mid-June and usually shut down in mid-September.

Trekking high above Les Chapieux – a stopover on the trip.

The terrain

With some lovely valley walks through forests, climbing up high rocky mountain passes, and even scrambling up sections at different points along the way. Be prepared to do it all and expect to get up to heights of 2,665m.

This is not of altitude that can cause sickness for most people, but it does give you a tough physical challenge nonetheless. Be prepared physically before setting out on this hike.

The view over Col du Bonhomme. 

What to pack

To pack for a trip like this where you are heading up over mountain passes, you need to be prepared for all types of weather. Just because it’s summer, there can still be some severe weather at any time. This means that the temperatures drop drastically and fast!

Typically, June to September, the temperature is between 7°C and 24°C. Always check the weather on a regular basis while on this trip and do adhere to any warnings that may be in place. Don’t attempt a mountain pass if you know the weather will be severe. Also, remember the wind chill factor as your body temperature can drop at a fast rate.

If you are using a company to transport your baggage be sure to check the maximum weight allowance as often this is as little as 7kg.

The border of Italy and France along the trek. 

Where you can stash your excess luggage

If you are travelling in Europe for a while other than just the walk, speak to your hotel where you will start and end your walk. Often they are happy to hold luggage that you won’t need on the walk.

Preparing for all kinds of weather

Whether you are carrying a day bag (and having your baggage transported) or carrying all your gear, you must have gear for all types of weather. Be sure to have wet weather gear and extra warm clothes like thermals. You will need to carry water, (up to 2 litres),

There was snow on the ground when we left the Refuge de la Balme.

Packing list for Mont Blanc

A backpack in the size to suit your needs.

Sturdy boots or shoes you plan to trek in. A spare pair of shoes to put on in the evenings.

Hiking poles (you won’t regret taking them)

Water bottles or hydration pack

Map and guidebooks

socks

3 pairs of underwear. I don’t recommend you pack cotton as once it gets wet, it takes a long time to dry which may cause chafing. Also, once wet it loses all thermal properties. You want a fabric that wicks away sweat to keep you comfortable.

2 quick drying hiking shirts

2 zip-off hiking pants. Hiking pants are not only quicker at drying, having the zip-offs allows you the flexibility to wear shorts if it warms up or long pants when the temperature drops.

A lightweight windproof jacket

1 thermal top, and pants (optional)

Rain jacket, rain pants (optional but highly recommended)

2 buff. Tip: a buff also helps protect you from the wind and cold.

Gloves for when the temperature drops, I recommend this as I found mine to be invaluable!

Sarong or Shemagh. This I recommend for so many uses, for example – a scarf, a wrap for after the shower, a towel, a blanket to sit on, make into a bag for the evenings, make many different outfits like a jacket, top and skirt, just to name a few.

Something to sleep in.

If you are camping

Cooker, fuel for cooker (do be aware fuel and matches are not allowed on planes but can be purchased when you arrive).

Food utensils

Head torch

An example of route and towns that you can stay in

Day 1 – Les Houches to La Flegere. Distance – 18km.

Day 2 –La Flegere to Trient. Distance – 19km.

You will find some variants on this day, as well as a chance to ride a cable car and a chairlift. At 14km there is a refuge on the Col de Balme (border of France/Italy). Note that this is an unmanned refuge and there is no food available here.

The sign pointing towards Trient.

Day 3 – Trient to Champex. Distance – 17km.

You will find some variants on this day. One is to take the high and more challenging route over the pass of Fenetre d’Arpette (2665m). Only take it if the weather is good, as in recent years there has been a rock slide. The other choice is to take the Bovine Trail, can be challenging with long ascents and descents but there is a place to stop, relax and have lunch half way. Both are very similar in distance.

Stopping for a rest and some lunch along the Bovine Trail. 

Day 4 – Champex to Ferret. Distance – 18km.

There is a choice to stop at 16km and stay in La Fouly.

The view of the Val Ferret Valley in Switzerland. 

Day 5 – Ferret to Rifugio Bonatti. Distance – 17km.

Another border crossing and high pass at 2537m. There are a few other options to stay at like we did at Rifugio Elena (approximately 10km) or Chalet Val Ferret (approximately 13km).

We stayed at the Rifugio Elena in the Aosta Valley in Italy.

Day 6 – Rifugio Bonatti to Courmayeur. Distance – 12km.

I highly recommend a day here as it is a beautiful town worth exploring.

Day 7 – Courmayeur to Rifugio Elisabetta. Distance – 18km.

This is dorm style accommodation. The next available accommodation is in Les Chapieux, (not a town) and is approximately another 16km. You do have a choice, however, to catch a bus from Courmayeur to Cantine de la Visaille, where camping is available. This is around 14km which makes it an easier day to continue to Les Chapieux.

Trekking uphill from Les Chapieux. 

Day 8 – Rifugio Elisabetta to Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme Distance – 20km.

This is dorm style accommodation, as well. There is a route variant here, there is also a high pass of Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2483m), or you can choose the shorter (4km), but higher route over the Col des Fours (2665m). Only take this route if the weather is good. This is also another border crossing from Italy to France.

You can stay overnight at the Rifugio Elisabetta. 

Day 9 – Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme to Les Contamines. Distance – 13km.

This is virtually downhill but be aware it can be very steep in some sections.

Day 10 – Les Contamines to Les Houches. Distance – 16km.

Again, there is another route variant and cable cars. Check the weather for the choice of which route to take, as the high route will take you close to the glacier de Bionnassay, as well as crossing a swing bridge. Not recommended if the weather is bad.

The final takeaway

To experience the mountains and achieve a walk like this has been a real highlight for me. After completing the journey, I now know my love affair with the European mountains will only continue to grow.

  Is Mont Blanc on your bucket list? Let us know in the comments.

  The post Walking the Tour du Mont Blanc in Europe appeared first on Snowys Blog.

[flauntpage]

Phillies Ace Aaron Nola is a Man Without a Rotation

As Aaron Nola mowed down the hapless Mets en route to an 8-3 victory Sunday, it was difficult not to think of the ineffectiveness of the rest of the Phillies’ starting rotation.

Nola didn’t need to bring his best stuff to the ballpark. His teammates jumped on Mets starter Zack Wheeler in the top of the first inning, plating four runs and building a comfortable lead before Nola even toed the rubber. Nevertheless, he delivered a performance befitting his status as the best pitcher on the staff.

For nearly seven innings, he was dominant; for five of those frames, he was unhittable. Nola kept the Mets off balance with a steady diet of fastballs, curveballs, and changeups, never giving them an opportunity to climb out of the hole they dug for themselves at the beginning of the game. Any signs of fatigue from a 120-pitch, 8-inning outing five days prior in Atlanta were not evident.

After a disastrous April that saw his ERA peak at 7.45, Nola has improved with each passing month; at the conclusion of Sunday’s outing, his ERA sits at 3.74. Carving up New York’s lineup was a fine follow-up to the start in Atlanta, which served as Nola’s most impressive start of the 2019 season.

The Phillies front office is undoubtedly ecstatic as Nola reverts to his 2018, N.L.-Cy-Young-Award-finalist form. And yet, Matt Klentak and company must be wondering why their organization seems unable to develop any of their other young guns into a dependable rotation piece for an aspiring contender.

This past offseason, which culminated in the signing of Bryce Harper, was supposed to mark the end of the Phillies’ long journey through the baseball wilderness. Moreover, the spending splurge in the winter was meant to add to a solid foundation rather than usher in a complete overhaul. The various seeds the franchise had planted in the fruitless years of 2013-2018 were overdue to bloom.

We were told during those years to be patient. The team had to let its young talent develop, and what better way to hone one’s craft than in the crucible of the big leagues?

We watched as Vince Velasquez learned to become a pitcher instead of a thrower. Four seasons into his tenure, we are still waiting for the transition.

There are times when Velasquez dazzles the opposition with his overpowering fastball. The most compelling evidence of this ability came in one of Velasquez’s first starts in a Phillies uniform, when he struck out 16 San Diego Padres en route to a 3-hit, complete game shutout:

All but three of Velasquez’s punch outs came via the fastball. Also, take note of how frequently he hit catcher Cameron Rupp’s glove. When Velasquez commands his fastball, he’s in control. When he loses his feel for the pitch, or when opponents catch up to the heat, the wheels fall off. Velasquez’s inability to develop even one secondary pitch that he trusts and on which he can rely has prevented him from taking the next step in his development.

In truth, Velasquez has thrown more sliders thus far in 2019 than he has in the past. Per Fan Graphs, Velasquez has gone to his slider 22.3% of the time. This increased usage has come at the expense of his other offspeed pitches, however. In fact, Velasquez has called on his fastball more this season than at any point in his career, featuring the pitch 68% of the time. Without a quality offspeed pitch to keep them honest at the plate, hitters can key in on the fastball. Too often against Velasquez, they do.

Despite Nick Pivetta’s inauspicious 2018 campaign, we were told that 2019 would be different for the young hurler. Citing spin rates and a preponderance of soft hits, the disciples of sabermetrics targeted Pivetta in the preseason as a candidate for a breakout year. NBCSN’s Corey Seidman laid out a compelling case for Pivetta:

These days, it’s common to see teams, writers and commentators refer to pitchers as being unlucky when their batting average on balls in play is higher than the league average. It’s not always the case. Sometimes it’s the easy way out.

Pivetta, though, actually was unlucky.

According to Sports Info Solutions, the Phillies’ range and positioning cost Pivetta 24 runs last season — seven runs more than anyone in the majors. The Phillies, with their league-worst defense in 2018, had three of the top five pitchers in this unfortunate category, with Vince Velasquez and Zach Eflin tied for third at 14 runs.

It wasn’t just the analytics community that was bullish on Pivetta. Jim Salisbury wrote a preseason column focusing on the pitcher’s improvement, which was bolstered by the laudatory whispers of a few anonymous scouts.

Notwithstanding a two-start stretch in June in which Pivetta quieted the bats of the mighty Dodgers for six innings, and then tossed a complete game against the Reds, 2019 Nick Pivetta has looked a lot like 2018 Nick Pivetta. To be sure, he’s been the recipient of bad luck. But Pivetta has a knack for making a bad situation worse.

Take his most recent start against the Braves on Wednesday. Pivetta made quick work of Atlanta in the first three innings. In the fourth, a throw by Rhys Hoskins to second base on a double-play attempt hit runner Dansby Swanson in the shoulder and bounced off Jean Segura’s chest. Instead of two outs and the bases empty, Pivetta was forced into a high-leverage situation against Josh Donaldson. Donaldson promptly deposited an 80 mile-per-hour curveball into the Braves’ bullpen. Pivetta would concede another three-run home run to Austin Riley in the sixth inning. Resident Crossing Broad beat writer Bob offered up a succinct assessment:

Not sure I’ve ever seen a pitcher worse at navigating himself out of trouble than Nick Pivetta. Then again, if nobody is going to hit, I guess it doesn’t matter.

— BobCrossingBroad (@BWCrossingBroad) July 4, 2019

Perhaps the most confounding of all the Phillies’ development projects is Jerad Eickhoff. In 2015, the Phillies acquired Eickhoff, among other prospects, from the Rangers in a trade for Cole Hamels. It’s worth taking a quick detour to revisit the Phillies’ spoils from that trade, especially as Klentak considers which of his minor league treasures with which to part in exchange for an asset that can bolster the Phillies’ ability to contend for a playoff spot. In exchange for Hamels and Jake Diekman, the Phillies received the aforementioned Eickhoff; catcher Jorge Alfaro; outfielder Nick Williams; pitchers Jake Thompson and Alec Asher; and veteran pitcher Matt Harrison.

Harrison would never don a Phillies uniform, having suffered a back injury that would end his career. His inclusion in the deal essentially increased the prospect haul the Phillies were able to ransom from the Rangers. Alec Asher is currently pitching in China, while Jake Thompson has taken his talents to South Korea. Alfaro was included in the deal that brought All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto to Philadelphia. Williams is toiling in Lehigh Valley, while Eickhoff continues to struggle with his health and consistency on the major league roster. Keep all of this in mind in the next few weeks as debates rage over which prospects are “untouchable” or “can’t miss.”

Eickhoff is the anti-Velasquez. He features a “show me” fastball that sets up an effective slider and a devastating, 12-to-6 curveball. When he’s at his best, Eickhoff can dominate a lineup. Most of the time, especially lately, Eickhoff has not been at his best. Before his demotion to the bullpen in June, Eickhoff served up 5 home runs in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Shortly thereafter, Eickhoff landed in an even more familiar place: the injury list.

Last, but certainly not least, we come to the curious case of Zach Eflin. The best word to describe Eflin’s career thus far would be erratic. Very rarely does Eflin retreat to that bastion of pitching mediocrity- the quality start. Instead, he will either turn in a remarkable effort or a regrettable performance. One month of exceptional outings might convince an observer that Eflin has turned a corner in his development. Sure enough, though, he’ll follow a hot month with a multi-start cold spell.

The only consistency Eflin offers is inconsistency. So it seems to go with the rest of the young horses in the rotation stable.

As the front office prepares for the second half of the season and a looming trade deadline, GM Matt Klentak must consider whether the club he has fashioned for the 2019 campaign is worthy of reinforcements that will deplete his prospect pipeline. If he decides to make midseason roster upgrades, the first item on the shopping list must be a starter. It should probably be the second item as well.

Indeed, the Phillies have suffered through a rash of injuries that have depleted their bullpen corps and stolen key contributors from their everyday lineup for stretches of time. The extended absences were a major driver of their June slide, which drove them from first place in the NL East to third. If it weren’t for the lifeline the Mets offered in the past week, the Phils quite possibly would have been sitting below the .500 mark heading into the Midsummer Classic.

During a 162 game season, the offense will endure dry spells. The bullpen might not always offer effective relief, especially when the injury bug bites. The one ingredient that can carry a team through the rough patches and propel them to the playoffs is quality starting pitching. Even matchup-happy managers like Gabe Kapler learn to appreciate the value of a pitcher who can regularly deliver six to seven innings every outing, thus saving the innings a bullpen might need to work. Overtaxed relief arms can spell disaster for a contender in August and September, as Kapler learned the hard way last season.

Klentak should not need to go to the trade well to augment his staff, but the collective output of the starters outside of Nola has forced his hand. Which of these pitchers would you count on to make the start in a one-game wildcard playoff, assuming Nola were unavailable and Jake Arrieta is unable to return to form? Each one boasts undeniable talent, but neither Eflin, Eickhoff, Pivetta, nor Velasquez has been able to put together the puzzle pieces of their potential to unlock the mysteries of consistent big league performance.

Klentak has been at the poker table long enough to realize the one ace in his possession will not be enough to win. It’s time to deal in for a better hand, or fold and wait for the next draw in 2020.

The post Phillies Ace Aaron Nola is a Man Without a Rotation appeared first on Crossing Broad.

Phillies Ace Aaron Nola is a Man Without a Rotation published first on https://footballhighlightseurope.tumblr.com/

[its-veso]

EUR/USD Forecast Sep. 24-28 – Will it choose a direction?

EUR/USD[1] enjoyed significant gains as the US Dollar lost ground in a calm atmosphere. What’s next? Fresh inflation figures and Draghi’s testimony stand out in the last week of September. Here is an outlook for the highlights of this week and an updated technical analysis for EUR/USD.

The US announced new tariffs on China on $200 billion worth of products, as expected. Markets seemed to take it with a stride. However, the greenback enjoyed the rise in 10-year yields. ECB President Mario Draghi did not rock the boat. August’s inflation numbers were confirmed at 2% on the headline and 1% on the core, just before September’s preliminary numbers.

Updates:

EUR/USD daily chart with support and resistance lines on it. Click to enlarge:

German Ifo Business Climate: Monday, 8:00. IFO is Germany’s No. 1 think-tank and its broad survey moves the euro. The Business Climate beat expectations in August with a score of 103.8 points, a multi-month high. A drop to 103.2 is projected now.

Mario Draghi talks Monday, 13:00. The President of the European Central Bank testifies before a committee of the European Parliament in Brussels. He is set to provide fresh insights about the economic situation, inflation developments, and more. As the next rate decision is still far off, he may feel free to hint about monetary policy.

Belgian NBB Business Climate: Monday, 13:00. This 6000-strong survey advanced to -0.3 in August, almost fully balanced between improving and worsening conditions. A slide to -0.5 is on the cards.

German GfK Consumer Climate: Thursday, 6:00. This survey is for consumers, not businesses. After peaking early in the year, German consumers are less optimistic in recent months with the score dropping to 10.5 in August. We will now get the figures for September. An increase to 10.6 is on the cards now.

Monetary data: Thursday, 8:00. The ECB’s M3 Money Supply measures money in circulation and that has decelerated to 4% in July after two quicker months. Private Loans remained steady at 3% y/y in July. The figures for August will likely be similar. Money supply is expected to decelerate to 3.8% and private loans to maintain the same rate of 3%.

ECB Economic Bulletin: Thursday, 8:00. Two weeks after the rate decision, the European Central Bank releases the economic data they used before making its decision. The publication sheds more light on the thinking at the central bank.

German Prelim CPI: Thursday, during the morning from the various German states and 12:00 for all of Germany. Germany’s Consumer Price Index rose by only 0.1% m/m in August. The preliminary data for September has a significant impact on the all-European measure published on Friday. Another minor increase of 0.1% is predicted.

French Consumer Spending: Friday, 6:45. French consumers have been cautious in recent months, with small advances in consumption. An increase of 0.1% was seen in July. The figure for August could be better.  An increase of 0.3% is expected.

French CPI: Friday, 6:45. The second-largest economy in the euro-zone publishes also has a significant impact on the all-European figure. CPI jumped by 0.5% in August after slipping by 0.1% in July. A drop of 0.1% is on the cards.

German Unemployment Change: Friday, 7:55. Germany’s economic boom is well-reflected in the constant drop in the number of the unemployed. A slide of 8K was seen in July and yet another drop is likely in August. A slide of 9K is estimated.

Spanish Flash CPI: Friday, 8:00. The fourth-largest economy saw an annual inflation rate of 2.2% in August, above the euro-zone average. Its last-minute input may shape CPI expectations for the continent. Yet another annual increase of 2.2% is projected.

Inflation: Friday, 9:00. Headline inflation stood at 2% in August, bang on the ECB’s target. However, core CPI disappointed with only 1%. The increase in energy prices made the difference. ECB President Mario Draghi was not very worried about weak core inflation in his last press conference. We will now get the preliminary numbers for September, just as the ECB tapers down its bond-buying scheme. A small uptick to 2.1% on the headline and 1.1% on the core is projected.

* All times are GMT

EUR/USD Technical Analysis

Euro/dollar moved up but was somewhat stuck when challenging the 1.1720 level (mentioned last week[2]). It then surged to 1.1800, the highest since July before settling a bit lower.

Technical lines from top to bottom:

1.1915 was the low point in January and remains relevant. 1.1850 was the peak on June 14th, before Draghi sent the euro down. 1.1800 capped the pair in mid-September.

1.1750 held the pair no less than four times in July and remains a powerful level.

1.1720 is a veteran line that worked in both directions and it capped the pair in mid-September. 1.1650 was a swing low in late August and is very closely followed by 1.1630 which held the price down in mid-August.

1.1580 worked as support in late August. 1.1530 supported the pair twice in August, making it an important line. 1.1435 held the EUR/USD down when it was trading around the yearly lows.

1.1300 is a round number that held the pair in mid-August and also held the pair down in June 2017.

I am bearish on EUR/USD

After the correction, the greenback will likely resume its rally thanks to a hawkish Fed decision. Unimpressive euro-zone inflation figures could hurt the common currency.

Our latest podcast is titled Too hot or too cold? The world is watching the Fed[3]

Follow us on Sticher or iTunes[4][5]

Further reading:

Safe trading!

Get the 5 most predictable currency pairs[6]

References

^ EUR/USD (www.forexcrunch.com)

^ last week (www.forexcrunch.com)

^ Too hot or too cold? The world is watching the Fed (www.podtrac.com)

^ Sticher (www.stitcher.com)

^ iTunes (itunes.apple.com)

^ Get the 5 most predictable currency pairs (www.forexcrunch.com)

from Forex Crunch http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ForexCrunch/~3/Buk993LjeXI/

[havekiddoswilltravel]

Summer Family Fun at Smugglers’ Notch Resort

Our family (6 - 2 adults and 4 kids ages 12, 10, 7 and 5) spent 5 days and 4 nights in a 3-bedroom – 2.5 bath condo in Owls 6 during the summer season and loved our time at Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, VT. I highly recommend the bigger and newer units in the North Hill Community. Ours was massive and easily accommodated our large family which provided a much better experience than prior cramped sleep situations in regular hotels. We could’ve easily had grandparents join us and still had extra space.

The views, sounds and smells scream “summer in Vermont!” @smugglersnotchvt #smuggslove #smugglersnotch #hosted #vt #vermont #summervibes #newengland #nature #4kidstravel #intentionaltravel #mountains #art #teachingkids #familytravel #blackmomsblog #blackfamilytravel #4kidstravel #diversifyoutdoors

A post shared by Ruth - 4kidstravel (@havekiddoswilltravel) on Jul 28, 2018 at 7:55am PDT

 Pin for later:

Why Smuggs: Smugglers’ Notch is widely known as a family friendly ski resort, but we wanted to experience everything that Smugglers’ and the surrounding area had to offer in the summer months.

Pro tip: When traveling with young children, I highly recommend exploring a ski resort in the off season, as it provides a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the set-up, layout and kid friendly offerings during milder weather.

What we did:

Smugglers offers a 43-page Resort Information Guide which details the myriad of free and fee-based activities available for families to take part in. There’s a daily schedule, as well as camp offerings that help to keep families engaged (see more details below).

Check out the Vlog(s) at the end of this post for more pictures and videos of our time at Smuggs. 

What we loved:

-          Our condo: the kids actually argued about whether it was a condo, hotel room or a lodge. It was huge and provided a perfect base for our family to enjoy the resort and the surrounding areas.

-          Our kids loved the opportunity to try out mountain biking and I’m sure that this will become a new family favorite activity.

-          The variety of swimming options and slides with very limited lines was a huge hit with my water loving children.

-          Our youngest loved the various transportation options on the mountain. He loved taking the shuttle, the golf cart or just watching the lifts being serviced.

Variety of swimming options:

-          There are 8 heated pools and 4 water slides in addition to Bootleggers’ Basin and Rum Runners’ Hideaway - offering natural mountain reservoir swimming areas. My kids loved the fact that the pools are actually heated at a comfortable temperature allowing us to take advantage of the late pool hours at the Mountainside Water Playground and Court-side Pool & Hot Tubs.

Click here for more live trip report pictures from our trip.

Pro tip: The Court-side Pool was one of our favorite places to watch the sunset from. Don’t forget to pack beach towels for your family.  You will need them for the pools, reservoirs and for camp. You can take advantage of the washer and dryer in your unit.

Off-Road Segrides:

-          Kid 1 and my husband enjoyed a 60-minute guided Segway XT all terrain tour through the rugged woods on Smugglers’ property. Their guide, Bruce was amazing and made the experience enjoyable for our nervous  and usually overly cautious daughter. Kids must be 12 & older to participate.

French Gourmet Winery Experience: our kids took part in 2 days of camp at Smuggs and on one of these days, my husband and I drove to The Boyden Valley Winery and enjoyed a French Gourmet Experience. We took a tour of the farm, wine tasting and enjoyed a glass of wine and a cheese board while taking in the amazing views of the farm, vineyard and the Green Mountains beyond.

Village Recreation Area:

-          Our family loved the sand volleyball court, basketball court, shuffleboard, horseshoes and Gaga Pit - are located next to the main parking lot. Balls are available in the box near Teen Alley.

Mountain Biking:

Smuggs offers a variety of Mountain Bike Options at the Mountain Bike Center & Bike Shop which is open from 10:00 M – 5:00 pm.  Our family took advantage of the Mountain Bike Open Park (kids 3 and older) which provided an opportunity to try a mountain bike for the first time (20 minutes free). The kids and my husband got to try their balance and handling skills in the flatland park area and then take the wonder carpet conveyor lift to try out the downhill skills park. We highly recommend taking advantage of this free preview.

Skate Park: 

My husband and oldest son took advantage of the some 1 on 1 time and practiced their tricks at the Smuggs Skate Park which is located just down the hill from the Mountain Bike Center. The skate park is designed with both the experienced and beginner skater in mind. There’s a quarter pipe, ramps and rails. We brought our own skate boards, helmet and pads, but you can also rent at the 3 mountain Equipment Center.

Fun Zone 2.0:  Is a 26,000 square ft indoor playground perfect for rainy days or taking a break from the sun. We took advantage of mainly the 2nd floor activities located in The Ozone (included in our Smuggs Pass). My husband and oldest son did the warrior course once located in The Go Zone (1st floor) which cost $5 per person. Also located in the Fun Zone 2.0 area: Laser Tag, Arcade, Refuel Café and miniature golf.

Smuggs Pass:

Fee based activities and facilities such as massage, disc golf course, canoe trips and specialty camps are additional and not covered by the Smuggs Pass.

Kids Club: A separate blog post will be published soon dedicated to our kids’ experiences at the Smugglers’ kids club.

Where we ate:

-          We cooked most of our meals in our fully stocked condo kitchen, but did venture out a few times and to the following local restaurants:

-          Brewster River Pub and Brewery – Jeffersonville - We had dinner here almost every night. Try the Ode to Pittsburgh.

-          Ben & Jerry’s – Smugglers’ Village

-          Piecasso Pizzeria and Lodge - Stowe

-          The Von Trapp Lodge – Stowe

-          Cliff House – Gondola ride from Stowe Lodge

Things we did near Smugglers’ Notch:

-          Climbed boulders and explored Smugglers’ Notch State Park

-          Watched rock climbers practicing their skills at Smugglers’ Notch State Park

-          Explored the various covered bridges located near Jeffersonville

-          Took a drive to The Von Trapp Lodge and enjoyed the views

-          Took a Gondola ride to the top of Mount Mansfield – The Gondola from the parking lot to Stow Lodge is also fun and it’s free

-          Enjoyed the playgrounds at Stowe Lodge

Pro tips for first time visitors:

-          Pack beach towels

-          Our unit in Owls did not have an elevator. Keep that in mind and request a low unit if traveling with anyone with mobility concerns.

-          Bring bikes, skateboards or scooters (helmets and pads)

-          Bring non-perishable food from home and stop by Shaws when you first get off of I-89 and buy perishables

-          Park less clothing and use the washer and dryer

-          Pack layers: sweater and rain jackets

-          Pack insect repellent and sunblock

-          Pack sneakers, hiking shoes and water shoes

-          Bring a small back pack and water bottle for each child for camp

-          Pack a hat for each family member

-          Spend some time reviewing the activities calendar online prior to your trip

-          Check out is early (10 AM), so plan accordingly the night before checking out.

-          Take advantage of the kids’ camp for at least one day of your trip. Our kids loved it and it allowed us adults to enjoy some of the adult activities in the area.

Getting there:

-          Smugglers’ Notch Resort is located in Jeffersonville, VT at the base of Madonna Mountain and 4 hours and 15 minutes from our home in Central Connecticut.

Note: The historic Smugglers' Notch Pass, on Route 108 between Stowe and Jeffersonville, is closed in the Winter and closed year around to motor coaches, motorhomes and commercial vehicles.

Location:

-          Smugglers' Notch, a year round mountain vacation resort on 3,000 acres, is located 30 miles east of the Burlington International Airport and five miles south of Jeffersonville on Route 108. The Resort is easily reached from Boston (225 miles), New York City (342 miles), and Montreal (91 miles).

When we visited:

-          Summer programs available from mid-June through early September

Where we stayed: Owls 6 in the North Hill Community

-          The North Hill Community features the most spectacular, southerly, mountain views at Smugglers' including those of Madonna Mountain, Sterling Mountain and historic Smugglers' Notch Pass.

-          Owls 6: Master Suite with private deck, two-person whirlpool bath and two-person shower. The dining room features a wet bar and the four-season Vermont furnished sunroom boasts spectacular views of the mountains and valley. The Owls neighborhood at North Hill has two natural ponds for recreation and relaxation. Plus, exclusive use of the Owls Parliament Lodge with an outdoor heated pool, sauna, weight room and recreational game room. These homes are available for rental year-round.

In Fall, the North Hill Community offers spectacular views. The hills are ablaze with brilliant autumn colors. The community offers a children's playground, nearby tennis courts, views of Smugglers' Notch Pass, plus you are just a short walk to disc golf, hiking trails and more!

In Winter, the North Hill Community takes on its character through its location adjacent to 34 km of cross-country ski trails and 24 km of snowshoe trails, which are also great for hiking and walking during the Summer and Fall seasons. In the Winter, your family is just a 3-minute walk from SmuggsCentral and a short, on-demand, in-Resort shuttle ride to The Village Center. For alpine skiing, hop on the on-demand, Resort shuttle (the fastest way to get to the upper mountains from anywhere in the Resort!) and within a few short minutes it will whisk you directly to the upper mountains for some of the best skiing and riding you'll ever experience. In Summer, the North Hill Community offers two tennis courts and a huge, children's outdoor playground with adjacent sand volleyball court, or you are just a 3-minute walk to the Tennis Center where there are 10 additional courts, Disc Golf Course, and Courtside Pool with Flume Waterslide. If you prefer, you can use the on-demand shuttle to reach any location within the Resort.

Families visiting Smugglers' find fun activities to enjoy together from 10:00 am to about 7:00 pm daily. Many of these activities are package inclusions, like an agility dog demo, sock puppet making, family nature walks, creature feature with a naturalist, giant lawn games, sing-alongs, and arts and crafts. Other activities supported by guides and equipment availability, like family mountain biking and paddleboarding clinics, are fee-based. 

Check out my YouTube Channel for Vlogs of our adventures at Smugglers’ Notch. This includes many more pictures and videos that will inspire you. 

Additional things to do at Smuggs:

-          The Mountain Massage Center

-          Disc Golf

-          Flyboard lessons

-          Zip Line Canopy Tour

-          Treetop Obstacle Course & ArborTrek Junior

-          Climbing Adventure

-          Fitness Gym located at the Cambridge Community Center – a daily of weekly pass to the gym can be purchased. $10 for a day pass or $20 for a week pass.

-          Fly Fishing Stream Tour

-          Tennis and Family Fun Center

-          Canoe, Kayak and Paddleboard Rentals

-          Morse Mining Company

-          Segway Rental

-          Teen Alley Teen Center

-          Self-guided walking and nature trails

-          Farmers Market in the Courtyard on Monday morning

-          Family Foosball Game

-          Family Pictionary

-          Hungry, Hungry Humans

-          Pool parties and family dance parties

-          Family Karaoke

-          Kids’ night out (advanced reservations required)

-          Smuggs family portraits

Additional things to do nearby:

-          Horseback riding at nearby Lajoie Stables

-          Stowe Country Club for golf

-          Cold Hollow Cider Mill

-          Go on a farm tour at nearby Quarry Hill Farm in Jeffersonville or Shelburne Farms in Shelburne

-          Go on a hike near water: Brewster River Gorge, Jeff Falls, Bingham Falls or Moss Glen Falls.

-          Tour nearby Ben & Jerry’s Ice cream Factory

-          Take a glider ride of the Green Mountains at Stowe Soaring

-          Go for a walk or hike on the nearby trails (located in Jeffersonville and Stowe)

Disclosure: Our family was hosted by Smugglers’ Notch during our visit. Our lodging and some of our activities were included.

Read more about our family travel here.

[amieravenson]

Magickal Month- August

Magickal Month- August August was originally named Sextilis in Latin because it was the sixth month of the Roman year. Now it’s the eighth month, but October (Octo= 8) was already taken. Because… Because… *sigh* Here in Georgia, we’re all pretty grateful to have gotten through July. August tends to be a little drier and less humid than July, which feels like heaven even though it’s still crazy hot. Or maybe we’ve just gotten used to the misery. Everything takes on a bit of a brown or beige cast. The grain is golden and ready to be harvested, and even the leaves of the trees are a darker, duller green than they were in May or June. The flowers seem to have given up, but I’m seeing more and more critters, including a grey, cross-eyed kitty that needs to be taken in and neutered. I’ve also seen a lot of house wrens, squirrels, and turtles. I had a cicada gift me with a casing on my front porch, and it was very symbolic of a particular transformation I’m going through right now. We also have a new opossum friend who’s been hanging out on our back porch, and we’ve been sprinkling a small handful of cat food for him once in a while. His name is Louie. To me, August marks the month of getting ready for DragonCon, which means that Autumn is on its way. The year is at the precipice of the downslide towards Winter, and any slightly cool night feels full of promise. Lunations: New Moon in Leo, August 11th at 5:57am (partial SOLAR ECLIPSE) Full Moon in Pisces, August 26th at 7:56am Astronomy: August 7th- Uranus goes retrograde at 9:20am in Taurus Perseids meteor shower peaks August 11th-12th. August 19- Mercury goes direct at 12:18am in Leo August 27- Mars goes direct at 10:19am in Capricorn Celtic Tree Month: Holly (July 8- August 4): Protection, enjoying and celebrating success (nearing first harvest), renewal/restoring your direction, rebalancing your energy, moving towards your purpose, energizing. Truth, unconditional love, sacrifice, reincarnation, protection, luck, dream magick, male counterpart to feminine ivy. Hazel (August 5- September 1): Wisdom, intuition, studying ancient knowledge, fertility and good luck, divination (including hazel rods used for divining for water), poetry and science, playfulness and enchantment, healing arts. Holidays (non-Pagan): August 15: Assumption of Mary August 19: National Aviation Day August 21: Senior Citizens Day August 22: Eid al-Adha August 25: Raksha Bandhan August 26: Women’s Equality Day Holidays (Pagan): August 4- August 10: Panathenaea- Greek festival of Athena as daughter of wisdom August 7: Gaia Consciousness Day- A day to meditate on the earth August 11- August 12: Metageitnion Noumenia- Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses August 14- August 15: Feast dedicated to Aphrodite and Eros, honoring love and passion August 16- August 17: Feast of Artemis as punisher of wrongdoers August 19: Roman Vinalia, honoring the first grape harvest August 22- August 23: Festival honoring Athena and Zeus as protectors of city and state August 23: Feast of the furies, who punish criminals August 24: Roman festival honoring Ops, goddess of grain and harvest Themes for the month: The grain harvest, sacrifice of the grain god, the sun still in it’s strength- but sliding towards Autumn, back to school. General activities for the month: Going outside at night when the heat finally breaks a little, gathering supplies for Autumn crafts, baking bread to enjoy the grain harvest, making corn dollies, eating the summer veggies that are still plentiful right now (corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, avocados), relaxing, listening to the cicadas during the day and crickets at night, anticipating autumn. Herbs I’m using: Dill (goes great in a dill/cheddar/beer bread I like to make), Cilantro (so many salsas and guacamoles to make at this time of year!), Mugwort (I’ve been using the tincture in my water bottle when I’m doing some spiritual work. Stones I’m using: Sardonyx (I found some lovely, lilac-colored pieces that I’m obsessed with, very emotionally soothing), Citrine (mirrors the golden color of everything and also it’s energizing when all I want to do is wallow in the heat), Moss agate (I’m trying to grow some things that I’ve been steadily farming). Goddess of the Month: Demeter. She’s Persephone’s mom (I’ve been working with Persephone quite a bit), but also the goddess of grain and the harvest. So she’s extremely timely at this time of year. Everything golden and abundant and sunny falls under her domain. 3 card reading:

August 3 Card Reading Death reversed: So here, it looks like we’re finally on the other side of a difficult transition. Something has died to us already, and it’s time for something new to be reborn. This is good news, and we have a new life to start from the ashes of the old. We can see this as a fresh start and a way to really examine what we want our new lives to look like! 10 of cups reversed: This also symbolises the death of dreams that we had. We had a concept of a happy house, a perfect marriage, loving family, etc., but it turned out that that wasn’t the case. As in the death card, if we can let go of what we thought was our ideal, we can actually examine what truly makes us happy. Is it possible that the perfect life that we had dreamed up actually turned out to be a trap? Temperance: What we really need right now is to find balance. We need to balance our ideals with the reality that we have in front of us. There’s a happy medium there, somewhere, and if our lives take a completely different turn than we originally thought we wanted, we need to balance that new reality with our expectations as well. This may also point back to the 10 of Cups reversed, as we can really examine our relationships here. Are we balancing work time with time we spend with our loved ones? Are we showing them fairness and good judgment if they disappoint us? Special Guidance is Lakshmi. Lakshmi tells us “Stop worrying. Everything is going to be fine.” After the death of our previous selves and the death of our expectations of life, we can experience a lot of stress for the future. But it looks like we have good things coming up. We’ve learned the skills from our past to make our lives into what we really need and love! ******************************** The Harvest Bow By Seamus Heaney As you plaited the harvest bow You implicated the mellowed silence in you In wheat that does not rust But brightens as it tightens twist by twist Into a knowable corona, A throwaway love-knot of straw. Hands that aged round ashplants and cane sticks And lapped the spurs on a lifetime of game cocks Harked to their gift and worked with fine intent Until your fingers moved somnambulant: I tell and finger it like braille, Gleaning the unsaid off the palpable, And if I spy into its golden loops I see us walk between the railway slopes Into an evening of long grass and midges, Blue smoke straight up, old beds and ploughs in hedges, An auction notice on an outhouse wall— You with a harvest bow in your lapel, Me with the fishing rod, already homesick For the big lift of these evenings, as your stick Whacking the tips off weeds and bushes Beats out of time, and beats, but flushes Nothing: that original townland Still tongue-tied in the straw tied by your hand. The end of art is peace Could be the motto of this frail device That I have pinned up on our deal dresser— Like a drawn snare Slipped lately by the spirit of the corn Yet burnished by its passage, and still warm. My personal tides: We’re going to be moving in the next several months, and so I’ve been thinking a lot about what ‘home’ means to me. I’m also thinking about how I can take this transformation and slingshot myself into a new start. What do I really want to make of my life? What’s REALLY important? Is it the stuff that I’m surrounded by, or the new life that I can make if I leave a lot of old baggage behind? The card reading above SUPER resonates for me right now. My personal goals: Here in the last few days of July, I’m frantically trying to finish Camp NaNoWriMo (and yes this post counts towards my word count- not the poetry just MY words). So in August, I’ll be able to do some things that I put off because of Camp, like running a Werewolf game and getting ready for DragonCon. I also want to record some of the guided meditations that I’ve written this month, and put them ‘out there’. I also want to continue spending at least one hour/day on a personal project. It sounds easy enough, but with chronic illnesses it’s not always that attainable. Read the full article

[simonconsultancypage]

Cryptocurrency-Related Securities Lawsuits: A Litigation Filing Trend for the New Year?

Even after the precipitous drop this past Friday in the price of Bitcoin and other digital currencies, the developments during the past several months involving cryptocurrencies have to be one of the year’s top business stories. While news articles about digital currencies focus on the dramatic rise this year in the price of Bitcoin or on the recent wave of initial coin offerings (ICOs), part of this year’s cryptocurrency story has to include the SEC’s increasingly active approach to policing digital currency trading, as well as the rising numbers of lawsuits filed against cryptocurrency sponsors. As I have noted in prior posts, in recent weeks claimants have filed a number of cryptocurrency-related securities lawsuits. Late last week, investors filed two more of these lawsuits, one involving an ICO company and the other involving a publicly traded blockchain consulting company.

  The ATBCOIN Lawsuit

On December 21, 2017, a plaintiff investor filed a securities class action lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against ATBCOIN LLC and its two co-founders. A copy of the plaintiff’s complaint can be found here. Between June 12, 2017 and September 15, 2017 ATB conducted an ICO in which investors paid a total of over $20 million worth of digital currencies in exchange for ATB Coins. The prices investors paid for the ATB Coins ranged during the course of the offering from $1.00 to $2.50.

  The purpose of the ICO was to raise funds to permit ATB to create and launch a new blockchain that would “deliver blazing fast, secure and near-zero cost payments to anyone in the world.” The blockchain that was to launch on September 1, 2017 “would be the fastest blockchain-based cryptographic network in the Milky Way galaxy.” In press releases issued in conjunction with the offering, ATB referred to the ATB coins as “the cryptocurrency of the future.”

  The ATB Blockchain actually did launch, although on September 14, rather than on September 1. It is, according the complaint, “hardly the ‘fastest … in the Milky Way galaxy.’” Adoption of the ATB Coin and the ATB Blockchain has “been essentially nonexistent” and the value of the ATB Coins has “continuously fallen.” The complaint alleges that the price of ATB Coin had fallen to 50 cents, well below the offering price.

  The complaint alleges that the ATB ICO was an offer and sale of unregistered securities in violation of the federal securities laws. In support of its argument that the ATB Coins are securities, the ATB ICO investors “reasonably expected” that the ATB Coins they received in exchange for their payment of other digital currencies would be worth more than the value of the value of the payments. The complaint also alleges that the defendants referred to the ATB ICO participants as “investors” and repeatedly stressed the profit potential of holding ATB Coins.

  The Complaint alleges that the defendants’ sale of unregistered securities violated Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 and seeks relief under Section 12 of the Act. The complaint seeks on behalf of the class of persons who purchased ATB Coins in the ICO “compensatory, injunctive, and rescissory relief, which would provide rescission and repayment of all investments unto the ATB ICO, as well as secure and conserve such funds until repayment.”

  The Crypto Company Lawsuit

The recent securities lawsuit filed against The Crypto Company is different from the recent lawsuits filed against cryptocurrency companies, because Crypto, by contrast to the other defendant companies, was not involved in an ICO. Rather, Crypto is a publicly traded blockchain consulting company. The company has been in the news after the SEC recently stopped trading in the company’s securities.

  In June 2017, Crypto entered in a share purchase transaction with Croe, Inc., in which Crypto became a wholly owned subsidiary of Croe, a publicly traded fitness apparel company. In October 2017, Croe changed its name to The Crypto Company. Crypto claims to be in the business of providing consulting services regarding blockchain technology and trading in digital assets.

  In a securities class action lawsuit filed on December 21, 2017 in the Central District of California, a Crypto shareholder alleges that the company’s share price surged more than 17,000% in less than 3 months, including a 2,500% increase just in the period between December 4, 2017 and December 18, 2017. The company’s market capitalization reached nearly $12 billion. A copy of the plaintiff’s complaint can be found here.

  As detailed in a December 22, 2017 Motley Fool article about Crypto, the way the company’s share price reached these lofty levels is very interesting. Even though the company has over 20 million shares outstanding, trading volume shows that fewer than 33,000 shares traded over a five-day period to move the company’s share price from $22 to as high as $642. As the article notes, “0.0016% of outstanding shares traded moved this stock 2,800% higher in just five days’ time.” This trading activity did not go unnoticed by the SEC.

  On December 19, 2017, the SEC issued a temporary suspension of trading in Crypto’s shares. The suspension will expire at midnight on January 3, 2018. The SEC said it was concerned about “the accuracy and adequacy of information” relating to compensation paid for promotion of the company and statements in the company’s SEC filings about the plans insiders to sell its shares in the company’s common stock. The SEC also said that “Questions have also arisen concerning manipulative transactions in the company’s stock in November 2017.”

  The Motley Fool article notes that the last time that the SEC intervened to halt trading in a “blazing-hot cryptocurrency stock,” the share price of the company involved declined 70% when the trading resumed.

  In her securities lawsuit complaint, the plaintiff alleges that the defendants made false or misleading statements or failed to disclose that “(i) Crypto unlawfully engaged in a scheme to promote and manipulate the Company’s stock; and (ii) as a result, Crypto’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.”

  Discussion

The recent surge in cryptocurrency-related lawsuits has all the earmarks of quickly becoming a litigation wave, as several lawsuits relating to digital asset trading have been filed just in the last few days — three filed just last week alone.

  By my count, there have been a total of four ICO-related securities class action lawsuit filed in the last few weeks, along with the separate Crypto Company cryptocurrency-related lawsuit. For the record, the four ICO-related lawsuits involved Tezos (about which refer here), Centra Tech (here), Monkey Capital (here), and ATBCOIN.

  Taken collectively, the lawsuits give the definite impression the skyrocketing prices of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have attracted a lot of questionable activity. The questionable activity has in turn in many cases led to litigation. Even the downturn on Friday in the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could generate further litigation – as the ATB lawsuit above shows, investors who lose money on their investment may be motivated to pursue their litigation alternatives.

  It is interesting that many of the ICO-related lawsuits involve allegations that the coin or token sale represented an unregistered securities offering. Whether or not the claimants in these cases will prevail on this theory, it is hard to avoid the sense that the claimants asserting these claims may not be the most sympathetic. The ICO investors obviously knew they coins or tokens they were buying were not registered securities yet nevertheless they invested in the offering. They did so because they were willing to invest in a highly speculative transaction in the hopes of profiting.

  The securities laws of course exist to protect investors, but the “Buyer Beware” nature of these transactions does suggest the investors participated in these transactions despite the apparent dangers. Investors who invest on promises such as the claim that a company’s blockchain is the fastest in the Milky Way are buying into the hype. They are buying precisely because of the hype.

  The fact that the SEC has made it clear that many of these transactions involve securities that must be registered with the SEC, and the fact that disappointed investors have made it clear that they indeed to sue ICO sponsors that fail to register the coins or token, eventually will cause companies seeking to complete an ICO to comply with the registration requirements (or maybe eventually will put an end to ICOs altogether). All of which suggests that the current wave of ICO-related lawsuits, eventually will come to an end (at least to the extent the lawsuits are based on the alleged failure to register the offering with the SEC).

  For now at least, signs are that cryptocurrency related litigation will be one of the early litigation filing trends in the New Year. The sudden surge at year end of these kinds of lawsuits in all likelihood will continue. Indeed, if the slide in the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continues, there are likely to be even more disappointed investors considering their litigation alternatives.

  The post Cryptocurrency-Related Securities Lawsuits: A Litigation Filing Trend for the New Year? appeared first on The D&O Diary.

Cryptocurrency-Related Securities Lawsuits: A Litigation Filing Trend for the New Year? published first on http://ift.tt/2kTPCwo

[lawfultruth]

Cryptocurrency-Related Securities Lawsuits: A Litigation Filing Trend for the New Year?

Even after the precipitous drop this past Friday in the price of Bitcoin and other digital currencies, the developments during the past several months involving cryptocurrencies have to be one of the year’s top business stories. While news articles about digital currencies focus on the dramatic rise this year in the price of Bitcoin or on the recent wave of initial coin offerings (ICOs), part of this year’s cryptocurrency story has to include the SEC’s increasingly active approach to policing digital currency trading, as well as the rising numbers of lawsuits filed against cryptocurrency sponsors. As I have noted in prior posts, in recent weeks claimants have filed a number of cryptocurrency-related securities lawsuits. Late last week, investors filed two more of these lawsuits, one involving an ICO company and the other involving a publicly traded blockchain consulting company.

  The ATBCOIN Lawsuit

On December 21, 2017, a plaintiff investor filed a securities class action lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against ATBCOIN LLC and its two co-founders. A copy of the plaintiff’s complaint can be found here. Between June 12, 2017 and September 15, 2017 ATB conducted an ICO in which investors paid a total of over $20 million worth of digital currencies in exchange for ATB Coins. The prices investors paid for the ATB Coins ranged during the course of the offering from $1.00 to $2.50.

  The purpose of the ICO was to raise funds to permit ATB to create and launch a new blockchain that would “deliver blazing fast, secure and near-zero cost payments to anyone in the world.” The blockchain that was to launch on September 1, 2017 “would be the fastest blockchain-based cryptographic network in the Milky Way galaxy.” In press releases issued in conjunction with the offering, ATB referred to the ATB coins as “the cryptocurrency of the future.”

  The ATB Blockchain actually did launch, although on September 14, rather than on September 1. It is, according the complaint, “hardly the ‘fastest … in the Milky Way galaxy.’” Adoption of the ATB Coin and the ATB Blockchain has “been essentially nonexistent” and the value of the ATB Coins has “continuously fallen.” The complaint alleges that the price of ATB Coin had fallen to 50 cents, well below the offering price.

  The complaint alleges that the ATB ICO was an offer and sale of unregistered securities in violation of the federal securities laws. In support of its argument that the ATB Coins are securities, the ATB ICO investors “reasonably expected” that the ATB Coins they received in exchange for their payment of other digital currencies would be worth more than the value of the value of the payments. The complaint also alleges that the defendants referred to the ATB ICO participants as “investors” and repeatedly stressed the profit potential of holding ATB Coins.

  The Complaint alleges that the defendants’ sale of unregistered securities violated Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 and seeks relief under Section 12 of the Act. The complaint seeks on behalf of the class of persons who purchased ATB Coins in the ICO “compensatory, injunctive, and rescissory relief, which would provide rescission and repayment of all investments unto the ATB ICO, as well as secure and conserve such funds until repayment.”

  The Crypto Company Lawsuit

The recent securities lawsuit filed against The Crypto Company is different from the recent lawsuits filed against cryptocurrency companies, because Crypto, by contrast to the other defendant companies, was not involved in an ICO. Rather, Crypto is a publicly traded blockchain consulting company. The company has been in the news after the SEC recently stopped trading in the company’s securities.

  In June 2017, Crypto entered in a share purchase transaction with Croe, Inc., in which Crypto became a wholly owned subsidiary of Croe, a publicly traded fitness apparel company. In October 2017, Croe changed its name to The Crypto Company. Crypto claims to be in the business of providing consulting services regarding blockchain technology and trading in digital assets.

  In a securities class action lawsuit filed on December 21, 2017 in the Central District of California, a Crypto shareholder alleges that the company’s share price surged more than 17,000% in less than 3 months, including a 2,500% increase just in the period between December 4, 2017 and December 18, 2017. The company’s market capitalization reached nearly $12 billion. A copy of the plaintiff’s complaint can be found here.

  As detailed in a December 22, 2017 Motley Fool article about Crypto, the way the company’s share price reached these lofty levels is very interesting. Even though the company has over 20 million shares outstanding, trading volume shows that fewer than 33,000 shares traded over a five-day period to move the company’s share price from $22 to as high as $642. As the article notes, “0.0016% of outstanding shares traded moved this stock 2,800% higher in just five days’ time.” This trading activity did not go unnoticed by the SEC.

  On December 19, 2017, the SEC issued a temporary suspension of trading in Crypto’s shares. The suspension will expire at midnight on January 3, 2018. The SEC said it was concerned about “the accuracy and adequacy of information” relating to compensation paid for promotion of the company and statements in the company’s SEC filings about the plans insiders to sell its shares in the company’s common stock. The SEC also said that “Questions have also arisen concerning manipulative transactions in the company’s stock in November 2017.”

  The Motley Fool article notes that the last time that the SEC intervened to halt trading in a “blazing-hot cryptocurrency stock,” the share price of the company involved declined 70% when the trading resumed.

  In her securities lawsuit complaint, the plaintiff alleges that the defendants made false or misleading statements or failed to disclose that “(i) Crypto unlawfully engaged in a scheme to promote and manipulate the Company’s stock; and (ii) as a result, Crypto’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.”

  Discussion

The recent surge in cryptocurrency-related lawsuits has all the earmarks of quickly becoming a litigation wave, as several lawsuits relating to digital asset trading have been filed just in the last few days — three filed just last week alone.

  By my count, there have been a total of four ICO-related securities class action lawsuit filed in the last few weeks, along with the separate Crypto Company cryptocurrency-related lawsuit. For the record, the four ICO-related lawsuits involved Tezos (about which refer here), Centra Tech (here), Monkey Capital (here), and ATBCOIN.

  Taken collectively, the lawsuits give the definite impression the skyrocketing prices of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have attracted a lot of questionable activity. The questionable activity has in turn in many cases led to litigation. Even the downturn on Friday in the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could generate further litigation – as the ATB lawsuit above shows, investors who lose money on their investment may be motivated to pursue their litigation alternatives.

  It is interesting that many of the ICO-related lawsuits involve allegations that the coin or token sale represented an unregistered securities offering. Whether or not the claimants in these cases will prevail on this theory, it is hard to avoid the sense that the claimants asserting these claims may not be the most sympathetic. The ICO investors obviously knew they coins or tokens they were buying were not registered securities yet nevertheless they invested in the offering. They did so because they were willing to invest in a highly speculative transaction in the hopes of profiting.

  The securities laws of course exist to protect investors, but the “Buyer Beware” nature of these transactions does suggest the investors participated in these transactions despite the apparent dangers. Investors who invest on promises such as the claim that a company’s blockchain is the fastest in the Milky Way are buying into the hype. They are buying precisely because of the hype.

  The fact that the SEC has made it clear that many of these transactions involve securities that must be registered with the SEC, and the fact that disappointed investors have made it clear that they indeed to sue ICO sponsors that fail to register the coins or token, eventually will cause companies seeking to complete an ICO to comply with the registration requirements (or maybe eventually will put an end to ICOs altogether). All of which suggests that the current wave of ICO-related lawsuits, eventually will come to an end (at least to the extent the lawsuits are based on the alleged failure to register the offering with the SEC).

  For now at least, signs are that cryptocurrency related litigation will be one of the early litigation filing trends in the New Year. The sudden surge at year end of these kinds of lawsuits in all likelihood will continue. Indeed, if the slide in the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continues, there are likely to be even more disappointed investors considering their litigation alternatives.

  The post Cryptocurrency-Related Securities Lawsuits: A Litigation Filing Trend for the New Year? appeared first on The D&O Diary.

Cryptocurrency-Related Securities Lawsuits: A Litigation Filing Trend for the New Year? syndicated from http://ift.tt/2qyreAv

[golicit]

Cryptocurrency-Related Securities Lawsuits: A Litigation Filing Trend for the New Year?

Even after the precipitous drop this past Friday in the price of Bitcoin and other digital currencies, the developments during the past several months involving cryptocurrencies have to be one of the year’s top business stories. While news articles about digital currencies focus on the dramatic rise this year in the price of Bitcoin or on the recent wave of initial coin offerings (ICOs), part of this year’s cryptocurrency story has to include the SEC’s increasingly active approach to policing digital currency trading, as well as the rising numbers of lawsuits filed against cryptocurrency sponsors. As I have noted in prior posts, in recent weeks claimants have filed a number of cryptocurrency-related securities lawsuits. Late last week, investors filed two more of these lawsuits, one involving an ICO company and the other involving a publicly traded blockchain consulting company.

  The ATBCOIN Lawsuit

On December 21, 2017, a plaintiff investor filed a securities class action lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against ATBCOIN LLC and its two co-founders. A copy of the plaintiff’s complaint can be found here. Between June 12, 2017 and September 15, 2017 ATB conducted an ICO in which investors paid a total of over $20 million worth of digital currencies in exchange for ATB Coins. The prices investors paid for the ATB Coins ranged during the course of the offering from $1.00 to $2.50.

  The purpose of the ICO was to raise funds to permit ATB to create and launch a new blockchain that would “deliver blazing fast, secure and near-zero cost payments to anyone in the world.” The blockchain that was to launch on September 1, 2017 “would be the fastest blockchain-based cryptographic network in the Milky Way galaxy.” In press releases issued in conjunction with the offering, ATB referred to the ATB coins as “the cryptocurrency of the future.”

  The ATB Blockchain actually did launch, although on September 14, rather than on September 1. It is, according the complaint, “hardly the ‘fastest … in the Milky Way galaxy.’” Adoption of the ATB Coin and the ATB Blockchain has “been essentially nonexistent” and the value of the ATB Coins has “continuously fallen.” The complaint alleges that the price of ATB Coin had fallen to 50 cents, well below the offering price.

  The complaint alleges that the ATB ICO was an offer and sale of unregistered securities in violation of the federal securities laws. In support of its argument that the ATB Coins are securities, the ATB ICO investors “reasonably expected” that the ATB Coins they received in exchange for their payment of other digital currencies would be worth more than the value of the value of the payments. The complaint also alleges that the defendants referred to the ATB ICO participants as “investors” and repeatedly stressed the profit potential of holding ATB Coins.

  The Complaint alleges that the defendants’ sale of unregistered securities violated Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 and seeks relief under Section 12 of the Act. The complaint seeks on behalf of the class of persons who purchased ATB Coins in the ICO “compensatory, injunctive, and rescissory relief, which would provide rescission and repayment of all investments unto the ATB ICO, as well as secure and conserve such funds until repayment.”

  The Crypto Company Lawsuit

The recent securities lawsuit filed against The Crypto Company is different from the recent lawsuits filed against cryptocurrency companies, because Crypto, by contrast to the other defendant companies, was not involved in an ICO. Rather, Crypto is a publicly traded blockchain consulting company. The company has been in the news after the SEC recently stopped trading in the company’s securities.

  In June 2017, Crypto entered in a share purchase transaction with Croe, Inc., in which Crypto became a wholly owned subsidiary of Croe, a publicly traded fitness apparel company. In October 2017, Croe changed its name to The Crypto Company. Crypto claims to be in the business of providing consulting services regarding blockchain technology and trading in digital assets.

  In a securities class action lawsuit filed on December 21, 2017 in the Central District of California, a Crypto shareholder alleges that the company’s share price surged more than 17,000% in less than 3 months, including a 2,500% increase just in the period between December 4, 2017 and December 18, 2017. The company’s market capitalization reached nearly $12 billion. A copy of the plaintiff’s complaint can be found here.

  As detailed in a December 22, 2017 Motley Fool article about Crypto, the way the company’s share price reached these lofty levels is very interesting. Even though the company has over 20 million shares outstanding, trading volume shows that fewer than 33,000 shares traded over a five-day period to move the company’s share price from $22 to as high as $642. As the article notes, “0.0016% of outstanding shares traded moved this stock 2,800% higher in just five days’ time.” This trading activity did not go unnoticed by the SEC.

  On December 19, 2017, the SEC issued a temporary suspension of trading in Crypto’s shares. The suspension will expire at midnight on January 3, 2018. The SEC said it was concerned about “the accuracy and adequacy of information” relating to compensation paid for promotion of the company and statements in the company’s SEC filings about the plans insiders to sell its shares in the company’s common stock. The SEC also said that “Questions have also arisen concerning manipulative transactions in the company’s stock in November 2017.”

  The Motley Fool article notes that the last time that the SEC intervened to halt trading in a “blazing-hot cryptocurrency stock,” the share price of the company involved declined 70% when the trading resumed.

  In her securities lawsuit complaint, the plaintiff alleges that the defendants made false or misleading statements or failed to disclose that “(i) Crypto unlawfully engaged in a scheme to promote and manipulate the Company’s stock; and (ii) as a result, Crypto’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.”

  Discussion

The recent surge in cryptocurrency-related lawsuits has all the earmarks of quickly becoming a litigation wave, as several lawsuits relating to digital asset trading have been filed just in the last few days — three filed just last week alone.

  By my count, there have been a total of four ICO-related securities class action lawsuit filed in the last few weeks, along with the separate Crypto Company cryptocurrency-related lawsuit. For the record, the four ICO-related lawsuits involved Tezos (about which refer here), Centra Tech (here), Monkey Capital (here), and ATBCOIN.

  Taken collectively, the lawsuits give the definite impression the skyrocketing prices of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have attracted a lot of questionable activity. The questionable activity has in turn in many cases led to litigation. Even the downturn on Friday in the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could generate further litigation – as the ATB lawsuit above shows, investors who lose money on their investment may be motivated to pursue their litigation alternatives.

  It is interesting that many of the ICO-related lawsuits involve allegations that the coin or token sale represented an unregistered securities offering. Whether or not the claimants in these cases will prevail on this theory, it is hard to avoid the sense that the claimants asserting these claims may not be the most sympathetic. The ICO investors obviously knew they coins or tokens they were buying were not registered securities yet nevertheless they invested in the offering. They did so because they were willing to invest in a highly speculative transaction in the hopes of profiting.

  The securities laws of course exist to protect investors, but the “Buyer Beware” nature of these transactions does suggest the investors participated in these transactions despite the apparent dangers. Investors who invest on promises such as the claim that a company’s blockchain is the fastest in the Milky Way are buying into the hype. They are buying precisely because of the hype.

  The fact that the SEC has made it clear that many of these transactions involve securities that must be registered with the SEC, and the fact that disappointed investors have made it clear that they indeed to sue ICO sponsors that fail to register the coins or token, eventually will cause companies seeking to complete an ICO to comply with the registration requirements (or maybe eventually will put an end to ICOs altogether). All of which suggests that the current wave of ICO-related lawsuits, eventually will come to an end (at least to the extent the lawsuits are based on the alleged failure to register the offering with the SEC).

  For now at least, signs are that cryptocurrency related litigation will be one of the early litigation filing trends in the New Year. The sudden surge at year end of these kinds of lawsuits in all likelihood will continue. Indeed, if the slide in the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continues, there are likely to be even more disappointed investors considering their litigation alternatives.

  The post Cryptocurrency-Related Securities Lawsuits: A Litigation Filing Trend for the New Year? appeared first on The D&O Diary.

Cryptocurrency-Related Securities Lawsuits: A Litigation Filing Trend for the New Year? published first on

[dopebananahottub-blog]

A lot more Social, More Spectacular

As being one of Europe's very most well-known beach places as well as honored along with year-round sunlight, Croatia's famous cities as well as charming islands have a wide range of natural attractions to use. A lot should occur prior to that ability could be realized, yet as Juliana Vasconcelos, from South america's authorities financial investment company Apex, placed this at the Equity capital in Brazil Discussion forum in Menlo Playground this previous September, problems generates option" There is actually as a lot, otherwise more, reason to take stock of the Brazilian start-up economy now as there was in 2012, when the nation went to its own very most ascendant. According to an updated opinion declaration on exercise-associated hyponatremia in the June issue of the Clinical Journal of Sporting activity Medication, that's absolute best to manage water intake through just drinking when you really feel parched Their findings matter certainly not just to endurance. sportsmens yet entertainment exercisers - that suggests you, summer months bikers and also seashore volleyballers - too. There are opportunities when an amateur astronomer may should recognize where the Sun will definitely be at a particular time - without necessarily telephoning a comprehensive Superstar Chart system like Heavens Safari or agreeing to simply the standard sunrise/sunset time, as in, point out, Nav Clock The augmented reality function permits the navigator to find where the Sunshine actually is even if it's behind cloudy skies or even below the horizon. Those which stay at Disney resorts acquire MagicBands when they check in. Frankly, I presumed the MagicBand was the only way to get around the park just before I carried out a lot more research. From the 4 Hot Corners, I usually use this set the absolute most since I usually utilize the Desktop as a holding area for files. Iro recognizes that this form of soil will definitely not soak up water rapidly, so it breaks the irrigating timetable in to 2 (or 3) treatments, with a necessary break in between to give the dirt an opportunity to absorb the water appropriately. The globe: Coming from both a creative and technical point of view, the planet of Perspective is a triumph. The Forza Perspective 3: Hot Wheels development pack allows gamers take a trip to a brand-new place in Australia, a place where idle Sunday rides are replaced by insane fast acts on miles of knotting, financial, large famous orange Hot Wheels keep tracks of. One inspection in the New york city Times, as an example, discovered that United States faucet water results in breakouts and also skin layer burns, erodes pearly white polish, as well as usually consists of arsenic, top, barium, and also various other harmful chemicals. After this appears of the oven the casing is actually peeled as well as the frankfurter keeps its own form," Adelman revealed. The growing risk from globally water shortages is actually much worse in comparison to scientists formerly presumed, inning accordance with a brand-new research study. Also, atmospherical refraction enters into play and may alter the time through many moments. In order to get one of the most out of your scorching yoga experience and also steer clear of excessive lightheadedness, make sure you come with lots of water A lot of surfaces in Hot Magma are actually smooth, enabling you to slide along all of them with ease. Egypt Desert as well as Camels: See crane birds piloting in an Egyptian dusk as sand from sand dunes wraps around substantial dunes. Our work is actually to direct the water to Swampy's shower, through wiping passages with the gunk, to guide the water's flow. Discover the legend from WHEELER'S PRIZE, an impressive pirate world full of forests, treasures, evil ghosts as well as additional! their explanation believes that can stay free of charge for users by charging the associations that could decrease expenses through spending for preventative treatment rather than costly reactionary hospitalizations and also health care focus. Nevertheless, the greater headlines is actually that Microsoft prepares to integrate the capability from its own mobile phone calendaring application Sunup right into Overview, then shutter the Sunrise application when the combination finishes. Activities incorporated utilizing the Quick Add Occasion functionality will certainly alert you 15 mins before the activity, which is actually Sunup's default alert time. The budget plan Trump released Thursday seems to offer structure a rear seats to armed forces costs Furthermore, key places of government investing that assist the nation's collapsing water framework are actually slated to take a big hit. The large data skill-sets gap was actually also a warm subject at GigaOM's Establishment: Information conference last week. Condensation from water vapor forms much larger water droplets, when the beads are heavy sufficient they are going to drop coming from the clouds as rain. Although recent years have actually viewed some issues along with higher-than-comfortable microbial contamination, the water is typically regarded as risk-free. Howevered, allow's check out the possible perks of alkaline water before we put away the concept, as numerous cynics perform. If you acquire it right, your penis will definitely start to oscillate from side to side in the water plane. Its own impressive design is encouraged due to the reality that the normal daily range an individual in Africa visits accumulate water is actually 3.7 kilometers. Also, that could surprise you to know that this video recording includes nakedness and very hot fictional-person bangs, and also therefore is actually decidedly certainly not safe for work. Auroras are created when charged fragments coming from the sunlight-- proceeded the solar wind-- slam into Earth's magnetic field. According to Veritasium-- aka Derek Muller-- the pressure of the upright water stream constantly pushes the ball up as well as off of the flow, yet likewise creates the sphere spin. The majority of the photo voltaic farms that utilize these forms of represents and lenses to focus sunlight lighting to create warm and drive turbines, are looking to power storage space technologies to generate power when the sunshine goes down or even responsible for a cloud.

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Winter is Coming

THE weather was woolly at best at the MCG on Tuesday and whilst the conditions were reminiscent of a dark June or July day, the result was just as dreary for the defeated;  Collingwood are in a spot of bother.

One win from five, that by a solitary point over the 18th placed team, and on the big stage of Anzac Day it was far from a good showing by the black and white.

Elsewhere, the South Australians have much promise for their fortunes once the Winter does clear, whilst the forecast for a few clubs in the middle of the pack could still be anything, bright, sunny, or in a heartbeat, like true Melbourne weather, dark and stormy.

 1.    Nathan Buckley is the man in the firing line. He has had enough time to build a team capable of playing finals. The first year he was in charge the side won one final, lost two, stiff to miss the Grand Final, but that was still Mick Malthouse’s team. Since then its one finals game for one loss, and there’s little optimism of an appearance, let alone victory, in September this year. That’s compelling in itself despite the rhetoric of why, and how, and when.

 2.    So what should happen? Nothing for now. It’s only April. There’s every chance he doesn’t coach next year, but there’s no benefit in doing anything too hastily too soon. The losses have not been of the ilk that get’s a coach early, the biggest loss being 19 points in Round Two. Perhaps the St Kilda game aside the team has been in a winning position in every other game, so whilst finals now luck unattainable, this is far from a side that needs its coach sacked in Autumn.

 3.    It’s a few, key, pivotal areas that the Magpies are failing in. Only a few, but in a game this competitive its been more than enough. The forward line is defunct of structure and flow, the poor bastard Darcy Moore looks horrendously out of form but the game plan to move the ball forward, and then once it gets inside 50, is anything but helpful to him. Time after time the way they are setup fails them. This might be Buckley’s ultimate predicament, he has more than enough talent at his disposal now to be competitive alas there remains critical coaching/gameplan undoings.

 4.    How do we though judge their opponents? Essendon are presenting a case that even if they miss the finals this year there’s enough to suggest top eight, winning finals, as early as next year. The youth movement of last year, the likes of Darcy Parish, Aaron Francis, Andy McGrath, combined with the returning veterans, resembles the sort of mix good September sides are built on. Top Four next year would not be out of the question.

 5.    A side that will probably make top four but hasn’t really gotten out of first or second gear yet is the Bulldogs. Credit to Brisbane for making a real fist of it on Saturday, they are looking on the up too, but a better side nobbles the Dogs who should never be losing that game. It’s no concern though, this is a long year and it’s a smart bet to say they’ll finish the home and away season higher than they did last year – and we know what happened next.

 6.    West Coast. What to say about West Coast. This is a team that if they had any ability to play up to their, well, ability, in Melbourne, they would be a top four, if not top two fancy. But their, well, inability to perform on the MCG so far this season has been horrid. To be fair, the Richmond loss, in the pouring rain to a team on a hot streak, could be forgiven, but the Hawks are ripe for the picking and they didn’t even give a yelp.

 7.    As for the Tigers, we must concede some credit, five and zero is five and zero. However, two things: who have they beaten, still? This column raised that query last week and then, on Monday night, Melbourne gave an almighty show for a side with a decimated bench. A fit Melbourne just wins that game. Further, five and zero starts don’t guarantee anything, can I give you North Melbourne’s 2016 season?

 8.    The other side I queried was Geelong. I didn’t validate their credentials despite their perfect start, however their performance against St Kilda was tremendous I must say, particular the game by their captain. The Cats should steam roll Collingwood this Sunday with games against the Suns (away) and Bombers to follow. Hard to imagine them missing now, must say.

 9.    The team that definitely has had a transparent start to their season, the Adelaide Crows. And a big reason why, which in Melbourne would have been totally missed, is the performances of the Crouch brothers. Brad was part of the mini-draft concessions, when the expansion sides had access to trade seventeen-year-olds (see Jesse Hogan with Melbourne), the other, Matt, a second round pick, both have been super in a midfield two years on from Patrick Dangerfield. Both brothers amassed over 30 touches on the weekend, and along with Rory Sloane, these three are the midfield guns that can take Adelaide to greatness.

 10.  As for Sloane, this man is a machine. He will go far in the Brownlow, not just because of the disposals he racks up but due to his work inside which is so instrumental to his teams’ success. He is number one in the competition for tackles (10 per game) and number two for clearances (eight per game). Just amazing.

 11.  Two unsung heroes for the Crows as well, the two ‘Rorys’. Rory Laird, having a great 2017 so far, is number eight in the competition for inside 50s, Rory Atkins at the other end not only does a great defensive job on the oppositions’ small forwards, but he is number eleven in the league for rebound 50s.

 12.  Their cross-town rivals, Port Adelaide, are playing football that should see them too return to September action. Whilst they have lost some of our trust in the last couple of years, the sort of form they are in, and the style to which they are playing, so resembles their glory years, and therefore one would be comfortable penciling them in for finals football this year.

 13.  As for that final eight, gee it’s a long way to being set already. We can lock in the GWS, Adelaide, the Bulldogs, West Coast and probably now Geelong and Port Adelaide. Fremantle with an ounce of luck stay in, then if you believe in Richmond it leaves one spot for St Kilda or Melbourne. If you don’t, or don’t yet like this column doesn’t, then perhaps the both Dees and Saints get in. The next month should tell us.

 14.  The Dockers still have a plethora of home games to come, and whilst they may not win too many out of Western Australia they should do enough to make September. As this column reiterates, a Ross-Lyon coached team with their better players fit and healthy will win more than they lose.

 15.  A quick one on sooking about bad luck. Are we trying to regulate the game to such a degree we can stop bad luck from having an impact? When it comes to injuries during a game and the yearning for the sub rule to return, to umpiring decisions, or rule changes such as the deliberate out of bounds interpretations, do we need to be so reactive? The reforms made most recently to the out of bounds rule, and the third man up rule at the same time, have been largely positive, but they, much like the injuries to key players during a game, will still suffer from the occasional spot of bad luck which we need to just accept.

 16.  How bad is Jaeger O’Meara’s knee? Not only have the Hawks mortgaged their future to his acquisition, they have done so taking a massive risk on the health of his knee. Other Melbourne-based clubs, who did their due diligence in discussing the potential to pursue the Rising Star winner, decided against doing so because of the extremely negative picture their medical advice painted. We shall see, the Hawks have a lot riding on him.

 17.  And a quick one on the 17-5 fixture idea. It will get up, how soon is the only question. But the idea that’s come from left field, and late, is that the five weeks for the bottom six will produce the last finals spot. How absurd. Sure, if you need a carrot for those bottom six to remain interested, there are other ways. But for a side that may be bottom four after Round Seventeen to potentially make the finals over a team that was up to 11 spots higher at the time, does not add up in anyone’s language.

 18.  Some big games this week, none bigger than the Preliminary Final rematch in Canberra on Friday. This is the Giants’ to lose – the Dogs are cruising in their premiership defense and will be far more dangerous in a month or two, whereas the GWS need to follow up their impressive win last week and validate the idea that they are a maturing side that can dominate a season.

 19.  Interesting game in Tassie on the weekend, the Hawks hosting the Saints. Hawthorn got the walkover win on Sunday by playing West Coast in Melbourne, whereas St Kilda let a big chance slide in their loss to Geelong. St Kilda are playing good footy but slipping at key times – this is a great chance to topple the dominant side for the last few years but also to show that they are a serious footy side in 2017. Another loss and the questions will be asked.

 20.  A Derby is always a monster game, but all of a sudden the Dockers are big show. This was the year West Coast was to walk through and host a couple of finals whilst Fremantle would be stuck in the cellar of mediocrity. The Eagles will be smarting from their away form, in Melbourne, and keen to make a good showing of things, meanwhile Freo have it all to play for; a win here will see them 5-2 after seven rounds and their season is set up big time.

(originally published Thursday 27 April)

[shannrussell-blog1]

Standing so powerful and beautiful, Mont Blanc is the grand monarch of the European Alps. Sitting at an altitude of 4,810m above sea level, this is the highest peak in Europe. And, what makes her so incredible is that she’s accessible to all. You don’t need to be an “alpinist” to reach her as there are cable cars that can help non-climbers get up close to experience her from up high.

Mont Blanc is situated on a 40km mountain range that enters 3 countries – France, Italy and Switzerland with her summit being on the French side. There are glaciers that cover around 100sq km of this mountain, which is why she is known as Mont Blanc, meaning white mountain.

Heading up the Col du Bonhomme mountain pass.

I first visited the town of Chamonix in France back in 2010 and saw the grandeur of Mont Blanc. This is when I fell in love with this area. My husband and I spent a few days exploring, playing as happy tourists taking the cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi, 3842m high, which is the highest I have ever been.

Up here you have the most stunning views overlooking Italy and Switzerland and on a good day, Mont Blanc shows herself proudly.

Hikers hopping in a cable car up to Aiguille du Midi. 

Our trip

Last year saw us back and ready to experience Mont Blanc in a very different way than we did before. We came back to walk the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB), which is known as one of the greatest long-distance hikes in Europe. The walk is around 170km with 10,000m of ascent and takes you through the three countries of France, Switzerland and Italy.

Our journey had us hiking through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery, forest walks, and deep into the valleys. We stayed in a different village every night and sometimes even in a different country!

  The Col de la Seigne pass crossing Italy to France. 

Hiking the TMB

Many people start in Les Houches in France and travel anti-clockwise. The trail is marked in both directions, so we chose to start in Chamonix and go clockwise. When planning your flight, it’s best to fly into Geneva. This is where there are shuttle buses that can take you through to Les Houches or many of the other villages in the valley. My recommendation is to first check in with the hotel you will be staying at on the first night, as a lot of the hotels provide this service.

The time one would take to hike the TMB is anywhere between 5-12 days, depending on what you choose to do. Some of the paths you will be following are of ancient ones that have been used for many centuries. There are old mule and Shepherd’s pathways, old trade routes, roads of the Roman Soldiers and Celtic tribes. I found it really interesting to learn some of this history as we walked along.

There are several ways you can experience this hike. You can walk it independently or use one of the many companies that offer package deals. These include a self-guided option or a fully guided walk with all luggage transfers and accommodation sorted out for you.

Looking out towards Trient, Switzerland. 

The independent way

Maps

Maps of this walk are easy enough to obtain if you choose to go this way and the waymarking is very clear as it is a very popular and well-used trail.

Accommodation

You will want to book accommodation ahead of time, as there are so many tour groups going through and they have pre-booked a lot of it, so it can be difficult especially during peak season to find anything despite there being an abundance of choice.

Camping options

You can camp and there are many campgrounds along the way. I do recommend checking out the camping laws for each country if you decide to free camp.

Hikers trekking through the Col de la Seigne pass. 

Choosing how many km to walk per day

Be realistic on the kilometres you choose to hike each day as some sections have quite a significant ascent and descent, this can make a 20km day in the mountains a lot harder than in the valleys.

Food and supplies

Do be aware of where you can obtain food as some of the mountain huts don’t stock food and other huts have a limited amount.

Using one of the many tour companies

The benefit of using a tour company is that they have a lot of choice in how you can walk the TMB. You can go with a guide and in a small group while having your luggage transferred. You can hike the TMB self-guided and the company will arrange all baggage transfers and accommodation. They will also provide you with up-to-date information and help along the way.

Higher up towards Col du Bonhomme. 

Best time to walk the TMB

There is a limited season for walking the TMB which does create a bit of traffic along the way. This is a hiking route you cannot do in the winter months due to the harsh weather. It’s only recommended in the warmer seasons from late June to early September. Be aware that Europe have their main holiday time during August/September so expect the trail to be at it’s busiest then.

You must also be aware that the weather in the mountains can be very unpredictable. They can have extreme cold snaps at any time, this can result in snow or blizzards especially on the higher passes. We walked at the end of August, being the height of summer and had a mix of hot and snowy days.

Another important piece of information to be aware of is that the mountain huts on the passes don’t open till mid-June and usually shut down in mid-September.

Trekking high above Les Chapieux – a stopover on the trip.

The terrain

With some lovely valley walks through forests, climbing up high rocky mountain passes, and even scrambling up sections at different points along the way. Be prepared to do it all and expect to get up to heights of 2,665m.

This is not of altitude that can cause sickness for most people, but it does give you a tough physical challenge nonetheless. Be prepared physically before setting out on this hike.

The view over Col du Bonhomme. 

What to pack

To pack for a trip like this where you are heading up over mountain passes, you need to be prepared for all types of weather. Just because it’s summer, there can still be some severe weather at any time. This means that the temperatures drop drastically and fast!

Typically, June to September, the temperature is between 7°C and 24°C. Always check the weather on a regular basis while on this trip and do adhere to any warnings that may be in place. Don’t attempt a mountain pass if you know the weather will be severe. Also, remember the wind chill factor as your body temperature can drop at a fast rate.

If you are using a company to transport your baggage be sure to check the maximum weight allowance as often this is as little as 7kg.

The border of Italy and France along the trek. 

Where you can stash your excess luggage

If you are travelling in Europe for a while other than just the walk, speak to your hotel where you will start and end your walk. Often they are happy to hold luggage that you won’t need on the walk.

Preparing for all kinds of weather

Whether you are carrying a day bag (and having your baggage transported) or carrying all your gear, you must have gear for all types of weather. Be sure to have wet weather gear and extra warm clothes like thermals. You will need to carry water, (up to 2 litres),

There was snow on the ground when we left the Refuge de la Balme.

Packing list for Mont Blanc

A backpack in the size to suit your needs.

Sturdy boots or shoes you plan to trek in. A spare pair of shoes to put on in the evenings.

Hiking poles (you won’t regret taking them)

Water bottles or hydration pack

Map and guidebooks

socks

3 pairs of underwear. I don’t recommend you pack cotton as once it gets wet, it takes a long time to dry which may cause chafing. Also, once wet it loses all thermal properties. You want a fabric that wicks away sweat to keep you comfortable.

2 quick drying hiking shirts

2 zip-off hiking pants. Hiking pants are not only quicker at drying, having the zip-offs allows you the flexibility to wear shorts if it warms up or long pants when the temperature drops.

A lightweight windproof jacket

1 thermal top, and pants (optional)

Rain jacket, rain pants (optional but highly recommended)

2 buff. Tip: a buff also helps protect you from the wind and cold.

Gloves for when the temperature drops, I recommend this as I found mine to be invaluable!

Sarong or Shemagh. This I recommend for so many uses, for example – a scarf, a wrap for after the shower, a towel, a blanket to sit on, make into a bag for the evenings, make many different outfits like a jacket, top and skirt, just to name a few.

Something to sleep in.

If you are camping

Cooker, fuel for cooker (do be aware fuel and matches are not allowed on planes but can be purchased when you arrive).

Food utensils

Head torch

An example of route and towns that you can stay in

Day 1 – Les Houches to La Flegere. Distance – 18km.

Day 2 –La Flegere to Trient. Distance – 19km.

You will find some variants on this day, as well as a chance to ride a cable car and a chairlift. At 14km there is a refuge on the Col de Balme (border of France/Italy). Note that this is an unmanned refuge and there is no food available here.

The sign pointing towards Trient.

Day 3 – Trient to Champex. Distance – 17km.

You will find some variants on this day. One is to take the high and more challenging route over the pass of Fenetre d’Arpette (2665m). Only take it if the weather is good, as in recent years there has been a rock slide. The other choice is to take the Bovine Trail, can be challenging with long ascents and descents but there is a place to stop, relax and have lunch half way. Both are very similar in distance.

Stopping for a rest and some lunch along the Bovine Trail. 

Day 4 – Champex to Ferret. Distance – 18km.

There is a choice to stop at 16km and stay in La Fouly.

The view of the Val Ferret Valley in Switzerland. 

Day 5 – Ferret to Rifugio Bonatti. Distance – 17km.

Another border crossing and high pass at 2537m. There are a few other options to stay at like we did at Rifugio Elena (approximately 10km) or Chalet Val Ferret (approximately 13km).

We stayed at the Rifugio Elena in the Aosta Valley in Italy.

Day 6 – Rifugio Bonatti to Courmayeur. Distance – 12km.

I highly recommend a day here as it is a beautiful town worth exploring.

Day 7 – Courmayeur to Rifugio Elisabetta. Distance – 18km.

This is dorm style accommodation. The next available accommodation is in Les Chapieux, (not a town) and is approximately another 16km. You do have a choice, however, to catch a bus from Courmayeur to Cantine de la Visaille, where camping is available. This is around 14km which makes it an easier day to continue to Les Chapieux.

Trekking uphill from Les Chapieux. 

Day 8 – Rifugio Elisabetta to Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme Distance – 20km.

This is dorm style accommodation, as well. There is a route variant here, there is also a high pass of Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2483m), or you can choose the shorter (4km), but higher route over the Col des Fours (2665m). Only take this route if the weather is good. This is also another border crossing from Italy to France.

You can stay overnight at the Rifugio Elisabetta. 

Day 9 – Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme to Les Contamines. Distance – 13km.

This is virtually downhill but be aware it can be very steep in some sections.

Day 10 – Les Contamines to Les Houches. Distance – 16km.

Again, there is another route variant and cable cars. Check the weather for the choice of which route to take, as the high route will take you close to the glacier de Bionnassay, as well as crossing a swing bridge. Not recommended if the weather is bad.

The final takeaway

To experience the mountains and achieve a walk like this has been a real highlight for me. After completing the journey, I now know my love affair with the European mountains will only continue to grow.

  Is Mont Blanc on your bucket list? Let us know in the comments.

  The post Walking the Tour du Mont Blanc in Europe appeared first on Snowys Blog.