Trail Run 6:30:23 [1] 18.23 mi (21:25 / mi) +2639m 14:46 / mi
ahr:150 max:214
Woo Presie Traverse!
I was thinking of doing this given perfect weather, and my brother in law was heading to the Whites anyway, and we figured out logistics. Actually, first we were going to caravan to NH and then I was going to get a ride to the HiC and then hike back north (which … would have been difficult going up and down Madison and Adams on tired legs). Then he'd go meet a friend coming down Bondcliff and get a late lunch, and I'd drive home when done to minimize logistics on the back end.
After some quick thinking, I realized it would be easier just to drop me at Appalachia, I'd hike south, and just wait at the Highland Center for him. So we left at 6, and I was on the trail at 7:38.
Perfect day; 50s at the base, 40s on the summit, 70 in the valley at the end. I charged up the VW, getting to the hut in 1:15: 6 minutes off my PR but for my PR I was done at the hut. I saw six people on the trail, which was the hardest part to pass on the whole route, and then dozens milling about the hut. Felt a little bloated, but hydrated, and not overheated.
I dropped my pack and "ran" up Madison, which is still just a jumble of rocks. Half an hour up and back and which I still don't know how Jordan Field did 5 minutes down (or really anything on his 3:42 traverse). Filled water at the hut, then up to Adams. Kind of a slog, but every mountain gets a little easier after Madison.
The early fog cleared off Madison before I got there, off Adams (busy, but early enough not that many day hikers were up yet) when I was on Madison, and off everything by the time I was coming off of Adams. A lovely, breezy, cool but not cold day, but I had the rollerski gloves on most of the way. 2:09 to Adams (an Adams challenge, with Madison thrown in), and decent time over to Jefferson (very busy, quickly on and off). There was another runner slowly gaining on me who I could see behind me every so often, and he caught up with me on the climb up Clay. The trails in between the mountains and huts were busy but not insane.
We then ran together over Clay and most of the way up the rock pile; he dropped me right around the cog tracks. The summit itself was a madhouse (as opposed to Madison, which was a Madhaüs). I ran by the people waiting to take pictures with the summit sign, then through someones' picture, and down the rocks without breaking stride. The guy ahead of me had stopped for something and caught me on the Crawford Path, and past the Gulfside where I know every rock and tree (the trees are easy; there are none) we blasted down to the hut, strength in numbers.
Hut was more water, and then food in the front pockets! I ate two stroopwafels, a lara bar and a packet of shot blocks up and over Monroe, Little Monroe and down the flowy (or what counts for flowy after the morning) trails. Legs getting tired by this point and it was warmer in the sun; I had the buff up over my ears for sun control for quite a ways. Didn't make great time down the hills and the six hour traverse ship had long since sailed, but I was rolling down for a 6:30 time. 18s down from Washington, basically, including the climbs. Everything is dry, which is nice.
I got a call from my BiL around this point saying he was done hiking, and headed to lunch in NoCo, so could he pick me up around 2:15? Well, indeed! Timing worked perfectly, enough for me to stretch on the lawn. Then off to the Moat (his friend had finished the 48, so celebratory) for a beer and just enough time I was getting hungry. I got a cup of chili, and then his friend and I decided to go off-menu: could we have burgers with pulled pork (in my case) or brisket (in his) on top? Sure, why not! Apparently we were the talk of the kitchen; I left a nice tip.
A couple of notes …
1) I'm down to needing 230m/day to reach 100k by EOY. Started the year at 275. 125m below two years ago (when I did make 100k) and last year (when I didn't, you know, because marathons).
2) The Scarpa Spin Ultras seemed way too high volume in the upper at the start, but I think they just needed to be broken in. Once tightened later, they were fine, and my feet are in pretty good shape.
3) 100MW? Still undecided. Would wait a couple more weeks for cool weather. If I can maintain 3 mph (or close to it) on the Presi …