Training Log Archive: Ari-o

Back up to the summit in the morning, on not enough sleep and maybe (probably) a bit hungover. I only sucked some of the last of the beer out of the kegs in the morning! Yum. Probably had about 50 this time. Out of the hut and up with 12-James, dishing about older OH most of the way up. Miss working for that guy.

Ran down the trail to switch off with Andrew. There was an older OH (1966 at Lakes) who was having trouble hiking up. It had taken 4 hours for him to get down to the hut and we were helping him on the way up. I left my packboard with Unit 44 and then grabbed this guy's wrist and stabilized him up the trail, with Jeff Colt on the other side. He made much better time up—only about 2 hours—and it was good to help out. Horrible backstory, too, he'd been hit by a drunk driver or something studying for his PhD which had muddled his mind and ravaged his body. Great to have him at the hut, though.

Lesson: good god don't drink and drive.

Running down with Jeff Colt. He ran down the Valley Way in 29 minutes, so he can move. Leisurely but fast pace, saying hi to the OH as we passed. Good downhill training on rocks.

Then I went for a swim as the DOC paddled the canoe around the lake like they do (hi Ali 10+ years ago!).

Caught Ace going up Boott Spur and then went down Boott Spur to Boott Spur Link and then down the Sherbie (shh). He is very fast/confident down those trails. I am not. But we muddled through. Sherbie was fun.

Up to Lakes! I decided to pack the Pinkham side since it was a shorter hike and I see the Ammy a lot. Left my rollerskis at the OH in case I got a ride around and would have need to get from there to Pinkham (stayed at Lakes so it didn't happen where I SAW THE AURORA a little bit but still).

Made decent time to Hermit Lake, with about 20 pounds on my back, give or take. It was pretty warm, and my shirt under the shoulder straps was soaked (I wasn't wearing it, just to prevent chafing like you do). Felt pretty good on the grinder up Tucks, slowed a bit at the top of the headwall, and then scampered to the hut. Didn't quite make 1:30, but for a warm day with a pack, not too bad! An hour shorter than when I packed it a couple years ago, but that included a wee bit (a lot) of crumping.

Packed up to Lakes to get the band. I grabbed a bag of trash from the croo, so I was just behind the packers, which I made up but then my legs were pretty tired up the steep section so I dropped behind. Not a bad pack up with ~35 pounds. One clap of thunder but otherwise just a lot of clouds.

Packing down an amp. I didn't get the double bass (oh, well) but plenty enough. Nice chitchatty hike down with a bunch of other over-30 OH testing our knees.

Then a great party, lots of good food, pictures, and the band was fantastic.

Run up to Pah! Got a bit of a late start on my half day, and apparently traffic now starts around 11:30 on Fridays, and stopped for lunch in Concord (more traffic ahead clearing) so I didn't hit the trail until 4 and wasn't even close to getting there for the evening program. Then we played Settlers during dinner.

Hike down from Mizpah. Nowhere to camp (full sites) and the OH beckoned. Also, a hiking partner.

Out around Fresh Pond before it got too warm. Lovely morning. More of this please?

Another 50 sections. Hotter today, humider, too, slightly better heat management. Started a bit slower, and went to shade once it got warm. Still overheated, despite ice water. Also was up late and had a beer last night, which didn't help. Can't wait for shade and cool.

Now that my knee is magically healed (I'm cured!) I am having devious thoughts about the next few weeks …

Aug 15: packing beer up in the White Mountains, chance of a long/dumb hike on Sunday. Maybe the "Wilderness Traverse" up Great Gulf and down the Davis Path.
August 22: TBD. Maybe a Pemi Loop or Mahoosuc Traverse, depending on the weather.
August 29: Undecided. Quite possibly a weekend in Maine with assorted activities.
Labor Day weekend: Maine. Trail running or road running or maybe a long bike ride. Or all of the above!
September 12: TBD
September 19: Probably Pisgah!
September 26: so November Project has a 50k in Utah. Well, one of these North Face things. But I could be convinced. OR! It's no cars mornings in Acadia, and that might be paired with a trip up to Katahdin and a mini-vacation.
October 2: There's an A meet somewhere
October 10: There's the Boulder Dash, or a family wedding in Colorado. Hmm, Colorado. I may make a dash to Boulder.
October 18: There's the Hudson Highlander
^^^^ I am probably going to do one or two of the above, and some trail running.
October 25: Very much TBD
October 31: My sister is running NYC marathon. I might be cajoled in to going down for that.
November 7: OH Reunion. Might put on a trail race on OH-maintained trails.
November 14: Darn Tough sock sale.
November 21: Blue Hills Traverse
Thanksgiving: Skiing, hopefully again this year.
December 7: Maybe a trail race in California (50 miler)

I guess I'll go rollerskiing here and there, too.

C • Darn Tough sock sale 2

Run over to the store for some food. Mainly 5 bags of frozen cranberries. Legs tired from the weekend.