Training Log Archive: bl

One of the Lakes of the Clouds

Looking toward Lakes of the Clouds hut

Clouds about

"Appian Way"

Path to the Sky

Lakes of the Clouds

At Peter's request

C • Appian Way 1

Event: NEOC: Houghton's Pond
 

Hike in Whites with Beth & Peter. Plan was Ammonoosuc Ravine Tr to Lakes of Clouds & then see what we felt like doing. Beth was on her own on same trail. We got to LOC & decided to hike toward Washington summit for an hour but who was kidding whom - so about 2.5 hr RT from the hut. It was a gorgeous day, great fall colors and lots of people at the summit but easy to retreat from.

Had not been there for maybe 10 yrs - last with Peter Anderson for an Easter sunrise. Usual steep rocky trials. Peter & I did this 3 years go (to LOC & Monroe) - seemed harder today but rocks were wet, making it slippery in places. Beth got to LOC & went down ahead of us. She was tough on the trial! It was actually treacherous descending in places with the slippery rock. We got back to the parking lot at 6:15, Beth 15’ head of us. Nice chatting on the drive back when silence gets filled in easily. Peter drove off to Acton for a 10pm dinner & work at 0700 tomorrow. Dogs on their own for about 12 hrs.

C • Washington 2

UNO meeting at BB as well as vetting points for first time. Quite a few of us there. Went off before meeting ended to get stuff done that pertained to my responsibility. Beat up the dogs with 5 hours of opportunity but they wouldn't have it any other way it seems. Great day, great kind of O training. Technical terrain - harder than Pawtuckaway in places, considering visibility.

Luti loop from CHS parking around 2:45. Long time since I've done this since lunch hour runs went the way of the dinosaur. Mild fall day. Tired.

Down to the slough, so quiet. Good for reflections until the dogs come to see what's going on.

Same run as yesterday, other direction - more energy, must have gotten out of the right side of bed. CW has to be a faster direction. Another Saab parked 2 lengths ahead on a dirt road where virtually no cars park - first company I've seen in the two or so years visiting. The lady walker referred to the 2 cars as orphan cars.

Wood pile corner

Patch-Rollins loop ccw. Lovely fall day, just the right temp. Legs flat, however - likely the weekend still but did not expect, thought a day would have done it. Better toward the end, just about all uphill, found a slow groove & plodded on.

Admired a near-perfect wood stack, contemplating the possibilities in its making. I want my wood stacks/'piles' to remain in place but don't view them as art objects. Beth & I recall many lovely 'bee hive' wood stacks in western MA when we lived there in the early 90s. One can make a stone wall or a wood stack depending on whether or not time is the stream one goes a-fishing in. Walls of cold stone last a long time, wood stacks go quickly but warm the hearth as they go.

Season of the fall of the leaf is upon us. A cricket resides in one of the plants we brought inside & sings its sad tale each eve, a requiem for the dying year.