Training Log Archive: bl

Event: New England Championships
 

New England Champs at Willard Brook, brown X, first A meet in two years. No big mistakes, actually only one small one and 1 or 2 sub-optimal route choices. Energy seemed ok given circumstances which was pleasing. Fell a few times but in thick mt. laurel. Partly sunny, maybe mid60s. So much green on the 1/7500 version.

Lost maybe 30” on the way to #2 which was an easy point but a young man asked me if he could ask a question which served to distract tho I didn’t stop.

To 4, the final 110m from a boulder just past the trail intersection to the WSW of the flag was thick green, then the open knoll presented itself and I was home free.

#5 demanded close attention. I followed the path, keeping track of bends, to the final path turning S, but didn’t see that it continued amidst all the other black line symbols - too much detail for me to make out in the press of things. Instead, came to the flag fm the NNW under all the rock which worked. Saw Tim Parson and 2 others evidently coming fm it.

To 6, read the map, carefully noted the streams and path, kept a straight line. From the second stream, it seemed to take forever to get to the top of the knoll which was always hidden by thick green til it 'popped out'.

To 8, got on the path just S, but the knoll seemed so far along it. Finally followed Nancy D to the knoll which was visible fm maybe 40m, tho flag was not.

To 9, went left and up. Steve Tarry pointed out the low route which I didn’t see. I’m sure that was costly. The lower route had an easy approach thru white. I finally got near the end of the wall, expected to break into white & see the boulder/flag but it didn’t pan out like that. Had been moving along with Adam Caplan-Bricker who went a different way then reappeared and got to the flag a bit before me. Felt lucky to have seen the flag fm about 40 m to my right - tho I was still in almost medium green woods.

Seeing times under an hour points out how far I’ve slid in the past two years.

Really nice to see old friends. We’ve been at this sport so long. Hair color, size, shape all in slow motion…

BrownX 1 - Splits

Wander w/ W, not sure where I would come out, didn't readily recognize the area tho I mapped it once - behind Saltmarsh house, BBR as it turned out. Yellow, brown, muted green leaves.

Pawtuckaway island, cool & gray. Had the place pretty much to myself. Started/finished at the campground which I hadn't seen in years. Very attractive. Lonely in the woods which felt unfamiliar given that they hadn't been visited in years.

Single Circuit-Robinson's Crest: Started on SC but then took an old trail I hadn't been on in maybe as many as 10 yrs. Not always easy to follow but delightfully open woods, three trees with old marking tape and one place looking like the road ran thru it at one time. Eventually came out about where I thought I might.

Bear Brook with sister & Willow. Had expected to hike to the top of Bear Hill but trail closed ("ecologically sensitive area")and a new trail wound around along the base so we then made our way to Bear Hill Pond, the beach and poked around the old 4H camp, mostly consisting of deserted cabins, a foolish waste.

Kimball Pond perimeter as plant growth permitted with sister Beth.

Great Hill with Willow. Summer growth is getting higher and thicker on the north side. Gray & cool. Worked my way over to the power line in returning.

Townsend O walk. Fairly open woods, more than I remembered. Must have spent 15' crossing a wet area, got into it, ie, stubborn, but was successful. Surprisingly few mosquito bites. Home on 13 thru Mt. Vernon, New Boston, Goffstown, Dunbarton.