Back country skiing 3:40:00 [3] 10.0 mi (22:00 / mi) +3000ft 17:08 / mi
We arrived at the TA slightly ahead of team 4, put our skis and skins on and took off towards our first point, CP 17. We seemed to be traveling pretty well but struggled to find the point for nearly 20 minutes in the maze of trails around it which allowed team 4 to catch us and punch the point before us. Just before the next CP DR noticed that he had lost a skin somewhere so we wasted a few more minutes doublebacking for it.
Things finally started to click and by the time we hit our 4th CP I was no longer seeing tracks around the controls and I knew we were in the lead. We collected the remaining CP's and the 3 optionals (RDs term for them was Leg of Lamb) then enjoyed a fun downhill ski without skins back to the finish just before 2pm. MS .gpx track to follow possibly.
Felt pretty tired at the end, no need to tele ski afterwards this year. I wish Bolton Valley was closer. The whole area (BV, Trapps, Stowe, Catamount Trail, Long Trail) is such a playground, I'd love to BC ski there more often.
See you at the USARA's in Maryland!