Training Log Archive: PGIn the 1 days ending Dec 9, 2017:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| « | » |
| » now | ||||
| |||||||
| Sa |
Saturday Dec 9, 2017 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:30:08 18.43 mi (4:53 / mi) +527ft 4:46 / mi
ahr:129 max:166 weight:135.5lbs
Low 30s, slight breeze from the north. Forecast was for snow, and the weather radar sure made it look like it was snowing --
-- but there was not a flake to be seen, so it seemed like I should take advantage of the opportunity. The opportunity, of course, being an alpine ascent of Mt. Warner.
Yesterday's saunter up Massaenutten was a good warm-up, but today would be the real thing. I thought about taking my crampons and ice axe, but they haven't been used in decades and I figured by the time I found them it certainly would be snowing. So off I went.
And had a fine time. Made it up the trail OK (south side of the usual loop) although it was close in places as the dry leaves were slippery. Ditto for the unmarked trail heading to the summit. I recalled Phil's description of his ascent -- "But there's a trail going right to the prominent dot knoll that is clearly the highest point."
And there it was, Philosopher's Peak, a well-known false summit which, as local legend has it, is frequented by local philosophers on warm spring afternoons to discuss the meaning of life, and perhaps smoke a little dope.
But, as I stopped there to take in the surroundings, it was clear that the true summit lay about 50 yards to the NNW --
Tromped over to it, then figured it was time to be getting home. Back to the main trail, then down the north side of the loop. Still not a flake, and not a flake all the way home. Ten minutes later it was snowing hard... :-)
-- but there was not a flake to be seen, so it seemed like I should take advantage of the opportunity. The opportunity, of course, being an alpine ascent of Mt. Warner.
Yesterday's saunter up Massaenutten was a good warm-up, but today would be the real thing. I thought about taking my crampons and ice axe, but they haven't been used in decades and I figured by the time I found them it certainly would be snowing. So off I went.
And had a fine time. Made it up the trail OK (south side of the usual loop) although it was close in places as the dry leaves were slippery. Ditto for the unmarked trail heading to the summit. I recalled Phil's description of his ascent -- "But there's a trail going right to the prominent dot knoll that is clearly the highest point."
And there it was, Philosopher's Peak, a well-known false summit which, as local legend has it, is frequented by local philosophers on warm spring afternoons to discuss the meaning of life, and perhaps smoke a little dope.
But, as I stopped there to take in the surroundings, it was clear that the true summit lay about 50 yards to the NNW --
Tromped over to it, then figured it was time to be getting home. Back to the main trail, then down the north side of the loop. Still not a flake, and not a flake all the way home. Ten minutes later it was snowing hard... :-)