Ewell Pond/Oneida Loop

I put the old leggy-weggies to work just now and tried running my 12.3 mile loop from my house.  it's about 5 miles or so on pavement and the rest on dirt.  It's not too hilly - the profile shown is a little deceptive because of the vertical exaggeration, but it's got a few steep sections that I bike in my smallest gear.  The total elevation gain is about 1200'.  I wasn't out to break any records but I did break my PR accidentally, hitting the driveway at 1:41 (beating my previous PR of 1:45).  The goal was actually to see if I could run for that many miles.  Even though I've been running and/or biking pretty regularly, I haven't been pushing things and haven't really run very far.  DogMan and I did a few big outings (I think we did a 16 miler a week ago) but we haven't been breaking any speed records.

Anyway, I've been whining about quite a few physical aches and pains and wasn't even sure I could run the loop.  In fact I was pretty aggravated for the first half of the run until I realized I was making good time and pushed a little harder at the end.  If I'd pushed harder from the start I could've knocked another minute or two off.

Of course the thought of tMail running all these Ironman races and the trail marathon and it's a little embarrassing to be chatting up this much for a freaking 12 mile run, but hey - we can't all be superman.

This was really the test for the VT50.  I can confirm that my left hamstring is screaming at me, so it's probably going to be a no-go for that monster, but I feel pretty good otherwise.

Franconia Ridge Loop: Break 2:30?

Nope.  Not even close.  Today's ascent was a record-breaker at 1:07 from the trailhead to the trail junction on Little Haystack.  But while conditions were pretty good low down, I got hammered on the summit.  The entire ridge was socked in down to maybe 50ft visibility with temps in the low 60's and winds between nothing and probably 30mph or so.  The incredible humidity was rough, but the worst part was that I was wearing glasses and had to clear them every 2 or 3 minutes.  Lafayette was the worst.  I actually had water  collecting on the bottom edge of the lenses.  I was completely soaked - saturated through to my underwear.   Descending required that I look down, which made the water on my lenses form little mini-lenses like an old window - everything rippled.  That slowed me waaaay down.

I carried 16 oz of water and drank 12, and ate a Hammer Gel on Haystack.  I was wearing a wicking tank top, running shorts and Darn Tough socks in Vasque trail runners.

Trailhead to Haystack trail junction:  1:07 (good time)
Little Haystack to Lafayette:  30 (slowing a little - maybe 3 minutes behind schedule.)
Lafayette to parking lot:  1:18 (oy.  should've been done in 1 hour.)
Total trail time:  2:55

August 21-23: Big Adventures For All

The August 21-23 timeframe was big adventures for us all:
G-$$$, DogMan, Mutha:  The D2R2
tMail:  The Timberman Half-Ironman

The PuppetMaster & Treadmill:  Lily Elizabeth's first marathon

Email exchanges covered most of the excitement but for archival purposes some of it is pasted back here:

Lily Elizabeth Strong:  8lbs 5 oz.

tMail's Ironman Report:  Well 70.3 miles is under the belt.

Several months ago I decided to sign up for the 1/2 Ironman with full knowledge of what I'm was getting myself into from a mental and physical stand point. Training wise 6 days a week a training day was between 2-4 hours - 20+ hours a week. Big commitment.

Swim - a weakness of mine in the past I need to work on it. I followed a 3 - 4x a week training program building up my swim and loading 3 weeks before. The last couple of weeks I was swimming 7500 - 10,000 yards a week. I was getting better and comfortable. Yesterday it paid off did the swim in 32 minutes which equates to 1 one minute and 43 second repeat 100s.  I went out hard in my wave separated myself and found some guys feet and stayed on them and drafted. The water was choppy with waves coming up over you when breathing. I sucked up stragglers from waves ahead of me as I was passing lots of different color caps.  I was feeling good and comfortable in the water and had a straight line.

T1 - Off came suit on went sunglasses, helmet, two gel flasks back pockets tri jersey, race #, grab bike and go. I had a 1 minute run from my area to bike start.

Bike - Once on bike took in some gel / liquid right away. Did a full body analysis on bike legs felt good, HR good, overall felt comfortable. First 10 miles climb then relatively downhill to 28 miles I stayed in my zone on bike not pushing too hard but steady pushing when I could. Kept hydrating kept fueling at the turnaround felt good and pushing the next 28 back in heavy rain and head wind. Started catching people on climbs and tricky sections was feeling really good was having doubts if I went out too slow. Lots of crashes course was wet, I did let it rip on some of the return ascents as conditions were getting worse. As I approached T2 started thinking about run got last of my liquids and food in me.

T2 - Dismount run to rack, rack bike off came helmet, on went socks, sneakers, hat, got a 16oz of water down and off I went.

Run - Immediately did body scan legs good, HR good, felt nutritionally fine.  Cold and rain at this point still feeling good small rolling hills course already could see walkers. I felt good aid stations every mile. It was two laps out and back. Kept taking on water and food. Felt good kept pace steady. If you notice I ran one mile 8.46 about 13-15 seconds slower than all other miles I had to piss so bad I tried urinating while running but needed to pull it out but with 2700 people and families I didn't I ran into one of many port a-johns on course and pissed and pissed and pissed finally I cut myself off and let dribble drabble in my shorts. Continued feeling really good, passing lots of people, lots of walkers now people cramping if it was HOT it would have been a sea of carnage.

Finish line cool, Wellington handing out metals.

Overall highly organized, too many people, run course blah they could have killed people made them run up Gunstock which I suggested but I think some would have shriveled up and died. At least it would cut down on # of entrants.

Triathletes - I'm one like being one. Perception some are egotistical maniacs.  Its an individual sport you race against a clock and your age group.  My age group wow, I must have not got enough breast milk b/c everyone is 6'2 and 145lbs. I think one guy in my group finished top 10 and beat pros.  Mental standpoint I think they would melt down in non triathlon events. Half of them don't know how to pump own tires, I helped, one kid couldn't decide amber or clear lenses, one kid had his gf pump his bike tires, one kid said we are two far away from the bike start, one kid measures his food, one kid was complaining that the water was rough, one complained that transition wasn't carpeted, MENTAL!

Anyway I had fun doing the 70.3 miles, had more fun training looking back I know where I can approve.

Again, thanks to all those who trained with me, (Gannett counts) - (cycling in NH / Vt, Blue Hills / Wrentham trail running, dirt road cycling, Vt trail running and listening to me, couldn't have done it without you guys.

The D2R2:  112 - 127 miles, 15k - 16k vertical (it all depends on whose GPS you trust).
MadDog:
1. What a great job you three guys did! Congratulations on the accomplishment. I am in awe, truly. My legs and lungs have never been called upon in such a way. It was hard, real hard.

2. I have two views of g-$ and DM from the day. That was about 40yards behind them on the way out to Stillwater, g-$ was riding no hands and combing his hair having a casual summer stroll (or something like that) and DM was spitting chewing tobacco lugies, while chatting up his wingman.

3. I didn't know there are Jewish angels. And further, that mother is one of them. He hanging with me and looking for the  yellow summer squash to come rolling up the hills...thanks a ton Mutha.

4. I exhausted more energy yesterday in some many wrong places...it amazes even me. Even still, I tried to apply g-$ coaching from years past  - e.g. keep the upper body loose, loose grip when possible etc. Still - the T-52s gearing was chore to get me into granny, the clipless pedals turned out to be a task, and the seat was disaster from my 1.6.

5. HOB (heard on the bike) on the start of one of the big climbs, with a 30 yd lead on me and with a great sense of hear in the woods..."Get it low gear, LOW GEAR." Christ! He knew and it was true...made me think of the day on Cathedral gully with Mutha on the point.

6. For the first time, I really had GI/nausea/intestinal issues. Not sure why - yet. But it was a downward spiral and I could see it and the clock working against me. I could only get one bottle of my electro mix in my the whole day. And was eating only a couple of eggs and bananas for the whole day. Nothing else could go in. I couldn't even eat the trusty PB crackers. I knew this was not good.

7. I surprised myself...I only looked (hoped/went clicking for) an additional lower gear ~9 times the whole day.

8. Leyden police babes, are cute AND down to earth.

9. The two most OK (obnoxious knuckle-head) guys I met were from NY and MA. And that did not surprise me.

10. The gayest riders were also from MA, Boston.  Mutha has their lines down pat.

12. I didn't really know how bad it was (because I was thinking that since I'm not a real rider I should be feeling beat up)...then some guy who was/is real strong and I remember from earlier in the day...is trying to catch his buds after Alexander...cruises up to me and confides he too has tanked. Later I began to try and correlate what the marathoner's mile 21 was in this thing. I didn't answer it...probably because some f'in hill had just presented itself to me.

13. After the sweep truck passed me and pulled over at 85...my heart sank. I was committed to get to the end - but we chatted and chatted and the sweep guy provided a healthy sanity check on not having water (for which I only had a bottle from him) and still facing the two steepest ridges of that stage. His estimates and my own were that it would be much later than the cutoff allowed and could instead join a different route...So it was. I was happy with how the decision was made, but of course, not the outcome. But remembering our collective wisdom...the mountain will always be there - and the guy's final assertion to me "you have nothing to prove to anyone, what's it worth to risk the Patten downhill, or need support and not have it?"

14. Surprisingly today (the day after), nothing in the wheels is hurting or strained. Only the butt is feeling the affects of coping with the grundel grinding.

15. Doctor Strong's compression wrap recommendation was the gear solution of the day. Not a problem with what has been a persistent and consistent issue.

16. This was my second ever cycling event. I thoroughly enjoyed the format and the event production. It was mellow and low key - just my style. Very different from the pump-you-up music blasting RD announcements that are often seen at events.

Thanks again: g-$ for expanding our horizons into randonees, DM for the constant support and confidence, Mutha for the Jewish angeling and chauffeuring.

g-$$$:  Made it home without a cup of joe....just 1 Diet Coke and 2 hours of swatting flies.  Thanks again for what may have been the toughest thing I have ever done athletically...on par with our failed summit day on Gannett and our encounter(s) with Bonney Pass and our Jay Adventure race many moons ago.  It was definitely the toughest thing I've ever done on a bike.

• Cheers to MuthaZ for picking up my race packet
• Cheers to Dogman for being my wingman for the day.....anytime buddy
• Cheers to Dogman for finding great lines through the washboard and rutted descents
• Cheers to Maddog for riding that course on the rolling kennel of cast iron
• Cheers to the organizers and volunteers of a really great event
• Cheers to Patten Hill and Patten Hill views
• Jeers to breaking spokes
• Jeers to pedal cleats coming undone
• Jeers to forgetting your gloves
• Jeers for not having a better than 1:1 bailout gear ratio
• Jeers to South Heath Rd
• Jeers to the hundreds of folks faster and stronger than me
• Jeers to the "5mi optional loop"
• Jeers to the 100 or so horseflies that decided to take refuge in my truck as I changed out of my cycling gear

I am going to strongly consider doing this ride again next year.....I'm definitely going to train for it and I learned a whole helluva a lot about gearing, food, hydration, cue sheet/map managment....if tmail does it I'm gonna recruit maddog to ride the tandem with me so we can destroy him.

DogMan:  Awesome! G$$ you were an amazing engine in the stretch and an awesome navigator. Left to myself I would have curled up on the road side and waited for nightfall to succumb.

Way to go Mutha, whole new level and dimension. Chamberlain will go clean the next time you ride it. And from then on no looking back. 10 hours or less for you next year.

MadDog incredible. And yes, I think after lofting that heap of iron over those hills, you can rightfully characterize many of the other "cyclists" as "gay".

1) MuthaZ should by HyperZ. Mutha finishes "early", having done the last leg about 20 minutes faster than G$$ or I, starts taking nitrous shots from the whip cream and is generally bouncing of the walls of the tent and later room like he just had a pot of coffee and maybe needs some exercise for the day. WTF, did you ride this thing? Meanwhile MadDog and I are about to spoon each other on the blanket in the dirt under the table. We are comatose.

2)  Grocery check out girl to Mutha (in his five fingers): "What kind of shoes are those?". Mutha response: "I don't know, what kind of shows are those?". Meanwhile 15 year cutie [...edited for brevity...] is lingering in the aisle behind us, wearing blue slippers. There was a weird shoe vibe in Brattleboro, among other things.

3) G$$ somehow or another turns bottles of Coke into diesel fuel. Nice call on the Colrain stop. The "finisher", stay on his wheel over the 2nd half, you will get home.

4) I thought it was just my chip on the shoulder, but I was truly annoyed by all the Connecticut boys on their titanium bikes talking about owning their second houses in Vermont, etc, etc. I DID NOT want to ride with these f*s. I was so happy to be a "native" Vermonter.  And to part ways with them. And to have G$$ as wingman. And then MD shares the "gay" observation. What beautiful validation.

Great ride and experience. Thanks guys! Can't wait to do it again.

Mutha:  maddog!  what a fun trip report.  read it out loud to sue.  she wants to know how down-to-earth the Leyden police babes really are.  i assured her they're not THAT down to earth.

hanging together was fun.  sorry for the shouting "SMALL GEAR!  LOW GEAR MADDOG!" but from my vantage point a few feet in front of you i could see these walls coming like a wave that's about the crest.  the sound of your chain tapping lightly against your derailleur would send me into a tailspin thinking that you'd be climbing on your middle ring and i'd be in my little guy and you'd probably pass me and say "ahhh, i couldn't get it into low gear so i'm just going to do this the hard way ... pussy."

the GI problem was insolvable and the downward spiral nothing but misery.  without a magic wand all i could do was say things like "try not to shit your pants" or "if you puke up into your mouth, spit, don't swallow".  i once had to go to a business meeting when i had food poisoning.  that was bad.  you made it like 85 miles or something.  that's unbelievable.

today:  got home, ate 2 pieces of homemade pizza and two hot dogs.  yeah, i know.  mckenzie hot dogs.  they were out, hot and sue and the kids were going to finish them if i didn't.  i started putting away gear (found my missing glove), took a nap.

supper:  i grilled scallops in white wine, butter and lemon juice with apple-wood smoking on the grill.  we ate that on what we call 'big salads' - where we load plates with all sorts of fun stuff, like lettuce, avocado slices, chevre, capers, cheddar, apple slices, palm hearts, fresh pickles, slasa verde (thanks to dogman for the tomatillas!), etc. - w/ the scallops and sauce on the top.  in terms of cubic feet of food, this was nearly a record.  then we took the dogs out for creamies (soft serve ice cream, for you non-vermonters).

not sure if we burned 11,000 calories yesterday or 11,000,000 but i'm almost done making that up in fat, carbs, more fat and more carbs.  almost there ...

Stillwater Junction Overnight

Chris, Spanky, Jake & I headed up the Nancy Pond Trail to Stillwater Junction, where we camped near the east branch of the Pemi river.  We exited via the Desolation Trail over Carrigain to a car we spotted on Sawyer River Rd.  9-ish miles the first day, 8-ish the second.  Camping at Stillwater is incredible.  Aside from making sure to stay the appropriate distance from brooks/water, there is little to interfere with finding incredibly excellent camping sites.  The area is covered with thick organic material making for soft tenting/bivy action everywhere.

Gannett 2010

 Gannett via the Glacier Trail (SummitPost link to Trail Description):  The hike starts outside of DuBois, Wyoming and bangs south to Gannett for 22 miles (to summit camp) and then another 3 to the summit for a round-trip total of 50 miles.  The elevation change is from about 7400' (trailhead) to 13804 (summit) for a net gain of about 6400' - however the total ascent is around 10000' due to several substantial climbs (Arrow Pass ascent, for example) and descents.

g-$$$'s Trip Report (pics here):

Quick thoughts and a short message courtesy of the scheduling genius of American Airlines.

Thanks fellas....for yet another trip of (tip of hat to muthaz on Gannett 08) unexpected consequenses.  I know the goal was getting me to the summit.  I am humbled and extremely greatful to have such an awesome group of peers/friends to share with,  lean on, listen to, talk to, and learn from.....oh yea....and to exploit. Despite the sores, blisters, and thoughts of replacing well worn gear, I still can't believe it's over and done.

Just a few highlights until I can assemble my random thoughts after such a huge high!

• Team Bare Bait adventure with the juvenile Griz in hunt for tmail
• Tmail is a terrible negotiator...all decisions are final when he is strongarmed and end of discussion isn't always so definitive.
• Carl is the man...we all need to send a message to the NFS to give him props.  If all civil servants shared the same passion, knowledge, and willingness to serve...imagine how much greater this country would be.
• No Atomic Burger but the Cowboy Cafe still is the classic post- expedition feed zone and a standalone highlight of Dubois.
• 50 plus miles with 50 plus packs.
• Muthaz...no shortage of thoughts, opinions, and good stories.
• Tmail...a born leader.  Strong like an ox, speed like a goat, and heart of a lion.
• Wildman...the silent warrior.  Your calm demeanor belies your wisdom and determination.  Thanks for defending the uphill afterguard with me!
• Supporting crew...you were missed but not forgotten:
• Pm...you couldn't make it but we were incredibly glad your gear did.   we were lucky to have it.  You were missed but your spirit was with us....every step.
• Maddog....the dried goodies were so awesome...every piece of granite talus evoked the though of having you there
• Dogman...many adventures to come.  We need a newbie to continue to pass the wisdom and frivolity to!
• Highpoint 48.....wow...Denali 2015?
• Free airline tickets are anything but free.

Lots of pictures and lucid thoughts after some quality time with EZ-E, the missus, and a backlog of work that is gonna cripple me to my knees.  Looking forward to Puppetmaster Challenge 2011. 
2 words PM....Grand Teton.

Incredibly great fun and great times with great peeps.  Memories to last 10 lifetimes.

Thanks so much guys!!!

tMail's Trip Report (pics here):

What I learned in the past and applied to the trip.  The success of the trip was not based on one but on all of us and what we have learned and applied to ourselves from each of our unique characteristics.

• PM – His leadership skills and ability to analyze and always think ahead for the better of the group.
• G$$$ - His patience, knowledge, thoughtfulness and determination.
• Wildman – His cool collective calmness that no matter what always gives the sense everything is ok.
• MadDog – His ability to always push forward and be the supportive voice we always need to hear to make things seem easier than they really are.
• Mutha – His ability to get that little bit more out of you when you think there isn’t anymore to give, his jovial attitude and ability to always get you to smile, laugh and know you have someone who is right there with you.
• DogMan - His free spirit and ability to enjoy the moment as much as possible.

As you will all hear, the summit almost didn’t happen for Tmail, but the encouraging words of one and the desire to do what others would do overcame the fears and anxiety.

“You can never conquer the mountain. You can only conquer yourself.”

Mutha's Trip Report (pics here):

I have only a few specific things to add that can't be gleaned from the astounding pictures we're posting:

• This trek was a huge achievement for me and I have to thank the greatest team.  This includes the ghost of DogMan, identified as "the guy who we had to drag out here next time"; the PuppetMaster whose enthusiasm and power filled us all in absentia; MadDog, whose tagline and Chinese Laborer photo became the mantra of the ascent; and our spouses and family who enthusiastically (if somewhat nervously) embrace our adventures.
• The sense of vertigo and vastness of the great ranges of Wyoming as viewed from the ridge trail are completely indescribable and not adequately communicated by the pictures.  I'm embedding an image of the final ascent along the ridge, shot last summer by hiker Redwic and found on SummitPost.org.  It gives a sense of the narrowness of the trail and the conditions to either side.  What is doesn't show is the 3000' drop to either side.
• The trek in was overlaid by the thoughts of the ridge traverse.  The trek out was overlaid by the distinct possibility that we'd come face-to-face with a 'sub-adult' grizzly reported to have encountered hikers and a horses in the days before out exit.  That's a lot of mulling over things like personal challenges, death & carnage.
• The Glacier Trail is not a straight shot.  There are interesting sections throughout, including brook crossings, rushing glacier melt, switchbacks, long-haul ascents, boulder fields and of course glacier/snow travel.

Wildman's Trip Report (pics here):

A long a dusty trial at times trail from DuBoys. Amazing how different this approach was compared to Pinedale. Steepness and at times dryness comes to mind. The glacier runoff was beautiful, but didn't provide many fishing opportunities, oh well. Day one over Arrow Pass was a gut check, I wasn't sure it was ever going to end. Thirt
y switchbacks, really, definitely possible. Our down day above the Tarns provided a day a rest and hours and hours of of summit route discusion.

Highlights

• Tmail remembering the tent poles
• Next time lets not start anything with "when Bob is getting mauled"
• Deciding who's tent we should pour Jelly on
• Mutha pumping water by the gallon
• 1 jar peanut butter 1 bottle jelly 4 people 3 lunches got it
• Instant Banana Pudding rules, sorry Tmail Chocolate is no match
• NOLS clearly delirious after 20 days, maybe they didn't know which way they went
• A so so day can make for a great summit day
• G$$$ you've got the dinners dialed in (as well as the route finding), I can't wait until next year
• Mountain Goats, rock hopping wonders
• Blasting out the last day 10.5 miles in 5.5 hours leaves it's mark on you feet
• Tmail remembering all of the details from 2008, despite the Altitude issues
• 57lbs without water I gotta leave more stuff behind or pack it in other packs

http://picasaweb.google.com/hikesintherain/GannettPeak2010#

Looking forward to doing if again next year. The possibilities are endless

The Great NEK Cyclo-Madness

Today, the day of the great event (start time 9am) I get an email from MadDog:  "What are we doing?  Do I need an ice axe or a bike?  A bike?  Okay, road or mtb.  Mtb?  Okay, I only have a road bike...".  MADDOG! 

Dogman is leading the pack (w/ MadDog, BH and myself in tow).  We'll decide the exact route on the ride, but it'll be sufferfest for sure.   The graph the elevation profile of the  route is shown here (the "Shark's Tooth").  MapMyRide route and profile is here.

Maddog's Trip Report:

    I guess I should have checked this route profile beforehand. Wait a minute, that's not a route. You can't fool me, that's the profile from the jaw of a tiger.

    And so the story starts...

    1. Brian couldn't make it, but his friend Howie does. So Howie and I share the ride to the tiger den.

    2. We're slightly early - 45mins to be exact. And DogMan is nowhere to be found. But Al is. So we hang and chat with Al while waiting for Mutha - tour the gardens, socialize with Trudy. Nice.

    3. My bike (the metal interconnected tubes and two tires is DOA. Both stems on the tube and tires non-functional. And my spare tube had been slashed. Howie threatens to kill me for not having a backup strategy. Somewhere there's a pic of my equipment only while my body is being searched for. Fortunately, I am grateful that Mutha's IT training has reinforced the concept of fully redundant (everything). He rolls in with a spare riding resource.

    4. After a 48 second comfortable descent, the teeth of the tiger began to bite, and hard. My mind (and biking) were wanting to climb, but the engine-room was maxed out (on the first hill) - I knew it would be long and painful day (I wouldn't have wanted it any other way).

    5. Apparently one of the design parameters for today was that we could not spend more than 3 minutes on the travel surface, if the road name did not have the word "Hill" in it.

    5. Cabot, Calais, Woodbury, and whereever we else were just gorgeous. Theatres, Sinister Brooks, hills that never end, sheep, and great landscapers.

    6. Sorry to admit it, but RedBull & Woodchuck Cider get an MD endorsement. Gatorade does not.

    7. Woodbury has much more interesting geology than Cabot, et al.

    8. Thanks for sharing the ride today for those who showed (Al, Howie, Mutha). Where DogMan, Steve, and Brian were, who knows.

    I will definitely be counting my sheep tonight.

Mutha's Trip Report:

Just a few elaborations on MadDog's report:

• Howie is the EverReady Bunny - UNSTOPPABLE!
• MadDog is a sandbagger - OUTSTANDING!
• Al is the Terminator - UNTIRING!
• The weather was gorgeous - INSPIRING!
• Minister Brook Rd. was heartwarming - OVERJOYED!

Thanks to all for financing the expedition and to the great job done on the last climb up Danville Hill.

DogMan's Trip Report:

    Return To Minister Brook

    This is why one lives in Vermont!

    Awesome weather, awesome venue, awesome company (sorry Mutha but I can still use awesome right?).

    Howie gets top kudos for never cracking, even after the up hill spill on Chartier and the whole drag back through Woodbury and up Danville Hill. It isn't always easy to crash going up hill, and even harder to then get back on your bike, tackle the "wall of chartier hill", "sears truck pathway", "wall of woodbury", "bothfield bonk" and then hit danville hill.

•     If MD had an appropriate bike and rode more than once a year, he would bury us all.
•     Mutha is nipping at my heels, and doesn't even look tired.
•     The sheep were good (not in that way).
•     The pizza was good, not sure why no one else had the sense to get some.
•     The garden tours were good.
•     The red bull was good.
•     The woodchuck was good. 

The Storm Before The Calm

The last hill has been climbed, the last mile run... sort of.  Friday, Saturday & Sunday of this weekend were awesome outstanding.  Highlights:

Mutha's Trip Reports:
Friday:  tMail, DogMan & I rode a 72 miler through the Northeast Kingdom, departing from my house (due to Dogman's strict rule that you don't drive to a ride).

• Mile 35:  Parker Pie at the top of the climb up Bean Road in West Glover
• Pizza and cokes and an hour of leisurely chit-chat
• Mile 37:  Bread & Puppet Theater Museum.  DogMan's head didn't explode.  tMail felt the pressure building.

Saturday:  g-$$$, MadDog, tMail, Spanky The Wonder Dog and I on a relatively casually-paced 12 miler from Lincoln to the App Gap along the spine of the Green Mountains.

• Got to see both sides of both gaps.
• Was astounded to discover that not all reasonable people consider the same side to be the 'hard' side.
• Encountered a couple doing the 6-Gaps ride.  They were on gap 4 (at 5pm).
• Topics covered:  love, life, death, bike components, 1-Acre intensive farming, jets, planes, gannett, sheep, goats, fencing, bikes, relationships, money, fuel, bikes, tires, bikes, troubleshooting bike problems, bikes, ... um, etc.

Sunday:  tMail and I cranked out the Burke Mtn Auto Road while DogMan cranked the 'Maple Corners' loop by bike.  Arrived at the top of Burke Mtn (2000' ascent) about a minute apart (w/ tMail running like a gazelle on a casual tour, and me tromping like a rhino in labor).  We did it in 33 and 34 min respectively, but tMail could easily hit 30 min if he pushed like I did.  We got back to Danville, loaded up the dogs, and took a 1:26 run through the Danville Town Forest, up and over Pumpkin Hill, up and over the next hill, took the LVRT for a mile, then Pumpkin Hill Road up a steep ascent, then back up the unnamed hill and back and over Pumpkin hill.  Huh?  Let's put it this way:  nothing but hills the whole time.  Mileage?  Unknown.  Maybe 6.

Final damage:

• Bodies everywhere
• Broke DogMan (joke)
• Broke Jake & Spanky
• Broke tMail's tent
• I thought I was going to crash hard on Sunday, but took a long shower to get the accumulated sweat/salt off.  Felt better.  Took care of some chores around the house and pounded in a few cedar posts.
• tMail is gentleman:  bought pizza for everyone (in Danville) and financed the food supply for treks.
• DogMan is a gentleman:  picked up the tab at Parker Pie.
• Mutha is a mooch:  accepted the favors graciously, ate his fill, and shook some hands.

Now to chill for a few days and prepare for Gannett.

tMail's Trip Reports:

I arrived in Danville on Thursday and was immediately transported to the CSA to pick the Mutha Share of food. I met Mimi who is a smoking chick who owns the farm and would probably beat all of us arm wrestling. She said I can come to the farm anytime and she would put me to "work". I accepted maybe fall time. 

I was then transported back to Mutha training facility and into a truck with Shirley the chicken, Sue and Jill for the next 2 hours.  I was taken to a farm and met Ann Mary who raises Jacobs sheep and has built a compound that David Koresh would be proud of. I then had a double date with Sue and Jill at Positive Pie.

Thursday night we planned a ride to ride (DogMan, Mutha and me) north to Glover and stop at Parker Pie and pick up chicks with the Glover edge! We also sat next to the band R.E.M.

Then my Jedi training really began as I had to use Jedi mind tricks at the Bread and Puppet Theater which is a walk back in time to the 60s and 70s or the land of Oz take your pick. My favorite puppet was the giant silver face looked like the Tin Man that represented an Atomic Bomb and a sign that said "Shoot them". Honey's everywhere and they invited the three of us dressed in spandex costume cycling outfits to a party at 8.30pm.

Mutha is a machine on a bike and DogMan is like Cancellera during Paris Roubouix I had to time trial for about 10k at 35mph to catch but he freaked out Sunday saying he needs to ride more and didn't come with us to Burke.  After the ride we went to the DogMan system and had some Sierra Nevada's, talked about farming. If the CIA, FBI, KGB or KKK is ever after you hide out at DogMans 100 acres of coolness!

Saturday was our Green Mountain assault from Lincoln to App Gap (G$$$, DogMan, Buttercup, Mutha and me). They took me via car after the hike on the Gaps and apparently MadDog aka Buttercup is going to do a 6 Gaps ride and be done with training for D2R2. Hike was great I could not name one peak except there was a hot blonde on one summit and teenager on another with pink shorts that were painted on her. Vermont Girls!

Sunday we tried talking DogMan into not doing his Maple Corners ride but coming with us to sacrifice ones self on the run up Burke Mtn, DogMan retreated and Mutha and I forged forward. Burke Mtn auto road is a beast but can be dissected and destroyed for under 30 minutes. Mutha is a machine!

When you thought it was over we ran for 1 hour 20 minutes through the Florida everglades in Danville it was awesome!

Things learned:

Molly the goat is an alien or yoda
DogMan does not drive to bike starts
Meth users work at Marty's
Parker Pie and Positive Pie are far out.
Mutha is a machine similar to energizer bunny but better.
DogMan can be brainwashed.
G$$$ nobody works and plays harder.
MadDog's training method train around your weaknesses in that case everyone sit on your couch and don't move!
Jake the Dog had his heart ripped out him.
Spanky the Wonder Dog was sacked like Napoleon's army.

If you want to get in shape in 72 hours go to the Mutha's Jedi Camp.
Sue is a saint and she gave me a Sue Zucker original painting that is VERY cool.

Close to 100 miles covered all weekend on bike and foot.

Mutha thanks for everything next stop Gannett!

July 4th

At some point that weekend (July 4th) tmail is coming for a fun-filled adventure-fest:  a road bike ride (40-70 miles) followed by a hike the next day.

We don't have a fixed schedule yet, but hopefully one or more of you can make one or more of those days.  at this point we're pretty flexible and don't have a specific route planned for bike or hike.  I understand that the weekend of the 4th is a big family holiday and it's not likely anyone can make it, but just in case you have one day free, consider joining forces.

It's also not clear how my ankle will hold up on a ride, let alone ride and hike.  The doc asked me not to stress it by 'clipping out' for another week yet.  I've also done one road bike ride this year:  35 miles.  so i'll be at the back watching the road for stuff you guys may have dropped.

Possible rides: 

• hardwick - craftsbury - irasburg - barton - greensboro - hardwick
• something involving burke and island pond.
• double gap ride going over - um - two gaps.  probably app gap is one (heading east toward waitsfield).
• single gap ride, starting in champlain valley, riding around, climbing the app gap, turning around and going back to car by a different route (i gotta get new brake pads)
• waterbury to stowe to cambridge via smuggler's notch.  return via pleasant valley.
• something involving woodbury, morrisville and hyde park
• danville - groton - groton state forest - danville
• something involving rte 5 south of st. j. through barnet, mcindoe falls, monroe, woodsville and other connecticut valley destinations.

Possible hikes:

• green mountain madness:  a long trek (spotting a car) from the top of smuggler's notch taking the Long Trail north to camel's hump, the bamforth ridge and river road in jonesville/bolton.
• green mountain madness:  a longer trek starting at the Lincoln Gap north on the LT to Camel's Hump and ending up descending the bamforth ridge in jonesville.
• something in the whites

Garfield-Galehead Loop

tMail, Jake & Spanky and I tackled Garfield & Galehead.  tMail and I carried 40lb packs (more or less) in anticipation of our Wyoming trek.  We parked at the trailhead for the Gale River Trail and walked the 1.6 miles along the loop road to the Garfield Trail.  Roughly 16 miles and some four thousands of feet later returned successfully to the car - about 8hrs.

Mutha's Trip Report (pics here):

• Jake really proved himself on this one.  Both dogs were outstanding performers of course but for a Jack Russell sprinter, this long mileage and elevation gain showed stamina that really was the payoff of two years of training.  When we got back to the house Travis noticed how pumped up his muscles were - he looked like a wrestler or body-builder.
• For meals, I packed 5 full soft tortillas w/ mackeral & mayo for the dogs.  This fueled much of the trek in addition to some home-made bicuits, trail-mix and water.
• Following tMail, the Iron-Man machine, was like paddling a canoe in the wake of a speedboat.  Incredible.
• About 4 hours in, dropped to the ground in flames as the right ankle completely exploded in a tendon-wrenching hyperextension.  It was pretty bad and currently am following the R.I.C.E. therapy w/ 800mg of Ibuprofen, a beer and a glass of bourbon.  This won't end well.
• Galehead Hut was calm, cool and collected.  The hut cougars were absent, as were the crazies, loons and freaks.  I think the mid-week timing had something to do with it.  We encountered about 4 groups on the trail - and a few solos - most of whom were out for at least two nights.  It was pretty impressive.  One young man was just poking around, heading up to the Twinway to find a spot anywhere and just have a great night out.
• We met a young woman on Garfield who works for the AMC taking school groups on hikes.  She was out for some time to herself and was taking an arbitrary number of days/nights out.  She seemed completely at ease with taking another day, two or three.  She was eating peanut-butter out of a jar with a knife and had a jar of Frito-Lay cheese sauce.  I got zits just watching her down this stuff with a knife, but it was clearly fueling her adventures.  Good for her.

tMail's Trip Report (pics here):
What a great day, we took one from the weather gods!

• Performance of the day goes to Jake, known for his short bursts of speed, princess like charm and now his ability to strap a set on and actually be a man and smash out Garfield and Galehole! I have been to Muthaville enough and spent countless hours with Jake in my lap to know he can be a total whimp, but I give the little SOB credit.
• Garfield Trail, I was thinking it was going to be some hard ass trail, not sure why, but it was pretty nice and I thought the ascent was gradual, I never felt like it got steep at all. I also thought we made very good time, 3 hours to the trail junction with the Garfield Ridge Trail.
• Gregory Palisades Pack was awesome, it was my first time using it and I thought it was awesome, I had no issues latching stuff or find places for things to go. It carried extremely well.
• Bear Gryls Pants from Craghoppers pants I thought were awesome, breath really well, fit well, served their purpose. I order them on the assumption lets see how this guy designed a pair of pants and the quality, the passed.
• La Sportiva Trango, no issues until the very end but that could have been because it was a 16 mile day with 40lbs, paws were a little sore but they were awesome.
• Food consumed, 3 power bars, 3 mojo bars, 2 PB&J, all Wyoming food and I did really good had good energy levels
• For those curious in the Pack, the only thing I really left off the pack was sleeping pad.

1. REI Sleeping Bag, Kilo
2. BD Mirage tent, with poles, fly and stakes
3. Wyoming Rope (Both)
4. Med Kit
5. MH Primaloft Jacket
6. Marmot Precip Orange Jacket
7. BD gloves
8. Ragged Mountain over mittens
9. Wyoming hat
10. Alpaca Winter hat
11. Glacier glasses
12. Jet boil
13. Crampons
14. Harness
15. Climbing Helmet
16. Compass
17. Headlamp

• Mutha you need to work on the war whoop, louder, higher pitch, pretend the goats just horned you in the nuts
• I learned a lot about Pumpkins, Asparagus, strawberries, beans, crab apples, blocking weeds, raspberries, rhubarb, goats and bees
• Two years from now we will probably be hiking with a male goat could be interesting, I think it would be great to bring the goat to Galehole Hut.
• Quebec smoke still lingered in the air.
• MadDog discovered a peach tree that grows in the Vermont environment.
• Mountain water tasted better than ever!
• Post hike recovery, normal nothing feels sore.
• Lincoln, NH is a ghost town at 5.45pm on a Wednesday

Norcross Pond Camping

Finally got a chance to try out the tent I got from the PM.  Took Jake & Spanky w/ me on their first backpack overnight.  We didn't hit the trail until 3pm yesterday, so we hiked in 2.5 hours to where Norcross Pond dumps over the cascades down toward Carrigain Notch.  We camped in a sweet spot in the fir trees.  It dropped to about 45° - easily manageable, but it meant packing up in the morning at 6am wearing fleece, wool tights under pants and a hat.  Then disrobing in stages - eventually in shorts in t-shirt by 8am.  Pictures Here.


Notes for the future Mutha:

1. The lid on the jetboil has a purpose.  It keeps all that sputtering of rapidly boiling water from shooting out all over the place.  Use it for that.
2. A little LED light hung from the dome destroys night-vision and in the middle of the night, is a mistake to suddenly turn on to figure out why the hell Spanky is sleeping on your head.  Put red taillight-repair tape over it before the next outing.
3. Only bring mess-kit gear that matches the menu.  A corollary to this rule is:  almost everything can be eaten out of a mug.
4. Okay, I see why my old sleeping bag (my first, from back in '81) sucks.  It's warm - that's fine - but it has never been washed.  It weighs about 5 lbs (maybe 4) and compressed down to the size of a motorcycle helmet (w/ visor).  If it weren't for my support of Leave-No-Trace I would've left the thing in the woods.
5. Do a gear check PRIOR to leaving.  Did you really need 500' of paracord?  Can't that med-kit be trimmed a little (50 ibuprofen?  really?  If MadDog's not along for the pain-train, skip all the extras)
6. Only bring strike-anywhere matches if you also bring the strike-strip from the box.  They suck really bad on rough stone.  Glad I had a flint stick AND a lighter.
7. The vaseline/cotton fire starter is THE BALLS!  One freaking spark and WHOOOOSH!
8. A nearly bald Jack Russell can be warmed in front of a campfire.  Consider camping only in places that allow campfires, like last night.  It made a little cold dog veeerrrrry happy.
9. Backpacker's Pantry brand dehydrated meals aren't bad, but eating Kung Pow Chicken 2 years after the expiration date wasn't smart.  Taste wise, I would've gotten the same thing by dumping a handful of peanuts in Ramen Noodles.
10. Consider Ramen when camping.  I wonder if it's possible to get some kind of dehydrated beans for flavor/interest.