Training Log Archive: barb

Some of Eric's photos from Middle Earth:

Cave Stream website

broke toe

Planning ahead: Checking out the rogaine menu.

C • emu McNuggets 2

Assault on Avalanche Peak.

Assault on Avalanche Peak from Barb Bryant on Vimeo.

Phone photos; some below.

I am experiencing intense intermittent pain centered behind my lower right jaw. It is triggered by stopping hiking, and by drinking hot drinks, and maybe coming inside after being out in cool weather. It's been getting worse the last week. Sometimes it is so bad I can do nothing but sit and try to welcome it in, and sometimes my heart starts racing and I start sweating. It pretty reliably starts by about 5 minutes after I stop hiking, and can last 30 minutes. This is what it sounds like.

OK, the video of the Avalanche Peak climb is here and should be ready for viewing soon. I started up on my own, as Eric was, characteristically, working hard on organizing an adventure race which was to take place on Sunday. I chickened out partway up, and headed back down, but then Eric showed up, tow line at the ready. The towing was interesting because the trail was a lot steeper than the one before, but Eric is really really good at this, and we sailed right up.

In Arthur's Pass: a steep trail near our bach. In the morning, while Eric worked on the map for the adventure race his company is hosting on Sunday. This was a steep hike, 600m climb in not very much distance. I stopped just above treeline. Views were fantastic of course. But the views will get better with each hike, I believe. I looked out into a steep valley with snowmelt waterfalling down every cranny, and there was a rainbow down below.

Time is approximate.
Bealey Spur track. Lovely hike with great views south of Arthur's Pass National Park.
Video will be here.

Eric finished working on his map around 6pm, and then we headed out for this hike. It was recommended by the ranger I talked to earlier in the day. Weather is generally better than up in the pass or to the west, as it lies on the east side of the mountains. In Arthur's Pass today, the clouds were vying with the sun, resulting frequently in a sunshower. I bet they get those a lot.

C • Thanks for the views 8

Eric broke out the tow line for the hike up Bailey Spur. Let me tell you, it was awesome! Used correctly, it can efficiently transfer work from tower to towee. It's self-regulating: you don't have to talk (slower! faster!); you just pull more, or lean back into it. Going uphill at a fast clip, I felt I was gliding along, and felt moved to wave in a queenly fashion to all my minions. Before, I had pictured myself being dragged along like a yippy dog at the end of a leash, unable to keep my footing and bouncing from hummock to hummock. No longer. This rogaine is going to be super de luxe!

I am so doomed.
(Video uploaded 12:19pm EST; may take a few hours to finish being prepped at Vimeo.)

C • Mmmmm 8

Yesterday:

Dave: "Your mom is going to New Zealand tomorrow for the rogaine."
Isabel: "That's nice. Who are you doing it with, Mom?"
Me: "Eric Bone."
Isabel: "I don't get it. How do you get all these good orienteers to do rogaines with you?"
David: "Maybe they think you're going to be famous some day for some other reason and then they can say they rogained with you."

C • partners 4