Training Log Archive: Sandy

Hike up Mt. Parnassus.

About a mile in Bennett wondered if I'd be interested in going up a different way than normal and he pointed out a route that went sort of straight up as opposed to around the big bowl and up the ridge on the trail. I said sure, sounded good to me. So off we went. It was pretty open so easy to see where we were going. I suggested contouring around just a bit so we didn't have to climb down from where we were to get across the reentrant and that's what we did (right around 11,000 feet). The next 1000 feet of climb were fine, zigzagging a bit but mostly heading up the nose. We were above tree line but the ground was mostly grass and the footing good.

And then it got interesting. We started hitting all these rock screes. Some were made of biggish rocks, others were more like loose gravel. At first we tried to go around or quickly across them and find the grassy bits. Then it got really steep and I found that I actually liked the biggish rocks better because by that point I was climbing using my hands and the big rocks gave me something to grab on to. So I got used to walking tilted in to the mountain with one hand grabbing on to the rocks to steady myself. I'm not leaning in a whole lot - things were that steep that just putting my arm out I'm practically touching the side - and I was still pretty much upright. And then it got steeper. So I decide to climb on all fours. This actually made it so I could go faster because I just went straight up instead of zigzagging. And so I climbed another 1000 feet scrambling up rocks for the most part. And after lots of huffing and puffing - and being glad of all the double stair workouts I've been doing - made it up the steep part. The last little bit to the very top was a stroll which was good because the views were phenomenal and I could look around and appreciate it. On the way up I had to focus entirely on where I was putting my hands and feet and didn't look around much.

It turns out that the way we went up was shielded from the wind. Once up top though, it was blowing pretty hard. I started to get cold fast and so we only stayed on the summit for a few minutes. We went down the way most people go up and the wind was just crazy. I wanted to stop and eat but there was no place to stop that was sheltered so we went down quite a ways before I felt like I'd be warm enough. I finally just lay down in the open grass with the sun shining on me and felt warm enough to stop and eat and enjoy the views some more.

And then it was just hard work to get down without destroying my knees. My arms were very tired from putting so much weight on the trekking poles but without them I'd probably have taken three times as long to get down.

All in all a very successful weekend. I had no trouble with altitude that I could tell - no headache, dizziness, shortness of breath. I was huffing and puffing while climbing, but any time I would stop to rest, I would recover quickly. Granted Kilimanjaro is another 6000 feet up, but the only way I'll find out how I do there is to go!

C • Super - what's the altitude there? 10

Hiking at around 9000 feet to see if it had any affects on me. No headache or anything. Knees held up fine too. Again, forgot to start the watch right away.

A quick afternoon hike to stretch my legs after the plane ride and to get acquainted with the guide, Bennett, and I suppose for him to suss out my fitness level, etc. He was a pretty cool guy, had lots of interesting information and inspired confidence.

It was raining lightly and everything was fogged in. Could have been anywhere. Forgot to start the Garmin until we got up on top of the mesa.

Another day of putting out stakes. About 2 hours in I realized I wasn't having fun. First time that's happened while working on this event. Guess I need a break. About 3 hours in I decided that was enough and just headed in instead of finishing the intended loop.

The woods are opening up nicely. Should be pretty fast come November.

It is hard to stay positive sometimes. I just had to cancel a credit card because someone had obtained the information and was making fraudulent charges and then I get a very real looking email saying there was a problem with my bank account and asking me to call a number to resolve it. At first I was worried it was somehow related to my credit card issue but luckily bells went off and I checked on-line and it was a scam. At least I had the smarts not to open the attachment. Sooner or later though I'm sure I won't be careful enough. It's depressing.

C • Glad the CC companies cooperate 5

I stayed on my own property today!

Stair repeats plus all the arm strength parts of the RTP. Was listening to an audiobook and the time went fast.

Putting out stakes at FCN, collecting streamers of controls that did not end up getting used, doing some trail maintenance, etc. Didn't realize the time and had to cut short the planned route to get back before it started getting dark. I could have stayed out another half hour or so but not much more than that. Need to get an earlier start from now on!

The good news is that my feet feel great and my legs aren't really tired from yesterday. The bad news is the bugs are still bad and I got bit by some little gnatty thing on my ear and under my eye both of which are now puffy and swollen. Yuck. I thought the coolish weather today would make a difference - it did on feeling great out in the woods but not on the bugs. Guess we need a frost before they go away.