Discussion: Blue Hills Traverse

Always an event I look forward to, even though many times I don't make it because of the long drive. But it certainly will be something to celebrate next November. Thanks for all the time you put into it!

The Traverse is possibly my least favorite meet of the year. And yet I keep coming back.

In the process of consolidating households, I have produced a good-sized box of disposable eating stuff (plastic utensils and I think bowls and plates), all new and unused. Can I hand them of to you for club use at some point, Jeff?

The Traverse is possibly my least favorite meet of the year. And yet I keep coming back. 28 of them under my belt, I think.

In the process of consolidating households, I have produced a good-sized box of disposable eating stuff (plastic utensils and I think bowls and plates), all new and unused. Can I hand them of to you for club use at some point, Jeff?

One of my favorite events, mostly because of the social aspect of a mass-start plus the physical challenge of the course. It's an end of O season ceremonial not to be missed. Has created lots of memories over the years, good and bad! Thanks for keeping it going over so many years!

It is often an opportunity for Ernst and me (and Dean) to wish each other Happy Birthday!

I miss the Traverse. I don't miss last year's weather (the worst since the Ponkapoag one?--but I have missed quite a few Traverses so am not the best to judge). You questioned at the start whether I was sufficiently clothed. I said I'd be fine. I was wrong. I finished chilled to the bone, not quite in serious hypothermia territory but getting close--if I'd had an injury, it could have been bad.

But in spite of that, I generally have positive Traverse memories, topped by the three times I did it with my children in turn, each in the year they turned 11. My grandchild will turn 11 in 8 years, the Traverse might be a major challenge for both of us at that point. And after that, there is another grandchild scheduled to arrive in June, so his/her Traverse would ostensibly be 2032 and I'll be approaching the age at which you were hoping that a certain senior NEOCer would be sensible enough to not attempt the traverse. Hopefully by then someone else will have filled your shoes and have to worry about too-old people traversing. Wouldn't count on me being sensible.

There have been quite a few people for us traversers to be grateful to over those 49 years, but for the past 3 or 4 decades, mainly you. Thanks!

Orienteering on a low quality map of Blue Hills East through greenbriar in a drenching rain and a howling wind with the temperature just above freezing is almost as bad as not orienteering at all.

But not quite. In fact, not even close. The thing that keeps me away from running on BHE (even in drenching rain) is the part about driving 2 hrs + each direction. The ride back in the dark or near-dark is a bit too much for me these days.

But , if the map were perfect, the weather warm and sunny, and the woods clear of vegetation, what a boring story that would be.