Training Log Archive: kosmonautas

Cranberry Lake 50 Challenge

Overview

Trail rating: 5/5.

Backpacking with Jonas. The plan was to do the whole 50mi challenge in 3.5 days. We had to leave after 2.5 days with about 10 miles left. The main reason for leaving was the mosquitos. Maybe we will come back to finish the challenge another time. But what a great and brutal trip this was!

I went on this trip thinking of it as some military training, rather than a fun hike, so I was not disappointed. It was the most frustrating, difficult hike I have ever done. I really pushed to my limits. I have never hiked this far, let alone with the backpack. The backkpack was pretty light, ~20lb, but it was becomming heavier and heavier with every mile. What made the hike even harder was inability to stop and rest for more than 5 minutes, because of the mosquitos. None of us have thought of them or had any protection. They came out in the second half of the second day, when we were already in the deep woods, so we just had to push through.

Things/people/places we have encountered:

Beaver ponds and lots of mud (worst between High Falls and High Rock)

Primitive campsites on the lakes, ponds, rivers with great views

Springs

Luxury toilets all over the place

Changing scenery

The Shire

The night sounds of the Loon

Waterfalls

Cool old log machine

Trail great for backpacking/running with gentle hills

Lone man fishing in the misty lake. Al was a cool old timer, comming to the area for the past >70 years

The best dude from Otto's Abode tourist store in Wanakena, who called his wife to come from home and work in his place, so he could give us a ride to our car.

No rain, perfect temps (37-67f), but lots of hungry mosquitos

Not many hikers

Found hiking poles extremely useful

Day 1

We started the hike from the parking lot just east of Cranberry Lake town.

As a true orienteer, I started hiking on a wrong trail. After correcting the mistake, we have wasted 1 hour and walked 5.5k. Then we had to hike to the camp in the dark and we missed the sunset in lake. The camp was on the edge of the lake. The night was a bit cold, and I was worried, because I get really cold when I sleep. I had brought my new sleeping bag to test, and it was awesome. I slept like a baby and was able to recover from hiking.

Day 2

Mornings were the only time we could enjoy camping, as the mosquitos were still sleeping. Even the beginning of the hike was very pleasant, lots of ponds and great views. The later it got in the day, the worse it got. The first 20k were great, after that I was just walking in the G mode. We got more and more tired, the body was hurting more and more, and we had to hike faster and faster to runscape the vampires. I was trying to hike as far as I could, because it meant less miles the next day. Also, there was nothing to look forward to at the end of the day, besides being able to sit inside the tent away from the mosquitos.

After 33k, pain and frustration became unbearable. I was extremely tired and I started crying. That made me feel a little better. We were still a couple of miles away from the camp.

After 35k, with less than 1k left to the camp I started walking very slowly, everything was hurting so badly, I thought my knees would break. Jonas took away my backpack. That made me cry even more, not only I was still in pain, but giving up the backpack was like failing the mission. Plus, Jonas now had to carry 2 packs.

After we got to camp, I went straight to the tent. I barely ate anything, I was too tired and just wanted to go to sleep.

We met Al at the campsite, too bad I was too tired to come out to listen to his stories. He have been coming to the area for the past 74 or so years since he was 7. He catches fish for dinner, makes the fire and sleeps under the stars.

Before falling asleep I got to listen to the Loon, I don't think I have heard it before, it sounded really cool.

Day 3

I woke up feeling very well rested, and full of energy.

The lake looked really cool with all the mist. Al was fishing in his boat.

We started hiking again and I had no pain for quite some time. We have visited High Falls on the way. We found some old cool machine for logs.

Then the tough part with beaver ponds began. It was really muddy. We did not have time to stop and figure out the best way to hike through them, as the mosquitos would start eating us. So we just ran through the mud fast. The shoes got wet and we did not have a change.

The last part of the trail going to Wanakena was very green. There was a river going along for some time. It seemed like a place where hobbits would live. The end of the hike was again very painful, but the fact that it was the end made it more bearable.

We finally got to Wanakena. The closest camp was 3 miles away. I think I would have made it. I could have been ok with pain, with wet shoes, with being tired, but not with the mosquitos.

We decided to leave. There were no cabs in the town, but Otto's Abode gave us a ride to our car. I am so thankful for that, it made for the best ending possible.

Results

I have 15 mosquito bites around my left eye, and >100 bites all over my body, which will remind me about the trip for the next couple of days

I learned my limits

I learned what to bring/not to bring next time I am backpacking

Even tough I didn't get a Cranberry Lake 50 patch for completeing the challenge, I still gave myself a Tough Cookie patch

As miserable as I was during the hike, I was still able to enjoy the trip, and can't wait to be back in the woods again! (after mosquitos are gone)