Training Log Archive: bl

New England Champs, Sunday at Pearl Hill SP. Gray, no sun, rare sprinkle, not hot. Energy was good, esp considering it was the day after Saturday. Brown X2, 3.9k, 12c. Lost maybe 6-7’, most on #8 and then just Palin (‘plain’ but like autofill choice, incl cap “P”) dumbness on the way to 12. No rock to speak of, the course called for contour reading with an occasional trail or hardtop road for a pickup.

Went mostly straight to most, but also seeking white or light green. The contours around #6 were hard to figure out in the press of the moment, resorted to my compass for some 30m in the right direction before I got the picture.

On the way to #8, went straight, came to the stream around the boulders, at the westmost one. Expected the path then and there but it wasn’t. Headed toward the flag and finally found the path higher up - almost indistinct in places. Saw a flag in the reentrant to the NE - the adjacent knoll looked right etc etc. Went to top and to L but did not see the flag in the green. Wyatt and Angelica Riley came & went, then Dave Hunter came. By then I was back in the reentrant. We went up & over together but about 20m apart. This time I saw the damn thing, punched and was on my way.

Saw Steve Tarry and more of Dave on 9 & 10. Was alone on #11, on top of the spur, woods became white, flag due anytime… I saw it from about 4m, blocked by a just-the-right-sized tree. From 11, I failed to hold south or a bit right, never hit the road but came to the path (through unnecessary green) which took me to the field and had to go about 60m over to the final point. Weird w/o finish chutes etc. Almost went to the refreshment area and not to the rather indistinct stand with the epunch. OK enough performance but sure would have been pleased had I seen #8 right away.

Met Sharon coming back from her run. She recounted a disastrous leg. It’s comforting to realize that even with all the experience and success, the next success is not always a given.

Thanks to NEOC for all their work.

BrownX 2 - Splits

Event: New England Championships
 

New England Champs at Willard Brook, brown X, first A meet in two years. No big mistakes, actually only one small one and 1 or 2 sub-optimal route choices. Energy seemed ok given circumstances which was pleasing. Fell a few times but in thick mt. laurel. Partly sunny, maybe mid60s. So much green on the 1/7500 version.

Lost maybe 30” on the way to #2 which was an easy point but a young man asked me if he could ask a question which served to distract tho I didn’t stop.

To 4, the final 110m from a boulder just past the trail intersection to the WSW of the flag was thick green, then the open knoll presented itself and I was home free.

#5 demanded close attention. I followed the path, keeping track of bends, to the final path turning S, but didn’t see that it continued amidst all the other black line symbols - too much detail for me to make out in the press of things. Instead, came to the flag fm the NNW under all the rock which worked. Saw Tim Parson and 2 others evidently coming fm it.

To 6, read the map, carefully noted the streams and path, kept a straight line. From the second stream, it seemed to take forever to get to the top of the knoll which was always hidden by thick green til it 'popped out'.

To 8, got on the path just S, but the knoll seemed so far along it. Finally followed Nancy D to the knoll which was visible fm maybe 40m, tho flag was not.

To 9, went left and up. Steve Tarry pointed out the low route which I didn’t see. I’m sure that was costly. The lower route had an easy approach thru white. I finally got near the end of the wall, expected to break into white & see the boulder/flag but it didn’t pan out like that. Had been moving along with Adam Caplan-Bricker who went a different way then reappeared and got to the flag a bit before me. Felt lucky to have seen the flag fm about 40 m to my right - tho I was still in almost medium green woods.

Seeing times under an hour points out how far I’ve slid in the past two years.

Really nice to see old friends. We’ve been at this sport so long. Hair color, size, shape all in slow motion…

BrownX 1 - Splits

Wander w/ W, not sure where I would come out, didn't readily recognize the area tho I mapped it once - behind Saltmarsh house, BBR as it turned out. Yellow, brown, muted green leaves.

Pawtuckaway island, cool & gray. Had the place pretty much to myself. Started/finished at the campground which I hadn't seen in years. Very attractive. Lonely in the woods which felt unfamiliar given that they hadn't been visited in years.

Single Circuit-Robinson's Crest: Started on SC but then took an old trail I hadn't been on in maybe as many as 10 yrs. Not always easy to follow but delightfully open woods, three trees with old marking tape and one place looking like the road ran thru it at one time. Eventually came out about where I thought I might.

Bear Brook with sister & Willow. Had expected to hike to the top of Bear Hill but trail closed ("ecologically sensitive area")and a new trail wound around along the base so we then made our way to Bear Hill Pond, the beach and poked around the old 4H camp, mostly consisting of deserted cabins, a foolish waste.