Solstice Slog thoughts. 30 miles with the Eire loop ... if we take that out, it is 20. Thinking December 21. Probably start at my place, around 10, head north to Eire, then over to Louisville. Then back to Broomstock for BC. Back to my place for grilling, eats, showers and crashing out for anyone who needs it.
Backpacking thoughts: The CT section (6) I am scheming on for a Scouting / daughter and her crew (could be one or two trips) goes from Kenosha to Breck in 32.9 miles. That would probably be a 3 or 4 day trek with the kids. I like it as it gives me lots of options to get kids out if things are not going well, is not too high, is easily accessible from both ends, and then we can add on after refueling in Breck. The add on is what I am still unsure of. Do I continue on the CT / CDT to Copper or do we start that way and then head south down the Wheeler Trail. I have not quite been able to completely determine where the Wheeler would dump me or if we could use it or some offshoot of it to head over to Fairplay.
Cold this AM.
Okay, not quite that cold on my run. It was +4. Amazingly my legs did not feel completely thrashed this AM from yesterday’s weight work. I got out in the afternoon. My left Achilles is still a bit tight from how I landed funny on it the other day. That, the back, the cold … just a relaxing slow short run. 5.7 miles, at 9+ minute pace. Quite the frosty beard when I finished. Cold enough that the iPhone just turned off involuntarily. Of course my first world problem was put into a natural perspective as I watched a coyote jaunt across the golf course eyeballing me.
Thinking about XC, here is an old school vid.
Hokas. Not a shoe for everyone. And that is okay.
Man, the Porter interview brought back some great memories. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeletePorter was the guy when I was in HS. Just other worldly at that time.
DeleteHad a Porter poster on my bedroom wall during high school. He was the man back then!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I had a pic of him in my HS locker, killing it on the dunes. You could see every piece of sinew in his calves.
DeleteYou could start your CT hike from the campground below Kenosha Pass, which will save you 4-5 miles (mostly downhill), which you could then add back for the cruise over to Copper.
ReplyDeleteCool. Part of what is in the mix (among several things) is getting 50 miles in ... why? Cuz there is a Scout patch for that.
DeleteThat's exactly right, Hokas are not for everyone.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find interesting is even scientists can surprise you sometime - notice that lady's comment from the Harvard Medical School at the very end: "These shoes don't teach you that. As the cushioning wears out after 200 or 300 miles, the aches and pains will start." That's absolutely not true, and in fact most people report taking these shoes into the several hundred mile range. So the question is, why would she make an opinionated statement like that with no supporting facts? Has she tried the shoes herself? Its people like that in a variety of fields who are bought by commercial interests who give science a bad name.
I rolled my eyes at that. Every shoe goes bad at 200 miles. Just ask the guy at the shoe store.
DeleteWith the Hokas I find the upper tend to go a bit more quickly than the outers but I have thrashed some out soles with runs like burro races or Pikes.
What about going from Breck to Camp Hale on the CT? It's about 38 mi with a refuel in Copper? You could continue to Tennessee Pass for an extra 6 mi. Lots of great camping options. I didn't care for the 14 mile stretch from Georgia Pass to Breck. Lots of beetle killed trees with little shade and poor camping.
ReplyDeleteWoody I have your posts over the last couple of days "chambered" for the reading. I got through the first (pre) post and the first day ... have to catch up on the rest. Really digging it and has me recalling days on the AT when I lived back east.
DeleteThanks for the tip on Gpass to Breck. Part of the rationale on this section is easy access to get kids out if necessary. I will certainly consider the Breck to Hale segment ... (looking at the book later tonight) THanks.