7/2/11 Parker Mountain Backpack

7/2/11

I got to the trailhead for the Carter Smith Tr. around 2pm. I put on my heavy backpack and started to head up Parker Mountain.

The trail starts off easy, then becomes steep and eroded. It took a little while to get use to carrying a heavy pack again.

Heading up the trail, I saw the downed tree that points to a lookout. From the lookout I could see Blue Job Mountain. At the lookout there was a cross with plastic ivy on it. I wondered if someone got hurt.

After leaving the lookout, I started to climb again. Soon I saw the faded path on the left that leads to my campsite from last year.

I set up my tent and checked out the views. I could see Blue Job again.

I grabbed my pack and continued towards the summit.

After some more climbing, it levelled off. Then I was at a clearing with great views. I could see the smoke stacks in Newington but it wasn't clear enough to see the Atlantic Ocean.

I found a few wild blueberries, Yum!

There were a few more ups and downs before I reached the summit cairn on Parker Mountain.

I took my pack off and took a break. After some GORP, I headed back down.

When I got back to the tent, I filled my Therm a rest and organinzed inside the tent.

I found a flat rock a little ways from my tent. This will be my kitchen for this evening

I started to boil water for 4 cheese lasagna from Hamburger Helper, minus the hamburger. I added the powdered milk to the boiling water. Soon it overflowed and spilled all over the place. I put in the pasta and sauce mix and mixed it. I had to add more water so it would cook. 10 minutes later, it was done. It wasn't bad but it burned to the bottom of the pan.

After dinner, I cleaned up the kitchen. Since I couldn't find water and I didn't have enough water to clean the pan, I brought it down to my truck, since I didn't want to store it and have a bear for an after dinner guest. The truck was only a 1/2 mile away.

After I came back to the tent, I changed my clothes and hung out in the tent.

6:11pm. Hopefully it will not be a long night.

7/3/11

I had a rough night trying to sleep. I left the sleeping bag at home and I wanted to try sleeping on the Therm a rest with a pillow and blanket. I read "The Appalachian Trail Backpacker" and went out a few times to roam the area.

I read until 9pm and blew out the candle lattern.

Fireworks, motorcycles, and dogs kept me up for quite a while. I was able to sleep on and off until around 3am. Then I set my alarm for 4 to get up.

At 4am, I was up and wide awake.

I organized inside the tent, then went out and started up the stove. As the water started to boil for my oatmeal and java, my headlamp died. I went into the tent and got my candle lattern.

From the ridge where I camped, the views were to the east. The sun was rising as I put my tent into its stuff sack.

I loaded up my backpack and headed down.

5:30am. Cool! I can go home and make pancakes!

This was an excellent warm-up backpacking trip. I learned a few things to do and not to do for next time, Vermont!

http://community.webshots.com/album/580454488wzuGcM

6/25/11 Aggieman Triathlon

I woke up @ 4am to finish getting ready for Aggieman. Jenifer got up a little later and we left and got to the Eliot Boat Basin before 6am.

We dropped the kayak off near the boat dock, then I parked the truck. We were the 1st ones there.

While I was doing my Drill Sets, I heard thunder off in the distance. Soon it was over us thundering and raining.

I went and did my 16" warm-up run, then headed over to registration to get my timing chip and body marked.

Then while I was setting up my bike trainer, a person from Aggieman annouced that the kayak was going to be cancelled due to the weather. "Great" If that was the case, we would do a duathlon or the race would be cancelled.

While I was warming up on the bike trainer, Ed Harvey (Race Director) announced that the weather is going to clear up but he wanted to wait a while before he decided if we were going to kayak.

My support, Jenifer, had to go to the 7:30am support crew meeting.

Just as she started heading over, Ed said that we were going to kayak but was going to start the race a little later.

At 7:50, Ed had a pre-race meeting on the beach. He said that the kayak was a go and the men were going to start at 8:11 and the women at 8:14. After the meeting, all the men got in their kayaks and headed out to the start line.

I've only kayaked a few times before the race and I was nervous.

Ed stood on the beach and he was the start line.

"1 minute to go. 30 seconds. 15 seconds. GO!

I started to paddle and shortly after I watched everyone pull ahead of me.

The kayak course was to go around an island, then head back to the finish. There were 3 of us bringing up the rear.

Halfway to the finish line, a few women passed me.

When I got out of the kayak, I had to run up the stairs to T1.

I had to take off my life vest and Teva's when I got to my bike. I forgot to wipe my feet off and when I did a flying mount, I had grass and small pebbles in my bike shoes.

Due to the rain, the bike course was slippery.

Halfway through the 25 mile bike course, it started to rain. Then it started to rain hard.

I stood up on the pedals to stretch my legs. When I raised my heels for a calf stretch, my left calf cramped up and almost knocked me over. I slowed down a little and most of it went away.

I didn't have a problem with the rain but when I was going fast on a curvey section of Josiah Norton Rd., I almost lost it.

Soon I was getting close to T2. It was a bit deceptive because I started passing parked cars on the right, but T2 was way ahead of me.

I didn't see my truck parked on the road and I got a little nervous. "Did Jenifer make it?"

Just before T2, I saw my truck, YES!

When I dismounted, Jenifer was there with my transition towel and Zoot visor and Kapilani's. It was a good thing she was there. My feet were numb and she had to hold me up while I attempted to put my Zoots on.

I finally got them on, then I headed down the dirt road. I started off slow because my left calf was still hurting. Soon I picked up the pace.

Once I got on the Cedar Brook Tr., I got a hamstring cramp on my left leg. I had to walk until the pain subsided.

Before I turned onto the Goosefoot Tr., I saw a man standing there in a red rain coat. When I got closer, he pulled out a camera and took my picture. He was from Capstone.

It was still raining hard. I had to duck under many branches that were weighed down by the rain. I also started to feel lonely since there was noone around and I had no idea what position I was in for the race. I had to walk several sections because they were steep and slippery. Also I ran through some mud but the big puddles washed my sneaks clean.

Only 200 yards to the finish. Once I was out of the woods, I sprinted to the finish. Jenifer was there and Ed asked me if I was alright.

Jenifer got me a water and I grabbed a sandwich. We didn't stay long since we were both drenched and cold.

Even though it wasn't the best conditions for a tri. I had a great, painful time!

Thanks Ed for a great event. Thanks Steve for lending me your kayak and thanks Karen for the helpful kayak tips.

This morning I planned on doing an Aggieman Triathlon workout on the course. I checked the tides, since it's a kayak start, and low tide was at the time when I wanted to go. So I loaded up my truck with bike and kayak and drove over to Eliot Boat Basin.

Jenifer and myself got to the basin by 10am. I took my bike out of the truck (and I didn't do a warm-up ride or stretch) and got ready to go.

The 25 mile bike course starts off easy but becomes hilly. The roads are pretty messed up from last winter.

During the bike ride, I saw Jenifer a few times. She drove ahead of me and took some pictures.

While I was heading to T2, I saw Jenifer in the distance.

T2 for Aggieman is a person waiting for you to grab your bike and helmet, and they also set up for the 3 mile run up Mt. Agamenticus.

She was taking a picture so I had to set my bike down and put my run shoes on.

The first mile of the run is on a dirt road. I was pretty sore and I was running a recovery run before I hit the trails.

I took a right of the dirt road onto the Cedar Brook tr. It's flat until I got to the Goosefoot tr.

The run started to get steep. Then I had a lot of boulder hoping to do. As I got farther up the Goosefoot, I had to walk a few times.

A left onto the Ring tr. and I was almost there.

Shortly I was on Witchhazel trail for the last .2 miles to the summit (finish).

I planned on running the whole way but my legs had somthing to say about it.

I ran the last section and crossed where the finish line will be in a few weeks.

I did the bike in 1:23.41 and the run in 26.26.

It was a great workout!

2011 Triathlon Season

Here's my tentative schedule for 2011:

04/03/11 Great Bay 1/2 Marathon
05/22/11 King Pine Triathlon (state championships)
06/25/11 Aggieman Triathlon (Relay)
09/10/11 Pumpkinman Sprint Triathlon
09/11/11 Pumpkinman 1/2 Bike and Run Course Director :)
11/24/11 Portsmouth 5k Turkey Trot

I have started the Prep stage of my 6 month triathlon training. My body is a little sore from lifting weights, since I haven't in a while. Running and biking is feeling good but I definitely need to work on my swimming.

My first tri last September was the Pumpkinman Sprint. It took 2 years of training to do the swim. I did it in 15 minutes. My new goal is to do it in 7 and if I can, I have a shot at the podium.

Let the games begin.

2010 Portsmouth 5k Turkey Trot

This morning I ran the Seacoast Rotary Clubs 2nd Annual 5k Turkey Trot. We got there at 7am (too early) and got a parking spot on Pierce Island. We were the first ones there.
At 8am, I did my 15 minute warm-up run. My legs didn't feel up to it. I think I need to taper more. 2 days was not enough. When I got back, Barbara and Daisy were at the car with Jenifer, Ryan and Krista. I did my stretches and went to the start line. I was pretty far back.
At 8:30am (start time), the race hasn't started yet. When the race started, it took just under a minute to cross the start line. No PR today :(
Because there were so many people at the race (1500), I mostly walked to Marcy St.
It was crowded on Marcy St.. I ran on the sidewalk to pass people.
Heading up South St., the crowd thinned a bit. I saw Diane Jackson and said hi.
By the time we reached Middle St., there was much more room to run.
I kept looking at my heart rate monitor and stayed in the 180-185 bpm range. I picked up the pace a bit when I passed the church. When I turned right for the finish, I picked it up some more and made sure that my feet stayed under me, instead of in front of me.
It felt great crossing the finish line but I was pretty winded.
After catching my breath, we went to get some water and treats.
Overall I was 241 out of 1243. 35/129 in my age group. My pace was 7:49 (I have to check to see if that's a PR) and my total time was 24:17. Guntime was 25:11. If I started closer to the start line, my overall would have been better.
This was an excellent race to end 2010. I learned so much this year and starting in December, I will start training for the 2011 Aggieman Triathlon and the 2011 season.

9/11/2010 Pumpkinman Sprint Triathlon

I slept pretty good the night before. I was all nervous that I wouldn't sleep. My alarm was set for 5am and I woke up 15 minutes early.

I ate breakfast, got all my gear in the truck, and my parents showed up. They came from Pompey, NY to watch the triathlon.

As planned, I got to the tri at 6am. I did my warm-up drill sets, stretches,warm-up run and bike ride. I grabbed my tri bag, got body marked, and went into transition. I was on schedule.

I was surprised how small my transition area was. When I set up my bike , half my transition towel was under my front tire.

Once I set up transition, I put my wetsuit on. 7:45am, not on schedule. I was planning on getting in the water for a 15 minute warm-up swim but I was rushing to get to the pre-race meeting. I also didn't have time to study the transition area.

Walking down the hill to the swim start, the nerves started again. I saw Russ Lord down by the start and we chatted. My goggles kept fogging up.

My swim wave was 3rd. "30 seconds before the start". Deep breaths. "Go!"

I let the crowd go in first. I took my time getting in. Once I was near the first buoy, I was surprised that there were still people swimming behind me.

Between the 1st and 2nd buoys, I kept getting water in my mouth. Rounding the 2nd buoy, it seemed it took forever to reach the shore.

I made it. Now I have to run up the hill.

As I was stripping the top off my wetsuit off, I put my swim cap and goggles in my right sleeve. As I was running up the hill, they fell out. I saw the green swim cap but not the goggles. I'm not going back to find them.

Towards the top of the Hill Challenge, I started to walk.

T1 went well. Half way through the bike ride, my left calf cramped up. It was very painful and almost knocked me off my bike. I slowed down a bit and it got better.

The bike ride went well. It was my fastest time riding the Sprint course. 47 seconds and I was out of T2.

Shortly after starting the run, my calf cramped up again. Turning onto Junction Rd., the cramp was gone.

I picked it up for the last mile to the finish. Once back at Spring Hill, the adreneline kicked in. I pushed it down the hill to the finish. "Yes? I did it". Thanks to everyone that has helped me learn how to swim and train for traithlons.

1:27.10

172 out of 471

22 out of 38 age group.

142 out of 474 for the Hill Challenge.

It was a great 1st tri. I'm psyched! I'm looking forward to the 2011 season.

8/1-2/2010 Ellen, Abraham, and Mansfield Backpack/Hike

8/1/2010

I left my house at 3:45am and arrived at the Appalachia Gap in Vermont by 8am. The Long Trail (LT) crosses the road here. I geared up, put on my 48 lb pack, crossed the road and was hiking by 8:15.

The LT starts off steep. Pretty soon I had to climb up metal pipe steps and a ladder to get up the trail. Once I was a mile into the woods, I started looking for a campsite.

I couldn't find one. The woods were so dense. I thought I saw a few sites but I didn't want to tred on the fragile vegetation. Soon I was at the Spur path to Theron Dean Shelter. This is were one of my water supplies was so I checked it out. It was dry. I knew of another water site farther up the trail. I headed back to the trail and started ascending.

I climbed up a boulder and slipped. My left shin smashed on the boulder. A small flesh wound.

I was still looking for a campsite, and water. Nothing.

While I was heading up towards Stark's Nest, I saw two hikers heading towards me. I found out that one of them was thru hiking the LT and was heading north.

Soon I was at Stark's Nest ski area with a single chair lift. I can camp here. From the warming hut, I followed a road and camped on the side. I pitched my tent and I headed towards Mt. Ellen.

The trail was up and down and long. It was muddy in spots and some parts were eroded. I kept my eye out to find Holt Hollow. This is where I needed to get water. Thinking I missed it, I continued down the trail. "What does that sign say, Holt Hollow, Yes! I followed the spur trail and found a small puddle of water. I knew it was ok since I heard water trickling into it. I filled two water bottles (should of filled more) and headed back to the trail.

Once I climbed up to another ski area, I thought I went right by the summit. I ate lunch here and treated my flesh wound. Then I headed south on the LT towards Mt. Abraham.

1 minute back on the trail, Mt. Ellen. There's a small cairne on the summit in the middle of the trail.

Again, many ups and down. I met a hiker that was heading to Canada, Cool!

Now the trail got steep. Once I was at the top, I was on Mt. Lincoln. There was an observation deck on the summit and I could see Abe off in the distance.

I hiked over Baby Abe and headed down for the last climb up Mt. Abraham.

The views were great. I could see Lake Champlain and the Adirondaks Mt. Marcy to the west. I could see Mt. Ellen, Camel's Hump, Mansfield and the Jay Peaks off to the north. Looking east I saw Mt. Adams and Mt. Washington in the Whites. Killington was to the south.

Now for the hike back.

It went pretty well. I started to get tired and my left shoulder was hurting.

Once back to camp, I took a break. Then I made dinner. Hamburger Helper Stroganoff. Not good. I need to find something I can eat for dinner cold, no cooking required.

After dinner, I organized all my gear and headed into the tent for the evening.

I hiked 15.5 miles today. My plan was to hike up Camel's Hump on the next day but I don't think I could hike 25 miles round trip tomorrow. Plus in the morning I have to hike 2.5 miles down to Apps Gap. Instead, I'll head over to Mt. Mansfield tomorrow.

8/2/2010

I was surprised. I slept pretty good. I got up at 4am and wrote yesterdays trip report. Around 5am, I got up and made breakfast. After breakfast, I packed up and was on the trail by 6:15am.

My back was sore from yesterdays hike. I was surprised when I put my pack on, that if didn't hurt my back. Also yeserday when I found water, I only filtered 2 liters. I used most of it for dinner and the rest for breakfast. I had not water for the 2.5 mile descent, but I knew there was water in my truck.

I took my time on the descent. The trail was slippery and foggy. When I got to the several boulders with steel steps, I took my time and had no problems.

I saw a couple of hikers heading up to Abe. Then I hiked through a wild bluebery patch. I was able to get a couple, MMM!

Close to the trailhead, my left shoulder started to hurt again and I was feeling dehydrated.

Once back to the truck, I had water, lots of water. I had some GORP, and more water.

I'm going to drive over to Mt. Mansfield now.

On the way over, the sky was blue except over Stowe and Mansfield.

I got to the trailhead and there were many cars and people heading up the mountain. Oh well.

Since I didn't want to carry my heavy pack again, I decided to go alpine style (minimal gear). So I grabbed my fanny pack, put on the water bottle parka with a 1 liter water bottle, camera, GORP, and I put a peanut butter sandwich inside the fanny pack.

I put the fanny pack on, grabbed my LEKI Khumbu's and was on the trail. I decided to have this hike be a triathlon cross training hike, so I hiked fast up to the summit. Mt. Mansfield is 2.3 miles to the summit from Rt. 108 on the LT south.

The beginning of the trail was easy. Then it got a little steep. By the time I got near the summit, it was boulder climbing time. YES!

The scramble up to the summit was very steep in spots. It leveled off towards the summit. I made it to the summit in 1 hour and 30 minutes. There was a panoramic view but clouds covered most of the summits. I could see Jay Peak and Big Jay (on my to do list). After I ate my sandwich, I looked around a bit. I saw an airplane heading towards the summit and it was pulling a glider. Then the plane let go of the glider and I watched him turn and fly away. After that, I headed down. It took me 1 hour and 15 minutes to descend, or what I like to call "controlled falling"

This was an excellent hike. I learned so much and a few what not to do's in the future.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/578309430SUIjmi