Taper week leading into the Escarpment trail run.
Run Rclimb Long Lclimb Hike Hclimb OnFeet
7:00 5850 5:01 5000 4:54 1250 11:54
Date Type Time Climb (1-10) [HR] Description
23-Jul run 0:17 2 ram park
23-Jul hike 0:20 350 2 ram park
24-Jul run 0:57 350 3.5 stony brook
24-Jul hike 0:35 150 3 stony brook
25-Jul run 0:45 500 7 ram park, hard fartlek
25-Jul hike 0:51 200 2.5 ram park
26-Jul hike 2:17 500 1.5 stony brook
27-Jul hike 0:51 50 2 ram park
28-Jul off
29-Jul run 5:01 5000 8 160 Escarpment Trail Run
I posted my run report on my Escarpment trail blog.
7/22/2012
Outdoor Week Ending 7/22/12
This week started out bloody hot, and I felt like I was slogging out there. After it cooled down later in the week I felt good, and by Saturday I was ready for some harder running, out for 3 hours total, mixing hard hiking with hard running at times.
Run Rclimb Long Lclimb Hike Hclimb OnFeet
6:22 2560 1:43 1000 7:04 3120 13:26
Date Type Time Climb Effort Description
16-Jul run 1:05 300 3.5 stony brook
16-Jul hike 1:01 400 3 stony brook
17-Jul run 1:13 500 3 ram park 83f to
17-Jul hike 1:01 700 4 ram park 96f
Today wasn't as humid as the week before last's heatwave, but still pretty bloody hot. During today's 2+ hour run-hike, I was sweating at a rate of over 2.25 liters per hour, or about 4.7 pounds. Taking only 1 liter, I got back to the car pretty drained, and had to work on restoring the 11.75 pounds of water I sweated out overall. On a longer run in this kind of heat, I'd need at least 1.5 liters per hour to be able to complete a 4 hour run, and more per hour to do anything longer.
18-Jul run 0:37 140 3.5 stony brook
18-Jul hike 1:07 400 4 stony brook
19-Jul run 0:37 3 trapps loop
19-Jul hike 0:33 320 2 trapps loop
20-Jul run 1:07 620 4 ram park
Ahh, Finally a nice cool day -- 64f with a slight drizzle felt wonderful! Yes I can run up hills again and feel strong!
21-Jul run 1:43 1000 4 stony brook
21-Jul hike 1:17 800 4 stony brook
22-Jul hike 2:05 500 1.5 stony brook
Goals:
Escarpment trail run July 29th
Vermont 50 km run September 30th
(more importantly enjoy every day outside)
Run Rclimb Long Lclimb Hike Hclimb OnFeet
6:22 2560 1:43 1000 7:04 3120 13:26
Date Type Time Climb Effort Description
16-Jul run 1:05 300 3.5 stony brook
16-Jul hike 1:01 400 3 stony brook
17-Jul run 1:13 500 3 ram park 83f to
17-Jul hike 1:01 700 4 ram park 96f
Today wasn't as humid as the week before last's heatwave, but still pretty bloody hot. During today's 2+ hour run-hike, I was sweating at a rate of over 2.25 liters per hour, or about 4.7 pounds. Taking only 1 liter, I got back to the car pretty drained, and had to work on restoring the 11.75 pounds of water I sweated out overall. On a longer run in this kind of heat, I'd need at least 1.5 liters per hour to be able to complete a 4 hour run, and more per hour to do anything longer.
18-Jul run 0:37 140 3.5 stony brook
18-Jul hike 1:07 400 4 stony brook
19-Jul run 0:37 3 trapps loop
19-Jul hike 0:33 320 2 trapps loop
20-Jul run 1:07 620 4 ram park
Ahh, Finally a nice cool day -- 64f with a slight drizzle felt wonderful! Yes I can run up hills again and feel strong!
21-Jul run 1:43 1000 4 stony brook
21-Jul hike 1:17 800 4 stony brook
22-Jul hike 2:05 500 1.5 stony brook
Goals:
Escarpment trail run July 29th
Vermont 50 km run September 30th
(more importantly enjoy every day outside)
7/16/2012
Outdoor Week Ending 7/15/12
Though my running was down this week, I just hiked when I didn't want to run because of the hot humid weather, and it will be even hotter early this week. I was also recovering from my long run at Peekamoose this week, and there's no point in beating a dead horse, especially in withering heat, when easier activity, in this case hiking, can keep you moving.
The next two weeks leading up to the Escarpment trail run will be normal, with just the last few days very easy. The plan this year as last is to enjoy the run more than try to run it hard, which means starting out conservatively trying to keep enough energy to enjoy the last quarter of the race, the ledge-laden technical finish to the course.
As far as running a race hard this year, I may do that at Vermont, or maybe not. More and more I just enjoy being outdoors doing my thing, which is combining running with hiking, more casual than strictly doing trail runs, but more fun than just hiking because I go ready to run, and can do what I want.
Run Rclimb Long Lclimb Hike Hclimb OnFeet
3:55 840 1:11 300 8:11 3520 12:06
Date Type Time climb Effort Description
9-Jul hike 0:37 20 2 new paltz rail trail
10-Jul run 0:37 160 2 ram park
10-Jul hike 1:07 500 3 ram park
11-Jul run 0:37 100 4 stony brook
11-Jul hike 0:56 400 3 stony brook
12-Jul hike 2:42 1200 3 stony brook
12-Jul run 0:53 300 3 stony brook
13-Jul run 1:11 180 2.5 ram park
13-Jul hike 1:13 600 2.5 ram park
14-Jul hike 1:03 350 1.5 ram park
15-Jul run 0:37 100 2 hook mountain
15-Jul hike 0:33 450 2 hook mountain
Goals:
Escarpment Trail run July 29th
Vermont 50 km September 30th
The next two weeks leading up to the Escarpment trail run will be normal, with just the last few days very easy. The plan this year as last is to enjoy the run more than try to run it hard, which means starting out conservatively trying to keep enough energy to enjoy the last quarter of the race, the ledge-laden technical finish to the course.
As far as running a race hard this year, I may do that at Vermont, or maybe not. More and more I just enjoy being outdoors doing my thing, which is combining running with hiking, more casual than strictly doing trail runs, but more fun than just hiking because I go ready to run, and can do what I want.
Run Rclimb Long Lclimb Hike Hclimb OnFeet
3:55 840 1:11 300 8:11 3520 12:06
Date Type Time climb Effort Description
9-Jul hike 0:37 20 2 new paltz rail trail
10-Jul run 0:37 160 2 ram park
10-Jul hike 1:07 500 3 ram park
11-Jul run 0:37 100 4 stony brook
11-Jul hike 0:56 400 3 stony brook
12-Jul hike 2:42 1200 3 stony brook
12-Jul run 0:53 300 3 stony brook
13-Jul run 1:11 180 2.5 ram park
13-Jul hike 1:13 600 2.5 ram park
14-Jul hike 1:03 350 1.5 ram park
15-Jul run 0:37 100 2 hook mountain
15-Jul hike 0:33 450 2 hook mountain
Goals:
Escarpment Trail run July 29th
Vermont 50 km September 30th
7/11/2012
Peekamoose to Neversink River
When I did this same run in April 2006, it took me 4:28, running and power hiking the steep stuff. This time I did it in 4:29, but the encouraging thing is my heart rate was 7 beats lower, at 146 in 2006 and 139 this time. This terrain closely matches much of the Escarpment trail run terrain, but it has more climb per mile, and the footing is tougher in some areas, but without the steep ledges. At about 13.5 tough Catskill hiking trail miles, with just shy of 5000 feet of climb, it tests me a little, but on the right day is loads of fun, as in this time.
First view south after climbing 2300 feet in a little over 2 miles
Topped Peekamoose reasonably well. I think my record up is 1:13
The rock marking the top of Peekamoose
In the col between Peekamoose and Table mountains
Far down into the Neversink valley, half a mile from the river
Bridge over the one of several stream beds marking the east branch of the Neversink
Returning, the first view south halfway up the trail from the Neversink to Table mountain
The second view south nearing the top of Table mountain
Locating the hidden view north from Table mountain, absent on the newest mapset, is always a bit of a challenge, because you don't see it until you're 15-20 feet away
Trail-less Catskill 3500 foot mountains: Lone, Rocky, Balsam Cap, Friday
First view south after climbing 2300 feet in a little over 2 miles
Topped Peekamoose reasonably well. I think my record up is 1:13
The rock marking the top of Peekamoose
In the col between Peekamoose and Table mountains
Far down into the Neversink valley, half a mile from the river
Bridge over the one of several stream beds marking the east branch of the Neversink
Returning, the first view south halfway up the trail from the Neversink to Table mountain
The second view south nearing the top of Table mountain
Locating the hidden view north from Table mountain, absent on the newest mapset, is always a bit of a challenge, because you don't see it until you're 15-20 feet away
Trail-less Catskill 3500 foot mountains: Lone, Rocky, Balsam Cap, Friday
Outdoor Week Ending 7/8/12
This week I did my last long run before the Escarpment trail run on July 29th. It's become tradition for me to do this route in training every year, recently the last long run before the race for specific training. This year I matched my 2006 time, though that year I ran it much earlier, in late April.
Run Rclimb Long Lclimb Hike Hclimb OnFeet
8:03 5378 3:18 3068 5:22 2768 13:26
Date Type Time Climb Effort (HR) Description
2-Jul run 1:17 660 3 121 stony brook
2-Jul hike 0:28 140 3 144 stony brook
The rocky terrain of Harriman park once again surprised me as I sat down on some rocks on the high point of the peninsula, looking down at the lake, and heard the now too familiar rattle. The rock I was sitting on had a deep concave recess under it, but I'd looked under it before sitting down. Now, backing away and bending down to look much more closely, I couldn't see the snake, but it was way down in there, this one at a very popular spot that is frequented by many people. That's my 5th rattler of the year, though I didn't see it, and I guess it's to be expected since I'm out on those particular trails a few times a week. I'm much more aware now that Harriman is literally crawling with snakes, and rattlesnakes in particular. They're not aggressive but of course they can be very dangerous. I've seen 5 right on the trails and in popular spots, and that's just a very small sampling of what must be out there in the park at large, being 8-10 miles wide and a good 25 miles long in area.
3-Jul run 0:47 400 4 ram park
3-Jul hike 0:17 100 3 ram park
4-Jul hike 2:10 500 1.5 stony brook
5-Jul run 1:07 600 4 ram park 91f
5-Jul hike 0:37 160 3 ram park
6-Jul run 0:37 3 new paltz rail trail
6-Jul hike 0:25 2 new paltz rail trail
7-Jul run 0:57 650 4 ram park, sprint at end
7-Jul hike 0:15 50 3 ram park
8-Jul run 3:18 3068 5 141 Peekamoose to
8-Jul hike 1:10 1818 5 131 Neversink River
I will post on this long run separately.
Goals:
Escarpment Trail July 29th
Vermont 50 km September 30th
Run Rclimb Long Lclimb Hike Hclimb OnFeet
8:03 5378 3:18 3068 5:22 2768 13:26
Date Type Time Climb Effort (HR) Description
2-Jul run 1:17 660 3 121 stony brook
2-Jul hike 0:28 140 3 144 stony brook
The rocky terrain of Harriman park once again surprised me as I sat down on some rocks on the high point of the peninsula, looking down at the lake, and heard the now too familiar rattle. The rock I was sitting on had a deep concave recess under it, but I'd looked under it before sitting down. Now, backing away and bending down to look much more closely, I couldn't see the snake, but it was way down in there, this one at a very popular spot that is frequented by many people. That's my 5th rattler of the year, though I didn't see it, and I guess it's to be expected since I'm out on those particular trails a few times a week. I'm much more aware now that Harriman is literally crawling with snakes, and rattlesnakes in particular. They're not aggressive but of course they can be very dangerous. I've seen 5 right on the trails and in popular spots, and that's just a very small sampling of what must be out there in the park at large, being 8-10 miles wide and a good 25 miles long in area.
3-Jul run 0:47 400 4 ram park
3-Jul hike 0:17 100 3 ram park
4-Jul hike 2:10 500 1.5 stony brook
5-Jul run 1:07 600 4 ram park 91f
5-Jul hike 0:37 160 3 ram park
6-Jul run 0:37 3 new paltz rail trail
6-Jul hike 0:25 2 new paltz rail trail
7-Jul run 0:57 650 4 ram park, sprint at end
7-Jul hike 0:15 50 3 ram park
8-Jul run 3:18 3068 5 141 Peekamoose to
8-Jul hike 1:10 1818 5 131 Neversink River
I will post on this long run separately.
Goals:
Escarpment Trail July 29th
Vermont 50 km September 30th
7/02/2012
Outdoor Week Ending 7/1/12
The year is now half over. So far 161 hours running, slightly more than planned, and 100 hours of hiking. As far as run training for races, that has really not been my goal for this year, but I'm in good shape -- still somewhat fat though! My goal has been to get out there and enjoy the wilderness as much as possible, and I've been doing that, especially with my new form of outing, the run-hike, which has been a revelation. Whereas with normal trail running there has always been some hiking for me, as in up some hills; I've now given myself license to slow down much more sometimes and it really makes a difference in terms of enjoyment.
This week I got sore knees, particularly my left knee, when doing my medium long run on Tuesday, so I backed way off when it wasn't better by Friday and just hiked very easily on the weekend.
Run Rclimb Long Lclimb Hike Hclimb OnFeet
6:27 2585 2:35 1600 6:16 2760 12:43
25-Jun run 1:09 400 6 stony brook
25-Jun hike 0:55 450 3 stony brook
Sluggish heading up the stony brook valley, then turning away to the east up the pine meadow brook valley to the lake. Switched to a run on the easy but technical climb. I had thought the thunderstorms to be over for the day -- that's why I'd waited until later to run, but no, now I heard thunder and saw dark sky to the north and west of me, moving my way as I hustled up the valley to try to outmaneuver the coming rain. It's no big deal really, I had ziplocks for the camera and phone, but who wants to get soaked on a cool day?
I was moving pretty good as very light rain started to fall, and luckily for me, just as the heavy rain hit I'd made it up to the section of the trail that passes some giant boulders, so I tucked underneath one that had a nice overhang and waited out the storm, which only turned out to be 10 minutes. I stayed a further 5 minutes while the bulk of the rain dripped out of the trees before proceeding. The two couples I'd passed on the way up must have gotten drenched. I headed up to the lake and had it all to myself, which is unusual in summer.
After enjoying the after-rain cool and stillness at the lake for a little while, I heard voices from across the lake, loud talking if not shouts really. It was clear a group was on the dirt road across the lake, and from what I could make out they were discovering the lake for the first time. Happy surprise continued to emulate from this group that made it's way around on the dirt road. As they got closer I could see it was a group of young men, 6 or 7 of them. I would pass them at some point because I was going over that way to run the black trail. I chatted with the group -- 18 year olds maybe -- and they'd come from Kakiat park at the other side of Harriman, backpacks in tow, had gotten drenched in the rains. We exchanged thoughts about the rough and difficult-to-follow kakiat trail, and I pointed the way to the better camping sites.
After that I saw nobody as I ran the black trail to white, then back down the valley on the pine meadow trail, a refreshing return to running after Sunday off, getting the legs some action.
26-Jun run 2:35 1600 5 stony brook
26-Jun hike 0:35 200 3 stony brook
I had seen on the 10-day weather that Tuesday was going to be the coolest best day for a longer run, after a good deal of heat last week, so I planned a medium-long run for today, but I couldn't decide where to run it, either at Ramapo park in NJ, or southern Harriman park, both very close drives away. I found myself heading back to Harriman for a second straight day, but the beauty of both parks is the dense local trail network.
This time at Harriman, I did a much longer loop that took me away from my most familiar trails until the very end, and the weather was perfect indeed; it was low 70s temp with a very cool breeze blowing all over, but with a hint of humidity in the air I was still sweating. Because it was cool, I just drank some extra water before heading out, then carried only a liter bottle in my trusty waist pack, along with the usual food and the new camera.
I just got the Panasonic Lumix ZS19. It has 14mp, 20x optical zoom and full HD video, but opted to forgo the GPS function that the ZS20 has, which is otherwise the same camera. I loved my Lumix ZS3 (10mp, 12x optical, 720p video) for the last 3 years, and this one is a worthy upgrade. These small point and shoots are great for having out on runs, and I do think that big SLRs will largely go away as the electronics improve. Most SLR functions of today will be squeezed into these smaller units eventually. The portability is fantastic. I saw Olympus now has a much smaller camera with interchangeable lenses now; that's the future.
I headed up the yellow trail fully following the stony brook (normally I would turn off it sooner) until I hit the Tuxedo-Mt Ivy (TMI) red trail, which I then settled in on to run east across most of Harriman park. I've done this trail a few times, but not enough to know its miles very well, and I was again surprised just how technical it is. Maybe I shouldn't have worn the Nike Skylons... I thought a few times, but it was dry at least today, so the lightweight road trainers did ok for me. I just had to pay a bit more attention to my foot-plants -- for the whole run really.
The TMI trail is a great run, and I was on it for the better part of an hour before I started looking for the Suffern-Bear mountain yellow trail (SBM). The first time I came out this way I'd blown right past the trail junction, even though it's marked on the rocks, you just don't see the trail very clearly, so I was vigilant -- it was later in the day and I was at the farthest away point of my run. I always try to have a map with me on these longer runs, and I was checking the map to the features around me. The big swamp to the right signaled the trail junction would come soon so I became more aware.
I saw up ahead a few motley-looking guys standing around a fire, and it turned out they were right at the trail junction. Not the place to make a fire I thought, as I rounded them to turn right onto the SBM trail. Camping? No, just hanging out they responded to. Its funny what and who you find out there sometimes. You wonder a little what people make of you as you trail run -- I headed away from them on one of the nastiest parts of the SBM, hopping across very large boulders and disappearing over a small ridge. I can't help but think sometimes and so I thought as I ran away from them: they thought they were badass being out here making a fire on the trail with the day waning, and this guy (me) comes from the west, deep from the heart of the park, and turns south on the most rugged trail, taking it with ease, like a wild animal. No, thank you boys, I'm the badass out here! So goes the ego at times...
Indeed you never know what you'll find, as I found shortly when heading up a rocky outcropping: an immature timber rattlesnake, it's black skin only slightly showing signs of the more tan colors it will mature into. I saw it easily, and half expected to see one today, with very cool nights and a cool day, it made perfect sense it was sunning itself in the early evening sun. I'm sure it was loving these longest of days as much as I was, but it did start to rattle at me as I took out my camera. Sheesh! All the low shrubbery I had run through, and would have to run through later. Thankfully I've only seen and heard snakes mostly in more open areas, and this was about the 10th snake and 4th rattler I'd seen this year. I didn't tell my girlfriend about this one though.
Finally I came to the view spot looking down the eastern escarpment of the park, and stopped to eat. From there it was a very rough rocky run with a nasty descent until you meet up with the eastern side of the Pine Meadow (PM) red trail, which runs along with the SBM for a while, making it a can't miss junction, which is nice when you're tired and the light is starting to fade.
Once on the PM trail it's smooth sailing on more familiar ground for me, but still it's a pretty technical trail all the way back across the park, with only the SBM taking the technicality to another level. I felt good and ran hard today, enjoying the cooler temps and doing some challenging trails.
27-Jun run 0:43 160 3 ram park
27-Jun hike 0:42 500 3 ram park
28-Jun run 1:13 225 4 142 stony brook
28-Jun hike 1:03 470 2 118 stony brook
29-Jun run 0:47 200 4 ram park
29-Jun hike 1:01 400 2.5 ram park
My left knee got very sore after Tuesday's run, so I decided to let it rest over the weekend, and not run, but easy hiking was fine.
30-Jun hike 0:57 400 1 ram park
1-Jul hike 1:03 340 1.5 ram park
Here's photos from the week, including a video of the immature rattlesnake I saw!
Monday I hide under a giant rock when it rained for 10 minutes.
Tuesday, yet another rattlesnake, fourth one of the year.
The Video:
View from the eastern escarpment at Harriman.
Later in the week at Ramapo Park, NJ, facing NYC.
Freedom tower at 20x optical zoom, ~25 miles away as the crow flies.
At 40x zoom.
This week I got sore knees, particularly my left knee, when doing my medium long run on Tuesday, so I backed way off when it wasn't better by Friday and just hiked very easily on the weekend.
Run Rclimb Long Lclimb Hike Hclimb OnFeet
6:27 2585 2:35 1600 6:16 2760 12:43
25-Jun run 1:09 400 6 stony brook
25-Jun hike 0:55 450 3 stony brook
Sluggish heading up the stony brook valley, then turning away to the east up the pine meadow brook valley to the lake. Switched to a run on the easy but technical climb. I had thought the thunderstorms to be over for the day -- that's why I'd waited until later to run, but no, now I heard thunder and saw dark sky to the north and west of me, moving my way as I hustled up the valley to try to outmaneuver the coming rain. It's no big deal really, I had ziplocks for the camera and phone, but who wants to get soaked on a cool day?
I was moving pretty good as very light rain started to fall, and luckily for me, just as the heavy rain hit I'd made it up to the section of the trail that passes some giant boulders, so I tucked underneath one that had a nice overhang and waited out the storm, which only turned out to be 10 minutes. I stayed a further 5 minutes while the bulk of the rain dripped out of the trees before proceeding. The two couples I'd passed on the way up must have gotten drenched. I headed up to the lake and had it all to myself, which is unusual in summer.
After enjoying the after-rain cool and stillness at the lake for a little while, I heard voices from across the lake, loud talking if not shouts really. It was clear a group was on the dirt road across the lake, and from what I could make out they were discovering the lake for the first time. Happy surprise continued to emulate from this group that made it's way around on the dirt road. As they got closer I could see it was a group of young men, 6 or 7 of them. I would pass them at some point because I was going over that way to run the black trail. I chatted with the group -- 18 year olds maybe -- and they'd come from Kakiat park at the other side of Harriman, backpacks in tow, had gotten drenched in the rains. We exchanged thoughts about the rough and difficult-to-follow kakiat trail, and I pointed the way to the better camping sites.
After that I saw nobody as I ran the black trail to white, then back down the valley on the pine meadow trail, a refreshing return to running after Sunday off, getting the legs some action.
26-Jun run 2:35 1600 5 stony brook
26-Jun hike 0:35 200 3 stony brook
I had seen on the 10-day weather that Tuesday was going to be the coolest best day for a longer run, after a good deal of heat last week, so I planned a medium-long run for today, but I couldn't decide where to run it, either at Ramapo park in NJ, or southern Harriman park, both very close drives away. I found myself heading back to Harriman for a second straight day, but the beauty of both parks is the dense local trail network.
This time at Harriman, I did a much longer loop that took me away from my most familiar trails until the very end, and the weather was perfect indeed; it was low 70s temp with a very cool breeze blowing all over, but with a hint of humidity in the air I was still sweating. Because it was cool, I just drank some extra water before heading out, then carried only a liter bottle in my trusty waist pack, along with the usual food and the new camera.
I just got the Panasonic Lumix ZS19. It has 14mp, 20x optical zoom and full HD video, but opted to forgo the GPS function that the ZS20 has, which is otherwise the same camera. I loved my Lumix ZS3 (10mp, 12x optical, 720p video) for the last 3 years, and this one is a worthy upgrade. These small point and shoots are great for having out on runs, and I do think that big SLRs will largely go away as the electronics improve. Most SLR functions of today will be squeezed into these smaller units eventually. The portability is fantastic. I saw Olympus now has a much smaller camera with interchangeable lenses now; that's the future.
I headed up the yellow trail fully following the stony brook (normally I would turn off it sooner) until I hit the Tuxedo-Mt Ivy (TMI) red trail, which I then settled in on to run east across most of Harriman park. I've done this trail a few times, but not enough to know its miles very well, and I was again surprised just how technical it is. Maybe I shouldn't have worn the Nike Skylons... I thought a few times, but it was dry at least today, so the lightweight road trainers did ok for me. I just had to pay a bit more attention to my foot-plants -- for the whole run really.
The TMI trail is a great run, and I was on it for the better part of an hour before I started looking for the Suffern-Bear mountain yellow trail (SBM). The first time I came out this way I'd blown right past the trail junction, even though it's marked on the rocks, you just don't see the trail very clearly, so I was vigilant -- it was later in the day and I was at the farthest away point of my run. I always try to have a map with me on these longer runs, and I was checking the map to the features around me. The big swamp to the right signaled the trail junction would come soon so I became more aware.
I saw up ahead a few motley-looking guys standing around a fire, and it turned out they were right at the trail junction. Not the place to make a fire I thought, as I rounded them to turn right onto the SBM trail. Camping? No, just hanging out they responded to. Its funny what and who you find out there sometimes. You wonder a little what people make of you as you trail run -- I headed away from them on one of the nastiest parts of the SBM, hopping across very large boulders and disappearing over a small ridge. I can't help but think sometimes and so I thought as I ran away from them: they thought they were badass being out here making a fire on the trail with the day waning, and this guy (me) comes from the west, deep from the heart of the park, and turns south on the most rugged trail, taking it with ease, like a wild animal. No, thank you boys, I'm the badass out here! So goes the ego at times...
Indeed you never know what you'll find, as I found shortly when heading up a rocky outcropping: an immature timber rattlesnake, it's black skin only slightly showing signs of the more tan colors it will mature into. I saw it easily, and half expected to see one today, with very cool nights and a cool day, it made perfect sense it was sunning itself in the early evening sun. I'm sure it was loving these longest of days as much as I was, but it did start to rattle at me as I took out my camera. Sheesh! All the low shrubbery I had run through, and would have to run through later. Thankfully I've only seen and heard snakes mostly in more open areas, and this was about the 10th snake and 4th rattler I'd seen this year. I didn't tell my girlfriend about this one though.
Finally I came to the view spot looking down the eastern escarpment of the park, and stopped to eat. From there it was a very rough rocky run with a nasty descent until you meet up with the eastern side of the Pine Meadow (PM) red trail, which runs along with the SBM for a while, making it a can't miss junction, which is nice when you're tired and the light is starting to fade.
Once on the PM trail it's smooth sailing on more familiar ground for me, but still it's a pretty technical trail all the way back across the park, with only the SBM taking the technicality to another level. I felt good and ran hard today, enjoying the cooler temps and doing some challenging trails.
27-Jun run 0:43 160 3 ram park
27-Jun hike 0:42 500 3 ram park
28-Jun run 1:13 225 4 142 stony brook
28-Jun hike 1:03 470 2 118 stony brook
29-Jun run 0:47 200 4 ram park
29-Jun hike 1:01 400 2.5 ram park
My left knee got very sore after Tuesday's run, so I decided to let it rest over the weekend, and not run, but easy hiking was fine.
30-Jun hike 0:57 400 1 ram park
1-Jul hike 1:03 340 1.5 ram park
Here's photos from the week, including a video of the immature rattlesnake I saw!
Monday I hide under a giant rock when it rained for 10 minutes.
Tuesday, yet another rattlesnake, fourth one of the year.
The Video:
View from the eastern escarpment at Harriman.
Later in the week at Ramapo Park, NJ, facing NYC.
Freedom tower at 20x optical zoom, ~25 miles away as the crow flies.
At 40x zoom.
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