Training Log Archive: Ari-o

Trail "run" with Mel. Plan was to go up the Davis Path and maybe all the way up to treeline and then back down Eisenhower Trail (which I think I have been down, but can't remember) which would have been 27 miles, but the more likely/reasonable plan was to cut across the Isolation Trail. We got a later start, and it was spitting rain, so plan B became plan A pretty quick.

Wave at the Dindorfs on the Davis Path (they have their Biden-Harris sign trailside, and it's in Hart's Location, so expect those votes counted and reported by midnight or a couple minutes after) and then up the path, which is really quite lovely if steep. We were motoring along and got to the top of a mountain with nowhere to go, and it took us some time to realize we'd gone all the way up Mount Crawford. There is a trail sign at the junction, which is facing the dead-end path up the mountain, which is useless to anyone who hasn't already been up the mountain and ostensibly knows where the trail is. I got quite sweaty going up, which would just become wet, especially with wet trees.

Anyway, didn't see many people past the starting bit until we were close to Isolation other than a couple far more lost than us (and we got views off of Crawford, of fog). Isolation was busier, and the trail past it a string of ice water mud pits, which were not fun and the trail really could use something to keep people from widening it; the bog bridges are disintegrated and the treadway undrained. We saw several people who were coming off of Boott Spur and to a person said it was miserable above treeline. The ascent to the trail was good to get my blood flowing at least, it was cold where it was hard to move with any celerity.

So off down the Isolation Trail! The first mile was splendid: good running. The second mile had several Irene washouts which won't ever be replaced; luckily a) I know the trail and was the first to hike it post-Irene and b) there are some cairns people have built. It also got drier and the sun even peaked out. I changed to a dry top and windbreaker and was much happier. The Dry River Trail is gorgeous: in a deep valley, with the broad river carving through the middle, and some mass wasting attesting to its power during Irene. Unfortunately, that means that most of the 1800s-era logging railroad is long since obliterated and the trail is constantly climbing up and down the banks, so it is much harder than trails in, say, the Pemi. We thought there might be outdoor seating at the Moat until 5 (not sure why they don't do evening seating there outdoors) but were probably unlikely to make it.

We staggered our way down the trail; this is a trip which really knocks around the legs. But the views were amazing, some late foliage, and we didn't see anyone off the Davis Path. Finally out onto the campground and then a few miles down 302, some running involved. At the end I had a nice chitchat across the Saco with more Dindorfs, and we went to get food.

So, food: we went to the Moat expecting a long wait to be seated, indoors, covid be damned, but that we'd probably wind up at Flatbreads for takeout pizza which would be fine. We waited in line, were told it was a 45 minute wait, and then the guy said "hold on" and ushered us to two VIP seats at the bar. We don't know why, but were quite happy with this stroke of luck and ate a lot of food. The bartender asked if we were out on a long hike. "Oh, yeah, we ran up the Davis Path to Isolation, then back down the Dry River Trail" and his reaction was "oh, yeah, that is a long day" probably because a lot of "long day" people tell him they hiked up Mount Willard (or something). I think he may have comped our beers, too.

So, a good day of definitely Type 2 fun.