Training Log Archive: iansmithIn the 1 days ending Aug 30, 2015:
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Sunday Aug 30, 2015 #
10 AM
Hiking 1:00:00 [1] 11.51 km (5:13 / km) +1603m 3:04 / km
shoes: 201506 Asics Fuji Attack 4
Lori and Sam are in town, and they orchestrated a group hike in the Whites. In attendance were Katia, Giovanni, Pia, Leszek, Sam's friend Steven, Dave Yee, Geoff, and the Swedish exchange student, Isaac. The group ascended Mt. Washington either via Tuckerman's or the Boott Spur, and we descended via Clay, Sphinx, and Great Gulf. I diverged from the group and ran alone to the nearby Mt. Munroe on the ascent (total ascent time 4:30).
We departed Boston at about 5:15, and started hiking around 9 AM. Ultimately, we didn't arrive at the parking lot by the Great Gulf trailhead until 9:50 PM; fortunately, we had adequate flashlights (with cell phones in reserve) that the trek out was not unreasonably dangerous.
So what happened? I think three factors contributed to our unexpected adventure: 1) the group had a wide range of hiking speeds, and it was difficult to accurately estimate how long it would take us to travel to certain points. A group of eleven also moves slower than any one person in that group because of yo-yoing and congestion on delicate sections. 2) Great Gulf (and Sphinx, especially) was treacherous, slick, and laden with deadfall. We departed Clay before 4:30, and it took over 5.3 hours for us to descend to the parking lot. In 2014, bgallup and I made the descent - while hiking leisurely, in daylight - in about three hours. 3) We didn't set sufficiently aggressive deadlines, nor did we move with much urgency. I reached the summit of Washington at about 1:30, and my group preceded me somewhat. As I recall, we didn't set out from Washington until about 2:20. Part of that was underestimating the 10 km Great Gulf trail.
Logistics are harder with a group. I've done much of my hiking/trail running lately solo, and as I'm always the limiting factor, I can go as hard as I'm capable. Traveling with a group is great fun - for instance, I chatted with Isaac about the four Tiomilas he's run and neat orienteering opportunities in the US while he's here - but invariably slower.
I felt very strong throughout the trek, and my equipment was perfectly adequate, with 3L of fluid, over a thousand calories of munchies, the standard emergency gear, and a headlight. For most of Great Gulf, I elected to hike at the back of the group - as our group stretched between intermittent regrouping periods, it gave me peace of mind that no one had been injured far in the rear. It's a little frustrating to take so long on what would have been more straightforward alone; still, it was a very pleasant outing, with great conditions, good conversation, and very good spirits even at the end. I added Munroe and Washington to my list of 4000ers.
We departed Boston at about 5:15, and started hiking around 9 AM. Ultimately, we didn't arrive at the parking lot by the Great Gulf trailhead until 9:50 PM; fortunately, we had adequate flashlights (with cell phones in reserve) that the trek out was not unreasonably dangerous.
So what happened? I think three factors contributed to our unexpected adventure: 1) the group had a wide range of hiking speeds, and it was difficult to accurately estimate how long it would take us to travel to certain points. A group of eleven also moves slower than any one person in that group because of yo-yoing and congestion on delicate sections. 2) Great Gulf (and Sphinx, especially) was treacherous, slick, and laden with deadfall. We departed Clay before 4:30, and it took over 5.3 hours for us to descend to the parking lot. In 2014, bgallup and I made the descent - while hiking leisurely, in daylight - in about three hours. 3) We didn't set sufficiently aggressive deadlines, nor did we move with much urgency. I reached the summit of Washington at about 1:30, and my group preceded me somewhat. As I recall, we didn't set out from Washington until about 2:20. Part of that was underestimating the 10 km Great Gulf trail.
Logistics are harder with a group. I've done much of my hiking/trail running lately solo, and as I'm always the limiting factor, I can go as hard as I'm capable. Traveling with a group is great fun - for instance, I chatted with Isaac about the four Tiomilas he's run and neat orienteering opportunities in the US while he's here - but invariably slower.
I felt very strong throughout the trek, and my equipment was perfectly adequate, with 3L of fluid, over a thousand calories of munchies, the standard emergency gear, and a headlight. For most of Great Gulf, I elected to hike at the back of the group - as our group stretched between intermittent regrouping periods, it gave me peace of mind that no one had been injured far in the rear. It's a little frustrating to take so long on what would have been more straightforward alone; still, it was a very pleasant outing, with great conditions, good conversation, and very good spirits even at the end. I added Munroe and Washington to my list of 4000ers.
2 PM
Hiking 1:00:00 [1] 13.91 km (4:19 / km) +73m 4:12 / km
shoes: 201506 Asics Fuji Attack 4
Washington to Clay and down via Great Gulf; total time of about 7:20.