Training Log Archive: pwentz3lIn the 11 days ending Aug 1, 2011:
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Sunday Jul 24, 2011 #
10 AM
Cycling race (RTNX) 3:48:00 [5] 15.0 mi (3.9 mph) +5200ft
shoes: Sidi Dragon 2
Started with low expectations considering the field, so we started at the back of the pack. The pack quickly went down the wrong road, stopped and turned around, so we were now at the front. For a second.... JP had a mechanical, Jeff, who is hard of hearing keeps riding.... with no map.... and the shit show begins.... We get JP repaired and we don't know where Jeff is. Ahead, behind, or off course. No real way to determine, so we plug towards the end of the section, willing to accept whatever fate comes our way. The good folks from WEDALI real him in and tell him to stop and wait. One problem solved. Now, our horse, JP has no horse like attributes. He suffers the biggest bonk I've ever seen. We know the tide will turn, but it is a slap of realism very early in the race. Jeff ends up with his pack for a bit. I am pushing both bikes as JP drags behind, no bike, no pack. We end up 25th on the end of this leg.
2 PM
Trekking race (RTNX) 28:00:00 [4] 26.0 mi (1:04:37 / mi) +5000ft 54:40 / mi
spiked:1/1c shoes: Soloman XT Wings S Lab 3
2nd leg of RTNX. We start out at a moderate pace, allowing JP to recover and hopefully we won't lose Jeff in the crowd of four.... we have to trek around a big bowl. The bowl is bushwhacking, while the rim is high alpine openness. I get to where I want to dive down the hill/cliff and head south. I was probably about 100 yards too soon. Things were going well, but we got caught up in a stream filled reentrant that proved to difficult to exit. It was full of downfall and a nice waterfall/raging stream.... Several hours to go down... We were bruised, cut, and I nearly strained my knee. This is going to be fun... We get out to our catching feature, a logging road, And find our way to the start of the real trek. There are actually teams in sight. All is not lost.
The next 3-4 k were marked with flagging tape and went pretty quick. Copper Creek was raging, all we had to do was follow the south arm until it terminated just west of the CP. Where the South arm split off, there was a log with flagging tape going to the west side, and a small trail going to the south on the east side. There was another team with us, who decided on the trail, we opted for the west and crossed the log. No trail on the west side.... we look to the east and see the team we were with eye-balling us... apparently no trail on the east side either... Thus begins an epic bush-whack, always wondering... is it easier on the other side of the creek. The next 8 k are relatively flat, rising 1000', and they are thick. Alder growing out parallel to the ground for 3-5' then turning skyward. Devil's club, a nasty plant, waiting for you to take a hand hold. We tried high and low on both sides, crossing via logs, or joining arms and wading the torrent, thigh deep, trying not to get swept down stream. We got cliffed out once pretty badly on the west side and had to do some freaky acrobatics to get down to water level again.
At one point, we decide to cross the stream using an 18" wide log about an inch above the water. It is getting sloshed, so the footing isn't secure to be sure. I cross, JP crosses, then Jeff screams "Paula!!!!". We turn to see a headlamp emerge from under the log and bob downstream!!! Paula fell in on the upstream side and was swept under the log. 100' downstream she was able to extricate herself. JP goes back over to help. I come back over and sploosh, fall in on the downstream side, managing to at least grab the log in the process. I wade over. We know have 1.5 people soaked out of the 4 of us. Luckily, the night was relatively warm, as long as you were moving. A quick change of top layers for Paula and we are on our way. Something was telling us to stay this side. We marched on until 4 AM, making marginal progress and decided that maybe a quick 45 minute nap would recharge enough for a more measured approach.
The morning finds us with much of the same.... Weeds, trees and bushwhacking. We finally reach and elevation where we get our first boulder field! Followed by even thicker alders, now on a slope, then boulders, then alder, then boulders..... finally we reach a break, no more alders, just a steep climb on bolders to the top. We find the CP, not really an issue on this course, and talk briefly with the personnel manning the point. The CP is a tent, three persons, a dog, and a campfire, all in an open treeless expanse. Not exactly an orienteers course.
What follows is a 5 mile trek to the next CP and TA. It goes without hitch (as it is a trail) except for one minor issue. This side of the mountain (we went over a pass) is also drained by a creek. As we followed the path, it came within 10' of the creek. Imagine a creek, going through a series of waterfalls (2-6' ea.), a snowbank with the path on it, sloped at a 45 degree angle toward the water with a 4' drop to the water. JP slipped, caught himself, and continued to the far side of the snow. I slipped, caught myself, got up, slipped, and zipped into the water. I caught a 4" branch to stop my movement and gain my bearings. I have all my gear, I am wet from mid-chest down, no option to get out the way I came in. Maybe there is an option downstream. Holy $$$$ The creek disappears under the snow about 50' downstream. My only option is to move left, but I know I will be swept away if I get any lower in the water to try to go under the stick I have in my hand. My only option is to inch downstream, hope it gets shallower in the direction I am headed and shoot for the opposite bank. Obviously, it all worked out in the end, but a scary moment (#2) for the team. We were able to find a stout snow bridge a quarter mile down stream and the the rest of the trek to the TA went without issue.
The next 3-4 k were marked with flagging tape and went pretty quick. Copper Creek was raging, all we had to do was follow the south arm until it terminated just west of the CP. Where the South arm split off, there was a log with flagging tape going to the west side, and a small trail going to the south on the east side. There was another team with us, who decided on the trail, we opted for the west and crossed the log. No trail on the west side.... we look to the east and see the team we were with eye-balling us... apparently no trail on the east side either... Thus begins an epic bush-whack, always wondering... is it easier on the other side of the creek. The next 8 k are relatively flat, rising 1000', and they are thick. Alder growing out parallel to the ground for 3-5' then turning skyward. Devil's club, a nasty plant, waiting for you to take a hand hold. We tried high and low on both sides, crossing via logs, or joining arms and wading the torrent, thigh deep, trying not to get swept down stream. We got cliffed out once pretty badly on the west side and had to do some freaky acrobatics to get down to water level again.
At one point, we decide to cross the stream using an 18" wide log about an inch above the water. It is getting sloshed, so the footing isn't secure to be sure. I cross, JP crosses, then Jeff screams "Paula!!!!". We turn to see a headlamp emerge from under the log and bob downstream!!! Paula fell in on the upstream side and was swept under the log. 100' downstream she was able to extricate herself. JP goes back over to help. I come back over and sploosh, fall in on the downstream side, managing to at least grab the log in the process. I wade over. We know have 1.5 people soaked out of the 4 of us. Luckily, the night was relatively warm, as long as you were moving. A quick change of top layers for Paula and we are on our way. Something was telling us to stay this side. We marched on until 4 AM, making marginal progress and decided that maybe a quick 45 minute nap would recharge enough for a more measured approach.
The morning finds us with much of the same.... Weeds, trees and bushwhacking. We finally reach and elevation where we get our first boulder field! Followed by even thicker alders, now on a slope, then boulders, then alder, then boulders..... finally we reach a break, no more alders, just a steep climb on bolders to the top. We find the CP, not really an issue on this course, and talk briefly with the personnel manning the point. The CP is a tent, three persons, a dog, and a campfire, all in an open treeless expanse. Not exactly an orienteers course.
What follows is a 5 mile trek to the next CP and TA. It goes without hitch (as it is a trail) except for one minor issue. This side of the mountain (we went over a pass) is also drained by a creek. As we followed the path, it came within 10' of the creek. Imagine a creek, going through a series of waterfalls (2-6' ea.), a snowbank with the path on it, sloped at a 45 degree angle toward the water with a 4' drop to the water. JP slipped, caught himself, and continued to the far side of the snow. I slipped, caught myself, got up, slipped, and zipped into the water. I caught a 4" branch to stop my movement and gain my bearings. I have all my gear, I am wet from mid-chest down, no option to get out the way I came in. Maybe there is an option downstream. Holy $$$$ The creek disappears under the snow about 50' downstream. My only option is to move left, but I know I will be swept away if I get any lower in the water to try to go under the stick I have in my hand. My only option is to inch downstream, hope it gets shallower in the direction I am headed and shoot for the opposite bank. Obviously, it all worked out in the end, but a scary moment (#2) for the team. We were able to find a stout snow bridge a quarter mile down stream and the the rest of the trek to the TA went without issue.