More home crossfit + yoga

 I did a quick WOD today just to get in some exercise, which I followed with a 25 minute stretchy yoga class. I also walked a mile, so that counts as exercise as well.  When you combine it, it's real.

The WOD for two days ago was:

40 Kettle Bell Swings

30 Box Jumps

20 Shoulder to OverHead

30 Box Jumps

40 Kettle Bell Swings

I borrowed a kettle bell from my upstairs neighbor which was 35 pounds, and for the shoulder to overhead I used my 20 pound weight. For the box jumps, I used a tree stump in the park across the street - I would say it was about a foot high. It took me about 12 minutes and 20 seconds, with several long pauses in that time for me to breathe (totally allowed).

I was thinking about going for a run, but really didn't want to, and then realized that a WOD is probably just as good, and involves less running. After, I did a yoga with Adriene that was mostly stretching and felt really good.

Tomorrow I'm actually going into work! It will be my third day since March 13. I will go in one more time this semester, but I'm thinking I may not in the spring. I thought some of my coworkers might be there too, but they aren't. And, it's so hard getting up, showering, getting in the car.... How did I used to do that every day? And, how will I do it again??

Home Crossfit after Geriatric Parkour

I signed up for parkour too late this week, and my regular class was full so I had to do the geriatric one earlier in the day. I really like the seniors ( :) ) in the class, but it's earlier in the day, a half hour shorter, and it doesn't push me as much. Going to the class I was able to see that the other class (where I am consistency one of the slower, less balanced and less sure of myself people) has really helped me to improve a lot. Yay! After class I decided that I should get in some more exercise, and since I was already warmed up, I could just WOD.

I looked at my old gym, and their WOD from yesterday was:

3 rounds

14 SA Dumbell Snatch

300 m DB carry (35 pounds)

14 SA DB Hang clean and jerk

75 double unders

I did a little modifying - I lifted 20 pounds for the snatches and clean and jerks, and the first round I carried the 20 pounds around to the front of the building and back, which is may 200 meters? After that I decided just to do 75 single unders on the jumprope in place of the double unders and DB carry. I left the "hang" off hang clean and jerk when I wrote everything down, so I did regular clean and jerks. But I did the entire workout in about 34 minutes! And, I wanted to throw up a little at a couple points. I cant say that I particularly enjoyed it, but it wasn't that bad, it only took 34 minutes, and I do feel like I had a good workout. I really need to try to WOD more often and not be lazy!

Tomorrow there's a women's parkour workout that's a general thing, not a class, but just a bunch of women getting together to practice, and someone invited me to join up. Hopefully it will be fun!

Mt. Mansfield

                                         

Mt. Mansfield is definitely one of my favorite 4000 footers that I've done, 2 thumbs up, definitely recommend. As I drove to it, I wasn't completely sure. It rained all day the day before I hiked it, and the clouds were still clearing, the mountain looked beautiful, Vermont-like, but also a little intimidating. Don't let it scare you, it was a good one!

 I decided to do a loop hike - I got up and got there with plenty of time. So, I went up Halfway House trail, across the ridgeline on the Long Trail and then down the Sunset Ridge Trail. I was thinking about doing it the other way, but the Sunset Ridge is supposed to be the easiest way up (and therefore down) and Halfway House is steeper, and I was so glad I did Halfway House first. It was steep in a few places, with a slippery ladder, some rocky climbs, and a lot of switchbacking. I really liked the trail going up - it was full of little mossy glens and quiet spots where a moose or bear could (but at the moment happily wasn't) hang out. The trail was a little technical, a little challenging but not too difficult, and just really fun. When I got to the top where it intersected with the Long Trail I felt accomplished, and ate a cheese sandwich, some dried mango slices, and a banana. And then I got to walk about a mile of alpine ridgeline, which I just love so much! It was beautiful and the rocks were so interesting - they looked very scraped up by glaciers. 

The view from the top was really pretty with Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks, and the fall foliage. It was really windy also, and I was pretty hungry, so I sat to eat some more cheese sandwich and some nuts and enjoy the view in the other direction of VT and into NH. 

As I was sitting and enjoying my lunch I noticed it getting colder and colder, and the clouds getting lower and darker. Everyone on top of the mountain started looking up, and then looking at this band of clouds and rain that was flying towards us. And then we all started packing up and jetting off the top of the mountain. 

Looking at the storm, it seemed fast moving and thin, like it would pass over and move on. There was this one couple that was so close to the summit and they were like "is it exposed up there?" Sorry folks, yes, it is. And, here is what was coming towards us:

I walked as fast as I could to get lower down until I could see the weather coming upon me, and then I found a nice rock ledge to hide under while the storm passed overhead. There was actually hail! As well as rain. Thankfully it continued to move fast, and it was gone in less than 5 minutes, and the sun was back out. Most of the mountain became beautiful again, though I did notice clouds hanging around parts of it:

Sunset ridge trail down was so nice. I definitely recommend it. For a long way it was exposed rock and ridgeline. It was all wet, unfortunately, so it was a little slippery. It was still fun, but would have been super fun on a dry day! I really enjoyed going down it, though at a certain point it had a lot of big steps and I dinged my knee, which started to hurt. Anyhow, the rest of the way down was fine, and actually the first and last mile were basically an access road - a steep access road, and some trail. I got back to my car, changed my shoes, and was so lame - I drove about 100 feet to get closer to the bathrooms! Ha! Highly recommend this hike for sure - the sources online say it's the best 4000 footer in VT, and I believe it.

Camel's Hump while [gl]camping in VT

I really really wanted to take a week off from work, and to get away from home and go somewhere not too covid-y, but I also didn't want to feel like I was being to near people while away, so glamping in VT seemed to fit the bill. The plan was to go on Sunday and return on Saturday, with hiking, day triping to Burlington and Stowe, maybe some mountain biking, chilling out at the glamp with a fire, and relaxing. Well, some of that happened. But, it was also not as glam as I had hoped/expected in that there was meant to be a propane heater in the tent that would "take the edge off" the cold, which was really all I needed since I had my down sleeping bag and wasn't there all day, but it ran out of propane after about 5 hours. And the tent was on a hill so I kept sliding downhill and waking up in a corner of the bed. And, the lights inside didn't work. And the advertised hot tub was more of a "warm tub", as was the shower... So I left early and now I have a cold. But, Vermont was beautiful and I did two really nice hikes!

My Monday hike was Camel's Hump which has a really cool name and is one of the five 4000 footers of Vermont. I had looked at several routes up the mountain, but by the time I woke up, packed everything, figured out directions and stopped for food, I knew it would be noon by the time I got to the mountain. The most direct route and easy route is Burrows trail which is 2.4 miles out and back, and I decided I better just do that since I didn't have a ton of time and was feeling a little nervous due to being in VT - like that's somehow different from NH? IDK, but still it was a good idea. It's getting dark earlier and earlier, and I didn't want to be out there after sunset.

I was a little nervous about the number of people, since it was a long weekend, but pulling into the parking lot it wasn't that bad, and on the mountain there were plenty of people, but not mobs. The hike was pretty much uphill from the start, right to the top where it was so windy that I took a few pictures of the view, and then descended to a lower elevation to get out of the wind, eat some cheese sandwiches and admire the view for real. It was pretty awesome to look from the top because I could see across Lake Champlain all the way to NY and the mountains in the Adirondacks! Definitely a different view than I'm used to, and the foliage was gorgeous - probably just a tiny bit passed peak but beautiful and so much color. 

Before the trip I bought some new hiking shoes from REI, and some orthotics that have a special morton's extension that makes it so my big toes don't bend as much. They also have this bump in them that goes under the ball of my foot and is supposed to distribute the weight from the joint to the whole foot. I was a little nervous about the new set-up, but it was awesome!  My feet were so much less sore on the hike, and at the top I thought about how much my toe didn't hurt.

The way down was kind of wet, and therefore slow going. In fact, some of my downhill splits are slower than the uphill ones - or about the same. I think mile 3 it was counting the time that I was wondering around up top, blowing around in the wind (it was so windy, a couple times I thought I would get blown over!) I was pretty happy with the hike - definitely a good day!

Mt. Moosilauke

I realized that I haven't really done a 4000 footer this year, which is OK, because mountains don't always have to be 4000 footers, but the only one I was on was a bust. So, I wanted to at least get in one this year. I've been wanting to rehike Moosilauke because it was the first 4000 footer that I did solo, it's been several years, and I remember liking it. But, because of Covid the lodge that overlooks the mountain is closed, and so there's an extra walk to get in, so I couldn't decide if I wanted to do it. And then I decided, fuck it, I'm going. And, I'm glad I did! Even though I had to park 1.6 miles from the trailhead! 

Once again I got a late start (around 7:30), but decided that was OK because it's not the longest hike. It's 3.7 miles each way, and even though it's one of the higher 4000 footers, it's not the most elevation gain. I think it starts pretty far up the mountain, and it's one that is uphill for most of the hike. In the end, I did 2913 feet of elevation gain and 10.42 miles in 7 hrs and 7 minutes, but only 6 hrs and 9 minutes of that was moving time. 

It's a really nice hike, except near the top there are A LOT of stairs that are pretty exhausting, and since I didn't get started until around 11 ish, I was really hungry. Which you can see from my splits, that I slowed down (or, that I need to take it slower from the start.) Anyhow, on the way up, a lot of people passed me, but I was in a bit of a bubble on the way down, and almost no one did. 

I wound up doing an out and back hike this time - I thought about the loop because I had liked it a lot the last time, but also the last time I was doing crossfit (and it better shape) and didn't have to hike an extra 3.2 miles, so I didn't. And, I really liked it this way too! The walk down was really nice, there were some steep spots where I had a hard time, but mostly stairs and rocks. My feet were really sore, and I was tired, but would definitely do again that way :)

At the top, it was a bit of a zoo, there were so many people up there. And, there were even people going up as I was heading back down. These two women asked me to take their picture, which I did, and then they offered to take one of me. I think it was a bit windy...

It's not quite prime foliage, but we are getting close, and it was so pretty up in NH. The trees are beautiful and there was a mist coming over the mountains. I was kind of tired and thinking about not going for a hike, but so glad I did, definitely a good way to spend the day!

Holt, Mowglis and Manning trails

 

I couldn't decide what to do today, and was sitting on the couch drinking coffee and thinking that it was perfect hiking weather, and where should I go? When I saw a facebook posting about the Holt Trail up Carrigan, with a couple pictures, and of course decided to go! Glad I did, it was super fun, though hard on the feet.

The trail starts out pretty chill and relaxing, it's even got a long stretch that's on an old logging road. As I was walking, this guy wearing loose jeans and trainers passed me. First I though "I'm so slow, newbie guy passed me." Then I imagined if the egg salad sandwich people had been there, because they are pretty "cotton=death." Anyway, when I got to the sign above, he was standing looking at it and asked if I was going up that way. I was pretty impressed with myself that I was, and a little nervous. He decided to follow me for a little bit, but then realized that it wasn't going to work and turned back. So, I was feeling pretty good about myself when I got to the first really hard climby part - a nice slabby crack. Of course, at that moment a group of three 20 somethings came along and this guy practically climbed over me (it was pretty rude, actually) and then offered me a hand to help me up. I gave him a look. Seriously. 

Anyhow, there were a few really sketchy parts on the hike, most weren't really that bad, though there was one point at the top that was actually probably about a 5.2 climb, no rope, bit of a fall, pretty far up.  I didn't take a picture because I didn't want to look down. It may not have been a long fall, not sure. I was thinking about going back, but decided I would maybe get a photo the next time. (The photo above and below were fun and not too hard - there were good holds and the rock was pretty grippy and had nice holds and foot spots)

Once I got to the top, it was really nice to sit and eat a sandwich - I had to buy one at the rest area, so turkey and cheese on white bread and cheese pringles. Even though the sun was out, it was pretty windy and I was kind of cold. I can't believe it's that time of year already.

After my sandwich and a short rest I went over to a second mountain called firescrew, which is a funny name for a mountain, but a very pleasant location. I sat up there and ate an apple and the last chips and looked at the fire tower on cardigan. I love the sign up there, it's so weathered. Reluctantly I had to head down since it gets dark around 7 now. And, I didn't write down directions to get back to the highway, so I was going to have to figure that out too - the lodge where the trail starts is about 20 minutes off the highway, on a dirt road. 

My pace on mile three was very slow, though I believe it's counting the time I was walking around up top looking for a warm spot. The way down was slower than the way up, which is a little lame. My excuse is that my foot was killing me by that time, and I was a little hobbly. I got new boots hoping that they would help my feet, but they clearly didn't (though they were quite nice with the treads and stickyness). Anyhow, that made me way slower - that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

I got to the parking lot, changed my shoes, and was doing my post-hike things when I saw a car with NJ plates leaving. So, I threw everything in, jumped into my car, and followed it! And, I was right to do so (I think that's a definition of white privilege right there). It definitely seemed that the car was headed back to the highway. At one point it turned into an old church and I kept going, and then I was like "this doesn't seem right." And I went back and realized that NJ had passed a turn - and I went that way too! Anyhow, I'm obviously home, it worked and I need to write down the directions home before I leave.

Two thumbs up, but hard if you don't climb!

Belknap and Gunstock

 

I'm actually writing well after the fact, I forgot to blog about my Mt. Belknap hike, which I realized was a mistake, because it was an awesome hike, one that I would definitely do again. I went on Saturday of Labor Day weekend - I can't believe that Labor Day has passed - and it was a great improvement over Owl's Head! I was thinking about different routes for the hike, and thought about trying to park in the same little lot as last time, but it was so small, I figured it would be full. Looking at a map, I realized that Gunstock ski resort wasn't far away at all, and of course they would have a ton of parking, so I planned my hike around that. There were a million people and a bunch of tents when I got there. It could have been a ski sale - maybe should have checked it out, but I just got new skis last year, and I don't think I need cross country. 

Anyhow, the plan was to do Belknap, which is the tallest mountain in the Belknaps, and then Gunstock. I had a cheese sandwich, pringles, and some nuts, and GPS with all trails. I did get a little carried away with my GPS, and went up this snowshoe trail, that I soon realized wasn't what I wanted to be on. Eventually I bushwacked to the actual trail. I managed to make a flat even walk in the woods into something difficult - good job me.

Some of the hike covered the same area as Klem and Mack, but then I turned off at a different trail to head up. I really liked the trail I took up, I took Birch to East Gilford which was the trail with a lot of elevation gain - E Gilford was not too steep, and was really slabby with opened sections and a few nice view points. I sat at one of the view spots and ate, and then went to the top and climbed the fire tower. While I was in the fire tower, these three guys came up, driving remote operated trucks. I was both impressed that their trucks made it all the way up, and annoyed at all the noise. Anyhow, I then took Blue trail to saddle to the top of Gunstock, where I sat at the top of the ski resort and finished my food. 

From there, I backtracked on saddle and headed down. There was a sign near the top of the ski mountain that said 1.4 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes walk, which I thought was a little excessive, but it messed with my head a little. In the end, it took me about 50 minutes, so the sign was wrong. 

According to alltrails, I did 7.37 miles with 1821 feet elevation gain and an average pace of 33:43 mph. Total hiking time was 5 hrs 2 min, with 4 hr 9 minutes of moving time, the rest was sandwich eating time! It gives you splits, which is nice - you can see where my first mile I was silly and got off trail and was pokey. And, you can see the uphill bits where things got slower. I'm looking forward to doing a longer/harder hike with alltrails to see what my splits look like!

Monday of Labor Day weekend I took the ferry to Provincetown. A friend of mine was staying there for a week and I'd never really been there. It was so nice! We walked around the cute shops, and then I went for a swim in the ocean (which was cold but not freezing). After, I walked on a jetty there, that's about a mile each way - it was a lot of fun, and very parkour. I was kind of dumb because I didn't bring water or a camera, but on the other hand, I wasn't distracted by getting the best photo. Definitely something to repeat, it was so nice, and taking the ferry made it very easy (except that I overslept and woke up at 8:10 for the 8:30 ferry - it was kind of a miracle that I made it). It would be really fun to walk out on the jetty and hang out on the beach for the day, there was really almost no one out there!