High Peak Time Records

[Little Rickie]

There are no "official" records kept by the Adirondack 46ers. You'll find more discussion of Jan's feat here and here. For some reason, it's a fairly controversial topic.

Dick

No good deed goes unpunished.

[Neil]

The Adirondacks may be one man's temple and on another day, the same man's gym. They are also a biological laboratory, geological museum, sociological experiment, playground, classroom, bug infested wasteland, 46 rugged mountains, home....

continue the list.

[redhawk]

Trying to break the existing record to "satisfy their own ego's" and enjoying the outdoors are not mutually exclusive.

With SOME people it's only about the record. Please note I am not saying this is the case with any particular individual. The SOME is generic meaning like anything else in life, different people have different agendas.

So, that line should be taken in context with the complete Post.

Let me know when people start lining up to break the record. Cavedog broke a record that was over 20 years old and Jan (who was one of only a couple of attempts) broke CD's record several years later. Less than one percent of the hiking population could even make realistic attempt at the record.

But people will, and if they don't we won't hear about it. In fact, attempts have probably been made since ted did it and even before he did it.

And many (Again, the Generic many, meaning not all, not even a majority, but some) people would try, their ego's thinking that they are in shape and who knows they might end up in trouble as a result by overestimating their skills and samina. Which i didn't address.

In general, I'm opposed to "Records", at least their being published.

I could if I wished, cite over a dozen "records" that i could take credit for. But I don't. What i did, I did as a personal challenge, or in some cases because it was necessary in order to accomplish my original goal.

But in MY case I had nothing to prove to anyone, including myself, nor did I feel that i needed any recognition for what I had accomplished. I also did not feel that receiving credit or recognition for the accomplishment would enhance my enjoyment of it in any way.

Again, I have my own reasons for my opinions and really am not trying to discredit anyone else, nor appear sanctimonious. However, when challenged about my opinions, I feel it necessary to explain the reasons behind that opinion.

Hawk

[Rik]

It wasn't about trail races Zac.

It's about competitions and records and having more people coming into the high peaks and trying to break the existing record to satisfy their own ego's and nothing to do with enjoying the outdoors.

We don't need more reasons to bring more people into the high peaks at a time when the DEC may be thinking about limiting them in some way.

Someone wants to set a goal and accomplish it,that's fine. A personal challange? That's fine too.

But, the minute it gets publicized or someone want's credit for "the record" then it just propoagates and it's no longer about a personal thing.

That's my Opinion, for what it's worth, and since others have posted theirs about the feat, it's only fair that i post mine.

Trying to break the existing record to "satisfy their own ego's" and enjoying the outdoors are not mutually exclusive.

Let me know when people start lining up to break the record. Cavedog broke a record that was over 20 years old and Jan (who was one of only a couple of attempts) broke CD's record several years later. Less than one percent of the hiking population could even make realistic attempt at the record.

[redhawk]

just wondering Hawk, how you determined the 100 lowest peaks?

See, already someone is thinking about it.

[Little Rickie]

[I]Here's the dialogue that went between us:
Me: Did you keep track of your time?
Him: Yeah, 1:25
Me: Oh yeah? Did you run the entire way? (Thinking: WTF!!??)
Him: Well not on the icy steep part at the end.
Me: I did it in 2:25
Him: yawn
Me: Where're you from?
Him: New Hampshire but I'm staying at the Olympic Training Centre.
Me: Are you an athlete? (Duh!)
Him: I'm a cross country skiier.
Me: International level?
Him: I've been to 2 olympics.
Me: You see that pile of rocks (pointing to the summit rocks people carry up)
Him: Yeah?
Me: I had them in my pack, that's why I was so slow.
Him: (Standing in the freezing cold wind with no jacket) Well I gotta go. Be seein' ya.!

Neil, this is my most favorite story that you've ever told.

[ALGonquin Bob]

We have a very modest "record holder" in our midst, and his name is Alain.

[Klip59]

just wondering Hawk, how you determined the 100 lowest peaks?

[redhawk]

I have very slowly and patiently climbed the 100 lowest peaks in the Adirondacks without fanfare or notice. I did so slowly, savoring every step, basking in the sights and sounds of the forest around me.

Along the way I saw many wonderful things, which I have kept to myself, because I am afraid if I try to share them, too many others will follow in my footsteps, and what I have experienced today will be gone tomorrow.

One of the things that was special about this "feat", the one feature that I enjoyed the most was that there were no other people, and I was able to enjoy a spiritual paradox called The Companionship of Solitude.

Hawk

[randomscooter]

How about a record of slowest round trips? I started in 1982 and I'm still not done.

Ya got me beat. My first round took 20 years and 1 day.

[starzero]

How about a record of slowest round trips? I started in 1982 and I'm still not done.

[redhawk]

It wasn't about trail races Zac.

It's about competitions and records and having more people coming into the high peaks and trying to break the existing record to satisfy their own ego's and nothing to do with enjoying the outdoors.

We don't need more reasons to bring more people into the high peaks at a time when the DEC may be thinking about limiting them in some way.

Someone wants to set a goal and accomplish it,that's fine. A personal challange? That's fine too.

But, the minute it gets publicized or someone want's credit for "the record" then it just propoagates and it's no longer about a personal thing.

That's my Opinion, for what it's worth, and since others have posted theirs about the feat, it's only fair that i post mine.

[lumberzac]

Let's not turn this into a debate about trail races. We've been down that road several time and then never ended very well.

[MikeinMaryland]

Wow if it is 7.5 miles to the summit of Marcy from the loj then the summit steward was traveling an average of over 6 mph - which is just insane to think about.

[Neil]

What I like about hiking is the limitless ways a person can go about their business while having fun and expanding their personal universe.

Here is my own humble example from 2006:

Well, today was my moment of truth. I planned this thing out fairly meticulously. What to wear, what to carry, what to eat, how much rest before.

I worked out the distances, grades and estimated times for each leg of the route and consulted with an Adirondack expert, modified my times a bit and finally signed out this morning at 8am.

I ran to Marcy Dam and kept checking my heart rate monitor. The numbers were surpisingly high. Trail running isn't the same thing as street running I guess. It took me 26 mins. to cover the 2.1 miles with a rather high heart rate. I was one minute behind schedule. This was going to be tougher than I thought.

After the Dam I had to slow to a walk or my heart rate went ballistic and entered into what I knew was the "lactic acid zone". Once in a while I could run but not too often. However I made the Phelps junction 4 minutes ahead of time. I forgot to bring my estimated times with me and couldn't remember the remaining leg times too well. This I thought was a good thing because I didn't want to push myself too hard trying to make a certain time. I wanted to treat this as a "fact finding mission" and use the times as a base for future experiments.

I figured that the section from Phelps Brook to the Indian Falls was the key. The average grade is 15% and so I slowed down and let my HR drift down into the upper 140's. If I worked too hard here I'd be cooked later on the summit cone. I arrived at the Indian Falls 9 minutes ahead of "shedule". I remembered that 1:10 from the Loj was considered too agressive by my coach so I changed it to 1:20.

Everything was peachy keen untill I hit the frozen stuff. At first it was just the boardwalks. Gradually there was more and more ice. Also what didn't help is that there was lots of water on the trail and my feet got soaked. Here and there I slipped on an ice covered log.

The final junction (to Haystack - the Phelps trail?) came and went. The summit cone had a fair bit of ice on it but it was easy to avoid it. I ran the final 50 yards or so and pushed the button on my watch. 2:26:38!

10 minutes later this guy comes running rapidly up to the summit. One of his quads was bigger than my 2. He had no pack, just a belt with 2 little water bottles.

Here's the dialogue that went between us:
Me: Did you keep track of your time?
Him: Yeah, 1:25
Me: Oh yeah? Did you run the entire way? (Thinking: WTF!!??)
Him: Well not on the icy steep part at the end.
Me: I did it in 2:25
Him: yawn
Me: Where're you from?
Him: New Hampshire but I'm staying at the Olympic Training Centre.
Me: Are you an athlete? (Duh!)
Him: I'm a cross country skiier.
Me: International level?
Him: I've been to 2 olympics.
Me: You see that pile of rocks (pointing to the summit rocks people carry up)
Him: Yeah?
Me: I had them in my pack, that's why I was so slow.
Him: (Standing in the freezing cold wind with no jacket) Well I gotta go. Be seein' ya.

I went and got my stuff together and the last I saw of him he was already off the summit cone running like an antelope. 1:25!