Northville Placid Trail Run 2005

[Tim Seaver]

I plan on attempting the NPT as a trail run sometime next month, and was wondering if anyone knows of previous running attempts ( other than the 40 hour "hike" in 1973 mentioned in the NPT guide.) I am hoping to do it in roughly 28-32 hours. Any info would be appreciated.

[sacco]

yowsers!

if you're lookin for a partner mtngoat might be interested. can't say for certain, i don't know him well but he's the only guy i've ever met that might be up for something like this.
wouldn't surprise me if he's even looked into it himself.

[mtn.goat]

That sounds like fun but I'm going to be running in the Wakely Dam Ultra on July 23rd and I'm still nursing an injury (thankfully fixed by a visit to the chiropractor). I was thinking of doing the whole trail in September when the bugs have died down in 3-4 days but don't think I'm (or I should say my body) is prepared for 133mi of running/hiking in one bout. If you do end up doing it you should start looking at some of the 100mi ultras that are run all over the US. They're in the same league and are organized races. Good luck!

[Tim Seaver]

Wakely Dam Ultra

Have fun at the Wakely Dam Ultra , mtn goat - it's a great race run by a very dedicated crew, in a beautiful setting. (Running in the Wakely event last year was actually what inspired me to attempt the entire NPT as a solo venture.)
I don't know if I will be recovered in time to run the Wakely this year, but am keeping my fingers crossed. Happy Trails!

[mrbubbles]

I'd be interested in doing a portion of it. I can also spot water, honey, peanuts or whatever for you if you want.
I recently ran Greylock in Western MA!!

http://www.runwmac.com/gt2005/greylock-trail2005.html

I belong to a club with a lot of hardcore trail runners in the Albany area, called the
Albany Running Exchange

http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org

A number of them are training for Indian Ladder and Escarpment.

[southernadkhiker]

I was just at Geylock in the fall, did you run up the road or trail. Either way, that's a tough run.

[uberTurtle]

Good luck!

I've eyed that trail up over the past couple of years for a run, but am just not at that level, yet. The 40 hour mark mentioned in the guide book has always stuck in my head as the time to beat. Set a record on a new trail and Cave Dog might make it back this way.........

Best of luck. If you need any support along the way, prior to July 18th, let me know. There are certainly some good road crossings there for access.

[RC]

I had plans to do it in 2 or 3 days in September, but have put that plan off until 2006 because of your son who will be 1 year old next month. I've did a large amount of training in the Benson/mud lake area last fall and if the rest of the trail is in that kind of shape a 28-32 hour trip will be very hard. From silver lake to mud lake there is a large amount of blow downs. I've gone from Benson to mud lake and back out in 7+ hours. I think the distance was just about 27miles. I've done 30 miles on the trails in rockwood in 3:30 hours so that shows what the trail is like between Benson and Mud lake.


RC

[Tim Seaver]

mrbubbles and uberturtle, thanks for the support offers - as things come together I may PM you !

Thanks for your input RC - The more of the trail I scout, the more I realize that my 28-32 hr. mark is going to be very tough to achieve, although I have found most of the trail to be pretty sweet running. If my feet hold together, I am pretty sure I can best the 40 hour mark, but maybe not by such a margin - so many things can go wrong with support and transitions, not to mention fatigue, night travel, water crossings, etc. I am aiming for a 3.8-4.8 mph overall average - the trick for me is going to be taking it easy for the first 60 miles or so and keeping my feet happy. A low humidity day with temps below 80 is what we will be praying for (no fixed dates here!)

Two weekends ago I did the section between NY8 and the terminus at Northville, - it took me about 7 1/2 hours to cover that 32.5 miles, including the blowdowns ( which I really didn't find that bad) - this includes the 10+ miles of road the end. Most of the trail is in much better shape than the Mud Lake area, or at least what I have seen so far.

This past Sunday I did the 36 mile section from Lake Placid to the Long Lake (Tarbell Rd.) in 9 1/2 hours at a pretty mellow pace, and that includes the 75 yard thrash/swim somewhere between Shattuck Clearing and Plumey's Point.

I've done the 32 mile Wakely Dam to Piseco section in 5.05 hours, but that probably won't happen this time around Probably more like 7.5 here.

Those three sections, ran separately, add up to 24.5 hours, which would leave 7.5 hours for the 30+ assorted miles remaining and still be under 32 hrs.

Of course, it probably won't work out quite so neatly because of all the other factors I mentioned, but we are going to give it our best shot.

I'll let the board know when we have a "GO" condition.

[Tim Seaver]

Getting closer...

I have finished scouting the entire route, and should be within about 10 days of the attempt. Most of the trail is in great shape, despite the usual blowdowns, wet spots, and overgrown sections.

I am trying to track down Richard Denker ( who did the NPT on 1973 in 40 hours) to find out what his starting and finishing points were. My questions are:

Did he start/end from the center of Lake Placid village ( the original end, correct?) , at the Averyville/Military road, or at the Chubb River Bridge?

Did he start/end at the Godfrey Road or do the 10 miles to/from Northville?

I would appreciate any information anyone might have on his journey, or any contact info. I would like very much to do the same mileage ( I will be going North to South)

One correction to my earlier post - there IS a way to avoid the "swim" near Plumey's Point, I had simply missed the markers for the bushwhack, which are easy to miss going southbound - there is a small rotten log down in the trail about 75 yards before hitting the water's edge ( southbound) - if you look to the right here you will see two dark blue ribbons on some small saplings where the bushwhack heads into the woods - it makes an arc to the right, about a 4 minute bushwhack to rejoin the trail at the other side.

One other "bushwhack" ( actually a re-lo) not to miss is south of Stephens Pond, but this one is clearly marked with three red ribbons hanging from a tree that is leaning over the trail - this one heads left ( southbound) into the woods, following sparse new blue markers and red ribbons and arcing back to the trail at the other side of the beaver activity.

[Tim Seaver]

3...2...1....

Weather and other details permitting, we will be making the attempt on Tuesday July 12, starting in Lake Placid at roughly 9-10 am and hopefully finishing up before nightfall on Wednesday at the Northville bridge. If we have a hotel with a phone line, and my "team" ( my wife, 2 year old son, and running partner) has time between all the crazy driving around, they will post updates as we are able. Thanks to all for the encouragement and offers to help! (cross posted to adkhighpeaks.com)

[Mavs00]

GO TIM, GO

I PM'd you as well

[RC]

Good Luck. I'll send some energy your way.

RC

[Peebut]

Good luck

[RC]

It is a go for tomorrow ?


RC