Notes
Wow, writing about this the Thursday after. It was a complicated run, and we had a lot to do and a lot of relaxing to do, Nye and I. This was probably the most challenging climb we've done this season. 3000 feet of climbing, 4 summits of the mountain. Nye, Matt and I set out starting at the Log cabin entrance, trying to see how much of the climb could be run. I made it a good 10 to 15 yards up the steep rocky stuff. The long slow climb was great, exploring the trail behind the B17 monument. Probably had too much fun down the quarry road, beating up my toe. I ran the whole T bar trail, if you can call it that. Matt had stopped to piss and still managed to catch and pass me with ease. Took the next descent of the quarry road easier, negociating my toe. The next long climb up was brutal. The tote road is so rocky and pointy, the toe forced some power hiking. This is were we waited a long time for Nye. On the trip down the ski trail, Nye turned back to cross the escarpment and down to the car. I could tell he felt bad about turning back, but he wanted to make a good decision and was definite about it. We should not have separated as a matter of principle, in hindsight. Matt and I continued, running most all of the auto road. My first stop was to cach a huge snake, possibly 3 feet long but definitely more than 2 and well over an inch diameter. I held him by the last inch and a half of his tail which he let go or which tore off, not sure which. Matt was freaked out by the snake. I was telling stories on the way up, of the triple bypass and leg cramps. What immediately happened next? Nasty cramping in my right MCL/quad and left calf, until everything threatened to lock up. So I powerhiked to the top and made the best of it. Going down was impossible until I implemented the Wim Hoff breathing protocol. I had been telling Matt how I knew I should use this and didn't. The cramps receded while I kept a strict breathing discipline. When we got to the car, Nye was nowhere to be found. I recruited Matt to come with me while I went back in search of him. Luckily we met him just 100 yards up the trail. He had sat down to rest and then walked which took a lot of time. I was worried for him because he is slacking in his physical discipline and falling behind in races and running and I can't imagine it feels good. I'm worried for his reactions to not feeling good. We chatted about it minimally and I gave him some encouragement later in the day but I ddin't make an issue of it. I did make an issue of him leaving with a pile of dishes and consequences of our weekend. He just doesn't feel and respond to responsibility well enough unless asked. If there is an internal questioning, he ignores it. More and more I recognize that there is a stage of fearless self criticism missing, where the ability to find answers is discovered. He needs this.