The Life And Times Of Lou, The Smiling Tortoise: 148

"The Blog Almost Too Boring To Be The Most Boring Blog in America ... for Over 5 Years!"

until it got too many red cards from Wounded Duck and the Boredom Enforcement Committee ... now the tortoise's goal is to get to 10 red cards so he can get Big Dog to drive down and take a good long walk with the tortoise

P. S. This blog listens to its readers. We have the Benjamin Category Override for 5+ mile walks and now, it humbles Tortoise to say he has been named "Lou", by Doug Jr, in memory of Mr. Consistency himself, Lou Gehrig. Tortoise can hardly type the words to think he is in any way comparable to the noble Iron Horse. Thank you!

Friday, July 8, 2011

148

Two things about today's walk (to see how far I could make it up the La Verkin Overlook Trail in 20 minutes)

Let's begin!

Sunrise at the first ridge

I caught my breath by walking until the slope leveled instead of having to take breaks along the way.

Looking home in the early morning light

I increased my climbing pace to 1.85 miles per hour (from 1.60 on my last try a few weeks ago). By the time I retraced my steps to the bottom, my average pace was back to 1.60 -- the result of carefully choosing where to put my feet on the slippery path down. The final average was a little higher after walking the short distance home from the trailhead on a flat paved road.

This is the Terreeeblay blog ... too boring to be claimed as America's most boring blog ... so raw stats are mandatory: Day 65 - I walked 2.08 km (1.29 mi) in 00:44:26. I climbed 96.0 m (315 feet), rated as a category 3 climb by HumanaFit. (Had I continued to the overlook, the extra distance and continued climbling makes that a category 2 climb).

Series 2B totals 145.72 km (90.58 miles) in 31 hours 44 minutes, with 1837.1 m (6027 feet) climbed in 7 counties of 6 states.

2 comments:

AnonymousJuly 8, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Pure torch! What I think you ought to be most proud of is the fact that you made it up as far as you could for 20 minutes, and it actually took you longer to get down the mountain then up covering that same distance. I take away two things from that...

1. You are again getting stronger physically and in terms of cardiovascular endurance...both huge pluses!

2. We need to look at some walking poles for you. I know Costco had what appeared to be a decent set for $20-$30 the other day which could be a solid option. Another way to do it is just check DI for old ski poles as they work just the same, and sometimes you can score those for just a couple of bucks. Thinking that not only would that help in your descent, but also help increase overall calories burned and make it a full body workout as you climb as well. Just a thought.

Hope to one day coordinate things so I can participate with you as I think that would be total awes! As for your "Mr. Triathlete" comment it matters not where we are along the trail, it just matters that we are on the same trail working towards the same goals...increasing quality of life, and extending the number of marbles in the jar!! :) Just appreciative to be along for the ride, and certainly enjoy the raw data, thanks! Love!!
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AnonymousJuly 9, 2011 at 2:55 PM
I had a legend comment which got lost to the wonders of cyberspace so now you get the remnants ...

First off, it's so enjoyable reading your comments!

As for a pole, let's try the used ski poles. I lost my Mt. Whitney pole to dryness, a few years later it crumbled into near toothpick size pieces. At least I have the picture of me at the top with my orange varsity scout jacket and my stick ...
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Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Segments Hiked

Total lifetime PCT miles hiked: 205.0 out of the 2,650 total.

From 1966 to 1969 segment Tortoise hiked the portion of the PCT shared by the John Muir Trail, covering PCT miles 767.0 to 942.5 (175.5 miles). (While hiking the full 211 miles of the Muir Trail from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mt. Whitney)

Tortoise then embarked on a long career at a desk, interrupted momentarily for a day hike in 1988 up Mt. Baden-Powell as a Varsity Boy Scout coach with his team. That took him from PCT miles 374.0 to 377.9, roundtrip. (There was also a second trip from Onion Valley to Mt. Whitney with the Varsity Boy Scouts in 1989. He barely made it, crying with joy and appreciation when he did. That is a story all of its own).

He returned many years later with these walks. Please click on the date for a link to that day's blog post:

June 14, 2012, hiked PCT miles 565.0 to 566.6 (1.6 miles) on both sides of California Highway 58 at the Cameron Road exit.

October 20, 2012, hiked PCT miles 341 to 342 (1 miles) mostly on the east side of Interstate 15 but also under the storm runoff tunnel just south of the exit to California Highway 138 near Cajon Pass.

February 2013, continued in two segments to do miles 342 to 347 (5 miles).

August 13, 2013, hiked miles 374.2 to 376.6 roundtrip from Vincent Gap trailhead at milepost 74.7 on California highway 2.

February 17, 2015, hiked miles 452.9 to 450.4 roundtrip from Vasquez Rocks Picnic Area.

March 16, 2015, hiked miles 341.9 to 340.2 southbound from Cajon Pass Road, then returned. Partial redo of October 20, 2012 walk ... plus a little more.

April 3, 2015, hiked miles 1089.8 to 1091.9 roundtrip from Echo Summit trailhead to near Echo Lake.

May 12, 2016, hiked miles 206.8 to 204.3 southbound from the Snow Canyon Road gate at the bottom of Mt. San Jacinto, then returned.

August 17, 2016, hiked miles 209.5 to 206.8 southbound from the underpass at Interstate 10 Exit 110 to Snow Creek, then returned.

May 26, 2017, hiked miles 369.4 to 364.4 southbound from the Inspiration Point trailhead on California Highway 2, then returned.

The tortoise may eventually set some kind of record for the longest time to complete the PCT in microsegments. You never know, but we're already at 51 years and counting since his first segment from Onion Valley to Taboose Pass in July 1966 :-)