Steve's - BIKE Racing - Riding / ROCK + ICE CLIMBING WORLD: September 2007

Sunday, September 30, 2007

UP UP + AWAY - Another weekend @ the Gunks ROCK CLIMBING Trip # 17 Sept 29+30

Typical Trad Rock rack

Ta Dum @ the nears - Sat AM warm up 5.7 it was fun.

More Ta Dum

Ta Dum Top out

Sunday, September 23, 2007

THREE DAY WEEKEND OF FUN + LOTS OF STUFF

The weekend starts Thursday after work - we head north shortly after this Pic was taken.

Debbie taking a break up in the auto road - going up to The ROCK PILE (6288).,

Mt. Adams left , Mt Madison Right

Mt Jefferson + Aprilia Futura on way to the summit .

Cog Railroad on the summit of Mt. Washington Friday

Sat we stopped @ Rumney New Hampshire and did some Sport Climbing Sat AM. We did Dirtago + the Whimpy Gilman route and another route I don't know the name on. I climbed the 2nd + 3rd route two times. They were 5.3 + 5.3 + about 5.6 on the route I don't know the name on. Then.......... we moved on to my test peice ..........

One of my tests for the weekend was to attempt - Armed and Dangerous and off my Mediaction - 5.10b. I worked hard on both cruxes but moved over them with a bit of huffing and puffing. I finished the climb with out any falls - Much better than the attempt last year. So I was psyched and we headed to the Van for some lunch ( Shrimp Coctail ) to be exact.......

This very cool Fish Hatchery was right up the road from Rumney.

After the hatchery we did several hours on the fantastic twisties around the White Mountains.

This was unexpected but the fall Foliage was spectacular...... It's normally the 2nd - 3rd weekend of Oct.

More great fall shots were in Vt. now Sunday Am.....

The Vermont Country store.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

My Fitness level - since Lymne Disease

I have been up and down the past 6-8 weeks since that damm Tick got me .

But the good news is the last two Tuesday night's I have had two of the strongest Mtn Bike rides of the summer. Part of it was Gary let me try out His Santa Cruz - Blur . It's one very nice full suspension bike and I got used to it very fast. Anyhow I had two strong rides leading the group for a few sections . I even cleaned SLIC ROCK ( or Garnet Ledge ) in the CT. hiking Blue book. This was only the third time I have cleaned this climb botton to top ever + I have done tis climb 25-50 times .

My lower back pain and general joint pain issues are getting way better the past week - more good news.

I also had a great climbing night last night Wed 9/19/07. I have not been doing the local Wed night climbes with work issues + not feeling good. I also had a sub par weekend at the Gunks 9/14-16. I started with the CLASSIC Pegasus 5.8 and climbed it well, then I did Sat night Special 5.9- and cruised it, so my next test peice was Mindbender - this is a 5.9+ or 5.10- and a good hard route. It had 3 crux's , when I got to the first crux I reached up found the side pull and was up in a flash. Cool things are going well, the next crux I also moved over it fast . The final roof I did my cool Knee jam move and was done - Fanyastic I think I'm almost back to my June climbing level. Lastely I did Golden book 5.6 + Pink elephant 5.5 I think. Great night and I have lots of my confidence back !!!