The good is in the woods!

The Hemlocks - bouldering area

The weather has been really good and I've been running (a lot) and climbing (a bunch).  The climbing has mainly been bouldering with Laura and the local squad.  All kinds of new stuff is being explored and established.  Here are some photos from the last couple days here in SWPA!

Awesome Boulder Right - center view

Awesome Boulder Right - left end view

We first climbed this one Easter Day

Overlook on McCune trail

The River Valley in Ohiopyle State Park

Carolina Spring Beauties blooming on Sugarloaf

A cool boulder out in the woods. A little scrubbing is all it takes

Laura on Red Hill Rest Block

The steep approach trail up to The Campfire Problem

Laura eyeing up The Campfire Problem

Laura in front of  Dead in My Head, Fear and Loathing Block

The super fun, One Toke Over the Line on Fear and Loathing 

Our next stop...

This last boulder doesn't look like much in the photo.  I assure you it's taller than it looks.  I'm pretty sure it'll produce some real gems.  Can't wait to get on it when it dries up from all the rain.  I'll post some photos that do it justice next time.  

PS Lots of ticks out in the woods recently,  make sure to check yo self after playing outdoors...

RUN to the boulders

The Main Block

I've primarily been focusing my training on running recently due to upcoming challenges I've laid out for myself.  Despite being running focused, the woods are beautiful right now.  The rocks are dry, perfect for climbing and calling my name.  The other day I decided to take advantage of both and go for a run to some local boulders where there's a crash pad stashed, have a session, then run home.  I loaded a small pack with shoes, brushes, chalk pot, and some refreshments for breaks between boulders.  I  took the long way which turned out to be about 45 minutes of road running.  It was at a quick pace considering the gear I was carrying and definitely enough cardio to get my heart rate up.  I pulled out my stashed pad and had an awesome afternoon session revisiting some old classics we established in the early 1990's.  

Here's a video of the classic problem my good friend Matt Johns and I put up called Cheesypoofs - V4.  Enjoy the vast amount of exposed leg... running shorts work well for bouldering (alone)

Cheesypoofs V4

Main Block, right side

The Pyramid

The best thing I can report is that if you watch the video, I stick the lip using my right (bad) shoulder.  Slowly, but surely its getting healthier.  I hope the healing continues and I can once again use my shoulders like I did before they were injured.  Climb High, Run Far...

Beginning the long road

The lingering winter kept me fired up about climbing and neglecting running.  Not a bad thing says the climber inside me.  The runner in me that plans to run the LHHT "double" this June is saying what the hell partner, you better get those soft legs a little firmer, and right quick.   Since the first of the year I've only been out running several times.  It was time to get training before it gets too late.  Off to the trails I went to shake out the cobwebs...   Here's a couple highlighted runs from the last couple weeks.

March 15th Victor Sousol and I ran a "Gate to 8" on a windy but pleasant day.  This was my first outing with Victor as well as his first time running on the LHHT.  He's signed up to run the 70 mile Laurel Ultra in June and wanted to check out the opening hills and familiarize himself with Ohiopyle a bit before race day.  He managed to stumble onto my blog and decided to email me to see if I'd like to meet and run with him.  I only had time to run Gate to 8 once that morning, but Victor went on to complete a "Gate to 8X2" for a total 32 miles of Laurel training.

March 25th I turned 42.  I thought it would be fun spending my birthday running my age in miles on the LHHT.  Laura dropped me off at Beam's Rock at 7:00 AM for the start of my run.  

Good morning legs

She provided excellent crewing after meeting me at 7 Springs.  She provided me with the normal food and liquids as well as birthday surprises, delights and plenty of laughs along my run to Ohiopyle.   

First aid stop, Seven Springs Ski resort

Crossing the slopes of Seven Springs.  I met several curious folks here

42 and still spry coming into route 653 trail head

Heading out for the last 11 miles from Maple Summit parking lot

It was a chilly 28, with plenty of firm ice on the trail.  I had some knee issues begin during the descent at mile post 8.  They persistently became worse, slowing movement down within a half of a mile.  Descents especially were slowed to a crawl with me going down backwards a large portion of the time.  Laura met me at mile post 3 with a down coat and some much needed support as I was in serious pain by this point.  I successfully limped into town completing my goal.  

Limping past the overlook at mile 2.7

After 2 days of rest, my knees recovered and have felt fine since.  This run doubled my yearly mileage to this point.  Which I'm sure was the cause of the knee swelling and pain.  Even with my 8 miles of snail pace factored in my average pace came out to be 13:35/mile.  A very fun and memorable birthday.  Thanks sweetie!

March 31st  I ran the LHHT again from 653 trail head to Ohiopyle to see if my knees were just adapting to the rapid increase in mileage on my birthday run.  It had snowed about 6" a couple days prior.  The temps rose above freezing turning that fluffy 6" into a sloppy nasty trail mess.  The air temperature was around 50, but my feet were sopping before I even hit the main trail from the blue blazed access trail.  By the time I hit mile post 18 I was debating calling Laura to have her turn around and pick me back up at 653.   The runner in me refused and I put my nose to the grind and slogged the 18 miles to Ohiopyle with only a few miles being snow free, but muddy none the less.  I surprisingly hit the Gate completing my run in 3:18, without any knee pain.  A reasonable time considering the condition of the trail.

In the Hemlocks, my favorite section

Blazing new trail on the LHHT

Sloppy conditions for running

From whence I came.  Bluebird snow day on the trail

April 1st Laura and I had a wonderful "date" run.  She's planning a birthday run on the 16th.  She's going to run from mile post 30 to Ohiopyle while I provide crew for her as she did for me.  We decided to run from the gate to 5 on the LHHT to avoid the snow still present above 2200'.   We had a wonderful sunny day to run together.  We took a couple breaks to enjoy the weather and nature.  We had several Eastern Phoebe's calling at one break and at another we spotted 8 Ruby-crowned Kinglets flying through the tree tops.  Several Monarch's were moving north along the ridge as well.  Spring is definitely making a showing and we were embracing!  What a great way to spend a few hours with your honey...

Spring has Sprung!  See you on the trails...

TNT project, second attempts

Me & Tom standing below the TNT project, photo L. Hahn

Yesterday Laura, Tom Thomas and myself met up at Valley Dairy for some breakfast before heading to our new project called TNT.  This was our second day actually trying the new line.  We parked and walked the technical approach to the climb.  Its cool because you get to walk behind a waterfall.  Strapping crampons on at this point will keep you from sliding into the creek and waterfall pool ;) Last time we worked the line, we warmed up on some moderates at Lower Meadow Run before heading to work on TNT.  This time we went straight for the project (lesson learned).  There's not much else to climb in the area of TNT, except the short, roaring WI3 waterfall (which was out), thus no warm-up this time.  I was chosen to take the honors of first try.

Up I went quickly realizing how much the ice on the route had changed since the warm weather.  Stemming to get into the hanger was a bit more of a stretch this time around.  I had to fiddle with a botched stick clip on the first bolt costing me valuable energy.  I clumsily traversed my way across the ice passing the 2nd clip and committing to the overhanging section of ice.  A serious forearm pump came on and all to quickly I realized I was setup for a precarious swing back into the ice pillar.  Off I came partially inverting, just in time to slam my back into the ice.  THUD... "FUCK, that hurt".  It may be bolted, but things can still hurt...

Lowering down after taking the swing back into the pillar

Tom went second.  He made quick work of the start and got into the traverse to just short of where I came off.  He wisely retreated back to safety before another slam came into play.  On his second attempt his hulk like mass dislodged a basketball sized rock onto himself seriously disrupting that attempt.  He then came back like a trooper and matched his high point from last week on his final go.  Here's a few photos of Tom enjoying the intensity of the TNT project.

A very cool line, Tom working across the ice

It feels this steep

Tom Thomas going for it on try 3

Laura was along for the fun. She's seen the line but was along to try it for her first attempts.  "Good things come in small packages" is a perfect description for her.  She's firey, scrappy and totally in her element scraping up mixed climbs with the guys.  Sometimes she'll have troubles reaching the starting holds, but that doesn't stop her... She tied in and stepped up for a few goes.  Here's some photos of Laura in action.

Laura rockin' the "party pants" ask her about 'em,
 she's always happy to show them off

Laura learning the steep start

Established on the ice and contemplating the commitment

We each got 3 tries at the line.  Which to us mortals is plenty of lactic acid.  The pump can get fierce on this one.  Things seem to be coming together a little.  I managed to suck it up and figure out a little beta to reach a new high point and possibly a crucial sequence towards sending.  This thing could end up being the hardest in the region.  Happy Climbing it is!  I hope my bruised and swollen back heal quickly.  I've got plans for some pure ice lines Sunday.  Then early next week I'm hoping to see a plethora of mixed lines established by Tom Thomas.  Possibly more tries on TNT later next week, before the ice is gone.  Too much climbing too little time, way too sore.

Contemplating where to go?

New high point established

On  a running note:  A group of runners are planning to run "Gate to 8" tomorrow in Ohiopyle.  I was planning to attend, but my swollen back from the fall is saying otherwise.  Most runners are meeting at the Falls City Pub parking lot at 8:00 for a meet and greet.  Then off on the trail for 16 miles of LHHT winter single track with some of the biggest climbs in the region.  A great early season outing if you can attend.  I ran the trail last Sunday and found the trail to be snow covered and slippery on N facing hills, but runnable.  Plenty of water, slop and ice, so I ran in "screw shoes" to aid my traction and allow some speed.  It could be run without them, but I wouldn't want to.