Third Trek with New TrekSta Boots

Normally Jaci scorches me going up the hill. Again with boyfriend, she lagged behind to be with him. So I am losing another daughter to another man. But I count myself quite blessed that I am still in the picture. Well, at least some of the time.

Second Trek up Thin Red Line (TRL) this year took me 46 minutes. At first I thought it was a personal best. I went back through my stuff and could not find anything better, but I couldn't find my one time with some UI students a few years earlier. On that climb I had bet my students double extra credit that they couldn't beat me to the top of the Snake River canyon. (We were studying `Power and Efficiency' in Dynamics class.) What I didn't know at the time (of the bet) was one of them was a mountain marathon runner from Alaska, and another was a regular serious marathon runner. So, several students got double extra credit that day.

(So,) ... nagging in my mind was the thought that there was a PB (Personal Best) in the 44 min. range on TRL.

Jaci and Shane came along; I drove. I like it when people come along, just in case. I also like it when I can climb at my own speed, which I could on this climb because: 1) I drove, and 2) Jaci and Shane would be happy anywhere on the mountain (in front, or behind) as long as the were together.

Temperatures were in the 30s, and there was a good wind out of the west. Climbing conditions were ideal: vegetation at its lowest, wind for AC (but not a headwind), and cool temps. Also, no worry about rattlesnakes. (And Thin Red Line (TRL) has lots of places for them on route.)

I kept a good pace all the way up, stalling only once at the prominent rock knob / outcropping near the top. Saw deer on the way up, but didn't stop. Near the top I shed my parka and even `ran'. Elapsed time, 42 minutes. N.P.B. (New Personal Best) !!! Oh, but the pain. I laid down and sucked a lot of air once at the `mound' we consider the top.

I descended and met Jaci and Shane crossing the knob. The knob is pretty close to the top, so I considered they made it and we headed down, after some pics.

My new TrekSta boots did awesome. I am still expecting a tiny fraction more traction on rocks. But, also, I am on basalt, and maybe basalt is inherently smoother than granite??? The boots are awesome around town (yes, Moscow got another 3 or 4 inches this morning), and, the boots are also great slippers with the winch system (easy in and out).

And I am learning to enjoy my daughter enjoying life. Sometimes we old people accumulate so much `baggage' on our trip through life, that we think others have to carry some of it, or at least suffer that we are carrying so much. Not so. High school was a very fun time of life for me - so I want to let her enjoy hers, also.

References

Third Trek with TrekSta Boots (Accompanying Slideshow), Jeff Filler, Associated Content.

Second Trek with TrekSta Boot with Boa Winch System, Jeff Filler, Associated Content.