Fall Camp 2013

We had a short and sweet training camp up in the mountains of western Maine over Fall Break a few days ago.  After a hectic morning hosting the 8th Annual Phil Soule Phlail, we headed straight up to Sugarloaf, where we did a series of threshold intervals that gradually took us from the base of the alpine area to the summit.  It was cool and foggy down low, but as we approached the peak we suddenly broke out of the clouds and into bright late afternoon sunshine.  From the summit, the thick clouds looked like a white ocean, with a few peaks poking up like islands - one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen (sadly, none of us had a camera).

The next day, the team did an OD run/hike in the Bigelows.  Ruth led most of the women on a 16-mile trek over Little Bigelow, Avery, West Peak, and South Horn.  Tess, James, Alec, Tyler, and Mac did the full 18-mile traverse, which took them just under 6 hours - a ridiculously fast pace across one of the most rugged ranges in New England.  Riley served as the team mule - he hiked with me up to the Horns saddle with a pack full of food and water to give the skiers the chance to refuel partway through the day.

We closed out the camp the following morning with a fantastic OD rollerski up and down the Long Falls Dam Road.  We took a secret back way to the Bigelow Preserve to start the ski, headed up to the end of the pavement near the dam, and then turned around and skied a good ways back toward North New Portland before finally calling it a day.  The pavement on the upper part of the road was nice and smooth, traffic was minimal, and the weather was sunny and mild - a perfect fall day in the mountains of Maine, and a great workout to end a great camp.

Much thanks to Ronn and Mary Gifford for letting us use their camp as a home base for camp - this trip would not have been possible without their hospitality!

Tyler didn't get enough of a workout during the traverse, so afterward he headed out to split some wood as a thank-you to our hosts.

Men at the end of the (paved) road - the bridge over the Dead River.

Women by the Dead River.

Men approaching the dam.

Women with some Bigelow foothills in the background.