tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49148289145859473042023-11-15T23:13:14.729-08:00Humanity RunningRunning to ensure an enduring human future.Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-25428088984686049642016-05-22T14:51:00.000-07:002017-01-17T14:56:28.260-08:00PRs for Everyone at the Merced River Canyon Endurance Runs<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">by Katie Wallace (as published on ultrarunnning.com)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On May 14, every single participant in the inaugural <a href="http://www.humanityrunning.org/current-efforts2.html" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">Merced River Canyon Endurance Runs</a> set a new personal record at California’s Shortest Ultramarathon. Perhaps it was the unusually overcast day. Maybe it was due to beauty of the Merced River and the wildflowers adorning the canyon walls. It might have been the overwhelmingly friendly local volunteers. A wild guess is that it was probably because no one had ever run a 14 km or 44 km race before.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Regardless, all who toed the line at Briceburg Visitor Center that morning re-crossed the line later that day to earn the coveted finishers’ trucker cap, adorned with a logo of one the Merced’s River’s local residents—the rainbow trout. It was quite the feat for each participant to finish, considering the difficulty of the runs. Runners in both races were tasked with going up, then down,1800 feet over six miles on the Burma Grade, a historic mining road. Upon reaching the aid station near the top of the grade, some runners were disheartened to learn that they would have to go a half mile more up an even steeper side trail to an unmanned box of bracelets to prove their arrival at the turn-around.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Mike McDonald Briceburg Bridge-750" class="wp-image-152924 size-full no-display appear" height="501" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="https://d2goauph7ju525.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mike-McDonald-Briceburg-Bridge-750.jpg" srcset="https://d2goauph7ju525.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mike-McDonald-Briceburg-Bridge-750.jpg 750x, https://d2goauph7ju525.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mike-McDonald-Briceburg-Bridge-750-300x200.jpg 300x, https://d2goauph7ju525.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mike-McDonald-Briceburg-Bridge-750-150x100.jpg 150x, https://d2goauph7ju525.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mike-McDonald-Briceburg-Bridge-750-500x334.jpg 500x, https://d2goauph7ju525.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mike-McDonald-Briceburg-Bridge-750-250x167.jpg 250x, https://d2goauph7ju525.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mike-McDonald-Briceburg-Bridge-750-550x367.jpg 550x, https://d2goauph7ju525.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mike-McDonald-Briceburg-Bridge-750-269x180.jpg 269x, https://d2goauph7ju525.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mike-McDonald-Briceburg-Bridge-750-449x300.jpg 449x, https://d2goauph7ju525.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mike-McDonald-Briceburg-Bridge-750-749x500.jpg 749x" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" width="750" /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mike Cleary enjoying the river canyon en route to the 44k win</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While the 14 km race was a major blowout run on the part of Jasper “Sort Of Off the Couch” Peach in a blistering time of 1:06, the 44 km turned neck-and-neck along the hot, exposed final miles of the river corridor leading to the iconic Briceburg Bridge. Eventually, Mike “I Heart Owls” McDonald edged Glen “Need River Now” Young by 19 seconds for the win. On the women’s side, Sarah Ferguson and Cassandra Dufek both looked entirely unfazed and at ease in handily winning the 14 km and 44 km, respectively. Winners were treated to stainless steel growlers filled with local beer from South Gate Brewing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Perhaps the most inspiring performance of the day came from Leo Calles, running in his very first ultramarathon. Calles struggled up the grade, but crushed the downhill and put in an evenly-paced effort through the event’s flatter second half along the river to finish 20 minutes before the race cut-off and DFL.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The runners were not the only winners of the day. Race Director Rob Rives is the founder of a grassroots effort called Humanity Running, which is aimed at running small scale, local events meant to benefit local causes. In this case, over $700 in proceeds were donated to the South Fork Merced River Collaborative, which works with volunteers and land agencies to enhance local recreation and conservation. The run was graciously supported through the efforts of 18 local volunteers and in-kind support from NatureBridge, the Yosemite Employee Association, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and South Gate Brewing.</span></div>
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<a href="http://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=37432"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Full results here.</span></a></div>
Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-44296179224652506642016-02-08T18:36:00.003-08:002016-02-08T18:38:12.882-08:00Introducing the Merced Canyon Endurance Runs!Hello all!<br />
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One of the founding goals of Humanity Running was to organize small, local-scale events that would simultaneously bring communities together in a celebration of running and raise funds from the events to benefit local humanitarian and environmental causes. I'm happy to announce that we are making great strides toward this goal, and our first event is on the calendar!<br />
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Please come and join us for the inaugural Merced Canyon Endurance Runs, a pair of trail races (14k and 44k) that will take place in the lower Merced River Canyon outside of Yosemite National Park. All proceeds from this event will be given to the Upper Merced River Watershed Council to aid with restoration efforts on various trails in the region. All details can be found <a href="http://www.humanityrunning.org/current-efforts2.html">on our website</a> and <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=37432">you can register here through our registration host, UltraSignup!</a><br />
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We look forward to seeing you out there! We are limited to 35 entrants across both events, so come and enjoy our small, low-key atmosphere and some of the most gorgeous foothills terrain in California. Or come to just hang out with the newts, they're cool too...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The California Newt, a common site in the Merced River Canyon</td></tr>
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-- Robert Rives, 2/8/2016</div>
<br />Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-33120685126896339862015-07-29T09:47:00.002-07:002017-08-04T11:52:33.241-07:00End to End: A Cohos Saga<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>A U.S. border guard searches through my pack for contraband. As he crouches on one knee and empties the trash bag containing my sleeping kit, he asks, "So what keeps you going for 165 miles? What do you eat?"</i><br />
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<i>"Well, keep digging," I reply. He produces soggy, disintegrating Milano cookie bags. "Whatever my body tells to me to."</i><br />
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<i>"I don't get it." He muses. "If we have the same diet, then why don't we look the same?"</i></blockquote>
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At 6:50 AM on Wednesday, July 22nd, a dream began to take the first steps into reality. Since moving to the great state of New Hampshire for a career-shaping opportunity in 2011, I have been enthralled by the landscapes, history and people of Coös County, New Hampshire's most northern and largest county. The entire area of Coös County is about the size of Rhode Island and boasts the total population of a small city (32,000 or so). Nicknamed the "Empire of the Trees," this land has been left mostly undeveloped and instead used for the primary economies of timber harvest, paper product and outdoor recreation. It is a veritable forgotten paradise of wilderness experience, and this is what led to the creation of the Cohos Trail over the last twenty years by a small group of audacious, energetic individuals. The same reasons led to my first steps over the Bemis Bridge at the head of the Davis Path that morning with my compass pointed north, my pack light and a resolution to follow the yellow blazes non-stop until Canada was in my sight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8jz7S_Jns4wJapOmiD_zHX5XZPK2oScZ4-8nDA4qUWCrpd5AYwkoINgN-uLb-WYQc_KL20x9iDjYSiWaEtC1hql7h8mB1K6CagOhfCsx3mC31L67qJpBfoVdpit9FOp_dlwGAM6lfbk/s400/IMG_4530.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first good view from the Davis Path, looking southwest across the White Mountains. The Cohos Trail makes a hardy zig-zag across the southern ranges of the Presidentials before leaving popular White Mountain areas entirely.</td></tr>
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<b>Day One (Hours 1 - 24): Montalban Whites,</b> <b>Southern Presidentials, Mt. Martha, Jefferson Dome, Kilkenny Ridge</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyo09S41y-eCOw_FN-2y65-G_mjDFcuaWPPeHsVoqOAE2uagH_5gzNP0QimATVwMxv6h-h48BYfZca2vi2YxkBsZJ5EYwWL4TcFgEIpYYhoYWJCfkwnQ9b9FfTS6_EIFMSs4V41iE8ds/s1600/cohosmap_day1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyo09S41y-eCOw_FN-2y65-G_mjDFcuaWPPeHsVoqOAE2uagH_5gzNP0QimATVwMxv6h-h48BYfZca2vi2YxkBsZJ5EYwWL4TcFgEIpYYhoYWJCfkwnQ9b9FfTS6_EIFMSs4V41iE8ds/s400/cohosmap_day1.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
When you're actively seeking a speed record on a certain route, it can be hard to suppress a hard effort early on. As I coursed comfortably over familiar trails in the Montalban Whites, Dry River Wilderness and Southern Presidentials, I had to constantly remind myself that this was not a normal undertaking. I was grappling with the reality (surreal at the time) that I was going to be on this trail non-stop for up to three days, and I couldn't afford to go my standard White Mountain pace. Trying to kick back and enjoy it all, I took pictures left and right and began my regimen of photographing every trail junction (for timestamp verification of where I was, and at what time). I wore a light pack through a lot of this first day, with my full overnight pack cached at the beginning of the Kilkenny range - the theory being that these more technical opening miles would be easier without it.<br />
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The first tastes of new trail came upon exiting the Edmands Path and drifting easily downhill through ski trails maintained by Bretton Woods and the Mount Washington Hotel. All went well until I made the mistake of closely examining the knee-high brush I was running through - monoculture poison ivy. My biggest fear, my worst enemy. It's easy to become complacent about watching for it in northern New Hampshire, where it almost never occurs...and then it strikes! I immediately dove into the nearby Ammonoosuc River and scrubbed HARD. Luckily, I had gone through the worst of it and didn't see any more for the remainder of the trip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjJFUkuHRg9cf80ysSVVlztv5ZlqMOv9DAzf_FcjC_hbSUxK3HZ64SrJdA1rkvF6ff0JPQDhAkEGj34lY-eF1rSOI7Hduah5iYgYXDZfSqps-VSRj5n_stCeC0pPqXwHNuoJmomNoWEo/s1600/IMG_4578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjJFUkuHRg9cf80ysSVVlztv5ZlqMOv9DAzf_FcjC_hbSUxK3HZ64SrJdA1rkvF6ff0JPQDhAkEGj34lY-eF1rSOI7Hduah5iYgYXDZfSqps-VSRj5n_stCeC0pPqXwHNuoJmomNoWEo/s200/IMG_4578.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHStH38o9WW3jN4TUnpoDJ8pkpb404Cupm3D4nUuy6pRJaH0vBIxeYrGbHev1drIEHF4Qfp3rsv3waz3CoRgCYyzMLV3e0rERt6IUhXBloGOzRu53KwinPBD2Wc_SBqFCxo5mtoas_VA/s1600/IMG_4551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHStH38o9WW3jN4TUnpoDJ8pkpb404Cupm3D4nUuy6pRJaH0vBIxeYrGbHev1drIEHF4Qfp3rsv3waz3CoRgCYyzMLV3e0rERt6IUhXBloGOzRu53KwinPBD2Wc_SBqFCxo5mtoas_VA/s200/IMG_4551.JPG" width="150" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0PVV5bVz0vUvarsbIyXCOaKVfoAnIOyyzd_u6I0DFIPEi4rY19CXfm8-3ilHIHMzCce0s4xjTaoX1fnDUxo0V4T5io1Huy0hzklaVceAyfv9CYNO1otzSbz0c5Ar00VZB3XAshyXk0s/s1600/IMG_4557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0PVV5bVz0vUvarsbIyXCOaKVfoAnIOyyzd_u6I0DFIPEi4rY19CXfm8-3ilHIHMzCce0s4xjTaoX1fnDUxo0V4T5io1Huy0hzklaVceAyfv9CYNO1otzSbz0c5Ar00VZB3XAshyXk0s/s200/IMG_4557.JPG" width="200" /></a>
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<b></b>A few confused, intrigued stares were received as the trail spat me out onto the Mount Washington Hotel golf course and rear lawn. Sharing their space with a dirty trail runner in very short shorts, men and women in bright linens carrying summery cocktails tried to disguise their rubbernecking. I made a show of sucking down a GU and intentionally smearing it across my face, and moved on. Service roads, Base Station Road and eventually a course down Route 302 took me back into the woods on Cherry Mountain Road. <br />
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The trail went comfortably up and over the Mt. Martha group of summits and through the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge in the valley beyond. Pondicherry might be the prettiest place on the entire Cohos Trail, with expansive views of the highest ranges in Coös County set amongst a huge valley of extreme ecological diversity. I took my time through here, the black flies took their time with my scalp, and soon I was making my way up the two-mile road walk on Route 115A to Jefferson Village.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLkemQyZL74vbuTidEEjhKPwtgIVnFdImwBk8unSnsPLIwcQIomBBSv4-iLsavirPWsGmrFZu5RuVeWdbgvaqMM2ervyd7tTKCJcKrYmivuRWXDO4Ws7t5BuiHTx1yF1Qc9fOoYbFXNY/s1600/IMG_4590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLkemQyZL74vbuTidEEjhKPwtgIVnFdImwBk8unSnsPLIwcQIomBBSv4-iLsavirPWsGmrFZu5RuVeWdbgvaqMM2ervyd7tTKCJcKrYmivuRWXDO4Ws7t5BuiHTx1yF1Qc9fOoYbFXNY/s320/IMG_4590.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slide Brook Trail to Pondicherry Rail Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge with Kilkenny in background</td></tr>
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Michael Walsh, an old friend, co-worker and Jefferson Village resident, surprised me by pulling up in his Sprinter van on his way home from work. I like Michael for many reasons, but one in particular - his care and love for the people he values and his lengths to help them extend past any societal niceties he might offend in the process. So in true form, Michael drove his large van at a top speed of 4mph all the way in to Jefferson Village so that he can pace me and we can have a conversation. After all, we hadn't laid eyes on each other since March of 2012! The traffic dealt with it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2jMhZcw3g8BuDMk8RMfqAZ6s38V1_QZhSRrMCcXWNre5R8lOfw71ZdQNZQCTI_nKoPQcwx_uAijz9ih1Rkuo2eX78sKxLm5e7NT3dGwgZEWhOYFXcEV9lvP_5fsZAbl87wjKyLa4DVw/s1600/IMG_4599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2jMhZcw3g8BuDMk8RMfqAZ6s38V1_QZhSRrMCcXWNre5R8lOfw71ZdQNZQCTI_nKoPQcwx_uAijz9ih1Rkuo2eX78sKxLm5e7NT3dGwgZEWhOYFXcEV9lvP_5fsZAbl87wjKyLa4DVw/s320/IMG_4599.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise guest-star!!</td></tr>
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In the village, I bought some spare batteries for the SPOT Gen3 tracking device that my friends at the <a href="http://www.emsoutdoors.com/">EMS Climbing School in North Conway</a> had allowed me to borrow for the journey. I found that having it tracking constantly drained the batteries in about 14 hours, so replacements happened often. Michael graciously treated me to a dinner of pizza and ginger ale, then drove half a mile to the Starr King trailhead to send me off when I got there. I walked briskly (trying to relax still) from the store to the trailhead, retrieved my overnight pack from the hollow tree in which I had cached it, changed out of wet socks, and then Michael joined me for the first mile of the Starr King trail which sits at the southern end of the intimidating Kilkenny Ridge traverse.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUiMKXZmIAjGp9cshq4z__2ytnxzt8kp5IDpMOtldBSbddfWKDe53BRq_fuHf_DsQBXXprkKeOX-rnQfd2qxlZTk2Q5-a0LwgJXjr7nk3dv7MGhIzzdHoCHNrGuWkoOXfy3l8HFePn6A/s1600/IMG_4604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUiMKXZmIAjGp9cshq4z__2ytnxzt8kp5IDpMOtldBSbddfWKDe53BRq_fuHf_DsQBXXprkKeOX-rnQfd2qxlZTk2Q5-a0LwgJXjr7nk3dv7MGhIzzdHoCHNrGuWkoOXfy3l8HFePn6A/s320/IMG_4604.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of Mt. Waumbek</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sumit of Mt. Cabot</td></tr>
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We bid a fond farewell, and my night-time traverse of the Kilkenny Ridge began. Through lush fern-dense understory I watched the sun set on my first full day on the trail and steeled myself for a long night of constant ups and downs. Technical terrain, eight summits and saddles, and an hour-long nap at the Cabot Cabin near Mt. Cabot's summit brought me through to sunrise on the shores of South Lake recreation area and the official 24-hour mark. <br />
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<b>Day 2 (Hours 24-48): Nash Stream Region, Gadwah Notch, Dixville Country and Coleman State Park</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhX6jnprbxTIFnoapKTEQEhhmvM3lmLeaNEtJWk0YSTgjiyyjNNwqyJadK82uxFtef4CjyA98xBnxI5omd7Kj1lQ92vnbtPOZnguQ5J6sjJv4_2Pq4f-7asyweCzPL-c08BQMjxDFvd8/s1600/cohosmap_day2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhX6jnprbxTIFnoapKTEQEhhmvM3lmLeaNEtJWk0YSTgjiyyjNNwqyJadK82uxFtef4CjyA98xBnxI5omd7Kj1lQ92vnbtPOZnguQ5J6sjJv4_2Pq4f-7asyweCzPL-c08BQMjxDFvd8/s400/cohosmap_day2.jpg" width="177" /></a><b> </b>The day dawned cloudy and moody as I picked up all the food from my first large cache at the South Pond Link and headed down to Route 110. This was the day I was most excited about: Nash Stream and Dixville are my favorite regions along the route and I would get to enjoy both before sunset. <br />
To get into the Nash Stream Valley, a CT trekker must first pass through Bald Mountain notch and behind the mighty Percy Peaks (the profile of which inspired the CT logo). I underestimated these trails; don't make the same mistake. Both felt like significantly hard climbs, especially after a full 24 hours on the feet. I was relieved to finally descend into the Nash Stream valley after what felt like forever - although a glance at my phone revealed that it had only been three hours. Time was starting to warp. Life gets interesting after a night without real sleep.<span id="goog_39056226"></span><span id="goog_39056227"></span><br />
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Now I was free to enjoy the flat roads and rolling trails lining Nash Stream. Sugarloaf Arm and the East Side Trail were a joy to tramp along, and I took a dip in the Devil's Jacuzzi to wash off the accumulated grime. A climb through spectacular meadows followed: Cathedral Meadow and Moran Meadow. Both are both managed openings in the forest for wildlife habitat, and they led me up through the northern reaches of the valley and into the dark heart of the Cohos Trail: Gadwah Notch.<br />
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As noted in a previous blog post, I had scouted this section with my friend Johannes back in June. Gadwah Notch has a certain mystic quality to it; nowhere else on the trail does one feel more removed from modern human life. All is quiet in this boreal wasteland, and only huge piles of moose droppings alert a human to other life passing through. This might well be the most geographically isolated place on the Cohos Trail, and I hope it stays that way. The trail beyond took me through familiar but rarely trodden terrain past the Baldhead lean-to and into Kelsey Notch, where the signs of civilization reappear. A series of ATV trails, wind turbine service roads, newly cut trail and ski trails took me past Dixville Peak and on to Table Rock at the edge of Dixville Notch.<br />
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Quickly I descended the Three Brothers Trail to the bottom of the notch (Highway 26) and my last large cache. My left achilles tendon had become aggravated and inflamed throughout the day; this was my time to make a judgement call. Pull the plug, save the tendon and get a ride home? Or risk damage to the tendon and limp through another sixty miles? That number made me sick. How was I going to baby my left foot for SIXTY MILES? Sunset was coming on, and after cooking a quick dinner I just decided to keep walking and postpone the thought. Here, I had a short history of 100-mile and multiday racing to lean back against: when things begin to break down and the wheels fall off, steady forward motion will generally solve the problems.<br />
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I limp-climbed the Sanguinary Ridge, and in full darkness the rain came. I missed a critical turn along the SST High Route. With rain flying in my headlamp beam, I navigated with map and compass through a maze of ATV trails and eventually found the High Route again, where it bottomed out and reconnected with the Low Route. In doing so, I had inadvertently missed the Panorama Shelter entirely, where I had planned to take a break. Soaked to the skin, I made my way through the head-high weeds along the trail to Tumble Dick Notch and eventually down to Coleman State Park, where I crashed out for 2.5 hours in their lean-to.<br />
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I was visited by fitful nightmares that woke me consistently, and each waking moment reminded me of how painful and swollen my achilles tendon had become. I knew it wouldn't feel good, but I had faith in this strongest of tendons, and I felt that I probably wouldn't tear it significantly or rupture it. It was getting swollen enough to make me consider cutting a slit in the rear of my shoe to accommodate the extra size.<br />
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Around 3 AM I packed my stuff, paid my $29 for the lean-to at the self-pay station, and set off on the long section of farm roads that would eventually take me to Lake Francis and the town of Pittsburg, my beacon of hope. The sun rose through thick fog and cloud banks as I wandered the upper reaches of the Stewartstown Plateau over to the Deadwater Region, and somewhere around the site of the old Weir Tree Farm, hour 48 ticked away.<br />
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<b>Day Three (hours 48-66): Connecticut Lakes and Boundary Mountains</b><br />
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<b> </b>The achilles tendon was under control (more or less), but now the constant water on the trail began to take its toll on my feet. Deadwater Road deposited me along the shores of Lake Francis, and five miles of the Cedar Stream road took to me to the trail bordering its eastern edge, a snowmobile lane that the Cohos Trail Association has named the Lake Francis Trail. Blisters and wet dirt abrasions began to spring up all over my feet during this push to Pittsburg, but there was no helping it - water is an unavoidable obstacle on the Cohos Trail, and only a foot cast of duct tape would begin to help.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First view of Lake Francis!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBzH-fFK69TG77EFX-lyXNQe67_bgyseduNysWYGBCDqEME3AaHR92hSGn_Qq-4-iku2JA4Kl2u9m3JWA7AVdKyQslkue1LiFsTg-dV2UDELM3GsUbmFy_x9Q782Qlb7BYasI04y4QxU/s1600/IMG_4695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBzH-fFK69TG77EFX-lyXNQe67_bgyseduNysWYGBCDqEME3AaHR92hSGn_Qq-4-iku2JA4Kl2u9m3JWA7AVdKyQslkue1LiFsTg-dV2UDELM3GsUbmFy_x9Q782Qlb7BYasI04y4QxU/s320/IMG_4695.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brunch on Lake Francis</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting worse.</td></tr>
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I made it to Young's Store in Pittsburg at 12:45 PM and began making the phone calls. I estimated my finish time at the Canadian Border to be somewhere around midnight, so it took a while to find a couple of friends with the right mix of crazy and tolerance of sleep deprivation who would be willing to pick me up at a far flung place late at night. My friend Laura Kathrein saved the day with a Facebook posting calling for volunteers, and the right amount of crazy answered the call: Danielle Jepson and Nick Blanco. "No problem!" they said. Wow. True friendship!<br />
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I began making my way into the hills north of Pittsburg at around 1:45 PM. The Prospect/Covell Mountain trail system took me behind the residence of Peter and Lainie Castine, two prolific trail builders in the region and the driving force behind finishing the Cohos Trail through the Connecticut Lakes. I chatted with Peter for a while as he was cleaning his chainsaw, and he wished me good luck on the final 30 miles.<br />
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The trails along the Connecticut Lakes are some the best in the system: 800' Bog Bridge, Moose Alley, and Fall in the River Trail were all a joy this evening, despite my disintegrating feet. My final sunset illuminated the hills above Second Connecticut Lake, and I shuffled on into what I hoped would be my final darkness.<br />
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Until a handful of years ago, the CT had a large gap here that caused the hiker to walk along Route 3 for many miles. That is all in the past, and a few new trails now eliminate the road walk. R&J Chaput Trail, the Black Cat system, and ultimately Sophie's Lane (a wide snowmobile corridor) took me along to the heavenly sign I had longed so badly for: "Canada/United States Boundary 500 feet ahead." Fighting through the last of the high weeds, I swam into the brightly illuminated perimeter of the customs compound and tapped my trekking poles to wake up Danielle and Nick, peacefully napping away in their car.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmLyA5V7PPJ62eAcEU439BLNJxeWyGhbrIB7EO9nc1yX7iPEt64j9rERbj_leGi8pEd8DE26pZIDZch-wrkoeWhr4onMYHXhXyEzPImeXHF-2S754O0CxGrDftgpLDGbvx1H5EQhIM0I/s1600/cohosmap_day3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmLyA5V7PPJ62eAcEU439BLNJxeWyGhbrIB7EO9nc1yX7iPEt64j9rERbj_leGi8pEd8DE26pZIDZch-wrkoeWhr4onMYHXhXyEzPImeXHF-2S754O0CxGrDftgpLDGbvx1H5EQhIM0I/s320/cohosmap_day3.jpg" width="142" /></a>I didn't realize how profoundly I had been affected by being alone for so long until the buoyant energy of these two friends brought me out from my void of emotion. I rode the high all the way up to Fourth Connecticut Lake, the northern terminus of the Cohos Trail. My official finishing time was 12:47 AM on Saturday, July 25th, almost exactly 66 hours after beginning on Wednesday. Nick graciously came up with me, and we shared shots of Maker's Mark to celebrate! He then carried my pack back down to the customs station. A crew of friendly border guards met us at the trailhead, and rightly enough were suspicious about our behavior: backpacks, middle of the night, possibly sneaking into another country. They searched us for contraband and upon finding none, we had a fun and celebratory hangout session in the parking lot. The guards were very interested in what we had been doing, and about how I had managed to do the trail in my chosen style. I even knew one of the border guard's sons, who was a participant on a 7-day backcountry trip I had led last summer! Small world here in Coös County.<br />
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<b>Aftermath</b><br />
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Four days later, I still am fighting to stay awake a full day. My left achilles tendon is regaining it's normal range of motion but still creaks and groans. My right foot has two numb toes, an injury I didn't realize until a day after finishing. And I am left with the familiar hollow emptiness of success: what did it all mean, and what is next? At least I know this: I fulfilled my dream of traversing my favorite region in a single push, fully expressing myself across the landscape where my heart feels at home. And in doing so, I hope that I have inspired others to realize this region as well. The White Mountains see many millions of visitors a year, and that area is getting loved to death: eroded trails, garbage at shelters, highways turning into parking lots. By heading further north, I believe that you will find what White Mountain pioneers found in the early 1800s: lightly used footpaths, duff underfoot, and a world that truly feels non-dominated by man. The Cohos Trail is your route to a true wilderness experience, few of which can still be found in the Northeast. Take it, and take care of it.<br />
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-- Rob Rives, 7/29/2015Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-9715711117518372942015-07-21T13:18:00.001-07:002015-07-21T13:18:10.915-07:00The Cohos Trail adventure begins TOMORROW!Hi all! It's official: I (Rob Rives) will begin my journey on the Cohos Trail starting around 7 AM tomorrow morning, July 22nd. While I'm on the trail, I'll be carrying a Spot Gen3 tracking device that will be broadcasting my track in 24-hour segments. You can follow it at: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/cohostrail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/cohostrail</a>. Thanks to the <a href="http://www.emsoutdoors.com/">Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing School</a> of North Conway for the loaner Spot device!<br />
<br />
Listed below is a tentative itinerary that I will be following on the trail. The times are all very approximate, and take into account a decent night's sleep each night. I fully intend on <b>not</b> sleeping full nights, and may even run through a night or two - so this information will become invalid if all goes well. The Spot track will have my up-to-date location at any moment. <br />
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Day 1: Davis Path trailhead to Cabot Cabin (54 miles)</b><br /><br />7:00 AM - Leave Davis Path trailhead, with watch and SPOT device tracking. Wearing small hydration pack with liquids and food for trip to Mt. Clinton road. Run Davis Path, Isolation West, Eisenhower Trail and Edmands Path to Mt. Clinton road.<br />
<br />1:00 - 2:00 PM - Begin running past Mt. Washington hotel, Cherry Mountain road and Cherry Mountain trails. Cross Hwy 115 and continue on Slide Brook, Rail Trail, Ramparts and Colonel Whipple. Right on Whipple Road, left on 115A to Jefferson. On towards Waumbek trailhead, where overnight pack will be cached. Drop smaller pack.<br /><br />6:00 - 7:00 PM - Begin Kilkenny traverse. Over Starr King, Waumbek, Weeks summits, down to Bunnell Notch. Up to Cabot Cabin. Cook dinner #1 and sleep a little.<br /><br /><b>Day 2: Cabot Cabin to Baldhead Mountain Shelter (35 miles)</b><br /><br />4:00 - 5:00 AM - Make quick breakfast #1 and begin walk north over the remainder of Kilkenny. Pick up large cache #1 at South Pond Link (12 miles from cabin). Continue on snowmobile trail, cross 110 to Bell Hill Road.<br /><br />8:00 - 9:00 AM - Continue north through Bald Mtn Notch, Old Summer Club, and behind Percy Peaks to Nash Stream Road. Jog off the road for Sugarloaf junctions, meet road again at end. Progress north through Moran Meadow, Bulldozer Flat and Gadwah Notch. Quick down and up miles bring me to shelter. Eat dinner #2 and assess. Further or not?<br /><br /><b>Day 3: Baldhead Mountain Shelter to Lake Francis Campground (40+ miles)<br /> </b><br />4:00 - 5:00 AM - Make quick breakfast #2 and continue to Kelsey Notch, Dixville Bypass, ski trails, Three Brothers Trail and Huntington Cascades to Wayside picnic area. Pick up large cache #2. <br /><br />8:00 - 9:00 AM - Cross Route 26 and continue up SST to High/Low Route junction. Take High Route, re-meet Spruce Trail and take Short Route to avoid Nathan Pond. Continue to Coleman State Park. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<br />12:00 - 1:00 PM - Continue down to Heath Road, Bear Rock Road and McAllaster Road. Up past Creampoke, Weirs Tree Farm view, Clarksville Bog and over to Dead Water Road. Take to Cedar Stream Road. Follow to Lake Francis Trail, and on to River Road. Leave trail to go to campground if necessary. Eat dinner #3.<br /><br /><b>Day 4: Lake Francis Campground to Fourth Connecticut Lake (26+ miles)</b><br /><br />4:00 - 5:00 AM - Make quick breakfast #3 and continue back to trail. Stop at Young's for supplies? Follow trail to Canadian border, making dinner #4 if and when necessary. </blockquote>
<br />That's all for now! The weather looks decent and I'm feeling strong. Time to go for a dance with the mighty Cohos Trail.<br />
<br />
-- Rob Rives, 7/21/2015Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-18440108170111168512015-07-01T13:53:00.001-07:002015-07-01T13:54:09.161-07:00Wet Wilderness: Scouting on the Cohos Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
According to the Cohos Trail website, "<b>Once beyond the Baldhead Shelter lean-to to the north, the trail is one of the least walked sections of the CT.</b>"</div>
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So we walked it.<br />
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"<b>The trail has become much more distinct in the ground, however, and is
quite easy to follow. You should still watch carefully for the yellow
blazes on the trees at all times.</b>"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMyj6wcLeqJV6IqxA79pX9MfPyP5Bb7ENp1DngWPj0Z0gah5GvahnEE9ICvY0dzvbcE-QNjqVk0L1ZVkUV9xTLs4wMFCjI4-kk_ON4eU_zxYyxF583FzevceACGHi-8TCNcwkpoJzprk/s1600/IMG_4402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMyj6wcLeqJV6IqxA79pX9MfPyP5Bb7ENp1DngWPj0Z0gah5GvahnEE9ICvY0dzvbcE-QNjqVk0L1ZVkUV9xTLs4wMFCjI4-kk_ON4eU_zxYyxF583FzevceACGHi-8TCNcwkpoJzprk/s400/IMG_4402.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blazes everywhere!</td></tr>
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We wandered through stunning country, visited more often by the feet of moose than those of humans, and enjoyed stellar signage and blazes the entire way. Even with the annual piles of spring blowdowns, recent logging operations and lush undergrowth trying to hide the trail, we found our way easily thanks to the efforts of the Cohos Trail Association through here.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new Dixville Bypass</td></tr>
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Beginning in Dixville Notch State Park, my friend Johannes and I walked the Cohos Trail south to the Baldhead shelter on Baldhead Mountain, a distance of ten or eleven miles. A mix of freshly cut trails, older woods paths, ATV trail and ski trails led us along. Consistent recent rains meant a healthy amount of water and calf-deep mud at times, but that's to be expected out here - far to the north of the heavily used, rocky trail madness in the White Mountains. It's all part of the Cohos Trail experience, and we relished the feeling of newness and relative obscurity in these woods - what pioneering trampers probably felt in the White Mountain region nearly two hundred years ago.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X0vKZ3jiygWnSpW508mXqvUmlOXmEJzbFl9b3yRPc_ypy0KmdggxF13vXaTB9jhPZxlTX_JlKqWOnVEZoD6iqL15iY_4aH_ieyhO1tK20otbcHKJhRYtcij_ROQeuYoqDrTO65cdGl8/s1600/IMG_4378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X0vKZ3jiygWnSpW508mXqvUmlOXmEJzbFl9b3yRPc_ypy0KmdggxF13vXaTB9jhPZxlTX_JlKqWOnVEZoD6iqL15iY_4aH_ieyhO1tK20otbcHKJhRYtcij_ROQeuYoqDrTO65cdGl8/s400/IMG_4378.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on Dixville Notch from the Table Rock summit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearing the top of the old Balsams Wilderness ski area</td></tr>
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We dropped our packs at the shelter and used the remaining daylight to ramble up to the height of land in Gadwah Notch, a little crook in the mountains that truly feels like the dark, boreal heart of the Nash Stream region. A drizzling rain greeted us there and progressed in intensity as we quickened our pace back to the shelter. We fitfully slept through a night of pouring rain and high winds that occasionally blew water into the shelter and sprayed Johannes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baldhead Shelter, the first shelter erected on the Cohos Trail. Views here reach the Carter-Moriah and Presidential Ranges!</td></tr>
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We retraced our steps the next day through occasional and then consistent rains, keeping us nice and soggy from the get-go. The main goals of the trip were met: we got a sense of how easy the trail was to follow (very, for the most part) and enjoyed the solitude of the Great North Woods. I couldn't be more excited about the upcoming speed effort in late July!<br />
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-- Rob Rives, 7/1/2015Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-11435161057223342782015-06-14T07:43:00.002-07:002015-06-14T07:43:07.945-07:00Donate to The Cohos Trail Association and receive...a rad HR sticker!The roving offices of Humanity Running have officially landed in the
Granite State! We are looking forward to five weeks of getting
re-acquainted with the Coös County region and preparing to fast-pack the
Cohos Trail. We're also hoping to get out and get dirty with The Cohos
Trail Association, put in some work hours on the trail itself, and hang
out with all of the amazing people who have worked hard for decades to
make this trail a reality. <br />
<br />
Between now and the
beginning of August, if you donate any amount over $5.00 to The Cohos
Trail Association in support of their work and this effort, Rob will
personally send you a sweet Humanity Running sticker in the mail!
Here's how it works:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Visit <a href="http://www.cohostrail.org/donate/">the TCTA donation page</a> and donate through their PayPal portal or send a check/money order to <br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>The Cohos Trail Association</strong><br />
<strong> PO Box 332</strong><br />
<strong> West Stewartstown, NH 03597</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</li>
<li>Email
us at humanityrunning@gmail.com and let us know how much you donated
and your mailing address. We'll take care of the rest!</li>
</ol>
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In no time, your mug/bottle/laptop/car bumper/etc. could look like this....<br />
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Stay tuned for more from the Great North Woods! Gotta go run...<br />
<br />
-- Rob Rives, 6/14/15Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-17892631694447031852015-05-06T08:14:00.003-07:002015-05-06T08:23:34.297-07:00Running the Cohos Trail to benefit the Cohos Trail Association<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Hello all! Temperatures are soaring, the snowfields are melting out and the rivers are flowing rich and heavy with the waters of a changing season. It's time to start looking forward to summer and autumn projects. As such, I'm VERY excited to announce Humanity Running's next fund-raising and awareness effort:</div>
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In late July of this year, I (Rob Rives) will attempt a fast-packing style thru-run of the 165-mile <a href="http://www.cohostrail.org/">Cohos Trail</a> in northern New Hampshire. This effort will be to benefit <a href="http://www.cohostrail.org/about/">The Cohos Trail Association</a> (TCTA), the fine folks who dreamed up this ambitious trail and continue to improve, build and maintain it (and all the shelters and campsites along it) to this day. The trip will likely take four to five days, and will be supported through personal food/gear caches as well as occasional aid at road crossings. If this current plan is successful, I will set a new FKT (fastest known time) for the Cohos Trail and a benchmark for future trail-running and fast-packing enthusiasts to shoot for. In running the Cohos Trail I aim to raise awareness of the stunning beauty and value of the Great North Woods, the rural region of New Hampshire that lies north of the well-traveled White Mountains.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the beginning of the Cohos Trail, looking south from the southern flank of the Presidential Range. From here, the trail heads north to the Canadian border and passes very little human habitation along the way.</td></tr>
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We have chosen this particular journey, and TCTA as the benefactor of the effort, because it is deeply connected with the core principle of Humanity Running - to take on unique endurance challenges that will both inspire and directly help the community and environment in a certain place. The Cohos Trail is not simply another American long-distance trail; it is a pathway through a region that lies far from urban sprawl and influence, and it endures through its ability to humbly sustain itself via natural resources, farming and tourism. The Great North Woods, as the region is known in its broader range across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, is the largest area of unspoiled land in the Eastern US that is also used by humans in sustainable manners. Many argue that outside pressures are being felt that could potentially alter the region permanently (<a href="http://www.nhmagazine.com/January-2014/Understanding-Northern-Pass/">see this article on understanding the implications of the Northern Pass Project</a>), and we feel that this is a time to do our part and highlight the natural wonders and importance of these areas, so that they may remain that way. The Cohos Trail is a regional attraction that will help bring more outdoors enthusiasts to the northern reaches of New Hampshire, and by documenting a thru-run of this trail we hope to aid in this inspiration.</div>
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If you are interested in supporting this journey and The Cohos Trail Association, here are some ways you can do so:</div>
<ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<li><b>Visit the "<a href="http://www.cohostrail.org/how-can-you-help/">How You Can Help</a>" section of TCTA's website</b>. If you are lucky enough to be a resident of the Great North Woods, this is where you will find information on how to directly help in sustaining and improving the Cohos Trail through volunteering and TCTA membership.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.cohostrail.org/donate/">Donate directly to TCTA</a>.</b> Funds, building materials, trail-work equipment - if it seems like it might help the trail in any way, it probably can! All of the above (and more) are thankfully accepted as donations to The Cohos Trail Association.</li>
<li><b>Volunteer with Humanity Running at Cohos Trail work days.</b> Shortly, TCTA will announce its summer maintenance and building projects for the trail and its structures. We will be participating in a few of these work days throughout the summer and highlighting the amazing work of TCTA volunteers, so come join us! Dates to come.</li>
<li><b>Join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#%21/groups/153039451407973/">Friends of the Cohos Trail Facebook page</a></b> for news on trail updates and frequent photographic inspiration from areas located on the trail.</li>
<li><b>Sharing information about this effort and The Cohos Trail Association</b> with friends and family and through your own social media. </li>
</ul>
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Stay tuned for updates! We will hopefully have more stickers for sale soon (or as gifts for donors to The Cohos Trail Association), and more news concerning Rob's training for the run and dates that we'll be volunteering with TCTA. Run happy!</div>
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-- Rob Rives, May 6th 2015</div>
Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-63709929863043690002015-04-15T08:35:00.000-07:002015-04-15T08:35:01.757-07:00Running for the Karma Project: Final NumbersHello friends! Our first effort, a 150-mile run to benefit the Karma Project of Sibuje Village in Nepal, was a huge success! We still have a couple of in-person donations coming in from friends close to Glen Young, Karma Project co-founder, but our combined totals are going to reach near the <b>$900 mark</b>. That might not seem like a large sum, but it will go a long way in helping the people of Sibuje Village to sustain and improve their way of life through education, medical training and the eventual goal of a reliable, sustainable tourism economy to the region. Ultimately, what is done with our raised funds will be decided the next time that Karma Sherpa and Glen Young meet with members of Sibuje; we will post updates as soon as this happens!<br />
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A couple of weeks ago, we had the honor of presenting Glen with a donation check that included all of the online-collected donations, which totaled <b>$560.00</b>. The remaining 300+ dollars have all come from offline, in-person donations. <br />
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We can't say this enough; thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your support of the Karma Project and Humanity Running! We are so excited to see this amount of response and interest in our dream of helping human and environmental causes through inspiring feats of endurance. You are all a part of the foundation that elevates these goals and dreams into the realm of possibility, and together we create a momentum that will see us into an enduring human future.<br />
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But we're not done yet! We will never be done. There is much running to come, and so many ways for running to inspire and help in worldwide issues. We already are laying plans for the next Humanity Running effort, and an announcement will be made soon. Here is a sneak peak at what is coming next:<br />
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- Robert Rives, April 2015Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-64762771797205256582015-03-03T12:07:00.001-08:002015-03-06T11:02:03.465-08:00Who Needs REM Sleep Anyway? A 150-mile Success Story for the Karma Project!150 miles. That's 792,000 feet. Or 316,800 average human steps. Slightly more than the width of the state of Indiana. Half a tank of gas for a non-hybrid vehicle. And the length that I ran/walked, in circles, in 47 hours, with no real sleep.<br />
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Suffice it to say: WE DID IT. Myself, along with a stellar group of crew and pacers (referred to from here on as Team Humanity Running, or Team Amazing), succeeded in Humanity Running's first effort: to complete a 48-hour run and rack up as much mileage as my body would allow. Adding extra fuel to the motivational fire was the knowledge that each mile I completed meant an extra dollar would be added to the community purse of a small, rural village in the mountains of Nepal to aid in the sustainability of their culture, way of life, and quality of life. In one week, we will close the <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/running-for-48-hours-to-benefit-karma-project-nepal/299032">online donation portal</a> for this effort, but donations can still always be made to the <a href="http://karmaproject-nepal.org/">Karma Project</a> in their support of Sibuje Village. Later this year, members of the Karma Project will meet with the Sibuje community and collectively decide on the most pertinent use of the most recent rounds of funds and physical donations; these will either go towards youth education, medical schooling, or towards a sustainable power initiative that will help Sibuje to end their reliance on wood for heating, which has caused deforestation and landslides around the community. Once these decisions are made, Humanity Running will be posting updates as to where the funds from this effort were used. Before I dive further into the events of this weekend, I want to extend a huge and hearty <b>THANK YOU</b> to all who supported this effort and the Karma Project through donations, loving words, and time spent keeping me awake, fed, watered and organized. This was truly, truly a team effort. Now for some highlights....<br />
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<b><u>Friday, February 27th</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Team Humanity Running saddles up and leaves El Portal, CA after everyone finishes a half day of teaching! Crew includes fellow outdoor educators Carolyn, Katie, Jade and Carrie (who will be joining on Saturday morning). We arrive at the start of the <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/tracysracing.com/razorback/home">Razorback Endurance Race</a> in San Martin, CA with over an hour of spare time before the starting gun (nice driving, Katie!).</li>
<li>6 PM start! Here is a photo with all of the 48-hour competitors (the seventh competitor, not pictured here, is Catra Corbett's running dachshund, named TruMan). I am second from left.</li>
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<li> I run on the through the sunset and night while Team Humanity Running goes grocery shopping, eats a Korean BBQ dinner, and beds down in the mini tent-city they have constructed. They picked up some serious caffeine supplies for the long nights ahead, and arranged all of my nightly needs within easy reach so that I could self-support on night one and they could get real sleep.</li>
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<u><b>Saturday, February 28th</b></u><br />
<ul>
<li>By daybreak, I have covered 100k (62+ miles). I manage to keep a good, consistent running pace of 12 minutes per mile all night long. More importantly, I have succeeded in abstaining from caffeine for this first night - not only will this help me in the latter two thirds of the run, but it is a huge personal accomplishment. This is the longest I have ever run without caffeine! Woohoo! Feeling good with the sunrise and stirring of my crew members.</li>
<li>Saturday is the big event day at Razorback. The 72-hour and 48-hour are already going, but every other event starts at 6AM this morning. These events include the 24-hour, the 100-mile, the 100k, the 50-mile, and the 50k. I think there might also have been a marathon and half-marathon, but I wasn't paying enough attention. Needless to say, there were suddenly a LOT more people out on the course! This was an emotional boost and something to help keep my mind occupied after a long first night. Here I am at mile 68, just after the other events have begun: </li>
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<li> Daytime is spent chugging along towards the 100-mile benchmark. The closer I get to 100 miles, the more dark and ominous the skies become. Each member of the crew joins me for one of the last four laps leading to 100 - this was such a fun way to "run the 90s" as I call it, where emotions seem to dip low for me (between miles 90 and 100). Miles 98 and 99 were spent in a downpour with Carolyn, and when I reached 100 we all retreated into the tent fortress for celebratory cocktails (mine was intentionally weak).</li>
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<li> After a brief attempt at sleep with no real success, my crew roused me at 5 PM to start my journey beyond 100 miles. The downpour had ceased and sunset was coming; things were about to start getting strange and confusing as sleep deprivation really set in. The second night out was going to be my hardest time during the race. </li>
<li>Through the night, my crew spent many laps with me to keep me sane and make sure I didn't weave around too much. I began developing stiffness, soreness and swelling in my lower right shin, so I completed the rest of the race with trekking poles and walking. I attempted naps at miles 122 and 128, but neither gave me legitimate sleep - just enough time with my eyes closed to fool my body into thinking some recovery had taken place. The temperatures dipped down into the mid-30s, but we kept consistently trucking and putting away miles. Here are Carolyn and I at the aid station around 3 AM on the second night:</li>
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<u><b>Sunday, March 1st</b></u><br />
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<li>Sunrise is heavenly. Jade, who was crewing and pacing me for the final hours of the night, helps me rally from my last attempted nap to greet the new day and month. Only twelve hours to go.</li>
<li>For most of Sunday, I agonize with myself over the possibility of quitting early to start caring for my obviously angry and possibly injured shin. When Katie paces me, we have a long philosophic discussion about what matters more in this case, and we get analytical with pros and cons until I'm so confused I give up thinking about it. Katie has had severe consequences from a similar injury in the past, so I'm taking her story into account and trying to be prudent but not too prudent.</li>
<li>What will eight more miles do to my leg that 142 haven't already done? Gunning for the finish. Me and the crew all share strong beers on the second-to-last lap to celebrate the inevitable 150 benchmark! From left to right, the wonderwomen: Katie, Jade, Carrie and Caro.</li>
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<li> My final lap to 150 miles is shared with all of my crew and two other extremely inspiring 48-hour participants, Gene and Francisco. Francisco is about to finish his first 100-miler, and he has fought through two days, one filled with intense knee pain, to do it! Gene was getting a mileage PR as well, with somewhere around 112-114 miles. It was so much fun getting to walk across that finish line as a large successful group. Catra Corbett wrapped up her 72-hour run around the same time (with 172+ miles!), so we grabbed a parting shot. TruMan covered his own 50k+ with those tiny legs! Aren't ultrarunners the coolest?</li>
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After all the hugs, celebrations, and awards for those few of us still left on the course, Team Humanity Running fled to a nearby motel in Gilroy for some serious shower time and shuteye. I had been effectively awake for 60 hours, and every member of the team had sacrificed large periods of sleep to ensure my safety and success. Time to black out. <br />
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Tracy and all of her co-directors and volunteer staff put on a STELLAR multi-day running event, through inclement weather periods and the complexities of running several different events simultaneously. On behalf of Team Humanity Running, thank you thank you THANK YOU for all of your hard work. The human spirit endures, in running efforts and in feats of organization, and ultimately in the mutual support that keeps our collective fabric from unraveling. Stay tuned for final updates of Humanity Running's contributions to the Karma Project, and be well!<br />
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-- Rob Rives, March 3rd 2015 Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-40712106590205716612015-02-23T11:51:00.002-08:002015-02-23T14:33:45.557-08:00Closing In!Excitement and nerves are running high - we are <b>four days</b> away from Humanity Running's first effort, the Razorback 48-Hour Run! The month of February has been filled with preparations for the run, word-of-mouth sharing of Humanity Running's mission, and introducing a greater audience to the work of the <a href="http://karmaproject-nepal.org/">Karma Project</a>. Here are some highlights:<br />
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<ul>
<li>First, <b>THANK YOU</b> to all of the wonderful people who have already <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/running-for-48-hours-to-benefit-karma-project-nepal/299032">contributed to the Karma Project</a> in support of the forthcoming 48-hour run. We have already raised <b>$250</b> in advance of the actual race, and we have heard from several potential donors that will be contributing amounts based on Rob's final mileage. This leaves us the potential of reaching the <b>$750</b> mark, which will fully fund a year's worth of high-school education for a resident of Sibuje Village! If we can climb towards the <b>$1500</b> mark, then we will be one step closer to ensuring that Sibuje villagers have trained, local medical personnel. </li>
<li>We developed and produced a few stickers to help spread the message of Humanity Running. Many more will be produced in the future, and we will be trading them for suggested donations towards Humanity Running's most current projects. Here is a photo of the first batch:</li>
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<li>A stunning team of experienced ultrarunners and exuberant enthusiasts has been assembled to assist and crew for Rob at the Razorback Endurance Race. Stay tuned for photographs and anecdotes from the Humanity Running Team on race day!</li>
<li>We have partnered with two cutting-edge, sustainability-focused nutritional companies for our first effort: <a href="http://yumbutter.com/">Yumbutter</a> and <a href="http://icebox-water.com/">IceBox Water</a>. In addition to creating delicious, wholesome foods and beverages, these companies both have a commitment to an enduring human future: Yumbutter through their <a href="http://yumbutter.com/pages/buyone-feedone">Buy One: Feed One</a> program, and IceBox Water through joining the One Percent for the Planet campaign and through their recyclable/compostable packaging. Rob tests the watery goods:</li>
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Well, that's about all for now! This Friday, at 6PM, Rob will begin the 48-hour run and we'll be posting updates to the Humanity Running <a href="http://facebook.com/humanityrunning">facebook page</a>. Thank you all again, and stay tuned for more!<br />
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-- Rob Rives, February 23rd, 2015 Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-67123018776594513592015-01-29T16:20:00.005-08:002015-01-29T17:03:02.658-08:0048 Hours To Benefit The Karma ProjectThe time is here! I'm very excited to announce Humanity Running's first awareness and fundraising effort:<br />
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On February 27th, at 6PM Pacific Time, I (Rob Rives) will begin a 48-hour running effort to benefit the the <a href="http://karmaproject-nepal.org/">Karma Project</a>, a non-profit organization dedicated to the sustainability of rural communities in mountainous regions of Nepal. The run will be done through participation in the <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=31068">Razorback Endurance Races</a> in San Martin, CA, in the 48-hour category. What this means is that I will be running on a two-mile loop course, continuously trying to rack up as much mileage as my body, mind and spirit will allow within the allotted two-day time period. Race officials will be keeping track of my mileage as I go, and I will be supported by a well-stocked aid station at the start of each loop. At the completion of the event, I will donate my total mileage in dollars directly to the Karma Project, in addition to all donations received until the race and immediately thereafter. If you are interested in supporting this run and the Karma Project, here are some ways you can do so:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Visit Humanity Running's <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/running-for-48-hours-to-benefit-karma-project-nepal/299032">fund-raising page</a> for this event, and donate online.</b> The donation page lists two readily attainable financial goals of the Karma Project: providing funds for Sibuje villagers to complete a high school education, and helping pay for the costs of medical courses and certifications for Sibuje villagers, who have no readily available medical services in their rural area. All funds collected through this portal will be combined with Rob's donation immediately following the race and donated as one lump sum, via check, to the Karma Project.</li>
<li>If you would like to donate but the internet isn't your preferred method, <b>contact Glen Young (co-founder of the Karma Project) directly for simple instructions on donating directly to the organization.</b> His email is glen@karmaproject-nepal.org.</li>
<li><b>Come out to the <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=31068">Razorback Endurance Races</a> and run with me to show your support!</b> I am allowed pacers after I reach 50 miles, but I am welcome to have friends and family at the loop's start/finish at any time. Extra points if you donate a dollar to the Karma Project for every mile you run with me!</li>
<li><b>Sharing the information about this run, and about the Karma Project,</b> with friends and family and through your own social media. Together, we can all have a positive effect on the people of Sibuje Village! </li>
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I will be posting updates about fund-raising efforts as we get closer to the race date. Thank you for reading and supporting Humanity Running and the Karma Project! Stay tuned for more,<br />
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-- Rob Rives, January 29th 2015 Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914828914585947304.post-20771517963378220102015-01-29T09:57:00.000-08:002015-04-27T11:53:43.776-07:00Welcome and About Us<div style="text-align: left;">
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Hello all! Welcome to the launch of Humanity Running. Throughout recorded human history, feats of physical, emotional and mental endurance have inspired epic legends, heroic tales, and even entire <a href="http://www.manataka.org/page1246.html">methods of living</a>. Prior to recorded history, humans developed physiological adaptations to environmental stresses that allowed them to endure and outlast hardship upon hardship. One could say that endurance is the defining characteristic of the human spirit. To go on, to live on, to keep innovating and evolving in the face of obstructions, complications and difficulties - this is to be human.</div>
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As humanity evolves and grows, we are constantly reconsidering how best to live amongst one another and within the confines of our planet's ecosystems. We have tried many times, and are still trying, to live outside of our planet's confines by "conquering" natural order. At the end of each of these efforts, we only find more complications, and we often find that we have detrimentally altered a collective resource. We must begin to find ways of living within natural order, and within the human community as a whole.<br />
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The goal of Humanity Running is to connect the idea of human endurance to our current, problematic state of human affairs. Our mission statement reads:<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Humanity Running will use the action of endurance running as a symbol for the indomitable vitality of the human spirit, and as a means of increasing awareness and funding for projects related to connecting this spirit with the environment that it needs in order to thrive." </b></span></div>
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As endurance runners, we will use the events that we create or participate in to inspire endurance in others, as well as inform public audiences about current issues in human rights and environmental sustainability at local, regional and global levels.<br />
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Stay tuned for information concerning Humanity Running's first endurance/fundraising effort, which should come out shortly! <br />
<br />Humanity Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713107854728536248noreply@blogger.com0