Mount Marcy, New York (5,344)

8th High Point Visited
21st Highest State High Point
14th Most Difficult

summitpost.org
wikipedia.org

Mount Marcy (5,344), New York - State Highpoint #8

Third of three high points planned for week prior to Ironman USA in Lake Placid. Three days earlier while in a local bar, I asked some hikers what they recommended for a good day hike. They claimed there were much better peaks to climb instead of Mt. Marcy. They talked me into doing Gothics instead. Gothics was an adventure in itself, but 3 days later I came back to NY after summiting New Hampshire and Vermont.  Mount Marcy is a long day of hiking 7.4 miles to the summit. The day was great. Little muddy at the start, but the trail was very gradual. Found a waterfall which was perfect for a snack and photos. Continued the hike and passed several groups on the way up as the "red" team!  Near the summit the plant life is rare and endangered therefore you must stay on trail after certain elevation. The top was all rocky above the trees. From the top you could see everywhere, all the way across to Vermont and also Lake Placid below. There was also a member of the ADK club at the top answering questions for anyone that reaches the summit.

 

Mount Washington, New Hampshire (6,288)

7th High Point Visited
18th Highest State High Point
38th Most Difficult

summitpost.org
wikipedia.org

Mount Washington (6,288), New Hampshire - State Highpoint #7

2nd of three high points planned for week prior to Ironman USA in Lake Placid. The trip from Vermont was full of sights to see again. There were covered bridges everywhere, stopped in Bath to take picture. Traveled through Bethlehem, a Jewish retreat community, passed the Mount Washington Resort, and finally near sunset arrived to a surprise of Crawford Notch. Made camp near the base and went back to the Resort for dinner. Main dining room was jacket and tie, so went downstairs for a more casual experience. Mt. Washington (6,288) was to be my highest point to date. With a race only a few days away, it was a relief to sit back and enjoy the ride up on the COG railroad. For $44 the train went straight up the mountain, at one point 34 degrees! The steam engine was coal powered and originally used for mining. Great trip as it got colder and colder the higher we got. There is a big weather station and visitor's center at the summit. Lots of people drove up the opposite side, but hard on a car! Also Appalachian Trail goes across the ridge of Mt. Washington. Lots of cairns along the trail to help hikers in tough foggy weather conditions.

 

October 3, 2015

See 2015 Recap, Pictures, from 2nd visit to Mt. Washington

August 3, 2019

See 2019 Recap, Pictures from 3rd visit to Mt. Washington 

Mount Mansfield, Vermont (4,393)

6th High Point Visited
24th Highest State High Point
34th Most Difficult

summitpost.org
wikipedia.org

Mount Mansfield (4,393), Vermont - State Highpoint #6

1st of three high points planned for week prior to Ironman USA in Lake Placid. Leaving the Trail's End B&B the goal was to drive to Vermont, hit the high point Mt. Mansfield (4,393) and travel on to New Hampshire.

The day was full of adventure, first highlight crossing Lake Chaplain by driving across a bridge before Middlebury, a neat little town with an old university. Had a very scenic ride to Stowe, the headquarters of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Took a factory tour and into town for lunch on an outside patio five miles from the base of Mt. Mansfield. Mt. Mansfield is atop of Stowe ski resort.

There are many hikes up to the top, but the easiest was chosen aided by a gondola sky ride to near the summit. Looking at the mountain from afar, it was hard to see exactly if the right side or left side was the summit. I took a good panoramic shot (2 photos together) for the complete view. With only 600 more feet to climb, made way on foot to the summit.

View was incredible, could see high peaks all over the place, could see back across Lake Champlain, could see New Hampshire. There was a guide at the top answering questions. Above a certain altitude alpine vegetation exist which is very rare and protected. The climb although not taking more than an hour, seemed to be very technical. If the rocks would have been wet, there could be slippery spots. Climbed back down to the gondola and headed toward New Hampshire.

 

 

Sawteeth-Gothics

 

2000 Small Business of the Year Award

 

Bachelor Party Las Vegas

 

Country Music Marathon (Tennessee)

April 29, 2000	Marathon 11, State #6 (Age 31)
Nashville, Tennesee	3:18:36

https://www.runrocknroll.com/Events/Nashville

 

Accommodations at Nashville's finest and most conveniently located hotels have been reserved for participants at special discounted rates.  For official hotel listings and to make a reservation at the special discounted rate, participants must call Sweet Magnolia Tours at 877-CMM-NASH (266-6274) or book online.  The discounted rate is not available by calling the individual hotels directly.

For additional information on Nashville sites and sounds, please call the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-657-6910.

The Expo is open to the public and free!  The fitness & Music Expo is held at the beautiful Nashville Convention Center.  The downtown location is easily accessible by car.  All participants must pick up there race numbers, computer-timing chips, goodie bags and T-shirts at the Expo.  This Expo Rocks!  Plan a few hours to peruse the booths.  There will be great buy buys in running shoes and apparel, plus lots of free samples, sweepstakes, interactive displays as well as, of course, music.  Get nutrition, health, fitness, financial and high-tech information.

$80,000 in cash and prizes await the men's and woman's marathon invitational fields.  Commemorative awards will be presented 3 deep in 13 age divisions for both men and women in the marathon and 15 age divisions in the 1/2 marathon.  All marathon and 1/2 marathon participants will receive an official event T-shirt and goodie bag.  All finishers in both races will be rewarded with a commemorative medal at the finish line and a Finisher's Certificate by mail.

Much more difficult (hilly) than the newest course design!  The Country Music Marathon starts at the Adelphia Coliseum, the new home of the Tennessee Titans.  Along the way you'll pass many of Nashville's scenic and historic points of interest including the Ryman Auditorium (original home of the Grand Ole Opry), Music Row, Belmont University, Bicentennial Mall, the state Capitol building and beautiful Shelby Park.  The course has a number of rolling hills; however, there is a 120-foot net elevation drop between the start and the finish.

With 50 bands playing live on 27 stages, hundreds of cheerleaders and thousands of spectators along the course, this event always will rock Nashville in a city-wide party.  Jazz, country, rock 'n' roll, swing and more will pulsate the course and get you to the finish line...don't worry the party doesn't stop there.  Enjoy live music at the finish line sate, sponsor exhibits and more food and drink at this rockin' post race party.

 http://www.50states.com/tennesse.htm   All About Tennessee

http://nashville.citysearch.com/profile?id=11340382  City Search: Nashville

http://www.nashvillecvb.com/  Nashville Convention and Visitor's Bureau

http://www.opry.com/  Grand Ole Opry

http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/  Country Music Hall of Fame

This was my 2nd marathon I traveled out of town with my good friend John.  We drove to Nashville from Columbus, Ohio with his girlfriend Teresa.

All marathons I travel out of town for are fun and memorable in some way.  This marathon was especially fun and a jam packed weekend.  We arrived in Nashville Saturday and picked up our packets at the grand expo.  With so much to do in such a lively city we were able to visit the Nascar Cafe for lunch, the Country Music Museum, and then the Old Spaghetti Warehouse for our pre-race pasta loading dinner.

The marathon was amongst my fastest and I greatly enjoyed turning every corner waiting to hear the next band playing.  I'm a music fanatic and very energized by the live music along the course!  After the race we met up with some friends for dinner and later live music at one of the local taverns.

Sunday was a long ride home after a day of running and a late night of drinking!