JustKev.in  •  From Lazyman to Ironman, one inactive guy's journey to triathlete (and everything else under his beer helmet.)
June 5th, 2010 | 41 views | 4 Comments »

report from mitchell & beyond

When a trip starts off with blue lights, things could get interesting…

Friday:

Jenn called to tell me that she unfortunately would not be able to join us on the trip.  She was sick.  Huge bummer!  She told me that she still wanted me to go and have fun, so I decided to stay with her Friday night and head up with Althea on Saturday morning.

Saturday:

I left the house about 10 til 5:00, about 5 minutes late.  I was to meet Andrew (who was driving Karen, Chad and Stephanie) at some point on I-485.  I called him to let him know that I was a little behind, and after a little chastising from Andrew, he told me he would stop along the shoulder of the exit for Tryon and I would flash my light when I saw him.  Well, the boys in blue beat me to him.  When I arrived, there were blue lights ablaze, so of course, I did not stop and let Andrew deal with that.  I got off onto Tryon and figured once Andrew got out of jail, he would give me a call.  Just kidding no jail time, but they were most interested why someone was stopped on the shoulder at 5 AM on Saturday.

After the excitement, we headed on.

We decided to stop at Waffle House along the way, of course.

We arrived at Mount Mitchell State Park parking lot about 30 minutes late of schedule, but not too bad.  We decided to summit Mount Mitchell first since the clouds were all low in the valley and there was a good view.  Also, there were very few people on the summit at this early hour.  1 down, 8 to go.

Next, we headed south to summit Mount Hallback.  This consisted of a bushwhack through relatively thick forest up a fairly steep hill about a 1/4 mile off of the trail.  There happened to be a sign (albeit a little loosely anchored) to mark the summit.  2 down, 7 to go.

After we returned to the trail, we continued on where we hiked past the first gate to the park, a few miles from the summit of Mount Mitchell.  We could tell at this time that the park we getting very busy as the weather was still nice on a Saturday of a holiday weekend.  Several motorcyclists were riding on the scenic roadway.

From there we hiked up a long gravel roadway that led us near to the summit of Mount Gibbes.  This was a slight bushwhack that took us near some very creepy buildings (some abandoned) that apparently were used at times by NC State University.  We found the summit that was not marked, but we are certain we were there.  Snapped some pictures and headed back to the parking area.  3 down, 6 to go.

Along this stretch, Karen, Andrew’s wife, let us know that her knees had been bothering her a good bit all day.  The terrain we were covering is very technical, especially for someone that has had a couple of surgeries and zero cartilage in one knee.  By the time we got back to the cars, we all needed a break.

We ate lunch and rested up before packing our overnight packs to head in the opposite direction towards Deep Gap for the night.  We got about 1/2 mile in and Karen was not doing well.  We could all tell she was in a lot of pain and we decided it would be wise to turn around before it got worse.  The last thing anyone wants is for someone to be 4.5 miles into the back country unable to walk.

We headed back to the cars and decided to still camp in the area so we set out to find a place.

All of the campgrounds we came to were full.  Apparently we weren’t the only people who decided to go camping in the area for the long weekend.  We finally came to a trail head where, after hiking along the trail for about a 1/4 mile, we found a decent place to make camp.  We headed to the cars, packed what we needed for the night and returned to set up.

We got a fire going and made dinner and told stories for a while before turning in.

The next morning we took it easy for a while before breaking camp.  Little else happened, but we did stop to eat at Sonic (since Zaxby’s wasn’t open yet) before heading for home.

All in all a great trip, but we will be back for the remaining 6 peaks!  Get well soon Karen!

P.S. The special places ended up being in restrooms, so nothing to note on that here.

Categories: Hiking/Camping, special places
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May 28th, 2010 | 24 views | 6 Comments »

mitchell & beyond!!!

Tonight, Jenn, Althea (Diego would not want to come…) and I will travel to Mount Mitchell State Park to be ready to start our hike to climb 6 9 peaks on the South Beyond 6000 list (SB6K).  We will meet up with Andrew, Karen, Chad and Stephanie tomorrow morning to start the hike.

First, we will head south to climb Mount Hallback (6320 feet) then on to Mount Gibbes (6560 feet).  From there we will return to Mount Mitchell State Park to eat lunch.  After lunch, we will head north on the Black Mountain Crest Trail to visit the peaks of Mount Mitchell (6684 feet), Mount Craig (6647 feet), Balsam Cone (6611 feet), & Potato Hill (6475 feet).  After we summit Potato Hill we will arrive at camp for the night.  We will camp at Deep Gap, where we hope to find a water source. 

Sunday morning we will set out for more peaks on the trail which will include Winter Star Mountain (6212 feet), Gibbs Mountain (6224 feet), & Celo Knob (6327 feet).  We will return to Deep Gap to camp again on Sunday night.

Monday morning we will return to the parking area and make our way back home.  I am sure it will be a fun and exhausting weekend, but I am so excited to be taking Jenn on her first backpacking trip!  I hope it is a great one and she will get hooked like the rest of us!

If we have views anywhere close to this, I will be happy!

Categories: Hiking/Camping
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May 12th, 2010 | 33 views | 9 Comments »

new running shoes

I just got a lunch time run of 3 miles and it happened to be the first run in my new shoes!

Of course, I bought them at my favorite running, cycling, swimming, triathlon store, TrySports.  Melissa has written on her blog several times about how great they are at TrySports.  Yesterday’s purchase experience was no exception.  Once I walked in, Jenn (an associate that has been there since I have started shopping there) recognized me, said hello and asked how I was and asked how Melissa is.  Now that is customer service!  Keep in mind too, that it has probably been 2 or 3 months since I have been in there.

Once I told them that I think I needed new shoes, they started their fit process.  They put me in a pair of Brooks, had me run on the treadmill to analyze how my feet contacted the treadmill when I ran.  They determined that I still needed a neutral shoe so she got a few out for me to try on.

I ended up deciding on a pair of Mizuno Wave Creation 10’s.  They have a different feel than my old Saucony’s.  Not that I didn’t like them, because I loved them, I just wanted to try something different to see if there was something possibly better out there.

After my first run, I still like them.

They are interesting because the cushion is really different than that of a normal shoe.  Instead of cushion all over the bottom of the shoe, your foot rests on a sturdy foot-bed and the ankle area is supported by several cushion “points” so-to-speak.  I will show the picture so you can see what I am talking about.

Of course, I had them put a pair of Yankz! in for the ease of use that they offer.  When they asked me what color, I said “white, I guess” to which they promptly told me that was boring so we compromised and I ended up with reflective white.

After getting the shoes, I met up with Andrew, Breanna, Chad and Stephanie at REI to get some food for Mitchell & Beyond coming up memorial day weekend!  Two of my favorite stores in one day woohoo!  Oh, and did I mention that I was able to convince Jenn to join us this time for her first backpacking trip!?  So excited!

Categories: Hiking/Camping, Triathlon Training
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March 24th, 2010 | 1 views | 4 Comments »

Roan Mountain Trip

This past weekend’s trip to the Roan Mountain Highlands was fantastic.  I joined Melissa, Althea (my dog), Andrew, Karen, Chad, Stephanie, Tyler, Chris and Aaron for a trip to summit 3 of the peaks on the SB6K list of 40 peaks in the southern appalachians that are over 6,000 feet in elevation.

The weekend started late Friday night when Melissa and I drove up to the trail head and arrived around midnight.  We slept in the car with Althea and ended the short sleep at 5:30 to get ready to start hiking.  Andrew and the others arrived around 6:00 and we set off on the hike a little after 6:30.

Althea

We first summited Grassy Ridge Bald.  This hike is phenomenal.  Especially with perfectly clear skies and the sun rising over the mountains in the distance.  Almost a surreal, inspirational experience that reminded me (not that I needed it) of why I do these things.  To experience such a beautiful landscape is a feeling for me that I cannot put into words.

Sunrise on the way to Grassy Ridge Bald

The group minus Melissa (photographer)

Self Portrait

This was an out and back trail that brought us back to the cars.  After finalizing our packs for the rest of the trip, we set out in the other direction for the second peak, Roan High Knob.  This peak was 100 feet or so away from the Appalachian Trail Shelter that we were to sleep in on Saturday night.  The peak itself was somewhat disappointing with no sweeping views; not even a sign or marker to tell you of your accomplishment.  We made it a little more interesting, thanks to Melissa’s camera angle.

Me "climbing" to the summit

Andrew "climbing" to the summit

Lunch cooking!

Roan High Knob Shelter

After some lunch, we set out for the third peak, Roan High Bluff.  At this point in the day, the snow had warmed up quite a bit and very often, we would find that a foot would randomly fall about 3 feet into the snow.  This made the hiking much more difficult than we thought it would be.  Once we reached the third summit, we were all exhausted.  We made it back to the shelter and even experienced some trail magic: a timely encounter with a snow plow!

On the top at Roan High Bluff

Stuck in the snow again...

Yay for the snow plow!

Check out the massive amount of snow there!

That night, we ate dinner, sat around a warm fire and generally celebrated the day.  We hiked down the next morning and in the end, hiked 12.62 miles in 8 hours, 19 minutesand had a total elevation gain of 3,202 feet.  It leaves me with one question: when’s the next trip?

Me (with my right leg in the snow) & Althea

An awesome bench and "wall" of snow that Chris and Chad built

A very warm fire!

Categories: Hiking/Camping
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March 17th, 2010 | 0 views | 4 Comments »

Roan Mountain!

250px-Roan_RhodiesWith only 2 days to go before I leave for Roan Mountain, I am getting very excited.  I have been going through my pack and trying to think of anything I have left out.  As Andrew pointed out, I failed to list a bear bag on my previous post.  I use the waterproof stuff sack that I pack my food in as my bear bag.  I also bring an Opsak to store food in that makes it undetectable if used correctly.  The bear bag will be hung in a tree far from our campsite to keep the bears away!

What have I missed?

Categories: Hiking/Camping
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March 12th, 2010 | 14 views | 11 Comments »

Roan Mountain To Pack List

grassyridgeFor those of you that might think a back country hiking trip is intimidating, I hope to simplify the task by sharing my pack list.  This trip is a one night trip that includes sleeping in a shelter, so it is more or less a very light weight trip compared to those that require a tent and more food and clothing.  I plan to drive to the trail head the night before and be back at the car for breakfast the morning after we camp, so I will be able to leave some things in the car, too.  I will also bring my dog, Althea, along and she has her own pack to lighten my load (and expel some of her abundant energy!)

For my backpack:

  • Food/snacks (a little extra just in case)
  • Stove
  • Gas
  • Pot to boil water in
  • Spork (an all in one fork, spoon and knife)
  • Lighter, fire starter
  • Extra Clothes – socks, liners, underwear, undershirt, rain jacket
  • Pack cover
  • TP and shovel (for the special places…)
  • Multi-tool
  • Cordage
  • First Aid Kit
  • Water bottles, bladder
  • Steripen (water purifier)
  • Tripod
  • Camera
  • Sleeping bag
  • Hammock
  • Slap straps (to hang hammock)
  • Sleeping pad
  • Flashlight
  • Headlight
  • Spare Batteries
  • Summit/day pack

To wear when I set out hiking:

  • Hiking pants
  • Socks
  • Liner socks
  • Boots
  • Hiking shirt
  • Undershirt
  • Garmin watch

For Althea’s Pack:

  • Dog food
  • Leash
  • Dog bowl
  • Water bottles
  • Bear bell

To bring & leave in car:

  • Tent
  • Extra sleeping bag/pad
  • Cooler with water and Mountain Dew
  • Fleece Jacket, hat and gloves
Categories: Hiking/Camping, special places
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March 11th, 2010 | 0 views | 7 Comments »

Roan Mountain Trip

Next weekend, I will travel to the Roan Mountain Highlands to do some backpacking along the Appalachian Trail.  I will drive up late Friday night with Althea, sleep in my car and await Andrew and others to arrive early Saturday morning.

We will begin our hike east to Grassy Ridge Bald.  Then we will come back to the trail head and hike west to Roan High Knob.  We will then continue on to Roan High Bluff.  Each of these peaks are listed on the Carolina Mountain Club’s South Beyond 6000 list of 40 peaks in the southern Appalachians over 6000 feet.

Roan High Knob Shelter

Roan High Knob Shelter

After Roan High Bluff, we will return to Roan High Knob, where a shelter awaits.

I am extremely excited to be going on this trip and to this area I have not had the privilege to explore as of yet.

And of course, I will update my special places as well!

Categories: Hiking/Camping, special places
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March 10th, 2010 | 0 views | 8 Comments »

a new look at training

Last year, when I started swimming, biking and running, training for triathlons and running events, those three activities were all I really had time for.  This year, I am going to try something different and include fitness exercises on a regular basis to tone muscles not necessarily used directly in each of those activities.  The goal here is to advance my overall fitness and abilities.

One way I plan to do this is with the help, yet again, of the Wii.  You may remember that the Wii initially motivated me to become healthier and lose weight with Wii Fit.  This year, with the recommendation of my friend, Andrew, I will use Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010.  I am on my first week of the program, but it appears to really whip you into shape.  the workouts are intense circuit style and last nights consisted of:

  • Running (in place) ~5.5 minutes
  • 25 push-ups
  • 20 back kicks (1 rep consists of kicking leg straight back and “punching” with both arms then repeat with other leg)
  • 20 sledge swings (1 rep consists of swinging the Wii remote like you would a sledge hammer on one side of your body then repeat on other side)
  • 25 water pumps (holding Wii remote with both hands at your chin then squatting down bringing remote almost to the floor then back up)
  • 20 boat poses (half sit-up at the same time bringing both legs up to form a “V” with your body)
  • Quick stretching (knees to chest while laying on the floor)
  • Running ~5.5 minutes
  • 25 push-ups
  • 40 sledge swings
  • 20 back kicks
  • 25 water pumps
  • 30 sledge swings
Jillian Michaels

Jillian Michaels

This all left me completely exhausted, especially after running a little over 2 miles at lunch yesterday.  I will continue the 2-3 runs during the week and a long run on the weekends.  I will also try to cycle to work and home when the weather permits.  As long as I can get to the pool or lake, I should be set for the triathlon season fast approaching!

I have a hiking trip with Andrew and others coming up on 3/20/10 in the Roan Mountain Highlands.  I will certainly keep you posted on that with (I hope) wonderful pictures from the trip.  I am also looking forward to taking Althea along on the trip as well!

I look forward to what this training will add to my abilities.  And with a trainer that looks like that, how can you resist?

Categories: Hiking/Camping, Triathlon Training
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January 22nd, 2010 | 0 views | 1 Comment »

Bear Safety

Recently, I traveled to Mount Mitchell in North Carolina where you have to realize the fact that you are sharing the space with black bears.  This brings up talks of bear safety.  Andrew and I have always joked that perhaps the “just play dead” technique is really a suggestion by bears themselves to make us easier targets.  The bear population would put out a notice such as this:

When in bear country, remember this: if you see a bear, the best thing to do is to lie down and pretend you are dead.

Signed,

The Bears

While that theory may be a bit far fetched, it is strange and fascinating the different techniques for protecting yourself from a bear.  There are products commercially available that claim bear protection such as pepper spray, noise makers designed to deter an interaction and even electrified fences that would provide a protected perimeter.  I have heard that if you pee around the site where you make camp, it will deter them as well.  Everyone seems to think hanging any food and items that have an odor will help keep them away while you are sleeping.

bearAndrew shared an article with me that prompted this post.  It tells the story of how a woman fended off a bear by throwing her IPhone at it.  I immediately thought of you, Melissa!  It seemed to work by distracting the bear, but perhaps we should reach for something less valuable than an IPhone to throw.  Perhaps a rock would do the trick?  Of course, carrying a firearm with you would do the trick as well.

Categories: Hiking/Camping, Random Thoughts
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January 12th, 2010 | 1 views | 4 Comments »

MitchellWinter 2010

This past weekend, I made the annual winter trip to Mount Mitchell.  On Friday night after work, I drove my Toyota 4Runner in a 2 car caravan with Chad riding with me and Andrew and Tyler in Andrew’s Toyota FJ Crusier.  Both our vehicles are equipped with 4 wheel drive and with the snow that had fallen in the previous days in the mountains of North Carolina, we felt it best to go up with a second vehicle.

We arrived at Black Mountain Campground around 10:45.  We had received word from Jeff’s friend Chadd that he was on his way and would be there soon.  He arrived at about 11:30 and the 5 of us got ready for a 3 mile hike to Mid Camp, where Melissa, Jeff, Chris and John were already set up.  About 1/2 mile up, Chadd was having knee problems.  He told us that he has had surgeries and the cold and his heavy pack were giving him problems.  He was going home.

The four of us continued up in the hard packed, basically frozen snow.  And yes, I realize that snow is already frozen, but this snow was solid and very slick.  Thanks to YakTrax that I had picked up from REI the week before, I had little to zero problems hiking on the ice.

We made it to Mid Camp around 2:15 Saturday morning.  We set up in the cold air that read on Jeff’s thermometer at 4 degrees.  I was thankful there was little wind.  I crawled into my sleeping bag in my bivy sack on the snow and tried to sleep.

I woke up around 6:00 and I had to pee.  It was still dark outside and no one else was up.  I tried to hold it for a while, but finally had to get up.  After I got back in my bag, I warmed my feet with my hands and then laid back down for a while.  All of a sudden I heard someone yelling in the distance.  I yelled back and then soon realized that it was Chadd.  Jeff summed it up nicely, “Hey Chadd you crazy bastard.”  Apparently, Chadd drove back home, unloaded his pack some and returned to meet up with us, hiking by himself in the dark.

We got a fire going and thawed out the feet.  We made some breakfast, which for me consisted of a freeze dried meal from Mountain House that was scrambled eggs with ham and green and red peppers.  It hit the spot, but I think anything warm would have been great.  We geared up for a summit hike and left just before noon – later than we should have left.

Melissa, John, Andrew, Chad, Tyler and I started up the mountain and it hit me, (like it does every trip there) how amazing it is to have such a diverse landscape so close to home.  It really does feel like you are on another world compared to Charlotte.  And it is a mere 2 hour drive!

At around 2:15, I ask Melissa if she wants to hike in the dark and she says no.  We had already discussed turning around at 2:30 to get back before dark.  It was 2:15 and we had 1.5 miles to go to the summit.  We decided to turn around and the other 4 went on to the top.

We got back to the camp where Jeff and Chris had a fire going and we got warm and dry.  the others made it back just before it got dark with their tales of how extreme the conditions were at the top.  Their frosted beards proved such conditions.

We made dinners and several turned in early to get warm in their sleeping bags.  Melissa, Chris and I stayed up a bit and talked and listened to the “I must be camping with Jeff” music by Johnny Cash.

Sunday morning I woke up and was extremely cold.  I was worried about my feet that I could barely move.  Jeff made a fire and I warmed my toes that had turned a shade of white/yellow and finally got their color back and stopped hurting.  I packed up and headed down the mountain with Chad, Andrew and Tyler.  Melissa, Jeff, Chris and John stayed back and made coffee and breakfast.  I had my sights set on food and a toilet at the nearest Waffle House!

We mad it to Waffle House around 12:00 and after hitting up the toilet (new Special Place, thanks Waffle House!) I ate a waffle, hash browns, eggs, toast and of course, bacon!

It was a great trip and it reminded me of why I love to hike and camp, but I have decided that, with my current equipment, my threshold on low temperatures is around 15-20 degrees.  The 4 degree temperatures were uncomfortable in my currnet sleeping system.  Perhaps a tent and battery-powered socks (good tip, Chad) are what are needed to get a good night’s sleep in such conditions.

Andrew, Kevin, Tyler and Chad After the Hike

Andrew, Kevin, Tyler and Chad After the Hike

Categories: Hiking/Camping, mitchell winter, special places
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