It's two weeks later and the dust has settled on Hyner Mountain. My sexagenarian sinews, muscles, ligaments and bones finally have recovered from the beating they took in traversing the 16.8-mile, 4,222-foot vertical gain course that was the third annual Hyner View Trail Challenge.
What was it like, step-by-step, for my 60-year-old, reasonably fit body (I'll be 61 on May 8) to carry me up into and then down and back out of one of the most rugged, mountainous areas in north central Pennsylvania? To jog and hike for almost six hours on a course described by Dave Hunter, one of the event's organizers, as "designed to reward those who train and punish those who don't."
I'd say it was an exhilarating, exhausting, exalting, excruciating, extraordinary, extreme experience. It tested me not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
Just before 8:30 a.m. on April 18, I and about 700 other entrants lined up outside the Western Clinton Sportsmen's Association's (WCSA's) Nature and Environmental Center for the start of our test of fitness, endurance and willpower. We were blessed with a sunny, low humidity day, with the temperature forecast to reach into the 70s.
With my small, handheld tape recorder running (I carried it, alternating hands, during the entire hike to record my impressions along the way), I briefly interviewed some of those folks standing around me, while we pawed and pranced in place, releasing some pre-race nervous energy. My question to all was, "What is your goal?"
Harland Bergstrom, a 51-year-old from Williamsport, who was there for the first time, said, "To finish - I'm looking probably for something under six hours. I've been on the trail before hiking. I expect this'll be interesting."
Nelson James of Sunbury, standing by me holding his wooden hiking stick, was back again at age 80! "I'd like to do it in seven hours, but it's hard to say," he told me. Also holding a bagel, he explained, "My daughter came up and handed it to me; now I don't know what to do with it."
Judy Koch of Lock Haven was participating for the second time. She admitted, "I'm kind of a little lame, so I'm looking at just walking, hoping still to do under six hours. I like to walk fast, and I'll try to move it downhill a little bit."
Jim Hyland, a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Forest Program Specialist from Jersey Shore, told me, "My main goal is to finish in under six hours and beat Dave Kagan" (who breezed by him the previous year going up Johnson Run Hollow and finished well ahead of him). Hyland's wife, Sherry, and son, Jimmy, also were competing this year, and daughter Molly was serving as a volunteer.
Katrina McAndrew of Lock Haven had told me earlier, before the entrants had massed at the starting line, "My son is actually taking my spot. The Megatransect did my knee in, so I'm not jeopardizing it." Her son, Dylan, 15, according to his sister, Kirsten (there with her mother to cheer on Dylan), "hasn't done it before, and hasn't even trained!"
Immediately before the start, by my watch, at 8:32 a.m., WCSA president and participant Ray Werts encouraged all, "Let's have fun out there!" And then, with the blare of the horn, we were off down the dirt road on our way to Oz.
What follows are basically the "minute-by-minute" words I spoke into my tape recorder during my experience of what I estimate were the 25,000 to 30,000 steps I took to cover the course.
8:35 - I'm jogging across the Hyner Bridge over the Susquehanna River, with water dripping out of my Camelbak water bladder, with its broken cap seal. It'll stop, I hope, when the water level lowers a bit. Said "hi" to Dawn Brown, a member of the organizing committee - met her last year. She just told me that her son, Seth, is participating with a broken ankle - taped up for him this morning!
8:48 - Starting up 2-mile-long Huff Run, backed up by people walking slowly up the steep rise into the woods. Sun over the mountain ahead and to the right, just starting to shed its rays on us going up Huff Run, the run really bubbling alongside on the right.
8:52 - Reached a picturesque, wooden bridge over Huff Run. Sun now back behind the mountain. Still cool and NO BUGS this year!
9:06 - Nice little cascade in the run. Some wet rocks and mud, but not too bad or slippery.
9:15 - Sunshine peeking over the mountain again as I near the top of Huff Run.
9:20 - Another steep climb to the paved road. Bit of a breeze. Really nice to see the spectators here, with their signs and cheering us on! Jogging up toward Hyner View and the 4-mile mark. Feeling strong and happy. Talked with Sheila Earl of State College but originally from Stockholm, Sweden, and her friend, Marybeth Day, of Rebersburg. The latter "twisted" the former's arm to enter this but is sure that she'll "kick butt."
9:35 - Reached the Hyner View checkpoint. Going around the rock wall overlook, quite a gorgeous view of the valley and river below.
9:40 - Nice forest path going down the other side, with the sun shining off to the left. Everyone front and back jogging merrily and confidently at this point. Switchbacks not very sharp or steep, so we all could continue jogging. I hope I don't pay for this later. I must be way ahead of last year's pace. There's Hyland just ahead of me!
10 - Still jogging, legs just a little sore from all the downhill but no feeling of any imminent cramping.
10:07 - Reached the checkpoint at the base of Johnson Run Hollow, the 6-mile mark. Drank the available sport drink and downed half a banana. Next a three-mile climb, with course director Craig Fleming's words of warning, "Be prepared to get your feet wet," in my mind.
10:10 - Pretty steep "goat path" up the left side of the run. First twinge of a possible cramp in my right, outside calf muscle.
10:20 - Down at the first natural log crossing of Johnson Run. Nice and cool and shady down here. Sort of like an island with the main run on the left and an overflow passage on the right.
10:30 - Downed a high-energy gel pack and water from my almost empty, still leaking Camelbak. My left foot got muddied and wet at the last crossing of the run.
10:35 - Tripped over a stone and almost fell, the tripping also almost causing a cramp in my left calf. Cramps are my biggest fear, so I better stick to walking for a while.
10:40 - Missed the last crossing about 15 to 20 yards back, but my feet are both so wet now I just splashed through across right here.
10:50 - Yet another immersion crossing the run again. Serious climb finally beginning.
11 - Hiked with Eileen Crone of Lancaster County awhile. Her first time. Hopes to do it in less than five hours. Proud of being age 59. Had just run a marathon April 4, but said, "I've never done anything quite like this before!"
11:25 - Reached the 9-mile mark and the top of Johnson Run Hollow. Did not pass Jim Hyland this year. Nice breeze up here.
11:30 - A welcome checkpoint and rest stop. Had my leaky Camelbak refilled. Drank a cup of sport drink, another of water, ate three sections of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and two banana segments. Grabbed some energy gels.
11:35 - Still feeling pretty good. Surprisingly refreshed from the stop. Cramp twinges only when I misstep or trip.
11:40 - Scraped my left inside ankle on a sharp, jutting rock. That'll leave a cut and a bruise. Right inside calf muscle almost cramped there. I better not jog. Too many rocks.
11:45 - Slightly slanted, side-hill "goat path" going down Post Draft Hollow. Going down always bothers me more than anything else. People passing me fairly regularly now. A bit discouraging.
11:55 - Guy ahead of me with a leg brace, groaning and carrying on. Makes me feel much better! I almost caught up to him, but somehow he prevailed and moved ahead.
12:10 p.m. - Almost to the bottom. Path has gotten a lot more level, thank goodness. Feel like my right inside thigh muscle is going to really start cramping. Maybe it'll go away with this level and the upcoming climb up Cleveland Hollow.
12:15 - Reached the checkpoint and the turn to the left and UP!
12:20 - Legs pretty tired, but no cramping. I can live with that! Passed a much younger man cramping badly. He said he'd be all right, that he had enough water and electrolytes.
12:30 - Reached "crossover" of Cleveland Hollow and switchbacks up to the infamous "S.O.B." (and that doesn't stand for "Scenic Overview Beyond").
12:40 - At the base of the "S.O.B.," a 45-degree, mercifully short climb, quite a "kicker" at the 11-mile mark! Getting pretty warm. Composed myself. Downed some water and another energy gel pack.
12:45 - The insane scramble up S.O.B. Ducking some stones falling, kicked out inadvertently by those ascending above me. As I struggle up with my heart pounding, I'm reminded of some lines out of Exupery's novel, "Wind, Sand and Stars," referring to the main character's exhortation to and praise of his heart as he endures THREE DAYS of hiking out of the Andes after a plane crash: "Come on, old boy. Go to work. Try beating a little. That's good stuff my heart is made of."
12:50 - Up S.O.B. with no cramping! On the "plateau" forest road up to mile-marker 14 and a final checkpoint, fluids and snacks.
1 - Gina Wert of McElhattan, a teaching colleague of my wife, passed me and said hello. At this point, I don't care who or how many pass me. I just don't want to go into terminal cramping, and I just want to be able to finish.
1:10 - Just talked with Casey Welsh, a 26-year-old from Rochester, N.Y. He boosted my morale, saying, "You look in a lot better shape than me. I'm scared to look at the bottom of my feet. My object is just to finish in a respectable manner."
1:15 - Reached the final checkpoint, with a beautiful view back down Cleveland Hollow, our recent ascent. Downhill from here. Drank two cups of electrolyte-laden water.
1:30 - At the "Link Trail."
1:43 - I can't believe that I'm now jogging, albeit slowly, back down Huff Run. Really didn't intend to jog, but it's harder to hold back.
2 - Reached the wooden bridge over Huff Run.
2:05 - Down to the paved road!
2:15 - Walking on the middle of the Hyner Bridge. Quite windy. Have to hold onto my cap!
2:19 - Reached "Cliff Run," which I was happy to be able to WALK up. Gonna make it in under six hours! About 10 minutes faster than last year!
2:22 - Across the finish line in 5:50:18! Number 407 out of an eventual 652 finishers.
After receiving my finisher's medal, a bottle of water handed to me by a saintly volunteer, and then eating the pasta meal prepared for us, I found race director Fleming and asked him his assessment of the day to that point. He said, "Actually, I just judge the outcome of the event by looking at the smiles on the people, and look out there - try to find a disgruntled look. Look - those participants just walked across the finish line and they're beaming. And look at that - a mom kissing her daughter. That's what it's all about."
Well, readers, thanks for going along with me. Thinking of you helped me through again this year. Do I plan to be back again next year at age 61? You bet I do, body willing.
And, wow, it's only five months until I can hopefully do my fifth straight 24.9-mile Bald Eagle Mountain Megatransect!
