May 20, 2006 Saturday
Runners: Pat
Weather: 60s, Overcast/partly sunny, breezy at summits
Miles: 10.2
Elevation Gain: 976 ft
Duration: 2 hrs 28 min
I ran/hiked from Miller State Park up Pack Monadnock, over to North Pack, down to Mountain Rd, and then back to Miller State Park. I started by running up the 1.3 mile auto road on Pack Monadnock, but the remainder of the time I stayed on the Wapack Trail. I had heard about a trail race last weekend that covered the entire 21.4 mile wapack trail. It sounded like fun, and I think I could do pretty well in a race like that, so I decided to go on this trail run to see where I stood. The section of the Wapack Trail over Pack and North Pack is supposed to be the most difficult, so I thought this over and back route to be a good test.
It took me 14:43 to run the 1.3 miles up the auto road. It was a hard run. I thought about stopping to walk a few times, but I was able to push through. I continued to run down Pack toward North Pack, and didn’t slow to a hike until I started to climb up North Pack. Even then, I tried to run most of the time and just hike the steeper sections. Once on the summit, I had a little bit of trouble finding where the Wapack descended from North Pack, but eventually found it and started the descent. The descent down North Pack is steep and ledgy in some places. I was still able to run down the majority of the trail. At Mountain Rd, I took a couple minute break to stretch, eat a gel, and have some water. I was running with my fuel belt and some gels. It took me 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Mountain Road.
The hike back to Miller State Park felt hard, probably because I was more tired, but it ended up taking me about the same time. I felt like I hiked up a lot of the trail up North Pack and Pack Monadnock. I ended up running short, more level sections, between the steeper sections. I was able to run down North Pack without much trouble. The run down the Wapack from Pack was more challegening. The lower section of the Wapack on South Pack, in particular, is very rocky. I had to slow down to negotiate the rocks. My legs felt pretty tired and beat up by the time I ended my adventure. The down hill sections, though I find them fairly easy and enjoyable, can be tough on the legs.
I had fun and I am thinking seriously about doing the Wapack Trail race next year.
