I can’t remember the exact moment in the last year that I decided to start getting up at 5:20 AM every weekday. I also don’t know the exact reason why, but I think it’s something to do with not letting my mind be lulled into a mind-funk by staying in The Bed of Torment any longer than needed.
I also know part of it is to get to the trails early so as to get my 5 to 6 miles in before too many other trail users show up. Sadly, this time of year, the sun doesn’t even rise until almost 8 AM. Thankfully, I’m one of the few people around here dumb enough to say, “fuck it,” strap a headlamp to my noggin, and take off into the dark woods. Most other (normal) folks are still under their blankets, trying to get as much sleep in as they can before the unending nightmare of modern America beckons.
October is the worst time of year for early morning lumbers because the sun doesn’t officially rise until about 7:55, and in a week or so, it won’t rise until well after 8 AM for a couple of weeks.
So, right now, the key thing is not to go too early, or nearly the entire lumber would be done in the dark, and that’s not great for photography. But go too late and you risk running into other hikers and having to deal with awkward chit-chat as passes are made. Which, on a bike, is one thing, but when hiking, it feels like two giant trailer trucks trying to pass each other going uphill at 3.5 and 3.6 MPH. I’ve even busted out a “fake” run to make a pass and then stopped as soon as I was out of sight. It’s not them, it’s me. IT’S ALWAYS ME! HA!
I made the “too early” mistake on Monday, with the first two miles done in complete darkness, and the sun just coming up above the trees six miles later when I returned to Escape II (Electric Boogaloo).
With that, I pushed it back a little today, and only had one mile of complete darkness, and then one mile of keeping the headlamp on just to avoid tripping over roots or rocks hidden under leaves in the pre-dawn light.
After that, it was four miles of pacy lumbering under a brilliant blue sky once the mist had burned off.
Right now, I’m sitting at a little over 12 miles in two days, and looking at the week ahead, I shouldn’t have a problem hitting my 30 miles. *knocks on wood*
Later.