November 17, 2024
This last Tuesday I was joined by three hearty adventure buddies to tackle a route in the Catskills of NY that is (aptly) known as The Devil's Path. Imagine a route requiring hand-over-hand scrambling, steep, technical descents and over 9,000 feet of climbing in a neat 24 mile package. Now imagine trying to shave two hours off the fastest time you have ever run it (12 hours) and you have a sense of the scope of this undertaking.
We woke up in the wee hours of the morn and were on the trail at 5AM, headlamp beams dampened by the pouring rain that was supposed to have abated the hour before. Temps hovering around 34F, we ascended to the peak of the first climb to be buffeted by 40 mile an hour wind gusts. Rain had now turned to snow, the wet rock slabs to ice-covered slip-and-slides, and the sunrise was a welcome sight as it cut a Patagonia logo across the sky.
The temps continued to drop throughout the morning and by 5 hours we were standing in the wind tunnel gap of Devil's Tombstone Campground, desperately refilling water bottles ahead of the grueling, hour-long ascent on the other side of the pass. Bone-chilling wind continued to cut through our layers and, while I enjoyed the incredible technical descending, a couple of my teammates began to don winter mittens and emergency layers.
By mile 20 one of our compartients was cramping badly and, despite the runnability of the last 4 miles, we leaned in, put him in the middle of the pack, and hiked our way to the finish. 9:40 on the watch, a PR by over two hours, and a worthy Type-2 adventure.
The Hut-2-Hut Traverse looms on the calendar for June 2025 and I will keep you all updated on the preparations. I was pleased to honor your generosity with an effort and goal that I have wanted to pursue for a decade. Thank you for your support and for believing in me.
In gratitude,
Jason
November 5, 2024 Update:
Well, as many 'best laid' plans manifest, ours hasn't gone quite like we expected. My running partner had an injury, I accepted a position as Interim Executive Director of the Gap Year Association, and snow came early to the Whites. The Hut-2-Hut adventure (see below the line) will have to wait until June. But, fear not, for I will honor this challenge (and all of your pledges) with a worthy effort.
On Tuesday, November 12th, a small band of dedicated runners will join me on the infamous Devil's Path in the Catskills of New York. This route has a special place in my heart as it was the first big route that I had tackled in one day when I moved to New England almost two decades ago.
Touted as one of the most challenging day hikes in the Lower-48, it boasts about 9,000 feet of ascent (and equal descent) over 24 miles of jagged rock that regularly requires hand-over-hand climbing. Back then we covered that distance in 12 hours. This year we are shooting for 10 or less! Wish us luck!
Hut-to-Hut...we'll see YOU in June of 2025!
The Hut-2-Hut Traverse in New Hampshire's rugged White Mountains is a trail running undertaking of immense proportions. Originally devised by the Hut Krews that oversee the eight hiker huts in the Whites, the challenge encourages trekkers to traverse over 50 miles, with 18,000 feet of vertical gain, on highly technical trails, in order to visit each of the huts in under 24 hours.
Why would I endeavor to do such a thing? Since returning from my own gap time in Tanzania decades ago I have been called to regularly challenge my pre-conceived limitations in order to gain better perspective on myself and the world around me. In those decades I have summited many mountains, run countless miles, and paddled endless coastlines. The Hut-2-Hut Traverse intrigues me because it is further than I have ever run before and over a much longer timeline of hours-on-feet--a challenge that I was unsuccessful at completing once before. While I am certainly intimidated by the physical challenge, it is the emotional vulnerability that such a task illicits that gives me pause in embarking on this route again.
And to me, this is the very reason to pursue this journey, as well as the essence of taking a gap year. As Jill Fredston, respected Arctic paddler, said in her book Rowing to Lattitude, "Most often though, people question why we undertake these trips at all. They may as well ask us why we breathe or eat. Our journeys are food for our spirits, clean air for our souls. We don't care if they are firsts or farthests; we don't seek sponsors. They are neither a vacation nor an escape, they are a way of life. . .we do these trips because we need to."
Over three decades I have led, coordinated and advised thousands of young adults in pursuing meaningful gap time. The Hut-2-Hut Traverse is my contribution to the Gap Year Association's Experiential Challenge Fundraiser; an effort that will support countless more young adults in being able to access resources and opportunities to pursue their own gap time. By sponsoring me in pursuing this goal, you support these soon-to-be gappers in pursuing theirs. Thank you for your contribution and wish me luck.
Update July 15, 2024
The Green Mtns, VT--Long Trail
First big 'back-to-back-to back' long run weekend! Despite the brutal heat and humidity bubble in New England putting a real edge to some otherwise easier training blocks, this three day adventure with my trusty pal, Greg, put the vertical and miles on the table that I needed.
Day 1: Stratton Mtn out-and-back
Made the fire tower and summit in record time (for me) but had to race off in a deluge and crashing thunder back to the car. Met some north bound Appalachian Trail hikers and gave them my only tube of Pringles.
DAYS 2 & 3: AT/Long Trail Adventures
Greg met me in the morning on Day 2 and after me saying that he should get what he needed that day so he felt ready for his upcoming race (he took 2nd overall in a 50k in Lake Tahoe!), he absolutely smashed me--running everything that was runnable. Day 3 I 'took advantage' of his fatigue and pushed our pace out-and-back to Bourne Pond. Like in a gap year, companions really help us push the edge of what we can accomplish. Coming off this weekend feeling strong!
