Bergen Peak 2011

I'll try to post up some of the interesting hikes of this season.

Last week at Green Mnt. was epic but the weather made it impossible to get any pics.

The hike today had a bit of misinformation involved... we expected a 1K elevation gain over a 10 mile hike. The idea here would have been a gradual gain over a longer hike. The best way to make sure you are prepared for an 8 mile loop is to do a 10 mile right?

However it turned out to be a 2,100' elevation gain and approx 12 miles.

The weather was very accommodating, we felt strong, and were able to inflict seriously sinister trail psychology on a few groups of hikers. ;)  One of them was able to take us about a half a mile from the summit but we made them suffer for it hahaha!  It's a totally different ballgame when you start getting into peoples heads, pushing them harder than they want and making them earn the right to pass you. Funny thing is that all of this goes on and you are oblivious to it until you are aware of it. Different ballgame right at the same field. Fun stuff!

Anyhow, this is a long hike. I was game for the approach all the way until the final summit push...It was getting pretty old weaving these loooooong switchbacks. But the trail gives you what it gives you and that is the way it is.

The summit was a good pay off for the long hike in and the super long walk out gives you a super cool green meadow view and a look at the peak you just climbed. I'll add some of Angie's pics of a few interesting sections in a follow up post but will include a short vid of the summit I grabbed with my phone.

With the 11+ miles and over 2K elevation we got a little beat up out there today. We had to slam protein at the trailhead, L Glutamine, Advil as soon as we got home, and I'm about to go for the Arnica. After we eat it's Tumeric, fish oil, Zyflemend, and ZMA later tonight. I made myself laugh by noticing on the drive home that my torso felt pretty good. Thats all...just the torso. Legs - trashed. Back - demolished.Neck, feet, shoulders/arms....forget it. All thrashed. Torso.....felling pretty good right now. ;) We are officially sick in the head. Absolutely no signs of sanity returning any time soon. We saw some late 50 - early 60's out there tearing up the trail.... Oh yeah that reminds me Glucosamine.

I'm going to pour a small milk latte in about 15 min....yep, livin the dream.