Training Hike #4

Iron Mountain 

This was supposed to be Sycamore Canyon but because of the rains and then other events at the same venue, the hike leads settled on Iron Mountain with the Ellie Lane extension. The hike to the Iron Mountain summit is something I've done many times especially when my kids were young. The Ellie Lane extension was new for me. The extension starts out as a narrow single track opening back up and then getting more narrow again. The ascent was fine, but the descent was very technical. Much of the trail involved traversing over baseball sized rocks which made for a slow hike. 

Photo Dump

An early start, we saw the dawn -- total wow. 

The traditional pre-hike picture.

Group Shot

The trail until the summit

Tom and Kenz waiting for me

The hike went up to the summit then looped back up and around. 

The Training Hikes (So Far)

Hike	Trail	Distance	Elevation
#1	Daley Ranch	6.32mi	568ft
#2	Bernardo Mountain	7.1mi	1079ft
#3	Mother Miguel	6.8mi	1555ft
#4	Iron Mountain	7.5mi	1591ft

Training Hike #3

Mother Miguel 

Our third training hike was at Mother Miguel. The climb on this started pretty quickly with a single track of switchbacks, that eventually opened up to a wider trail. The views here are amazing -- so I've been told -- but this day was super foggy. It was a nice and cool hike. 

The group

At the summit

Super foggy at Summit

On the way down

The hike

The Training Hikes (So Far)

 

Hike	Trail	Distance	Elevation
#1	Daley Ranch	6.32mi	568ft
#2	Bernardo Mountain	7.1mi	1079ft
#3	Mother Miguel	6.8mi	1555ft

Training Hike #2

 

Early Start

We have a theme here -- early starts. We arrive at 6:30am then start the hike at 7am. Today we had about 100 people here for the hike, tho at times I think I was only really around 10 people. 

The Stats

I had AllTrails and Apple Watch recording and AllTrails stopped at the summit. 

Here's a relive video: https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDpNDQKLq

Photo Dump

It was in the 30s when we started out, and there was frost on the ground. Gloves, ear muffs, thick jacket was a must (to start). Before the climb, I shedded those layers. 

Frost on the ground

Backward, me in the front with hood up

Walking into the fog

At the Summit

At the Summit

The Training Hikes (So Far)

Hike	Trail	Distance	Elevation
#1	Daley Ranch	6.32mi	568ft
#2	Bernardo Mountain	7.1mi	1079ft

Training Hike #1

 

Early Start

We had a 6:30am arrival time at Daley Ranch for this 6.32mi hike with 568ft elevation gain. The temp was in the high 40s when we got there, but the sky was clear and soon the sun warmed us up. There was a surprise steep hill at the end and it spiked my heart rate -- in a humbling way. Decided I really needed to double down on hill training and so that is what I did the next day.

Fundraising

Fundraising is going OK. I got to $2,088 and seem to have stalled. Tom was at $110, but was able to get up to $548 by midday on Sunday. He will have a company match of $750 which will help. Then, we are going to do some baking with hope that even with a trickle of sales, will get us to our $5000 goal.

Donate to Tom's Fundraising Page: http://site.wish.org/goto/tomlennan

Order Scones, Cookies, and Jalapeno Cheese Bread via this Google Form

Jalapeno Cheese Soda Bread -- YUM

Hill Work

We are expecting 3 days of rain starting on Monday, so we went out early on Sunday for some hill work. 

Did about 938 feet of elevation over 4.12mi. Heart rate was fine on the front side ascent, but spiked again on the backside. The second time, heart rate was much better. 

1 Day, 28 Miles

On the Trail Again

We're on the trail again -- or will be this May when do hike 28 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in a single day. This is a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish® San Diego!

14 Training Hikes 

Our first hike is this Saturday and it should be a muddy one! Also a fairly easy one to start. Each week will get progressively harder. Follow along for pictures and updates. 

Fundraising 

Here are some of the fundraising material we've made. 

This design is also the "Hike & Seek" design. In it, I've "hidden" two cats and two hikers. 

Rome on a Monday and homeward bound

 Last day in Italy, and it’s a public transportation (metro & bus) strike. On this day we took a Taxi to the Trastevere neighborhood after first visiting Caffe Canova.

Caffe Canova

What is now Caffe Canova was once an active sculpture studio from 1818 until 1967. The studio was neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova and his pupil Adamo Tadolini. Canova is famous for many marble sculptures. We saw his Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix at the Borghese gallery and it was among my favorites -- just look at the detail of the cushion and draping of fabric all made out of marble.

Paolina Borhese as Venus Victrix (taken at the Borghese gallery)

Inside Caffe Canova

Inside Caffe Canova

Trastevere

We took a taxi to the Trastevere neighborhood and did Rick Steve's audio tour. We started on the first bridge and then went into the first church after the bridge, this seemed to match the audio tour but inside the church I had difficulty matching what Rick was saying with what I was seeing -- we started at the wrong bridge and was in the wrong church LOL. Once we restarted, it all started to make much more sense. 

The wrong bridge, but still a pretty bridge

The correct church, Church of Saint Cecilia

Saint Cecilia depicted in Sculpture

Biscottificio Innocenti, a bakery that
Rick Steve's autdio tour directed us to. It was delicious

Santa Maria in Trastevere

Saint Anthony -- all the notes gave me the feels

Fontana dell'Acqua Paola

Along the side of the fountain

These trees, when walking away from the fountain

This view from near the fountain

One last walk

On our last afternoon & evening in Rome, we walked the back streets of the neighborhood where we stayed. We got a final gelato, looked at the Spanish Steps at night, then wandered over to Trevi fountain. The crowds were not terrible on this night, perhaps the metro/bus strike helped reduce the # of people here. 

On the street behind our aparmentment

On the street behind our apartment

On the street behind our apartment

On the street behind our apartment

Venchi gelato in Rome

Triple scoop -- why not?

A view from Spanish Steps
to the Spanish Embassy
(the building lit up in red & yellow)

The Spanish Steps

Trevi Fountain

Front View of Trevi Fountain

I weaved through the crowds and
got up close to the fountain
(in this picture, I had already thrown my coin)

Homeward 

And we began our trek home.  Fancy ride to the Rome FCO airport. Once in London Heathrow, we had to take a bus from the tarmac then another bus from T5 to T3. But the Virgin Atlantic lounge was amazing -- it even had a gym in it. The flight home was smooth, and we arrived to LAX feeling rested enough to drive home. Went to sleep after midnight and slept through -- hopefully jetlag will be minimal. 

There was a taxi strike on the day we left, so 
our host got us a private driver. This was a
BMW and the driver was dressed in a suit!

This is the start of the English channel

This is on our descent into London

Rosie acting like she doesn't know us

The fridge was EMPTY!