Saluda Mountain Passage - Preview

Great news on the trail front for the state of SC. It seems the diligent folks at the Palmetto Conservation Foundation have been hard at work extending the Palmetto Trail in the upstate. The Saluda Mountain Passage is a 9.1 mile section starting at Orchard Lake Campground. It looks to be a continuation of the Blue Wall & Poinsett Reservoir Passage.  
Last fall I teamed up with some trail running buddies and explored the Blue Wall & Poinsett Reservoir Passages. The out and back combination made for an 18 mile journey through the leaf covered trails. Cool to have a trail system like such in place around the state. This combo could become an Ultra distance run in the future. Looking forward to exploring this section come fall.

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Fall 2011 in Review

10/22/11 - Blue Wall Preserve, SC - Palmetto Trail Section
In a desperate attempt to get in some climbing prior to Shut-In. This trail was easy to get to from the Columbia area. So a group of Harbison Trail Runners loaded up and headed to the Tryon area of SC. Plan was to hook The Blue Wall and The Poinsett Passage Trail together for an out-back route. So you have a trail section on each end with a gravel road section in the middle. Made fro a great 20mi trail run warm up for Shut-In. There will most certainly be a return trip in 2012.



























11/05/11 - Shut-In Ridge Trail Race, Bridge Parkway NC
Felt ok just not great for a PR attempt. Started out in the top 25. Rolled an ankle 6 miles into race. Collected my thoughts and emotions to carry on. After failed attempts to run on. Watching over 100 runners go by. I had to hobble/shuffle 6 miles to Bent Creek AS. At this time minutes in front of the sweep I had to pull the plug and drop here.

Group Shot of Harbison Trail Runners

Injured and crippled

11/30/12 - DNR Heritage Preserve, Calhoun County
A quick 3mi rehab jog/walk on a trail I've been eying for a while. Trail is short with a lot of fire break style. Some lush bits with very little traffic. Not a wise trail choice in the summer or hunting season.

Panorama View from observation deck

12/17/12 - Trip to the ER.
Who gets injured feeding the dogs? Well me of course.
Eight stitches to close my index finger on a Friday evening.

Blog Reconnect

Wow it's been over 6 months now since my last post. The time has been spent recovering from injury, burnout and the birth of our son Wesley (1/13). So far this new year has been great. Hoping once the feed/sleep routine is established a fitness schedule will revive itself. Till then.