The Escarpment Trail Run was Sunday, July 25. Last year, I completed my sixth Escarpment, earning my 100 mile shirt. Some runners quit after one Escarpment. Others quit after six. Somehow, I keep coming back. It never occurs to me that I could choose not to run.
The day started all too early. I hitched a ride with Debbie and Harold to the buses at North Lake. I've never gone the bus route before. Usually Kay enjoys watching the start, so she drives me to East Windham by 8:30. With a 9 month old baby to think about, it seemed prudent that she not show up much before the finish this year.
It was a beautiful morning featuring a blue sky with fluffy clouds, and atypically low humidity. The dryness should keep us feeling good for a while, but that unfiltered sun will really heat things up.
Around the starting area, it is fun to see the various hydration strategies. I overheard a runner deciding between her single 20 ounce water bottle, and a smaller bottle. She must belong to a different species than I do. I started off with 100 ounces strapped to my back, drank all I had, and then some.
I tried to line-up in a reasonable position. I seemed too far back, but I was right next to my buddy Rob. We are close to equals on the roads, but on mountain trails, Rob is far superior, with the gulf widening. I guess I'll stay put.
As we cross the bridge, onto the single track, I still seem too far back, but still can see Rob. Finally we have made our way onto the single track, and begin to run, or at least jog. I'm in a large group that is doing a lot of passing and being passed. We're not so much jockeying for position, as we are just staying comfortable, and running well as our talents allow. I do less walking than most Escarpment runners of my ability, but when I walk it tends to be slower.
The climb up to Windham High Peak gains 1800 feet in 3 miles. It is a long, mostly gentle climb, making first timers think this Escarpment thing ain't so bad after all. I am passed on nearly every steep climb, but the passers seem to be breathing awfully hard for this stage of the run. I am in too large a group, and the pace slows disconcertingly every time the trail becomes at all rough.
Entering the Windham aid station, there is a log jam of runners. There is no way I want to descend Windham in this group. I hammer down one cup of Gatorade, thank Yvonne, and pass about 20 runners.
Descending Windham, I have the trail all to myself. I can blast down, with nothing to slow me down but common sense. On my way down, I pass my old East Fishkill buddy Nick. Nick is a good runner, but runs Escarpment quite conservatively.
Soon I catch up to another group of runners. We are moving well. This section of trail is wonderful. The footing is OK, and the elevation changes are modest. Burnt Knob and Acra Point are mere blips on the topo map. The saddle point in between features an aid station Kay and I used to work before I decided to actually run this thing.
First the views are to the south featuring the Black Dome Valley, and the Black Head range. It is well not to consider that we will have to climb up to Blackhead before long. After Acra Point, the views are east, where we can see the Hudson Valley. Given the clarity of the day, we can see the Green Mountains, the Berkshires, and my beloved Taconic Ridge.
We reach the Batavia Kill, which means play time is over. Now we climb Blackhead Mountain. There is no truth to the story that Blackhead is volcanic, but it does gain over 1000 feet in a mile. From the base of Blackhead to the top of Stoppel Point is Escarpment at its toughest. Blackhead is a slow climb, sometimes requiring four limbed climbing.
A few people stop to rest, but I don't stop on Blackhead. My progress is slow but steady. There are some cool, wet areas. It would be nice to stop, but I've got an appointment in North Lake. Finally, I reach the top. The runners who passed me Seem to be lingering in the aid station. As friendly as the volunteers are, and as tasty as orange slices are, I head out quickly. We lose the hard earned elevation very quickly.
After some pleasant running, we reach what for me is the most difficult part of the trail. The descent into Dutcher's Notch is steep, and the trail is even looser and dustier than usual in this most Saharan of summers. I let a posse pass me, then carefully make my way from tree to tree. I've been told one needs to let go on this section of trail, but I can't bring myself to feel that out of control.
The Dutcher's Notch aid station seems quieter than usual, but it is still great to see Mike, Rachel and company. Rachel snaps my picture, as I suck down some Gatorade.
Now it's up Stoppel Point. This is also a 1000 foot ascent, but it's spread over 2 miles. and three separate climbs. In the past, when I have crashed, this is where it has happened. This year, I feel OK, but I won't say anything more emphatic. As I make my way slowly up the hill, Dick Vincent catches me. He offers me a couple of electrolyte capsules. Do I really look that bad? I can't worry about that. I take them with great appreciation.
I start getting some cramps, but they are milder and more spread out than usual. First to go are my calves. This is a common place to cramp, but I've never before had calf cramps on Escarpment. They go away quickly. During the third climb of Stoppel, the inside of my leg, just above my knee cramps. This is more like it. This is my usual Escarpment cramp. I continue to climb slowly, trying to keep my leg nicely stretched out. When the trail levels off, and I start running, the cramp goes away. How about that? I think I can deal with this.
Over to the east is a view I had never noticed before, Outstanding!
Linda, Steve and the rest of the Stoppel Point crew always take good care of me. They offer to refill my water carrier. I take some as a precaution. This is my longest aid stop, but it will carry me the 4+ miles to North Lake.
Generally I think that if I reach Stoppel Point intact, I can finish strong. The rest of the way has terrain that favors me. The trail leading into North Point is largely exposed, and the rocks are roasting. I pass a few runner and keep going.
Eric Johnson is working the North Point aid station, complaining about the heat to anyone who will listen. Next year he will demand a shadier aid station.
The view from North Point is among the best on the course, and certainly the biggest. It offers nearly 360 degrees worth of view. You can see most of the Escarpment. You can see where we've been including Windham, Burnt Knob, and Blackhead. You can see where we're going. North Lake and South Lake still look so large and distant. Can we really have only 2.5 miles left?
From here we have some of the steepest scrambles, sheerest cliffs, and encounter a number of day hikers, all on legs that have been fresher. We sashay along the dance floors of Newmans Ledge and Artists Rock. The views are excellent, the drop-offs, severe.
From Artists Rock we come to the last, and everyone's favorite scramble. This is where the photographer has decided to set up shop. Thanks dude! I can't imagine what my picture is going to look like.
Of more immediate interest, Kay has Claudia in the backpack, and has hiked out to here. This is an unexpected surprise. Kay enjoys calling out to me just as I reach a point of trail that requires total concentration. It's great to see them anyway.
From here it's just about 400 meters of easy trail. It's ridiculous, but I enjoy kicking in from this point. I finish in a time of 4:15:07. That was about 20 minutes slower than I thought I would run. The only time I've been slower was last year when I was injured. I've been told once you see the high side of four hours, you never go back. Dang.
I'm not thrilled with the time, but I ran what I had. Escarpment is still my favorite day of the year. Should I ever decide 18 miles of rocks and roots is for chumps, I'll go back to hauling water. I'm not going to miss this event just because I hate running it.
Steven
Cangemi
Red Hook, New York