May 20, 2022
Start/finish: Greeley Pond trailhead
Miles: 6.83
Gain: 3166′
I headed out from the trailhead right around 4pm. I wasn’t sure if Tripoli Rd was open yet and I didn’t want to drive the ~30 minutes to find it closed so I went from this side, even though I dislike the approach. I finished my first 100-mile run less than a week ago, so I was aiming to do this at more of a recovery pace. My heart rate skyrocketed as soon as I started climbing in earnest, and so I had to slow down a lot, which wasn’t comfortable for me. But at least I passed someone as I headed up one of the steep sections near the top of the first peak!
I went over and up to Osceola. As I walked along the ridge, clouds came in pushed by a cold wind and soon I was socked in with chilly fingers. I kept up a decent pace and once I descended a bit, the clouds and cold wind disappeared. I never knew exactly how rocky and technical the steep section was under all that winter snow until this hike. It required a lot of concentration and my legs were less steady than usual so it was more challenging than it could have been. I made it back to the trailhead right before 8pm.
Transcending Mountains 