Beach Walk

Wed. 4-27-11 (Yesterday)

2.5 hr. Nordic pole on the beach, dunes. 6.75 miles.

We loaded up the CamelBak M.U.L.E (I need to figure out what this acronym is about.), and parked at Ft. Stevens Historic Area -- Packed 3 litres water, 1.5 litres protein shake (skim milk, yogurt, wheat germ, banana, blueberry, strawberry, whey protein), compact binoculars, GPS.

Windy, cloudy, borderline raining . . . Used the Marmot Gortex shell w/ vents (very nice!), Stearns storm pants, New Balance boots, hiking socks, long Johns, polar fleece top, knit hat . . . and this was the right amount of clothing.

M.U.L.E. is most excellent on the water delivery! Great bite valve, no leaks, generous flow. MUCH better than the Ful pack -- which never really got used. FIT is better on this pack too, all nice features. Arm movement freedom is excellent. No binding, but I was having problems getting at the Marmot sleeve vents w/ the pack, poles, and gloves . . . Not unreasonable I suppose.

We hang the GPS on the waist belt or stick in a coat pocket.

From Ft. Stevens Historic Area to "Area A" and the "Equestrian Trail" which heads south on the back side of the dunes in the beach grass, to the Peter Iredale, about 1.89 mile straight-line down the beach.

Trail is sandy beach grass, and narrow. This requires some "high sticking" on the Nordic poles -- otherwise they catch in the beach grass. High sticking means more upper body exercise!

Several "bog spots" water marshes which we were able to walk around.

I looked for a connecting trail east to Battery Russel, but didn't see anything obvious. It might be 300 metres bushwhack through the beach grass and shore pine to get to the Battery. Maybe for another day.

Some rolling terrain on the trail and a good workout, 60% HR capacity (110 bpm by estimate of perceived exertion).

We ultimately came to a wide, deep puddle and not able to get around in the wooded thicket -- so back-tracked and up the dune, over the hill to the beach. I wasn't using the GPS to navigate and was surprised to end up just above the hull of the Peter Iredale. (I didn't think I was that far south.) GPS check at the Iredale says 3.49 miles from the Historic Area. 1.89 miles up the beach back to Area A.

Sat and had 2/3 of the protein drink, then head up the beach sand back to Area A -- Jogged over the dune to get the heart rate up a bit. Then chased another walker on the asphalt back to the Historic Area. Much easier on the feet to walk the shoulder of the trail in the grass than on the asphalt.

6.7 miles. Weight is running 216.6 these days, 22% -- 25% fat depending on hydration. (Fat % is lower when hydrated. Weight is lower when dehydrated.)

Raining hard the rest of the day. Came home and SOAKED in the bath, hot and relaxed.