Some Pre-Camino Training in Central PA

Well my departure for Europe is 26 days away.......while visiting my Son in State College, PA I took the opportunity to do a couple of training treks with elevation changes and rocky terrains that are just not available in Florida. Yesterday we walked up to the top of Mt. Nittany (the reported mountain that grew over grave of a mystical Indian Princess, I believe). The initial climb up was steep and rocky from base to peak with the rise in elevation was 650 feet in about 0.6 miles (a nice 25% grade on a rocky trail where footing was not all that easy). I was a huffin and a puffin but was feeling good at the top. The walk down was even more challenging.

Here is a picture of my son Kurt and his wife Wendy at the top of Mt. Nittany.

This was a good test as the terrain on the first 2 days out of St. Jean-Pier-De-Port in France is a bit more forgiving. Day one from St. Jean to Orisson is about 675 meters over about 8.5 km, an approximate 8% slope (about a third s steep as the walk up Mt. Nittany with much smoother terrain). Day 2 from Orisson to the high point of Col Lepoeder is about another  715 meters in vertical rise over 11 km about a 6.5% slope. Based on how I did yesterday, I am sure I'll be huffin' and puffi'n my way over the Pyrenees but feeling good that I will make it!

Today Kurt and I took a really nice 6 or so mile walk in the Shingletown Gap area near State College up the Bald Knob peak. What a nice walk over some fairly rocky terrain.....this was a super test of my hiking boots, my feet were sliding a bit but nothing unmanageable and no blisters with plenty of opportunity for a blister or two. The hike up to the ridge was another 600+ feet rise at about a 25% slope which winded me a bit but did not defeat me, We walked a fair portion of the loop along the lower stream bed and an equal amount along the upper ridge. It was a really nice few hours of walking with my Son in beautiful terrain. A big plus is a discovered a wild black raspberry bush with delicious ripe berries at the Apex at Bald Knob - absolutely delicious, no doubt among the healthiest things I have ever eaten. Here are a few snapshots of portions of the walk and a picture of Kurt at Bald Knob.

 

Among the lessons learned the past couple of days: 1) Going downhill is tougher than going uphill, 2) my hiking boots are just fine but I do need to brush up on some lacing techniques, 3) I am going to make it though the 1st couple of days through the Pyrenees, 4) I should get a pair of the trekking poles, they will help. All in all a great coupe of days in the beautiful outdoors of Central PA....really looking forward to my walk from France into and across Spain!

Getting Closer

I am about 48 days away from the Camino. I'm getting a bit anxious because my training was compromised due to the plantar fasciitis issue I had in my right foot. I really need to begin training again in earnest, but the Florida heat and my schedule is making that a challenge. Worst case scenario is that my first week out of St Jean will serve as my training. I have decided to make the first day the short one and some rest in a small hamlet in the Pyrennes called Orisson.