Use this topic for posts that will collect community stars for the Abbott Ascent course. You can also ask questions or make comments about this course.
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Story
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Too much was happening this week to attempt the 100k on the first day, but I had the time to at least go for the Tough Trail Challenge with a midnight start. This time I scanned the first QR right at midnight and then proceeded to stumble through the somewhat muddy but mostly dry Abbott.
I forgot how tough this loop is in the dark! It’s technical enough to make for slow going during the daytime — even harder by headlamp plus having to poke around at times to find the trail. Loading the route to my GPS watch was a huge help. It made nocturnal navigation much easier, with higher accuracy than RunGo.
The Pinnacles view was just a bunch of pinpoint house lights down in the valley to the west. That, plus flames in the fire pit. I looked around thinking about Smokey Bear’s sober warning before spotting a pile of camping gear in the nearby picnic table. I assumed someone was camping nearby off the trail. I couldn’t see any people or tent, but decided it’s best not to linger on a remote hilltop at 1:30 a.m. and make a creepy situation creepier. The downhill to the end was relatively quick.
A quick note about Abbott Ascent. Cellular coverage is particularly weak in Danby, so always check to make sure your effort appears on the leaderboard afterward, and if necessary, repost from the Webscorer app by navigating to Home > Race Archive > My Results > Race Name > Post My Results.
All Smiles on Abbott Ascent(s)
By the time I topped out of the first ascent, I had forgotten all about my wish for gloves and a jacket to fight the chill of the start. Pete @Petorius described the current conditions accurately (and Bravo! to him for doing the course at night.) I had no trouble navigating during the daylight. Course has some blow down on it but nothing unmanageable. The wet spots are, well… wet, so once you get your feet wet, then you might as well slog right through the remaining spots.
On the ascent to Bald Hill Road, I came across a Danby red scurrying across the trail:
There is a small ‘error’ in the name of the course. Abbot Ascent is actually three major ascents! But, the two longest descents to Michigan Hollow Road are really sweet rides!!!
Started the day with the Abbott Loop. Dior and I waited out a downpour for about 10 minutes before setting out. She has her limits and setting out in the rain is one of them. It was very wet and muddy, but beautiful as always. We enjoyed seeing many red newts on the trail and listening to Wood thrushes, eastern towhees, winter wrens, and many other birds.
Newts galore! Christie and I probably saw a hundred over the 8 mile course. Some were more camo as it was muddy out there! Hope I didn’t step on any. I’m not the best technical trail runner, too scared of falling. So I take it slow and walk a lot. I don’t mind because I love being in the woods! Did this last Saturday before the BDT course (5th course). It was super wet in the valley/creek sections, no dry feet here. Had to commit to the mud. It was great!
A beautiful day on the Abbott Loop but no dry feet today as many of the stream crossings are so high it’s impossible to hop across or go from rock to rock. A few required you to wade in up to your ankles. There was also a brief tree climb involved as one of the trees on the edge of the stream had been uprooted.
This course was so tough! Thankfully I have hiked this trail before, so I knew what I was in for when I ran it today. So I was well prepared. Even so, it took me much longer than I anticipated. And probably should have been in a slightly better condition gonna feel this run tomorrow. (Though it was more hiking than running thanks to all that vert!) Abbott Ascent
Running with my trekking poles made this course manageable, still crazy hard, but doable. I would not have been about to do this without them!
Beautiful day for a hike in the forest! Weather was gorgeous, lots of wildflowers, birds, garter snakes, toads and red efts. My hamstring is still not ready to run so I brought along a friend and my big pack and turned this into a training hike. Trail conditions are good, only a few muddy spots and steam crossings.
p.s. my Garmin Instinct watch logged 9 miles, and to my knowledge I followed the course directions to the letter, so I’m not sure what happened
A beautiful day to do the Abbott Ascent, and fortunately Anne could do it with me today. Still quite a bit of mud, and many creek crossings in the second half. This completes my Challenge!
But, the two longest descents to Michigan Hollow Road are really sweet rides!!!
So I was well prepared. Even so, it took me much longer than I anticipated. 
And probably should have been in a slightly better condition 
gonna feel this run tomorrow. 
(Though it was more hiking than running thanks to all that vert!) 
Abbott Ascent 
