Running Off Piste

TRAIL RUNNING AND BACKCOUNTRY ANTICS..

[joshuaburns]

Overlook Mountain peering out over the Ashokan Reservoir.

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New Year More to Blog

For more Running Off Piste antics check out the new blog over at

runningoffpiste.wordpress.com

Thanks for your support over the past couple years, and there will be plenty more trail adventures to come!

Cheers!

[joshuaburns]

With Mr. Jornet’s Outside cover story based primarily on his fastest known time achievements and wildly possible future attempts we learn that FKT's just aren’t for everyone..

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Pre.thanksgiving day hill repeat-a-thon. 1.15 hours 1900 feet ascent 1900 feet descent Great day to get out and enjoy the terrorizing snowfall for holiday travel! Happy thanksgiving everybody!!

[joshuaburns]

The Mutual Respect of Poets Ledge

To attempt to give a Poet’s Ledge experience justice, it respectfully should be placed into words. Even then, it will struggle to depict the magnitude of all things considered. The day started my placing my 21st century automobile at the edge of the nearest though fare that had originally been constructed by enslaved convicts as a more favorable access to the populated Haines Falls. This is an access frequented in the previous century or so by Mr. Rip Van Winkle and his beloved canine, Wolf. Today, it’s a far less man of facial hair, and the efficient cattle mover, Alta. Dashing up the initial climb you ever so lazily switchback the beaten wood road until it runs out at the final cabin’s lingering smell of their wood stove. Parked out front is a few decade old Ford with an oxidized iron paint job that appears to have made the 400 foot climb. Now begins the more direct jolt to the ridge. At roughly 800 feet of elevation the previous nights snowfall becomes apparent filling the crevasse and shaded sides of the dense forest. As one continues to gain in elevation the snow begins to refreshingly blanket the ground of the decomposing leaf matter. I follow my faithful four legged friend's precisely placed paw prints between rocks and roots as we traverse the ridge filled of frosty conifers. The trail then drops off and continues to descent. One begin to think how long can this falling leaf design last before we’re no longer above the tree tops. The understory thins as you enter a high marsh that could ruin your feet if plans were to continue for a long trek. The up heaval of the surface soils are frozen enough to keep the feet dry today. Scattering beams of sunlight begin to pour through the flaky softwood trunks. An overwhelming feeling of respect looms over the outcrop as you step out into the light. In the foreground sits a valley with mixed forest inhabiting the perfectly 40 degree slopes up to Kaaterskill High Peak in the southwest and South Mountain to the Northeast. A feeling of symbiosis between the Kaaterskill Creek and the mountains breathes life into the valley. Neither willing to overstep their boundaries. The sunlight gleams down of this valley filled with rocks resistant enough coupled with a well behaved waterway, and the opportunity for the existence of a two laned outlier built to follow the path of least resistance.

[joshuaburns]

Traverse the Shawangunks the way it was meant to be. Fat Ass and free! 28.5 miles Ascent: 3232 feet Descent: 5200 feet Thanks to all the community! Cheers.

[joshuaburns]

Breakneck Ridge Scramble.

On Sunday November 2, 2014, I set a new fastest known time for the double traverse of Breakneck Ridge with a time of 2 hours 40 minutes and 48 seconds. This route totals 12 miles and 10,600 feet of elevation change with some class 3 scrambles to kick off the route.

Check back shortly to joshuaburns.tumblr.com for the full story of my experience.

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Gateway to the Upper Hudson and the unofficial cutoff to upstate New York. Clouds broke for a minute to grab this photo, but those 30 mph gusts blew the next set in quick.

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They call it the million dollar view but I still ain’t seen a nickel of that.

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"That cool mountain air on an Appalachian trail. Life is better there." Yonder mountain string band

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Joppenbergh Mountain in the hamlet of Rosendale, New York boasts 500 feet of gain up from the Rondout Creek. With the area being stripped of dolostone for decades and an old ski slope there are a variety of approaches to the top including a couple fun scrambles. This could be the reason many choose to finish their traverse of the Shawangunks with a view from the overlook. Cheers!

[joshuaburns]

Saw these guys at the BSP Kingston last night. Sure can jam on the keys!!Enjoy!

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2014 Virgil Crest is in the books.

I realize that the majority of my race reviews/reports have been filled with puppies and rainbows, but it’s something I find great joy in partaking and sharing no matter the circumstance (which is primarily positive). In this fashion, I sent out this past weekend in the single goal of having fun on a new course. This fun still manifests itself in a competitive drive leading towards a mild blow up somewhere around mile 40 with a quite a grueling slog back to the park. The course is fast early on. Maybe so fast that a few of us missed a pretty well marked turn. Then enter the hurt locker around mile 15ish where it's time to work. After a few miles of climbing, you're back on the throttle to the turn around point. Easy, except my quads were mentioning I hadn't planned much for the return. In all it was a great day racing. Great climbs, views, quad ruining descents, fast single/double trail, and really good competition.

Thanks to Ian at finger lakes running co., volunteers, and my ever so supportive crew! Hope to see you next year!

[joshuaburns]

Top 5 finish in the Race to the Rock 5k uphill in Chimney Rock, North Carolina.

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Putting in the vertical through the Hunter - West Kill Mountain Wilderness. Time: 4hours Ascent: 5300 feet Descent: 5300 feet Stung by a nest of hornets. First bee sting in well over 10 years, but a good rush of adrenaline.

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Sharing the view of the Smoky Mountains this morning.

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Chronicles of the AdiRUNdacks. Running off piste ventures through the high peaks region.