Rooster Rock (Short Route)(edit)

Really worked hard trying to match my time from 2015. Interesting to do a comparison of the two situations and how they could affect the times. Times: 2015 47:23, 2020 52:04, 2020 4:40 slower than 2015 Here are some things to compare Temperature: 2015 very hot, near 100 in the valley, 2020 65 (but humid in the woods), big edge to 2020 Training schedule: 2015 mid-summer, getting into good (great) shape for South Sister by then, 2020 early in spring and not training for anything, edge to 2015 Poles: 2015 forgot poles in car, had to lean forward too much and made it hard on quads ascending, 2020 had poles, but had to drag them through lots of vegetation on sides of trail, edge to 2020 Backpack: 2015 none, 2020 camelback carrying jacket, bike light (why? Didn’t know it was in there), a tiny bit of water, etc., edge to 2015 Clothing: 2015 running shorts and t-shirt and phone on arm, 2020 hiking shorts and phone in pocket, edge to 2015 Leg braces: 2015 no braces, 2020 right knee brace and left patellar tendon brace, knee brace is very restrictive, edge to 2015 Movement gate: 2015 ran the (few) flats and downhills - first ¼ mile is flat, 2020 avoided running anything to protect back, edge to 2015 Shoes and inserts: 2015 Brooks Beast with high heel lifts that cause less strain up hills, 2020 Brooks Beast but lower heel lifts, put a strain on calves, edge to 2015 Age: 2015 nearly 60, 2002 nearly 65, edge to 2015 obviously! Result: 2015 edges out 2020 7-2, but temperature edge is a big one for 2020 All in all, I did better than I thought I would, but was maxed out at top.

Went a little higher up the ridge on a faint track to a higher point, then descended. Took out heel lifts on the way down to help save knees.

This is a shorter and steeper way to get to the summit than the Trout Creek Trail. Work, all the way up and all the way down. But oh, the view!