Fifty Plus (50+) - Greylock 2011

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cyclinfool
05-14-11, 03:23 PM
Today was cold and damp with rain in the forecast. Since I hate riding in the rain, what better day to go climbing? So I packed up the bike and headed East into the Berkshires to climb Greylock, the highest peak in Mass. Because of my training routine I choose the south side, a few hundred feet less elevation change and a mile longer than the north. Greylock is not a particularly steep climb, there are a few steep sections but mostly it is long - 10 miles.

Since the rain was coming in from the west it was dry but overcast in Mass. The climb was uneventful except for the fact that it went very well. I was able to stay on top of it the whole way up and not bog down or blow up. When I got to the top, I felt I could have climbed more.

No views as the mountain was in the clouds with a mist. Visibility was very poor.


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_2n6FkrWqcFk/Tc7wVqr95eI/AAAAAAAAAok/nJ1TAk4GRwg/0514111134.jpg
This was the first time I noticed the AT markers in the sidewalk at the top, the trail goes right through this section. There was a bevy of boy scouts out hiking the trail when I git there.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_2n6FkrWqcFk/Tc7tKridAVI/AAAAAAAAAoc/NPLa4xqSABg/0514111136.jpg

stapfam
05-14-11, 10:58 PM
Some days it can be "Not Good" weather for cycling- but you have to get out.



But after all that hard work and no view? At least you kept cool.
cyclinfool
05-15-11, 06:44 AM
Some days it can be "Not Good" weather for cycling- but you have to get out.



But after all that hard work and no view? At least you kept cool.

There is a huge monument at the top. All you could see was the base (where the bike pic was taken) when you were 50' away. A cold drippy mist. Getting too hot while climbing was not a problem. Luckily I had a jacket and arm warmers for the way down.

I did start to enjoy the ride down and almost didn't make the first hair pin turn, If I had not noticed the skid marks on the road and grabbed the brakes I might have been over the side. From that point on I kept my mind on the descent.