Cowles Mountain

Last night I climbed up Cowles Mountain in Mission Trails Regional Park for the second time in three days. It was 86 degrees outside but the heat didn't bother me. I didn't stretch as much as I should have, so I shouldn't have been surprised with the early beginnings of shin splints.

I got off to a very slow start which was frustrating. The view wasn't anything special, with marine layer mixed with smog. I kept a reasonable pace, albeit a slow one. I felt stronger than two days before, something I was cognizant of going up. I pick up something new about the trail every time I do it, and now I have a dozen ascents in me at least. I noticed that the last leg of the climb has a moderately steep section and a very steep section. I had always perceived it to be one strenuous stretch. The familiarity is helpful. I made the summit in 77 minutes which was pretty mediocre. This was not a good time for me and I long to get it closer to 60 minutes if possible.

I picked up the pace coming down and was back down in 45 minutes. I only stopped a few times, a couple times to slow myself down on the steepest part of the trail from the summit, and once to let a couple mountain bikers go by.

My overall time was 2 hours, 2 minutes, which was about 7 minutes off my best time. I believe I need to make that time up on the ascent, and to have any chance at Mt. Whitney I need to conquer Cowles Mountain like it's nothing.

The work continues, I will ascend tonight for the 3rd time in 4 days.