FKT: Andrew Wojciak - Lodge2dodge (NH) - 2025-06-13

I planned this effort for the end of June but after 13 weekends of rain, I made a last minute change to run it during a prime weather window that had popped up. I adjusted crew and pacer plans the week of and got packing. I started off June 12, 8:45pm from Moosilaukee Ravine lodge. The climb up to Moosilaukee was smooth, but above treeline was windy and cold. I threw on an extra layer and kept moving. Beaver Brook descent was gnarly. I had only been up it once and never down. My watched showed a mile and a half to the first road crossing, but still over 2000ft of descent. Thought something was wrong. Nope, just that steep (watch was maybe a bit off but not by much). I reached the first road crossing a little over 2 hours in and got my first supply refill from Jocelyn and headed off for the next section on Kinsman ridge trail. This section was slow moving, lots of rolling terrain, some blowdowns to avoid, all during the night. I was not feeling great and was falling a little behind on my goal paces by the time i got to South Kinsman summit. I moved a little better from South Kinsman to the Lafeyette campground and my second road crossing/pit stop. Got there in a little over 6 hours. My mother gave me a re-supply and i headed up Lafayette. The climb went smooth, but the last 1000 ft above treeline was cold and windy. Threw on an extra layer and kept moving. In and out of 30-40mph wind over the false summits of Lafayette. Finally got to treeline where it was more comfortable. Garfield ridge trail was slow moving and I started having some lower abdomen pain which made running very uncomfortable. I think my waist light had been strapped over my phone all night and it caused too much pressure. As i summitted Garfield, i took the waist light and head lamp off as it was finally daylight. I saw a deer near Garfield summit which was pretty shocking and cool,  i have never seen one that high up before. I got to Galehead a little under 10 hours. The abdomen pain was still bothering me but i had decided that was not going to stop me from finishing because everything else was feeling really good. My mother had hiked in at sunrise for another supply drop at Galehead hut. I dropped my pack and tagged Galehead. Came back and got what i needed and headed off, hoping the pain would ease a bit. South twin climb felt okay because there was less impact, and i went slower on the descent. By Guyot i was finally feeling better. Saw a few encouraging texts and got emotional. Descent from Zealand to Zealand hut went smooth. Although i was reminded Zeacliff to the hut is a steep descent. Pretty much every descent on this route is steep, rocky and slow moving. I had made some time up and was feeling good. It was my first time on the A-Z trail. A little overgrown, but i was moving well. Saw another deer, what is going on. Descent to Highland center was good and i was moving strong. My crew was a bit off guard when i arrived but i got another re-supply and picked up Ryan (pacer) for the Presis. Was at the Highland center a little over 13 hrs. We headed up towards Mizpah hut and made good time. The wind and clouds had burned off and it was a gorgeous day above treeline. We were pumped and made good time to Lake of Clouds. When we got near the cog, AJ was there with another supply drop and more encouragement. I got what i needed and kept moving. Then to Madison hut. Ryan was so on top of everything, carrying my snacks, an extra shell, and poles (that i never used, whoops). He kept me moving and helped with anything i needed. Really the perfect pacer and help shave a bunch of time off this effort. The presis were also just my favorite section of the whole effort. So fun, cracking jokes, enjoy the best mountain running weather, real good stuff. The descent from Madison to Great Gulf trailhead was brutal, so technical up top, and just 4k of straight descent after 20k vert already completed was a reality check. But we made good time down all things considered. Cant remember exact splits but each section we were shaving time off my splits. The presis section took about 5.5hrs. Then the last section over the wildcats. Looking at the route you are so close at this point and i thought it would be smooth but yikes was i wrong. I started off strong heading up 19 mile brook, a mile or two in i split from Ryan to do the rest solo. The last mile of the climb to carter notch hut hit me hard. I started to get nauseous so i didnt wanna eat but i also started bonking. I had climbed well all day but felt like i was barely moving now. And i hadnt even hit the wildcat climb yet. The out and back to the hut was slow but i kept moving. Same with the wildcat climb. Finally got a little food down and was excited when i reached the top. Mostly downs left. Although, the several ups and downs on the wildcat ridge started driving me crazy. I finally made it to the ski slopes and onto the final descent. I never had done it and heard that it is steep and technical but really wanted to bomb down. The first half mile wasnt bad and i thought wow people over hype this. But about 1.5miles from the bottom i came out to a big ledge and the beginning of the steep part and was shocked. It was as steep as slow moving as described. I could see Joe Dodge Lodge and it looked straight down. I tried my best to push and made decent time down. When i got to the last mile, i thought it would be easy rail trail and i could sprint it in. Nope. Literally not one easy mile on this whole entire route. As i started towards the lodge, Ryan appeared as he came looking for me. He said only 1k left!! We finally came to the bridge and the highway and the lodge. My watch was 22:29:XX and i tried sprinting to touch the lodge to get under 22:30. I didnt know which building was the right one and finally saw Jocelyn cheering and sprinted to the left one. I made it. Final time was 22:30:05. This was the hardest 72 miles i have ever run, but it was also my best effort to date. Lots of highs and lows but managed them all. Felt like i used something from each of my previous ultras to finish this in the time i did. Made a few mistakes but nothing super costly. It really went almost as good as i could have hoped. Super thankful for my crew who was on top of everything and made this effort happen. Everyone was fully bought in and dialed into the plan and just gave some much support and encouragement. Also thankful for Larsen setting the standard for this route and for the encouragement leading up to it. The White Mountains are relentless. The only way is through.