From the run part: I ran this as part of a picnic effort, but couldn't find any other unsupported women's times. The only women's times I could find were from the Kilkenny 25 mile race which is supported and doesn't include the bushwhack to Unknown Pond Peak so as far as I know this is the only unsupported women's effort on the entire traverse with all the peaks included. Carried everything from start to finish only filtering water once from Unknown Pond. Temps at the start were 27 F, cold, but the humidity had me stripping off layers within the first couple miles. So many leaves had fallen and it was like a slip and slide trying to get up to Waumbek which made my right foot angry. Less leaves up high and after Waumbek I got a relief from the leaves but I spent the next few miles getting wiped in the legs by bare, frozen twigs from dead bushes. Getting wiped by twigs on cold bare thighs was quite painful. Looked around for moose but actually saw more bear poop than moose poop. Blasted music to hopefully scare any friends away. Last time I was on this ridge was day 5 of the Big D FKT and the trail honestly didn't seem much easier, just faster. Less crying for sure. Since the trees were bare, lots of great views along the weeks. Climb up to Terrace was just as steep and long as usual. hugged the tree at the summit. Very leafy again heading back down. Only saw one person until I got to the Cabot climb, lots of people from there to Cabot and then a few near the Horn, didn't see a soul again after that except one group on Roger's Ledge. Kilkenny Ridge is a butt kicker, but I love the solitude the trail provides. Bushwhack to Unknown Pond Peak was fun, made sure to sign the notebook in the canister to prove I made it which is my favorite part of doing a whack. Climb to Roger's Ledge almost broke me. I was excited to cruise on down after that but the trails were a little more technical than I thought they'd be and I was super dehydrated. Ankle deep leaves hid rocks and mud. Feet sank multiple times in deep mud I couldn't see, thankfully managed to keep my shoes. I wanted to finish in 6-6:15 hours, but managed 6:18. Stopped my watch when I found my bike.
Once I found my bike I stood there laughing for a minute before moving because I was already in so much pain from spending hours dealing with ankle deep leaves and being dehydrated. I changed into bike shoes and bike shorts, shoving my muddy wet trail shoes into my bike bag. Ate a gel, changed layers. I brought a bike jacket but I ended up just putting a lighter running jacket over my sweaty long sleeves I was wearing since it wasn't that cold. Took off for the ride careful of the leafy south pond road. I should mention the gate was randomly open when I dropped off my bike around 6am which made the run a mile shorter but the ride a mile longer. My seat hurt almost immediately. Not sure if the seat on my new road bike is just really uncomfortable or I need to change the height. I took the ride pretty easy and decided I was already well off my finishing goal (was originally hoping to finish in 8 hours) so as long as I just didn't fall over or blow a tire I'd be happy. Riding along busy main roads is not fun but at least the weather was perfect and the views were beautiful. Almost got hit by cars twice, once my fault, once not my fault. The last 8 miles are almost entirely uphill, passed Santa's Village which was pretty busy which was nice because it made cars more aware of my presence on the more narrow roads at that point. Told myself once I got to the dirt steep uphill Starr King road I could get off and push my bike but when I got there I thought hiking the bike might even be more painful so I managed to stay on the bike and nearly puked getting up that road. Sat on a rock at the finish and cried. I was really nervous about this picnic since I knew it would be a long day and I've never even ridden on the road for that long. Also had a pretty tough week for personal reasons and just felt good to finish and have spent all day thinking about anything but the tough week I had had. I don't think I'll ever do that picnic again though.