Ascent up Blood Mountain
Not only did we discover PUDs, but false summits, too. A false summit is where the Trail seems to be getting close to the crest of a climb, but one 'gets there', only to discover it is a shoulder or a small hump rise, and the trail continues onward, and upward, beyond. The trail kept climbing, so we did, too. Toward the top, we were getting such a rush from the exertion that we picked up the pace. Legs and lungs were screaming by the time we reached the (real) summit. As a long-distance runner, I love the endorphine rush. Trotting up a rock and dirt path with a 50 pound pack and hiking boots wasn't 'normal' running gear.