Slopes

Just two Eiffels this week. These still seem kind of hard, although not in the same way as the actual Mt. Elbert was hard. It probably would not feel like this if I didn't run up the stairs. But walking would be boring. Even more boring than running repeatedly up the stairs (like a deranged squirrel). Once I start tackling Mt. Vesuvius etc. I won't be running anymore.

This morning I began musing about the relative slopes. When I go up the stairs I gain 5.4 meters, but I also cover 23.8 horizontal meters in total between the up and down. This translates into a total average slope of 22.7%, although when I'm actually going up it's double that of course (45.4%). The average slope for Mt. Elbert was 18.7% by comparison and Everest is between 16.4% and 25.5%, depending on the route. On a "real mountain" there are of course flat bits between the climbs, or switch-backs that intersperse gentle climbs on the long portions punctuated by steep climbs on the hair-pin turn-arounds. The stairs are similar. Sort of. The up-down cycle is a bit like interval training. Going down, incidentally, is not as easy as just walking or running on a flat surface as you have to tense your muscles to prevent gravity from having its way with you.

Regardless, it remains oddly fun. Although my right foot hurts a bit now.