NEU8 FINISHERs #1 and #2 the story of cole and alton

These two are internationally know super stars.  Often referred to as Wander Woman and Super Pup this dynamic duo has been featured in countless publications through out the years including a recent appearance in RUNNERS WORLD MAGAZINE. YES RUNNERS WORLD! It is no mistake these two became the FIRST EVER FINISHERS OF BOTH THE GREEN AND GOLD PATCHES! They have always been pioneering and forging their own path in the wilderness. I am proud to say I have spent time in the mountains in the Winter with these two. That is when I learned the real power they both posses. They are athletes through and through. They live on another level of performance most of us cannot comprehend. They Live it! As an athlete they both left me humbled with deep respect. Both were first to finish the NEU8 because they are bad ass, tough, and determined like no others! We are literally all following in their footsteps and I for one am proud to be doing so! The STORY OF ALTON AND COLE is Star Spangled and incredible! Below we have included a LIST OF THEIR HIKING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, and a mention of Alton's athletic accomplishments, as well as a few LINKS to some of their featured articles, including the article in Runners World!  ENJOY!

Cole’s Hiking Accomplishments

First hike: Mt Washington via Huntington Ravine (most difficult trail in the northeast) at 7 months old

20 rounds of NH48

NE67 and ADK46 Finisher

NE48 Grid Finisher

Trace Finisher (formerly Redline)

Winter Northeast 115 Finisher

New England 100 Highest Finisher

Single Season Winter 48 x 5

Lake Placid 9 Ultra Finisher

Belknap Range 12 Ultra Finisher

Lake George 12 Ultra Finisher

Ossipee 10 Ultra Finisher

Hut to Hut Ultra Finisher

Cohos Trail thru hike 

Hundred Mile Wilderness in 2 days, 9 hours

At least 25 Pemi Loops and Presidential Traverses (single day summer and winter) 

1st EVER North East Ultra 8 FINISHER

1st EVER North East Ultra 8 GOLD FINISHER

Several Peaks in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Nova Scotia

Cole has appeared on television for New Hampshire Chronicle promoting mental health, exercise, nature, and hiking. 

LINKS

Notice the Boston Voyager  article contains additional  links

https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a26453374/wander-woman-super-pup-dynamic-trail-running-duo/

https://trailtales.podbean.com/e/32-the-most-badass-hiking-dog-the-cohos-trail-and-winter-hiking-with-alton-eckel/

http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/meet-alton-eckel-alton-eckel-lmhc-psychotherapist-haverhill-ma/

Alton and Cole the Athletes

Alton completed over 150 triathlons and road races, setting course records along the way, and competed at the USAT National Championships. After 8 years of racing she adopted Cole, a Shiba Inu, and he became her hiking partner. Cole quickly adapted to his lifestyle of challenging terrain, steep conditions, and being outdoors in any weather. He began hiking at 7 months old and joined Alton for road runs and open water swims. After more time together he began completing 32 mile Pemi Loops, joining for kayaking and paddle boarding, and riding behind Alton’s road bike in a trailer. Cole traveled to Nova Scotia, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Michigan, Florida, and Utah during his outdoor adventures. He then went on to complete several 50+ mile days in the mountains, including a single day Hut to Hut Traverse. 

Cole was the first to complete the Northeast Ultra list for summer and winter! The list offered diverse challenges such as being awake for 20 hours (not easy for dogs since they require more sleep than humans) and frigid prolonged temperatures (one of his winter Devil’s Paths began in -13`F weather). Cole never showed any struggle with these beastly hikes and completed his final ultra for the gold patch first: at the end of the winter Cranberry 50 he was the first one to the car). Cole also loves Doug and Adam; he’s been lucky enough to hike with both and shared a couple of 35+ mile days with Doug!!

Dan McGinness  has climbed every mountain in the New England States in the Winter alone! Dan has a vast amount of knowledge and experience that no one else has. His stories are incredible including getting caught in a storm near Mt Washington and spending a Winters night outside. Amazingly he was prepared for it and came out unscathed the next day. Dan even finished the Winter Round of the NEU8 before finishing the summer round! He and Andrew Soares. I am hoping Dan shares his stories and links on this page. I think Dan is a super star in the North East climbing community! I do not know anyone else like Dan. MORE OF DAN'S STORY WITH LINKS COMING SOON!

Nancy LaBaff is widely known in the North Eastern hiking community. She has appeared in countless publications over the years. She is a pioneer and a superstar in her own right but not just in the hiking community. Nancy is an athlete through and through playing NCAA Division 1  Hockey in her youth as a goaltender. In her professional career Nancy has also been  a pioneer paving the way for women everywhere as she became the first woman in history to rise to the top in of her profession with the New York State power authority (more to come on that subject) Nancy is a pioneer a superstar and inspirational in every facet of her life. Nancy is so cool she even has her own hiking patch pictured to the right.  With her own saying "Get High On Life"  If you hike with Nancy and she likes you she gives you a patch. What an idea. Another pioneering concept from Nancy! 

     Nancy LaBaff  was  the first person that I met in my life that hiked HUGE miles in a single day. Like 30, 40, 50 or even more miles in a single day. I could not even comprehend such things when I first met Nancy. Not only did Nancy do every single known named Ultra hike she could find but she also made up her own as well inventing many of them along the way. Nancy had completed 6 of the 8 NEU8 hikes long before the NEU8 was even thought of. She always stays one step ahead.

    I am so proud to say I have shared miles with Nancy and have earned one of her patches. She is the sole reason I went for the Saranac Ultra 6 at the inaugural event, a hike I thought I could not do. Nancy inspired me then and continues to inspire me year after year. There is so much to tell about Nancy and many links to her many articles to share. 

 NANCY LABAFF "THE ORIGINAL ULTRA HIKER" MORE OF HER STORY WITH LINKS COMING SOON!