PBJ – Self-Discovery by Adventuring Together

By Pamela Delsignore & Jen Ferriss

Back in April 2020, when time was all we had, an idea was born and collaboratively developed on a spreadsheet – The PBJ Challenge. Pam DelSignore, Beth Post, and Jen Ferriss (PBJ), running friends and members of the Saratoga Stryders, would test the limits of their athletic abilities, try something new or revisit a past goal.

Pam became inspired by the Dirtbag Diaries podcast, episode 147, “Shenanigans:” dirtbagdiaries.com. In summary, two rock climbing friends, separated by miles, wrote letters challenging each other to climb tricky Boulder problems close to their homes. Challenge accepted; their friendship grew stronger.

In 2020, this would be the perfect cure for isolation amid our “stay close to home” orders. The 2020/21 PBJ Challenge would run from Labor Day 2020 to Columbus Day 2021. We would train outdoors, six feet apart in order to complete our individual challenges together. 

In the spirit of the podcast, Beth and Jen challenged Pam (South Glens Falls) to climb Mount Marcy, a feat she had been talking about for years but never seemed to prioritize. Hiking up the highest peak in New York was not the challenge – but negotiating open summits and rock scrambles would test her mettle. 

Pam and Jen challenged Beth (Saratoga Springs) to run a half marathon. Beth started running in her 50s and perfected the run/walk technique. She loved data and used her Fitbit to help regulate her speed.  However, Pam and Jen saw the technology as a barrier and Beth seemed skeptical of her ability to go farther than a 10K because her Fitbit was telling her to slow down. The Wineglass Half Marathon intrigued Beth and this challenge helped her commit. 

Lastly, Pam and Beth challenged Jen (Saratoga Springs) to cross-country ski a black diamond trail. Jen, being a new skier, had yet to find her groove and excelled at falling over. But Jen, full of spite and stubbornness, would put time and energy into learning how to stay upright, glide and embrace hills; even ones with trees and turns.

The PBJ Challenge was the ultimate cross-training plan. With each season we found time to get outside and train on a weekly basis. We were there together to support each other’s challenge. We climbed Marcy, ran a half marathon and cross-country skied together. Additionally, we each had a stretch goal. Pam wanted to swim the length of Schroon Lake, Jen wanted to ride her bike up the Lake Desolation hill, and Beth wanted to kayak farther than her typical route.

As with all plans we had to modify and be flexible. Instead of swimming the length of Schroon Lake, we had a PBJ Triathlon that took us from Lake Lonely to Schuylerville. The bike up Lake Desolation never timed up well so Jen rode up every steep pitch of road off Saratoga Lake, and then up the Prospect Mountain road with Pam, while Beth ran it. Jen’s black diamond XC ski – became two seconds crossing a black diamond trail at the Garnet Hill Outdoor Center. And Beth’s virtual Wineglass Half Marathon fell on a hot and humid day. She completed it, but with a bit of disappointment for all the work she had put in. Jen further challenged Beth to run After the Leaves Have Fallen in Minnewaska State Park Preserve on a crisp fall day. The race was an absolute success for PBJ and the perfect end to the PBJ Challenge 2020-21. 

Pam, always looking for the next big thing and inspired by her brother, one day asked us if we would be interested in hiking the Northville-Placid Trail, a 138-mile-long trail through the Adirondack Park connecting Northville and Lake Placid. Pam’s brother had solo thru-hiked the trail in 2011. Jen, the hiker in the group, could not contain herself – she finally had someone interested in hiking the trail that she was gearing up for (literally buying lightweight gear) for the past three years. She was in. Beth likes to say yes before knowing what she’s getting into, and so agreed as well. Little did we know how amazing this experience was going to be for our friendship. It also officially secured our Tramily Name of PBJ. And so, the PBJ Challenge 2022 was born. 

As it happened, in 2022 the Adirondack Mountain Club and the NPT were both celebrating a 100-year anniversary. The club took this opportunity to award a special patch and other incentives to anyone who raised a minimum of $100 and completed 100 miles inside the Adirondack Park that year. Did someone say patch? Challenge on! 

Together we progressively completed the trail in September 2022 by hiking it northbound in seven sections. We learned to backpack and how to sleep in remote wilderness. A first for each of us. All in, we did much more than 138 miles, all with intention, except for that time we walked halfway around Tirrell Pond following an unmarked herd path. A lesson in navigation learned. We could not have completed the trail without the help and support of friends and family who drove us to trailheads, hiked with us and listened to our tales from the trail. The quality time spent with each other, and our collective ability to lead, follow and learn from each other was a gift. Jen is no longer the only hiker in the group.

Orienteering was a sidebar activity on the original PBJ list of challenges; 2023 was the year we finally took the time to learn how to use our compasses. We successfully completed the NPT with the use of maps, staying focused, and by using a few tricks – like pointing our poles in the direction of travel when going off trail. 

In 2021, we learned about the Empire Orienteering Club. EMPO has virtual courses available, so we decided to give map and compass a try in Moreau Lake State Park, a place we frequent and feel comfortable going off-trail. We downloaded the UsynligO app, (which means ‘InvisibleO’ in Norwegian), printed out some maps, and headed into the woods. Since we were “winging it,” our logical approach was to go from one checkpoint to the next in a straight line. The first time out, in two hours we found zero checkpoints. The second time out, after some research and a map and compass class, we found two…in three hours. This had to be easier, people were getting through the whole course in 45 minutes.

Pam, diving in feet first, decided to sign up for the New York Adventure Racing Association’s Trilogy Race. Adventure racing is most often a team sport which requires participants to navigate an unmarked wilderness course over a period of time, using only maps and a compass to collect checkpoints. Adventure races incorporate multiple off-road disciplines, but primarily include mountain biking, trekking and paddling. Total immersion! This time around Jen and Beth hemmed and hawed. This race required mountain bikes, an additional cost to the racing fee. It also required that PBJ learn how to ride those mountain bikes and how to successfully use a compass. At the time, Beth was getting stronger on her road bike and wanted to ride as far and fast as she could. Jen was committed to several ultra trail running events and didn’t see how she could commit.

Was this to be the end of PBJ? Jen and Beth found a way to make it work, because we both wanted another bike in our growing collections. We all took a Map & Compass Fundamentals skills workshop offered by the Adirondack Mountain Club. We practiced, watched YouTube videos, read articles, listened to podcasts, and eventually signed up for the NYARA Trilogy Race in June and the Maine Summer Adventure Race in July.

Welcome to the PBJ Challenge 2023. Through our research we realized that a team of four would be ideal so we welcomed Liz DaBramo (Moreau) our team and became PB&JeLi. Blessed with good weather, these races were a great experience and proof that if dropped in the woods with only a map and compass, we can now find our way home.   

Over the course of the past three years, we have rediscovered our athletic happy places and have excelled. Pam learned that she loves adventure racing and mountain biking, Beth rides fast and goes longer and harder on the roads, and Jen fell down the ultra trail running rabbit hole and can’t get out, as hard as she tries. Our friendship is strong and we continue to find time to spend with each other enjoying the outdoors – even when it’s not our passion sport.

What we found out is that each one of us is a runner… and a cyclist/shredder… and a paddler… and a hiker… and a friend. (Brazenly ripped off from John Hughes’ film, The Breakfast Club).

Pamela DelSignore (pamdel1@yahoo.com) is the system services support coordinator at Southern Adirondack Library System. She is perpetually trying to balance her time and energy between family, work and outdoor adventures with friends. Jen Ferriss (ferrissj@gmail.com) is the assistant director of Saratoga Springs Public Library. Still struggling to say the word “No,” Jen leads an active outdoor lifestyle and is also committed to volunteering for organizations that match her values as they relate to climate action, conservation and sustainability.