12 the hard way today. Yesterday I had the thought that I might be able to get to one of the local high peaks without crossing too much snow as it is lower in elevation and seemd to be, at least from the valley, mostly melted out. With the weather last night and this morning I should have changed plans, but I dont usually mind a little weather and am getting a little burnt out on the lower trails and I need a good last long run before Squaw taper begins.
I headed out a little late to let the weather calm down and when i pulled into the North Ogden Divide trail head it wasn't terrible at the start, just cold and very windy. No other cars there today, just me and the trails, nice! I headed up the Lewis Peak side and was hoping to beable to run all of the initial climb, its very steep, but short a little less than 1.5 miles, it gains 1300 feet. Most of that vert comes in the last mile.
With in 10 minutes of starting the clouds moved in and it started to snow, hard! there was already about 3 inches on the trail of fresh from over night and it was acumlitaing more fast. Next came lightening, multiple strikes, lots of thunder and it was close. Snow turned quickly to a heavy gropple and the wind was blowing it sideways. I continued up and the snow got deeper, 4-5 inches of fresh, and lots of winter snow pack on the trail. (It's the last part of MAY for (insert explative)!!. I'm so sick of running in snow!) Toward the top of the switchbacks the trail comes out of the trees onto an open meadow, I told myself if the Thunderstorm had not passed when I reached this section I would turn around rather than risk it. With in 30 yards of me getting into to open section a lightening strike light up the sky very brightly and a huge boom of thunder followed instantly. I made a u-turn without even hesitating and headed down.
Got to the parking lot, the lightening was fast and furious all the way down the trail, bright enough that it would startle me several times, never mind the thunder. The worst of it moved through, so I crossed the street and headed up the Ben Lomond trail. I knew the switch back section would be melted out, but beyond that there is multiple feet of snow still. I ran the 2.5 miles up to the top of the switch backs in 2-5 inches of fresh snow and gropple. At the top, enjoyed the view of the very green Ogden Valley and very white snow on the mountains surrounding it. Headed back the parking lot and repeated the Lewis Peak climb to my high point, headed down and ran half way back up the Ben Lomond side again. Nothing quite as inspiring as running in circles. By the last lap the snow was melting and the trail was an ankle deep river of muddy ice water, gotta love spring in the Wasatch!
I wanted a much longer/harder run today. A little disapointed I didn't get more in, but I felt beat up today, legs are heavy and I am feeling kinda burnt. Maybe its the weather? I keep telling myself this is how I'm supposed to feel at this point, I should be tired, but I miss those fun, fresh leg days when running feels more like flying than pulling my heap up one more hill. 4 more days to put hay in the barn, then recovery/taper for Squaw, hopefully the spring will be back in the legs on the 5th.
Today, 12.5 miles 3740 vert | 