Like the canyon

Annual July 4th Ogden Ultra runner Ben Lomond party.  Most people start at Mark C's house in N Ogden and head to the peak from there.  Most of them start at some unholy hour and then have what I consider a nasty dirt road to pavement return back to N Ogden.  I, not likeing dirt roads, pavement, or unholy hours, drove to the trailhead and ran the sweet high mountain single track from there.

All I could think about as I ran along alone in the early light, was finally! Fianlly I was running above tree line toward a distant peak on what has to be one of the best trails in the state.  Finally I felt great, legs felt fresh for the first time since the Squaw Peak a month ago.  I was suprised how effortless it felt today.  I wasn't expecting that.  I had plenty in the tank at the saddle and ran all the way to the big snow field off the summit ridge, at least half of it off trail, straight up.  I have no idea where that came from, felt great though! 

It was good to see so many friends out today.  I caught Phil and Kasey just before the peak and we all tossed a rock on Kasey's carin.  When we hit the top, I asked phil what time it was as I hadn't worn a watch.  It was 7:20, which means I ran up in just under 1:40, which is a good time for me, especially for how effortless it felt! Finally!

Gritty 4 or 5 miles on the BST.  Just damn miserable running that thing this time of year, but it's what I got so got it done.

Absolutely, stunningly beautiful run up Lewis Peak tonight.  Had the whole mountain to myself.  Late evening clouds made for some sweet summer alpenglow, wild flowers were thick and the colors vivid in the late sun. Ben Lomond might be a more popular, and better overall,  run, but not, in my opinion, nealry as pretty as cruising the ridges on Lewis in the late evening.  First time up this year and I ran the whole thing out and back, felt great, much better than it ever did last year, I took it easy and enjoyed every second of it.  Watched the sunset from the high point before dropping down the switchbacks. 

2 hours round trip. 11 mmiles or so, can't recall the vertical, but guessing 2800-3000?

Interesting side note: Pulled in the parking lot at 7:20 and not car or a soul anywhere.  A minute later a mini van pulled up and a kid, guessing mid to late 20's got out and asked if I was headed for a run.  I said yes and he asked which way, then said they were headed to Ben Lomond Peak, then Willard Peak then down to Perry (which is a small town just south of Brigham City on hwy 89! Leaving the trailhead at 7:30 PM on a Wednesday night for what had to be 19+ miles and 4000+ vertical feet of running.  Pretty ambitious I think.  

'nother gritty 40 minutes on the BST. bugs, weeds, snakes, and bluh!

Malan's to the creek and back mid morning.  No intention of going fast so I didn't push, just cruised easy for most of it, cranked it up a little climbing back out of the 'Basin and took it pretty easy on the down, walking the stream/trail sections and stopping to let a family go by at one point. Made it RT in 1:05, which is only a couple minutes slower than my PR last year, which was a 110%, puke all over the trail effort, so I feel good about it. 

2400 vert ish, 5 miles ish.

My good buddy from Logan picked me up a 5:00 AM this morning for a Ben Lomond to Willard Peak run.  We were on the trail a little befor 5:30 and really enjoyed a nice easy paced run up the switchbacks and out onto the west side of the moutnain.  We took our time, taking pictures and ejoying the morning light.  I picked it up a bit as we rolled into the final climb to the peak and was able to run the same section that I did Monday, which I was happy with given the miles and vert on my legs this week.  Cody lost track of me as Iwas off trail to avoid the snow and he ended up kick stepping up th ehuge snow field.  A crappy proposition in Hoka's.  I waited for him and we cruised up the the peak for the first time of the day. 

The run over to inspiration point and Willard Peak was better than I thought it would be and we were able to avoid almost all of the snow.  Saw like 50 goats out that way.   Hiking up the peak I could really feel the miles in my legs.  I was trashed! 

We took the billy goat route back across the the saddle and started th climb back up to Ben Lomond Peak.  On the way up I thougth I could see 2 people on top and thought it was probably  Jon jonstuart.  We ran in to them on the way down and it was him and Forrest.  Cody, Forrest and Jon slid down the snowfield which was nuts! I ran down on nice dry ground.

The run down was tough. I maintained a solid pace for me, but it hurt a bit.  Great day on the trails! Pics from the day below

Day: 20 miles, 5000 vert.

Week: 60 miles, 15,000 vert

Cody running from the sun

Pic from the Ben Lomond Peak looking south. Notice the sweet shadow of Mt Ogden in the center of the valley.