Insane route with Erik today. Awesome stuff. Started at King Park, Face of Green, tagged Peak 9208' and Mt. Jardine, followed ridge to Mt. Fudd, blasted down the crusty snow to the ridge to Beirdneau, tagged the peak, suffered through soft snow and fatigue until tagging Saddleback Peak before flying down to the tuck. I have always wanted to do that loop. Conditions today were nearly perfect. Frozen snow from the cold nights to make it easier to run on. The section along the ridge to Beirdneau was brutal with the softer snow from the afternoon sun. I felt horrible all day long. I think I am sick. I have had a sore throat and stuffy nose. This will certainly make it worse.....Still worth it!
couldn't get out on thursday, but got out today early with the headlamp. Wandered around random dirt roads until I stumbled on a sweet singletrack trail around the lake. Good stuff.
Ran with a great group today. Zac, Mike, Erik, Fan, Josh, and I. We were able to hold Mike back for the first 4 miles but after that he was pushing the pace again. We ended up running a quick lap even with the snow and mud at the top of Steel Hollow. Good time though! Even saw 3 moose!
T-1:50 2400' vert
The bad news of the day is my favorite shoe the Superior 2.0 had a blow out (on both shoes) today. Only 135 miles and they are about done. Not good....
Easy run with Zac this morning. Tripped on a transition from dirt to concrete. Of course I fell onto the concrete not the soft durt. Bloody hand now hurts.
Explored around the Birch Canyon Trails 19.5 Miles
First I went from Dry Canyon around the canal to the Birch Road. Muddy mess but before long I was on the singletrack. I went up a new trail to the south right at the top gate. Molly's trail (or so I've heard). Lost it near the top but continued on to the ridge. Found myself at whistle dick tree. Went down the face to the mouth of Birch. Then back up the North Ridge. Followed it until the fence then went down to the main trail up Birch again. This time I followed the new trails that parallel the doubletrack all the way to the wilderness boundary sign. Took a quick nap then went back down the new trails and over to Molly's trail again. This time I followed a faint trail until it dissappeared and I ended up going up the ridge to WD tree again. This time I went down the south west face and back to the truck via the gravel pit (mud pit currently). Phew. Just look at my strava data next time and then I wont have to spell it out.
River Trail - Wind Caves Ridge - Beirdneau Trail - Green
Ran with Fan, Mike, and Josh. We kept the pace chill until Wind Caves TH. Then it was time to chase the 40 min CR to the ridge. 3 miles with 2200' vert on semi-technical trail. I put the gas pedal down and kept it down. Man, that hurt! I made it in 38 mins and promptly sat down and sucked wind until the others showed up. Then it became a shuffle the rest of the way back. I paid for the effort. Fun stuff
