Long Run - Everyone (joe/nick/mike) bailed on my today so I decided to check out one of my favorite trails. Birch Creek Canyon. Drove to Mack park (canyon road) and ran the mile or so on the road until the dirt started. Headed up the canyon until just past the Wilderness boundary (mile 5.5 elevation 6500') when the snow became too deep to continue (easily). Turned around and headed back down until the start of the singletrack and instead of continuing straight down the canyon, made a hard right up to the ridge between Birch and Smithfield. Paul told me about a trail up there years ago and I wanted to check it out. 800' in .6 of a mile later I hit the ridge. Great views. I saw the trail heading west (down the ridge) but didn't see anything heading further east so I opted to go west. The ridge was fun to run on and before long I was back at the bottom of the trail. 11 miles done, time for lap #2. This time I crossed to the opposite hill and followed the buried canal 'trail' back up the canyon. I proceeded to go all the way up the trail to the boundary sign before heading back to the car. 2 laps of Birch with some ridge running. I also got my share of vert. Gotta get used to climbing again. Great day. T-3:07 (9:08) 4150' vert | 