Trails!

High Creek Round 2 - 

I was not to be denied this round.  I may have gotten lost last time, but this time was different.  And WAY better!  It was glorious.  This run is on my list of top 5 of all time. 

I parked about 1.5 miles up the dirt road to High Creek just outside of Richmond.  This left me 2 miles of dirt road to get warmed up for the trail.  Once on the trail, it is 5 miles of progressively steeper climbing all the way to the lake.  3000' of climbing in 5 miles made the pace pretty slow, but very rewarding.  It gave me lots of time to look around and admire the views.  As I approached the pond where Joe and turned back last time, I saw a large bull moose taking a drink.  Whoa!  I quickly dropped my bottle and went for the camera while hiding behind a tree.  I peeked around the tree and saw him watching me very closely.  I quickly snapped 2 pics then moved around the tree.  He got spooked and headed off in the opposite direction.  Why is it cows refuse to move, but moose get spooked so easy.  At least it didn't attack me.

The last 2 miles to high creek lake were the best 2 of the whole day.  Alpine meadows with small creeks and ponds, gorgeous cliffs, and a few cows for my viewing pleasure.  Once I arrived at High Creek lake, I admired the views and took some more pictures and headed up to the saddle.  Next stop Mt. Naomi.  It took a mile and half and 30 mins to climb the 1200' to the peak, but the views were so worth it.  Just over 2 hours in and one peak bagged, one to go.  Next stop, Cherry Peak.  To get there I had to go back the way I came and go back towards the lake, but right before the last descent make a left turn follow the cherry creek trail for a mile or so.  The trail doesn't go to the peak, so I had to deviate and more or less bushwhack up the mountain to tag that peak.  It was slow and steep.  This peak wasn't as high as Mt Naomi's 10K' elevation, but was close at 9,800'.  More pics, some food and off I went.

I was now 2:40 mins into my run and it was time to start some real running.  Down the mountain as fast as my whimpy legs can take me.  They still do not have the turnover that they used to and the top speed is pretty sad still, but man was it fun.  Who cares about the speed when you are descending technical singletrack at 9000' feet?  Love it.  I finally saw my first hikers at Moose Pond, quickly told them about the moose they missed by 2 hours and moved on.  There were plenty of groups heading up now, but I was able to keep the pedal down and have a blast.  The car quickly appeared after two 6:30 miles on the dirt road and the adventure was over. 

I was thinking today about an epic run heading up this trail to Mt. Naomi then down to Tony Grove and then doing the Tony Grove to Green Canyon traverse via Mt Elmer.  Oh it would be sweet.  And hard.  Someday..

T- 3:52:00 (12 min pace)  5600' vert

1:35 to the lake (7 mi)

2:04 to Mt Naomi (8.6 mi)

2:37 to Cherry Peak (10.75 mi)

1:15 to the car (8.25 mi)

Mr Moose -

Another grainy shot of the moose

Look, the sign got fixed (sort of)

High Creek Lake

Cherry Peak from Mt. Naomi

 Mt. Naomi from Cherry Peak

High Creek Trail from Cherry Peak

I took about 20 more pictures, but you get the idea.

Planet Walk 4 

I  needed a break from hills and anything remotely hard today.  My body thanked me for the easy 4 mile jog.

PM: Waterskiing at Hyrum Lake - Conditions were perfect.  Loved it.

Providence Canyon Trail

Legs felt much better today.  Amazing what a day of rest does. 

T- 1:14 1500' vert

Deer Fence and Dry Canyon - 

1:04:25 (9:12) 900' vert

Today, my brother in law got married (at Tuscany) and since my family was heavily involved in the preparation, I took the day off work.  The wedding wasn't until 5pm and since I am no help arranging flowers, I got a free pass to hit the trails.  Sweet.

Since the Wasatch 100 started early am I decided that I would be a part of it by running sections of the course.  I stayed out of the way by running miles 75-83 way before the front runners.  I have always been interested in checking out the course, so today would be a good opportunity since it was marked.

I left brighton and started the hike/jog to Lake Mary.  I made it less than a half mile and I saw a bull moose (again).  Two moose in a week is a new record for me.  I took some pics but they are dark and not very good.  The run up to Sunset Pass was beautiful, but a bit steep.  I was able to admire Lake Mary, Lake Martha and Lake Catherine all in under 3 miles.  1600' in 2.75 miles topping out at about 10,500'.  Brutal.  The kicker though is the immediate drop of the same vertical in 2.25 miles.  On rockier trails.  Man, that is tough.  So, by mile 5 I was already toast and it was already an hour in.  The other bummer, was the trail was not marked well at Ant Knolls aid and I missed a critical turn onto Ridge Trail.  I realized it in a few mins and it only cost me 10 mins.  Good thing I wasn't racing.  This part of the mountain is the very top of American Fork Canyon and wasn't far from the end point of Speedgoat 50K.  These races sure make the mountains seem smaller.  You get to explore and see how it all connects.  I love it.  So after a brief climb up to 9400' I was on the "ridge trail" and I was in heaven.  It was runnable!  And very pretty.  I followed it to Pole Line Pass (mile 83.39 of Wasatch) and promptly lost the trail again.  No markings in all directions.  I failed to prepare properly and print out an actual map of the course so I wasn't sure where to go.  I tried 2 of the 3 ways and didn't find a trail marking in a half mile in any direction (including the proper way I found out).  Oh well, it has been 10 miles now and I am out of time.  Better head back.  I was sad because I wanted to explore more of that nice trail. 

The way back was brutal as the hike from Ant Knolls to Sunset pass is tough.  I once again affirmed that once above 10K feet elevation, it is super tough to move at any speed (up hill or even down hill).  Back past the lakes I went and I arrived back at the car thankful for the water I had waiting for me there.  I got pretty dry the last 5 miles.  

Doing the math, I ran the Brighton to Pole Line Pass section 7.75 miles (minus the detour) in 1:30.  Luke Nelson (2nd overall) ran that section the fastest in about 1:45.  I was fresh and he was not!  I can't believe that they could run that so fast.  And it was dark (for most of them). 

T- 3:50 (12:47 per mile!) 5000' vertical

Profile -

PICS - 

Moose -  (I told you it was dark)

Lake Mary

Backside of Speedgoat 50K course from wasatch 100 course

Oh, the wedding was very nice too....

Day 2 of Wasatch 100 recon - 

I was so happy I could spend 4 hours yesterday on the trails, I celebrated by doing it again.  No, not the same section of course, but the same race.  This time I started at Mill D North trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon and headed up to Dog Lake.  2.5 miles in 34 mins.  I remember hiking that trail as a scout with my sleeping gear and having it take forever!  I continued past the lake and dropped down into Mill Creek on the Big Water trail.  This trail is nearly 3 miles long buffed out singletrack.  Awesome trail!  Unfortunately, today is an even day so bikes were allowed on the trail.  The whole day I was dodging bikers.  So now I was back on course and facing the right direction.  Mile 61.5 or so of the Wasatch 100 course. 

~ 3 uphill miles back to Dog Lake.  I haven't run this section since I was in high school and was on the cross country team.  We would usually run it in about 30 mins.  I was now an hour into my run and knew that I had 3 more hours to go.  So no racing my ghost runner today, but I could gauge myself anyway.  I ran a standard 4 hour pace keeping a consistent effort and got to the lake in 32 mins.  I will take it! 

Onward, past the lake and up to Desolation Lake.  Once again, it was memory lane as I have camped there two times as a kid.  Once in the snow.  This time it was much warmer, and easier to get to.  My split to the lake from Big Water was 63 mins for the 5.25 miles.  It took Evan Honeyfield only 67!  Seriously?  Luke took 74!  Karl took 78!  No wonder those guys are at the top of every race result. 

Once past the lake, you encounter a crappy little climb up to Red Lovers Ridge.  The views of Park City area from there are amazing though.  The best surprise was that the trail from then on was amazing singletrack that was very runnable and followed just below the ridgeline for miles and miles.  I had never been on this section before and fell in love instantly.  I can now see why there are so many bikers on that trail.  Awesome!  I followed it all the way to the second radio tower passing where "Scott's Pass" aid station was.  I wanted to continue all the way to Guardsmans pass, but the trail turned to dirt road and I was out of time and water (nearly).  For comparison again, I ran the the section from Desolation to Scott's Aid in about 45 mins.  Karl ran it in 52.  Luke and Evan both did it in 47!  I even stopped my watch to take pictures at Red Lovers Ridge.  They didn't have that luxury.  Its fun to see what those guys can do.  

The way back to the car was un-eventful but just as amazing as the way out.  I didn't take the detour to Millcreek again, but just headed back via Desolation and Mill D trail back to the car.  The gatoraid I had waiting for me there was simply amazing! 

T- 3:58 (22.7 miles) (10:30) 5200' Vert

Profile - 

*** Weekly summary.  This week was simply amazing as I was able to get in 3 crazy big runs all in the same week.  I was truly surprised that I felt so good today.  I thought that after friday's big run I would be dead (like I was on Tuesday).  Nope, I felt fine and was able to enjoy another big day in the mountains.  I am so glad that things are well again with my leg.  No issues anymore it seems.  I have lost my downhill speed, but I can get that back once I run on the road again.  No reason to do something lame like that though.

78.5 miles -  870 mins - 18,200' Vert - (PR for vertical feet in a week)

PICS -

Dog Lake (pretty gross)

 Desolation Lake from Red Lovers Ridge -

Brighton from the radio tower -