I wanted to look for elk and run into Bryce. I ended up on a different ridge than the previous day. Didn’t see any elk. Did find the paved road. Took the Whiteman Bench trailhead and started descending like crazy. I quickly researched how long the trail was. 13.3 miles from Whiteman to Under the Rim and finishes at Bryce Point. I wanted to cover 16 miles running so this seemed like a perfect trail. I started to get burned out about 8 miles into it but luckily there was the yellow creek to help me keep going. I lost the trail for a little bit because of all the rain washing things away but instincts kicked in. The last 5 miles were rough for me. The sun was beating down and the climbs were pretty rough. I ran on the downhills, flat, and gradual uphill. I was basically out of water at 11. The sun was beating me up and I started to feel nauseous. I sat in the shade and ate my pop tart. Then I gutted out the last 2 miles of uphill. 13.43 miles on the trail (probably 11+ miles of legitimate running).
Once I peaked out I had to make a game plan on how to get back where I started my adventure. Hopped on the shuttle only to find out that they weren’t going high enough up the road. I ended up going the wrong way. So I jumped off the shuttle and stopped at the lodge and filled up my water bladder. Then I ran up the road a little before hitch hiking. I had 20-30 cars pass before some Canadians picked me up (2 guys I passed on the trail). They took me up 6 miles, offered me a beer, and then I went on my way. I knew Marieta was mad I was gone too long so I tried to hurry back but the terrain was rough once I dropped from the Bryce road. I hurdled over so many fallen trees and bushes. Then I put my hand on a branch to jump over a tree but the branch broke and I stumbled and my shin crashed into a jagged branch. Left some of my skin and hair on that thing. Then smooth sailing to camp. I was pretty worn out from this adventure but it’s the stuff I live for. 16.27 miles running (20+ Including the hiking)
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