TIMP!!! TIMP!!! TIMP!!! I have NEVER been to the top of Timp before, but Becca and I had discussed doing it this year and she finally convinced me. Thanks to hubby for staying home a bit to get kiddos off to school I was able to make it work. We met at 4:45 at AF Canyon with Cam and his friend. Always good to meet fellow bloggers! Rachelle and others were going to come, but due to work and other issues they postponed their trip, but Becca and I knew we couldn't so we just made it work. The trail is pretty runable to the meadow. I was just a little chicken, because I knew people had talked about how hard it is - cliff drop offs, slippery rock, high elevation - so I didn't push myself like I will next time :) After just a couple miles you could take the head lamps off and boy was it amazing! Gorgeous views anywhere you looked. Then we reached the meadow...heaven. I was ready to run it, but the elevation made my legs burn since I couldn't get the O2 in as well. So, it was still a slow slog, then we reached the saddle. Oh, the views. CRAZY! I was almost there...and it was getting cold. Hands in l/s shirt that I'd had on since the beginning and I wanted a hat too! Note for next time: bring winter clothes for the top. The devil's staircase is aptly named and I have NO idea how some crazy trail runners can RUN that stretch to the top and back down. I'm not afraid of heights, but man alive it is a little frightening. We finally got to the top and had some treats and our PB sandwiches...on white of course! :) Saw a mtn goat, signed our names in THE book, chatted with other hikers then took off before hypothermia set in. Again, the down was scary. That top section is just crazy steep drop offs and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to run it! After the saddle we got to some good running and despite a short-cut fall and elbow bang-up had a perfect run down into the Meadow. As I ran through the meadow I decided THIS is runners paradise. Cool, fragrant, beautiful, sunny, dirt trails. Seriously, I was in heaven and didn't want it to change! We had a quick stop at the toilet at the end of the meadow and I just have to laugh. I should find a way to post the pics. It is literally a piece of plywood behind a toilet. A toilet that is FULL of...well...crap. No real walls, ceiling or privacy, but hey! GREAT views. Best views I've had from a toilet EVER. E.V.E.R. Back on the trail we just started running down again. Although it wasn't super fast miles we were just hauling through and enjoying the chatting, views, other hikers and run. I could've run DOWN 14 miles on that trail :) We also took another side trip to Scout Falls on the way down. It was worth it. I didn't think it would be, but I'm glad we went. It is gorgeous and I would totally take my kids up there too. Not to the top, but to scout falls, definitely. Just after that I hear someone splashing in the river crossing behind us and it was Nick barreling down the trail! He stopped for 2 seconds and I asked what he was up to: "challenging a record!" well, with that I shooed him off! I'm not going to be responsible for disrupting that. I told him we'd chat at the bottom. Cam and his friend had been done a while, since Becca and I were just doddling around the way down, but we'd given them the car keys and they were just relaxing talking to Nick. I'd told Cam he should hook up with Nick and voila! connection made :) I'm such a good match maker! There was a snake near the car that made getting into the car a little longer than it should've taken, but overall it was a pretty quick trip back to the parking lot to drop off the speedy boys. The full trip took 5:30ish with only stopping the time at the top. So, not sure you could really call these 'running' miles, but I'm taking it! I loved it. Best morning ever.
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