View Benchmark night run solo:
I was going to run up Gobblers Knob after work, but MattVH convinced me to do it with him in the am on Thurs, so I didn't want to crush my legs with a lot of vert so VB was the perfect choice for a night run. I had the trail to myself the entire run and I just put in some really good music into the ipod and set it on cruise control. I really enjoyed the views of SL and Utah Counties in the dark while winding my way up to the summit. The stars were really bright and there was a really cool planet (not sure which one) lighting up the eastern sky.
About 5 min from the top I saw a big black blob in the middle of the trail start to move and I put the breaks on just in time so I didn't run into a porcupine. At first I thought it was a skunk and it scared the shite out of me. I let it wobble off the trail and I continued up to the top. Awesome views! On the run down I was thinking about cougars for some reason. I started thinking about a cougar that was hungry and missed all of the deer it stalked during the day and how slow I probably looked... and also tasty. When those thoughts start creeping in every movement and sound makes you jump. Ahhhh a cougar!!! Nah, just another porcupine.
They finally turned off the drinking fountain for the year at the Maple Hollow trailhead, but I really didn't need any anyway. The run down was fun. I picked up the pace and jammed to some old eighties greats on the ipod. At one point I thought someone was calling me from the bush off the trail, but it was just the backup singers for Prince. | 