Washington Road Trip July 2011

At the beginning of July, Susan and I squeezed in a couple week road trip up to Washington to see my family in Bellingham and Susan's brother, Leo, in Seattle. We had LOADS of fun hanging out with everyone! Love you all! Sorry it was such a short trip. Hopefully, we will be back up to see everyone again sooner than later.

I would have loved to get this post out right after the trip as there were many fun details that I would have loved to share but 'actual life' is busy sometimes (it sure got busy fast after we got back from the trip) and at least I am getting something up now... enjoy the photo post! I threw up some of my favorites from the trip.

Driving up the Northern California and Oregon coast

(Lake Tahoe!)

(Hanging out on this beach reminded us why a trip to Lake Tahoe should be high on our list for a future trip (we only got to spend about an hour at the lake on the way to the coast...))

(Happened upon this stump while wandering off trail at Lake Tahoe)

(As we reached the N. Cali coast we made a stop at the Trinity Aretes to get a bit of climbing in. Surprisingly, I wasn't that impressed. There were some good routes. I guess I was just expecting it to be a way bigger area. Pretty limited. Beautiful place to find yourself for the day though.)

(Dead seal at Gold Bluffs Beach Campground at the Readwoods, on the Cali Coast. We really enjoyed this beach and camping there was pretty sweet.)

(Sunset's coming...beer anyone?)

(Livin' the life)

(Our site at Gold Bluff Beach Campground.)

(Oregon Coast baby! These kind of views were pretty typical along the whole drive of the coast. Good stuff!)

(Arch. Sick!)

In Washington

We started our stint hanging out with Leo in Seattle and then having a bit shindig at my Sister's house. Great chance to see everyone right off the bat. It was good to catch up with everyone. Thanks for hosting Melissa!

(Then...we went for some fun in the ocean near Semiahmoo Resort with my parents (pictured above), my brother and his wife and my grandpa. Fun day out.)

(Pretty sick views...Mt. Baker in the distance. Saw a bunch of jellyfish too.)

(The next evening, after hanging out on the beach at Birch Bay messing with crabs and trying to sneak up on Bald Eagles (I got within 25 feet of one!), we hung out with a bunch of family at the 'local' fireworks show. A bit crazy, as the show consisted of hundreds if not thousands of people lining the shore with whatever fireworks they can get their hands on. Somehow no one got seriously hurt but it seemed like a war zone on the beach. Crazy. Above and below are my best efforts at getting some photos of the action. By the way...thanks to my brother for hosting a great party at his home in Birch Bay for the 4th!)

(Susan and I got away to do some climbing at Mt. Erie which was an old hangout of mine while learning to climb as a youth. It was fun to circuit a few of the old routes with her.)

(Mt. Erie is located on one of the islands in the San Juan's so sunsets are always amazing. We got to enjoy this one from the crag. Special evening for sure.)

(Susan and I dangling the feet at one of the crags on Mt. Erie. Great views.)

(We got out for a bit of an adventure one day. I wanted to get a longer run in as my foot was starting to feel better again and so I ran 16 miles of trails on Chuckanut Mountain, next to Bellingham, as Susan and my dad rode bikes. Ask my dad about the spectacular wipe out he had during his ride. It was awesome (well...maybe only because I was running right behind him when it happened...)

(We got to link some of my favorite lakes on Chuckanut Mountain. Brought back some good memories.)

(Typical trail.)

(Lost Lake. I love this spot.)

(Gotta love the big ass trees in Washington. Now that's a root system!)

(Above video is us screwing around a bit with the camera at around mile 14 or 15 of the run.)

(That evening, we caught up with the family at Clayton Beach (another favorite place of mine...) and just hung out, played on the beach and watched another great sunset.)

(We squeezed in Mallards after hanging out at Clayton Beach (truly amazing flavors of ice cream!!!). Wish we had something like this in Flagstaff.)

(The following day was a bit of catching up with Bellingham and my parents as Susan and I (and my parents) went for a bike ride linking a ton of urban trails in town. Along the way we found a really cool tree fort on the beach.)

(See me in the tree fort? This thing was big!)

(We ate at Casa during the ride but probably should have waited 'till the end. Ohhhhhhh the full stomach. Not good for riding...but Casa is a must in Bellingham so I enjoyed every bit of it!)

(On the bridge at Whatcom Falls at the end of our ride.)

The trip back to Flagstaff

We hung out with Leo in Seattle for one more tour (a bike ride around Seattle on streets and urban trails). Thanks Leo...it was really fun! Then, we had to get south quickly to get Susan to a teacher training in southern Utah. We squeezed in a half day of great sport climbing at Exit 38, east of Seattle, before leaving though. Couldn't resist.

(Our camping spot near where I had to drop Susan off for her teacher training in southern Utah. Great spot to camp. Good thing too as it was our one year anniversary and we pretty much didn't get to do anything cool the whole day (we had driven from Washington to Utah that day!). Except...I just remembered, how could I forget, that we had a near death experience at a gas station in eastern Washington... you'll have to ask about that one! Soooo, back to my original thought, we got to hang in the aspens (just like our wedding day) and reflect on our great life together. Great end to the trip.)

Wow. I remembered a lot more of the details of the trip than I thought...I wonder if this is all in the right order...did I miss anything? Probably...

Thanks to all our family for being so wonderful and putting life on hold for a few to hang out with us!! Love you guys and see you all again soon!

Great trip...although too short as always. Man, I love road trips.

Humphreys Run and Wedding Spot Camping

Got maybe my last run up Humphreys before Leadville (I may take one more trip up there next week...) and it was great as always. Took it really easy to just spend time high in the air and enjoy myself. Finished in a leisure 2 hrs 50 minutes car to car.

Just another great run to the top of Arizona. I don't think that I have ever had a bad run up that thing... Oh yeah, except for the time that I tried to run it with my boss and some friends and only got a 1/4 of the way up the trail before turning around because of extreme nausea. Why? My dog had been sprayed by a skunk the night before and when I smelled her to see how bad it was I got way too close and sniffed way too hard. It completely wrecked me...lesson learned, don't snort Skunk spray before running up Humphreys.

(looking south from summit)

(Look mom...you son has wings! Baaaad summit shot.)

I wanted to add that Susan and I got a chance to go back up to our wedding spot and camp out last week, which was a couple weeks after our 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! It was awesome day to camp out and super peaceful up there in my favorite aspen grove. What a great spot!!! It reminded us of what a great day our Wedding Day turned out to be. Super special. Although, I will say that it was really nice to be back up there without the stress that goes along with a wedding. We got to just enjoy each other in a very special spot.

(Hi, from Susan at the wedding spot! Thanks for all the great gifts at the wedding. Almost every item in this photo was a wedding gift. Thanks everyone for coming out to the wedding and making it such a special day for us!)

Running Log

Yesterday: 0 miles

Today: 9 miles (Humphreys Trail)

28 and 21 miles on The Peaks...back to back

Last week I completed my first strong week of running in a long while. The last few weeks leading up to it had been great, with building the miles back up, but last week was the biggy. The real test to see how prepared I really was for the Leadville 100 run.

I wanted to put in at least 70 miles for the week and have two days in a row of 20+ miles while averaging 9,000 to 12,000 feet in elevation and gaining at least 5,000 feet each day. I was a bit worried doing a 50 mile, 10,000+ ft. gain in a single day so close to Leadville so, instead, opted for the safer but still some what pounding 50 miles split into two days.

To be honest, I kinda felt that the 2 days of 20+ miles back to back would help get my brain in gear the best way possible at this point. It's kind of like doing 50 miles and then having to do another 50, in a hundred miler. OF COURSE, doing the 2 days of 20+ miles back to back is WAY EASY compared to doing 50 miles back to back in a 100 miler. But, it does get the brain and body trained a bit on what it takes to make finishing a big day out like Leadville a success.

Day One, I ran from the base of Snowbowl Road to top of Mt. Humphreys and back. I parked at the dirt lot where Snowbowl Road and Hwy 180 meet (7,355 ft elevation) and picked up the the unsigned/unnamed trail that is a couple hundred yards up Snowbowl Road and on the right. I followed this trail until it met the Arizona Trail and turned left onto the Arizona Trail. From here, I traveled the Arizona Trail all the way up to the short connector (Aspen Nature Trail) to the Humphreys Trail. I then followed the Humphreys Trail to the summit of Humphreys (12,633 ft elevation). Once reaching the summit, it was all downhill back to the car on the same trails I took up. In the end it was a total elevation gain of 5,278 ft and loss of 5,278 ft and 28 miles, car to car.

It was a great day out. I took it super slow, my proposed Leadville pace (walking up any kind up serious up hill and jogging all the flats and downhills), and finished the run in 6 hrs 15 minutes, feeling great and positive. Wow, super slow by normal standards but I know that during Leadville this will be a very reasonable pace for that kind of elevation gain and loss. On to day two...

Day two, I tried to mimic the Leadville 100 Hope Pass double crossing section a bit. To get relatively the same elevation gains and losses at the same elevations as the Hope Pass double crossing, I started at Aspen Corner (8,935 ft elevation) and ran the Arizona Trail and Aspen Nature Loop to the Humphreys Trailhead. From the Humphreys Trailhead, I traveled the Humphreys Trail and Weatherford Trail (high point was 12,000 ft elevation on the Weatherford) to the Inner Basin Trail and down into the Inner Basin to the Waterline Road Junction (9,410 ft elevation). From the Waterline Road Junction, I turned around and repeated the whole trip back to my car.

Another great day out and a very promising effort. I, again, kept it really, really slow (walking up any kind of serious up hill and jogging all the flats and downhills) and finished in 5 hrs 40 minutes with a total elevation gain of 5,655 ft and loss of 5,655 ft and 21 miles car to car. All around, I felt really good on this effort too. I didn't really know what to expect.

I could have started the day with some serious soreness or fatigue but instead I started the run feeling fine and finished feeling really strong. The only part of the run that I felt a bit hammered on was during about a mile of super steep, loose trail leading down into the Inner Basin. Besides that, all was well. I woke the day after the 2 long days of running and felt really good and ready for more. Great sign! No foot pain or other pain in the body and my psych was high. Really good sign! Maybe I will be ready for a good effort at the Leadville 100 run after all.

The only worry I can have at this point is that there is also a ton of flat stuff on the Leadville course and I haven't been able to do any super long flat runs in the last few months due to the foot injury. Hopefully, the accumulative effort over the last 6 months and the stuff I have been able to do the last 3 weeks will help with that part too. We will see...can't really do much about it at this point.

So, with 49 miles in two days with an accumulative 10,933 ft in elevation gain and 10,933 ft of elevation loss, all between 8,840 and 12,000 ft elevation, and another 21 miles of flatter running for the week I made an even 70 miles and some really good elevation training. A good strong week.

Now time to start tapering to get rested up and ready. This week I am hoping to run about 40 miles with minimal elevation gains (maybe one run in the Dry Lake Hills and one trip up Humphreys to get a bit of elevation...but that's it for the steeper stuff). Then it's probably 20ish miles (and maybe a really easy trip up Humphreys...), 15ish miles and then 5ish miles in final three weeks leading up to Leadville.

Can't wait. PSYCHED!

Running Log

Last Week Total: 70 miles and 11,500 ft in elevation gain

This Week

Monday: 10 miles (on mesa)

Tuesday: 6 miles (on mesa by the house and new section of Flagstaff Loop Trail (nice) on mesa)

Wednesday: 10 miles (on Dry Lake Hills)

Wupatki Ride

What a cool ride...

Last night, by the light of the full moon (no headlamps of course), Susan and I joined some friends and rode the classic 14 mile 'coast fest' of perfect, smooth downhill road action between Sunset Crater National Monument and Wupatki National Monument, northeast of Flagstaff. That's right, 14 miles of easy going but amazingly consistent downhill! Pretty much coasting the entire length! To add to the fun, there were probably 100 other people that made the drive out there to coast their way through the desert by moonlight. Really cool.

The only regret I have from the evening is riding ahead of our group a bit and hiding, figuring I would catch right up to them after they passed and surprising them, as a fun joke. Well, I underestimated how fast people can coast when they are trying to catch me when thinking I was still ahead of them. They really went for it! By the time I got going again to catch the front group of Susan and Chris I must have put myself a good distance behind because with full on pedaling it still took me at least 5 miles to catch them and I was WORKED! Once we did all gather up again it was really fun just cruising along enjoying the smooth road, huge sky with a crazy amount of stars for a full moon night, super surreal desert landscape and each other's great company. Really novel experience. Gotta do that again sometime.

Get psyched!

Here's a video for all those runners that like the steep stuff. Man, this video makes me want to get stronger on hills!

Leadville 100 Run

Only 5 weeks to Leadville and one more week to try and get stronger before tapering off... bring it! Finally starting to feel the excitement and fear of what lies ahead. This is the good stuff. Ready or not, I will be running the Leadville 100 mile run in 5 weeks.

Running Log

Yesterday: 4 miles (work errands)

Today: 4.5 miles (on mesa with Susan)

Week Total: 50.5 and 6,000 feet of elevation gain (First week over 50 miles in a loooooong time and felt really good. Ready to put in a good effort this coming week...)

Peaks North Loop Run...a 'new' classic

Peaks North Loop Run

Route: I recommend doing it counter clockwise to get the best quality trails and easiest climbs when going up hill but to each their own. Maybe you will find it better doing it the other way...

Start at Humphreys Trailhead at Snowbowl Ski Area. Link trails in this order:

Humphreys Trail (3.5 miles)

Weatherford Trail (...follow trail on top of ridge and then onto right side of ridge to start Weatherford Trail from Humphreys Trail Junction. Don't follow trail trending to left side of ridge.) (2.5 miles)

Inner Basin Trail (2.3 miles)

Waterline Road (...turn left on it going north) (5 miles)

Abineau Trail (2.3 miles)

Forest Service Road #9723J (about .5 miles)

Forest Service Road #418 (...turn left on it going west) (about 1.5 miles)

Arizona Trail (...turn left on it going south) (6.5 miles)

Aspen Nature Trail (...on Arizona Trail look for first trail you can take a left onto. It will have a 'TH' sticker on the sign pointing up the Aspen Nature Trail which may be unmarked otherwise.) (.8 miles)

Distance: 25 miles

Total Elevation Gain/Loss: Gain +4,580 ft. and Loss -4,800 ft.

Highest Elevation: 12,055 ft. on Weatherford Trail

Lowest Elevation: 8,250 ft. at Arizona Trail/Forest Service Road #418 Junction

Water Source: seasonal water source at Inner Basin Trail/Waterline Road Junction (check with Forest Service to see if water is available before relying on it!)

Best Time to Do It: July to October (go early in the morning to beat thunder showers during summer!)

Trip Report

Finally! I had been licking my chops at the opportunity to run this loop ever since they finished the AZ Trail section that links it a couple years ago. I would have done it last year but the Inner Basin was closed due to the Schultz Fire so I had to be patient.

Starting up the Humphreys Trail I wasn't sure if the weather was going to cooperate but the forecast was for clear skies so I decided to let it all play out.

(Mt. Humphreys at 6 am and a bit stormy.)

I was running the loop with my Nathan Pack and a hand held water bottle just in case the water was off at the Inner Basin Trail/Waterline Road Junction. About a 1/2 mile up the trail, just to make things more interesting I guess, I set my water bottle down to adjust some things and never picked it back up! I got a mile or so farther up the trail before I realized my mistake. Crap. Hopefully, there was going to be water at the Waterline Road...good chance, but it's not completely reliable.

When I reached the start of the Weatherford Trail the weather had already started clearing, I got a little sun on my face and I could just about see Humphreys summit poking through the clouds.

(Mt. Humphreys)

The Weatherford was a pleasure to run, as always. I just love running above tree line on The Peaks. I love the rugged alpine environment and the spectacular views of The Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon and the Painted Desert.

(Looking back at one of my favorite views on the Weatherford.)

(Looking ahead at an awesome section of the Weatherford Trail as it traverses above tree line. This is the good stuff!)

(Dropping back down into the trees on the Weatherford Trail.)

When I reached the Inner Basin Trail I got extra psyched. I haven't been in the Inner Basin in years due to the fire and I just love it in there with it's big meadows and aspens...just awesome.

I will have to admit that the trail quality on the upper half of the Inner Basin is pretty crappy but it's all worth it as you role out into the meadow and take in all the views.

(Inner Basin goodness.)

(Water Pump in Inner Basin. Yep, that's our city drinking water coming out of there!)

At the Inner Basin, I went immediately to the faucet to top off my Nathan Pack and found that the faucet wasn't on. Say what!?! I have never been to this faucet in the summer with it turned off.

Luckily, I didn't have to go into rationing water mode as around the back of one of the buildings next to the faucet there was a pipe with water pouring out of it. I filled up on this and knew that I could now gulp water 'at will' the rest of the run. Nice.

(Waterless faucet. Arg.)

(Pipe of gushing water. Yippy!)

From the Inner Basin/Waterline Trail Junction I took a left and followed the old road north. I was really excited to explore this next section. I had never been on this section of the Waterline Road and had, also, never been on the upcoming Abineau Trail. I knew these sections were going to be super beautiful as I have seen many sweet photos of 'em.

I wasn't let down. It was pure joy running through the thick Aspens, Fur, alpine flowers, tall grass and ferns. Everything was super lush on the Waterline Road section. I felt like I was in Colorado or Washington running. The old road had degraded to a wide, smooth trail feel adding to the enjoyment. Good stuff.

(View of Locket Meadow from Waterline Road.)

(Typical trail on Waterline Road. Not bad, eh?)

(Simply stunning place to be! Wow! This was a few hundred yards from where I picked up the Abineau Trail.)

When I reached the Abineau Trail I had to stop and take it all in. This spot on the mountain was just breathtaking. I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't in the San Juan mountains in Colorado. I did not feel like I was in Arizona anymore. The north side of the mountain most definitely has a different feel than the other sides. Much more lush and wild feeling. To top it off I had not seen a soul up to this point adding an 'out there' feeling (I only saw one person on the entire loop. Amazing.). More good stuff.

Once I started down the Abineau Trail I realized that I was yet again on an awesome section of the loop. There was a big avalanche that went down Abineau Canyon many years ago and laid all the trees down flat. Running down the, rebuilt yet barely there, trail taking in the impact of the powerful avalanche damage was just another added bonus to an already great run. Can it get much better than this?

(View of the avalanche damage. The Abineau trail goes right down this chute. Rugged!)

It can...

After a few miles of mandatory dirt road running, I reached the Arizona Trail and I was right back in bliss mode. The Arizona Trail from here to the Humphrey's Trailhead is really amazing. Not only is it extremely smooth and fast but it wanders it's way through some HUGE Aspen groves. A really special trail.

(I don't get psyched on running roads but the views definitely make up for it!)

(Arizona Trail action!)

(Susan and my wedding spot from last year. Still my favorite place and always will be!)

(Typical AZ Trail in the Aspen section. LOVE IT!)

(AZ Trail near Bizmark Lake.)

(Saw some fire as I neared the Humphreys Trailhead...got scared, then later realized it was just Snowbowl burning some crap. Whew!)

To finish up, I went left onto the quaint Aspen Nature Trail to link back up with the Humphreys Trailhead. Done.

Looking back, I really don't have a bad word to say about this loop except maybe the 2 miles of dirt road. I think it is completely worth the dirt road action to link the rest of these spectacular trails. I truly believe that this is the best side of the mountain to do a loop if you are looking for the most wild and remote side of the mountain and want to sample all the zones that the mountain has to offer. Can I say enough about this loop? Probably not! If you do the regular Peaks loop and are looking for a little variety and and a whole lot of wild and beauty then check this loop out...you won't be sorry. Simply classic.

Oh yeah... I didn't get my water bottle back. I went back up the Humphreys Trail to retrieve it and someone had already snaked it. Poop. Great run though, so who cares!

Running Log

Yesterday: 6 miles (on Urban Trail to Schultz Pass Road and back)

Today: 26 miles (Peaks North Loop + 1 extra mile on Humphreys looking for my water bottle. Did the loop in 5 hrs 50 minutes and really took my time to go super easy on the foot and see what time I would put in going at a snails pace (good gage for Leadville...). I also took a serious amount of photos adding to the slow pace. As a result, MY FOOT FEELS GREAT!, physically I feel good and I have a ton of photos. GREAT DAY OF RUNNING!!! It's good to be back doing some longer runs.)