tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16932042417981034362024-03-12T19:15:14.128-06:00Glass Half FullSean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-88539455398918945372014-04-14T06:30:00.001-06:002014-04-14T06:30:01.744-06:00BlurbAs summer approaches and my foot creeps ever so closer to being 100%, I'm finally allowing myself to start filling in June, July, and August with some tentative adventures. I hope to fully participate in Colorado's biggest weekend of racing - 8/16 and 8/17. About 30 peaks remain to round out Colorado's Centennial peaks. (I'm always looking for company on these guys. If interested, let me know) I imagine just completing those two tasks will keep me busy, but after sitting around for so long, I look forward to it.
Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-21632988255328336282014-02-22T15:29:00.003-07:002014-03-08T11:41:10.941-07:00Recovering from a Jones Fracture<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 0</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Thursday, October 10th, I was at the Pikes Peak Athletics Conference (PPAC) League Meet, doing what I always do during a big meet: run around and scream at kids to run faster. Cutting across an overgrown field with the head coach, I found myself high-stepping into or onto something. You'd think I would know what it was, but truthfully, I was so distracted by how it felt that I didn't even think about it until I had limped off a good ten steps or so. I didn't hear a snap or anything - I just felt like I had jammed my foot up into my ankle and now sharp bolts of pain were letting me know I wasn't about to jog this one off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I got taken to Urgent Care, where an X-ray confirmed what I had feared - that I had broken a bone in my foot. My particular break was a complete fracture of the fifth metatarsal. The location of the fracture within the fifth classified it as one of the three common types of fifth metatarsal fractures: a Jones Fracture. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTFphYRoBeIO9ri7anUvzSknFHbdbe7sR18bsJKBGSb3s_ENez9WWuZs_hVwF7H2tpv-6xwU60YcAUnQOn7ExGwxU8WfCfe1YmRN6PF-SfAPseSZHwXhNQNUP4GaOyCTU06GhFK2MprI/s1600/20131218_162839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTFphYRoBeIO9ri7anUvzSknFHbdbe7sR18bsJKBGSb3s_ENez9WWuZs_hVwF7H2tpv-6xwU60YcAUnQOn7ExGwxU8WfCfe1YmRN6PF-SfAPseSZHwXhNQNUP4GaOyCTU06GhFK2MprI/s1600/20131218_162839.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just a wee little thing...betchya can't even see it.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That night, while hopped up on Vicodin (I hate the feeling!) I did some research to see what I could learn. I can't say the findings were encouraging. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jones_fracture" target="_blank">This prognosis</a> is sobering to say the least: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I</i><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><i>f a Jones fracture fails to unite (malunion or non union), which is a common problem with these fractures, it can become a chronic condition. If this is the case, podiatrists will likely recommend that the patient spend more time in a cast, up to twenty weeks.</i></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">For several reasons, a Jones fracture often does not heal. The diaphyseal bone, where the fracture occurs, is an area of poor blood supply. In medical terms, it is a watershed area between two blood supplies. This makes healing difficult. In addition, there are various tendons, including the peroneus brevis and fibularis tertius, and two small muscles attached to the bone. These may pull the fracture apart and prevent healing.</span></i></div>
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<b>Day 4</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXzSIZORKN3ciWFDO7d3QBqu1GIxeMNDILM-OmrAanmr1AYrvepEgGh3U5TP0YR98PoXgQXxMvQjfomT5hU82LNcucWXXdSMQVSI3qFwi6B3LBH_ZfeA2yUuI-B21ooXHdiIaq0oUuUI/s1600/20131014_131702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXzSIZORKN3ciWFDO7d3QBqu1GIxeMNDILM-OmrAanmr1AYrvepEgGh3U5TP0YR98PoXgQXxMvQjfomT5hU82LNcucWXXdSMQVSI3qFwi6B3LBH_ZfeA2yUuI-B21ooXHdiIaq0oUuUI/s1600/20131014_131702.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Monday, October 14th, I had a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Simpson. We scheduled surgery for the following Thursday, October 24th. The swelling in my foot was still pretty impressive, and it had to cool down a bit. The surgical process for my type of Jones fracture is simple enough. Take a screw and drill it through both parts of the bone, parallel to the shaft of the bone. Ouch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My temporary splint got thrown in the trash, and I was given a bionic boot, with its six-velcro-strap beauty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I took a half-day off the previous Friday, but now I was back to work, in modified form. Being immobile while teaching a bunch of eleven and twelve year olds isn't the easiest job out there. I spent a lot of time lying on the couch at home, as well. Cale and Melissa were both heroes and put up with my constant requests during those first few days.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 14</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My mom dropped me off at the Orthopedic Surgeon's office late in the morning. The staff admitted me, gave me some gas, and next thing I know it's over. Surgery went smoothly. By now, I had started to feel a little better every day. Of course, the surgery put me back a bit recovery-wise, and I got to enjoy Round 2 of feeling beaten up. Melissa brought me home, and the next few days again were rough. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 40</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At my monthly meeting with the orthopod, I was given permission to bear weight as tolerated, as long as I was in the boot. In other words, I could wean myself from crutches. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Days 43-50</span></b><br />
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Maui! I never, and I mean NEVER, seem to go on vacation just for vacation's sake. Melissa and I went with our friends, who had in their possession for one week a beautiful shoreline residence on Maui's northwestern edge.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfUV8lU0UcaQ24U4gqrQrDDc-2FzRNbcY7jfVVxO1fsdmQagbWetI-Z188Kmbkc0_2MBw0UeeEIlCSlfndmbJ6kuxen4UWvC02g8XGfggT8_L0PxK9gGT46pCgDG5N8cUUWevo3FCyS4/s1600/20131125_110125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfUV8lU0UcaQ24U4gqrQrDDc-2FzRNbcY7jfVVxO1fsdmQagbWetI-Z188Kmbkc0_2MBw0UeeEIlCSlfndmbJ6kuxen4UWvC02g8XGfggT8_L0PxK9gGT46pCgDG5N8cUUWevo3FCyS4/s1600/20131125_110125.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're gonna sit around and do nothing, this seems like a pretty good way to do it.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cUhHyZNwwaTLjmQYe8Cyzj3wOjSAviJmAlWUi1nECUo-nJ4M0C8TDsyyQ4IGd8B3wmgghljJbBG58vAiFBNM1kKTo_C6O2K0hmKwnqhxHjT4w2ZAl2wGmJ1zoSjRuG_WqDwigkPymDA/s1600/20131125_180849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cUhHyZNwwaTLjmQYe8Cyzj3wOjSAviJmAlWUi1nECUo-nJ4M0C8TDsyyQ4IGd8B3wmgghljJbBG58vAiFBNM1kKTo_C6O2K0hmKwnqhxHjT4w2ZAl2wGmJ1zoSjRuG_WqDwigkPymDA/s1600/20131125_180849.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMk-Iok0xAI2PAfGlnDttf1KSme2qgPg5S1CiFwdKOSoH1-54YVMz62RrjEdNgRxWWmL-evZ_-ZIQvO9j48f0qMIGQxwSaW_5VNYOLaCBTvV7tcQev8v0LER6L-e3aTFAstrw1ZdYuBE/s1600/20131125_172439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMk-Iok0xAI2PAfGlnDttf1KSme2qgPg5S1CiFwdKOSoH1-54YVMz62RrjEdNgRxWWmL-evZ_-ZIQvO9j48f0qMIGQxwSaW_5VNYOLaCBTvV7tcQev8v0LER6L-e3aTFAstrw1ZdYuBE/s1600/20131125_172439.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I approve of the view</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscBGCvYFEses233qjc8yVoEKesIjWqVTZkBTy14SR4s_kWFmutxytdiW5P4RGLPNdabv6NBNn-DdEJPBo-lW33kKamiCKAfJt7S5HjZgIFQDPnoH-wlFpuhykWiQfT8Ic35leGw0I9wY/s1600/20131126_185231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscBGCvYFEses233qjc8yVoEKesIjWqVTZkBTy14SR4s_kWFmutxytdiW5P4RGLPNdabv6NBNn-DdEJPBo-lW33kKamiCKAfJt7S5HjZgIFQDPnoH-wlFpuhykWiQfT8Ic35leGw0I9wY/s1600/20131126_185231.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And the recovery drink of choice.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The highlight of the trip may have been getting to swim aside tons of sea turtles. The ocean swimming also represented my first semblance of exercise in nearly two months.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEPNDNADcxCR7TQcHF-AQShyphenhyphenurSsfPiWO4f2i6HP9jGG9V__d3JIMj2okTUP6VCr9i-jC5oozSHlt3HatUyMNmWdie9mqjCKjkoLfPHj9weu3-xxQgXeZrXASR2s1-S9Gae9GmWT5z0I/s1600/20131127_172848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEPNDNADcxCR7TQcHF-AQShyphenhyphenurSsfPiWO4f2i6HP9jGG9V__d3JIMj2okTUP6VCr9i-jC5oozSHlt3HatUyMNmWdie9mqjCKjkoLfPHj9weu3-xxQgXeZrXASR2s1-S9Gae9GmWT5z0I/s1600/20131127_172848.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 69</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another milestone! By now, I had been itching to try putting some weight on my left foot but had managed to resist the temptation. On my next orthopod visit, I got to lose the boot and begin PT sessions. I quickly called up my friend Simon and scheduled a visit with him for the next Monday.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQufq7dJyxOjqN1_otOnEqIOd_0C9cxKbRyPXwFKn0sDF7mAyOqNdE0ZUS6A_hyYPIz_IaywkeTdoqSeUVUFsZXIGCS8tpXBo-mLVHv9LrXxOAjH-271Un3bSXtUnUlXbkQJaqqsHfDVA/s1600/20131122_210344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQufq7dJyxOjqN1_otOnEqIOd_0C9cxKbRyPXwFKn0sDF7mAyOqNdE0ZUS6A_hyYPIz_IaywkeTdoqSeUVUFsZXIGCS8tpXBo-mLVHv9LrXxOAjH-271Un3bSXtUnUlXbkQJaqqsHfDVA/s1600/20131122_210344.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I really struggled those first few days without the boot. My foot had barely any stamina before it started throbbing from all the joint movement that hadn't occurred for months.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 100</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My first taste of meaningful outdoor activity, I soft-pedaled for a bit short of an hour outside on the west side of town. Just in time, too, as I had been adding pounds at a fairly alarming rate, going from a pre-break 142 to a high on this day of 162.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 130</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just this week, I began "briskly walking" - I can't help but think of mallwalking when I say that. I kept trying to tell myself that this is no different than if you were in shape to walk the 80th mile in an ultra. Good luck with that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm probably still a week or two from taking my first running steps. I'm able to do some real mountain biking. It's been a while; I enjoy coming back to it. I'll probably continue to ride more than I have in past years once I'm healthier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been almost 5 months since I've run. At no other point in my life since I began running have I been away from it for this long. It's time - I'm excited to be putting this thing behind me and be moving again!</span></div>
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Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-20818974204477600002014-01-25T16:00:00.004-07:002014-01-25T16:00:49.988-07:00SucksThe best way to kill a blog, in my opinion, is to get hurt and subsequently turn to sulking.<div>
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I'm not yet ready to put into words these past few months of sitting on my butt and 'healing', and I'm not even certain that once I am there will even be words worth hearing to describe it. Basically, I broke my foot, it sucked, then it sucked some more, then it continued to suck, and even when it began to not suck as much, it sucked more because it still sucked. When it's done sucking, I think I might just pretend nothing sucked. We'll see.</div>
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Till then, I think I'll suck just a little more.</div>
Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-38373997344742829132013-07-16T09:03:00.001-06:002013-07-16T09:03:58.724-06:00Bells Traverse in pictures<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Part 1 - gaining the ridge</span></b><br />
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<li>aka "the warm-up" aka "the Incline without steps"</li>
<li>3,000' gain in just over a mile</li>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Part 2 - Maroon's south ridge</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>aka let the fun begin</li>
<li>It's much more of a face than a ridge, but what do I know.</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Part 3 - The Traverse</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The fun part </li>
<li>aka don't tell mom</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Part 4 - descending North Maroon</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>aka "the hangover" </li>
<li>aka "the payback"</li>
<li>aka "rock glacier hell"</li>
</ul>
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<br />
This was my second time ringing the Bells, the first being <a href="http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=8441&parmuser=doggler&cpgm=tripuser" target="_blank">back in 2010 with Patrick</a>. I would say this time was as much, if not more fun, than that trip. On the traverse specifically, we made many different micro-decisions this time around. Last time, the fear of choosing the wrong line on the traverse had me pretty wigged out. This time, it became clear that there are many ways to skin a Maroon cat. <br />
<br />
As you can see by the pictures, Jake and I "picked up" a random dude named Dustin. He was prepared to do South Maroon only and we were prepared to cut ties with him. Other than the absence of a melonguard, his decisions were solid and it was evident he was a guy we could trust. <br />
<br />
Both Jake and I felt much better than the day before <a href="http://seanoday.blogspot.com/2013/07/halo-ridge.html" target="_blank">on Holy Cross</a>. I only went through a little over a liter of water, whereas the previous day saw me put down at least four liters by the time I went to sleep.<br />
<br />
It is easy to view this route in its parts - basically, everything under 13,300' sucks. I'd rather do <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxpmfwnZ1KA" target="_blank">a burpee mile</a> than cross North Maroon's rock glacier again. The climb up South Maroon is steep and relentless - slightly more pleasureable than a 75-minute series of kicks in the pants, but not much more so. However, the short sweet spot in between more than makes up for it. There aren't many places out there where one can earn the right to crawl around like a monkey while experiencing some sick views. It's a classic. Simply put, if you CAN do the Bells traverse, then you SHOULD.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vdmeqfPvypA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-52741620962050897402013-07-15T22:11:00.001-06:002013-07-15T22:11:28.163-06:00Halo RidgeJake has been bugging me for nearly a year about doing Holy Cross via the long but striking Halo Ridge route. After spending a few weeks on the couch thanks to a vicious weed-pulling incident, I knew I was nearly ready. Needing to find that extra edge, I timed the climb for the day after coming back from a two-week road trip at sea level. Just to add a little more spice, we also had the Bells Traverse planned for the following day. I was ready to rock.<br />
<br />
Numbers:<br />
13.5 miles<br />
6,160' of gain<br />
Notch Mountain (13,237')<br />
Point 13,248'<br />
Holy Cross Ridge (13,831')<br />
Mt. of the Holy Cross (14,005')<br />
8ish hours<br />
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Background - I had done a casual climb of Holy Cross with friends via the standard north ridge route a few years back and thought it was fine, but nothing special. I'd been looking for an excuse to come back and either do the Cross Couloir or Halo Ridge. Jake and I had been planning on two full days in the Elks, but a freak mudslide just west of town diverted us through Denver and we decided to swap out our first Elk climb for this one, which we had slated for later in the summer.<br />
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We pulled into a campsite at the trailhead just after dark, bunkered down, and were on the trail the next morning at 4:45. We decided to add in a little more spice, opting to go over 13,237' Notch Mountain from Half Moon Pass, whereas the normal Halo Ridge route starts out on a well-defined trail east of the ridge for a couple of miles before ascending to the semi-famous Notch Shelter midway through the ridge.<br />
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Notable facts about Notch Mountain. It may be the state capitol for spiders. Furthermore, the concentration of non-aquatic mosquitos on the north ridge of Notch Mountain is impressive. Those guys spawn from rocks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking east toward the Mosquito Range from Half Moon Pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For the uninformed, a halo is a circular angel-thing one wears when they pick up trash that isn't theirs or eat their vegetables. Halos happen to be somewhat circular in shape, much like this ridge. Actually, Halo may be a misnomer. Maybe Horseshoe ridge or mostofaHalo Ridge would be more accurate. This picture is taken from the summit of Notch Mountain, near the beginning of the horseshoe.</td></tr>
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The reason we opted to summit Notch Mountain was for a short bout of class 3 between its two summits.<br />
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Going over Notch Mountain took us a bit longer than we anticipated, and we didn't stumble upon the shelter until about 3 hours into our morning. I had heard it was a condemned shack these days. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this four-star alpine resort.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Point 13,248' in the background</td></tr>
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From Notch Shelter until the summit of Holy Cross, the views remained impressive while the footing became blockier and blockier. By the time we got the the summit of centennial peak Holy Cross Ridge, I was ready to be done. It was hot. Windless. I had a throbbing headache - something I don't get all that often at altitude. Unless I'm out of shape and coming from sea level. Hmmm.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl of Tears</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sub-peak of Holy Cross Ridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. of the Holy Cross from Holy Cross Ridge, which isn't really a ridge, it's a ranked peak. Or, more precisely, it's the second-highest point of a couple-mile long ridge also named Holy Cross Ridge, whose highest point isn't the point Holy Cross Ridge but the Mt. of the Holy Cross. Got it?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird</td></tr>
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We were on Holy Cross's summit sometime around 10:30. I wasn't having much fun; the sun had really sucked me dry, and I made Jake stagger with me back to the Jeep. Man, I can't tell you just how excited I was to re-ascend that 900' back up over Half Moon Pass at the end of the day. Those of you who have done it know what I'm talking about. Those who haven't...you'll love it. It's like a bonus climb. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HC and the Bowl of Tears basin. </td></tr>
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Holy Cross feels very much unlike any of its Sawatch brothers. It's not a long drive from Vail, but it sure seems far away by the time you're standing atop it. The approach is more committing than the other Sawatch peaks. Its north face holds more ferocity. It offers a few challenging alternate routes. And the Bowl of Tears Basin and Cross Creek just seem to have a personality unlike that of all the others in the range.<br />
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Halo Ridge whooped me up pretty good, to the point where I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to rally for the Bells the next day. Jake and I stopped at the Glenwood Hot Springs to cool down while on our way that afternoon. Big surprise, there's a reason they're called HOT Springs. Maybe not the best choice for trying to cool down on a scorcher of an afternoon. <br />
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<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-5170334794252315132013-06-04T16:29:00.002-06:002013-06-04T16:30:45.495-06:00The Angel<b>Monday</b><br />
<b>Mt. Shavano(14,229') via the Angel of Shavano</b><br />
<b>"Esprit Point" (13,630')</b><br />
9.0 miles<br />
4,650' gain<br />
~6 hour RT<br />
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Fun, "easy" day with Jake. <a href="http://seanoday.blogspot.com/2012/06/little-browns-creek-mountain-marathon.html" target="_blank">Last time we were up Shavano was a little...hairier</a>. Some pictures from the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQ48WJbOcUXFSImVBmcomHOYjzg7v1kaTUkfC3aagzagHKe-xL6-FiiIbQaPAyHdou2J3sTzN3akgGM4ksHAQd998x6GuLIDqJvXlwaPB8mZatHAAuuZt7kGoBikcOoWFSmM9kz9p10w/s1600/20130603_090122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQ48WJbOcUXFSImVBmcomHOYjzg7v1kaTUkfC3aagzagHKe-xL6-FiiIbQaPAyHdou2J3sTzN3akgGM4ksHAQd998x6GuLIDqJvXlwaPB8mZatHAAuuZt7kGoBikcOoWFSmM9kz9p10w/s640/20130603_090122.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Angel runs out at about 12,100'. The right arm melts first, but the left is good until 13,300'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjB848_rgS8HMoOvCw02NO9DM0dePvMTr8XddHouQCTfMTEbkZMjn-vSz-y6HcSl3t8Yg3RODYYJuygP0PEZhhV4Tcsv__Z1OhjuUNR1id1J4uwXQTPXPg1d_7Hv3HRehiFUkTudup9G8/s1600/20130603_093133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjB848_rgS8HMoOvCw02NO9DM0dePvMTr8XddHouQCTfMTEbkZMjn-vSz-y6HcSl3t8Yg3RODYYJuygP0PEZhhV4Tcsv__Z1OhjuUNR1id1J4uwXQTPXPg1d_7Hv3HRehiFUkTudup9G8/s640/20130603_093133.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it the socks or the shorts that make the man?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZv7VBbzUcRGYD8ERZka535d8LMkJYgbSb9hl503_ApSzmtTECobtG9Odl1BhB0MqZ06qqbIhaBx3Y_ruDi-cLB-c2eG_0xUaNd65hBoIlOxVKSdrsGGkE35c0axzWmdamkvcQ8Olpm6M/s1600/20130603_093726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZv7VBbzUcRGYD8ERZka535d8LMkJYgbSb9hl503_ApSzmtTECobtG9Odl1BhB0MqZ06qqbIhaBx3Y_ruDi-cLB-c2eG_0xUaNd65hBoIlOxVKSdrsGGkE35c0axzWmdamkvcQ8Olpm6M/s640/20130603_093726.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dirty, dirty snow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SqjBX1K0iV4wHBZOIOVCtrlmpRdE-_zqRkFPCpVIwEgcEZpLXk7pl2lYpqjzirrlrEH8LAZSDTp8DKQMrEAMnp7xZ53XP29_hECRzb7OwuWG0fN4aVUJ2I1B3K7H6vXqBJW9ePjFMNU/s1600/20130603_095042(0).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SqjBX1K0iV4wHBZOIOVCtrlmpRdE-_zqRkFPCpVIwEgcEZpLXk7pl2lYpqjzirrlrEH8LAZSDTp8DKQMrEAMnp7xZ53XP29_hECRzb7OwuWG0fN4aVUJ2I1B3K7H6vXqBJW9ePjFMNU/s640/20130603_095042(0).jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhD4tzZ5FKGa7J91OiVj76kAMDdJttxzAdYdxNR3ykFx3aUkfwhUOGxmwNamfEOtc__lhPiUR3A-DQLi9Cn10chFocdkSYTDpx0syLYcudatslYNpPSkT02tbiYqRmzSlTMvHQYD5EJE/s1600/20130603_095923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhD4tzZ5FKGa7J91OiVj76kAMDdJttxzAdYdxNR3ykFx3aUkfwhUOGxmwNamfEOtc__lhPiUR3A-DQLi9Cn10chFocdkSYTDpx0syLYcudatslYNpPSkT02tbiYqRmzSlTMvHQYD5EJE/s640/20130603_095923.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found this in my mitten. Nice surprise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpujCO-oilFHEvHdbqG0ohPU6INlPdnrStl-ej13AW48M_EinFYhBsStBzgApFUBu0hOhFM55gg7iHOKHMxQiQKPMZLs6EbkFpqWYjMqbC5kwq5HTYsZsfBFxhpvKAApYyKD7MseyA0M/s1600/20130603_103123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpujCO-oilFHEvHdbqG0ohPU6INlPdnrStl-ej13AW48M_EinFYhBsStBzgApFUBu0hOhFM55gg7iHOKHMxQiQKPMZLs6EbkFpqWYjMqbC5kwq5HTYsZsfBFxhpvKAApYyKD7MseyA0M/s640/20130603_103123.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had a couple extra minutes upon topping out on the Angel to reach 13,620' Esprit Point</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-YcpuEN4NfspTqKil7HDeUkzbcjtNrbWiaYevvmmkLz8kvCcP_oylmXptddjZvLg3z0ZYHvE0rehiVuzGUimg7AUdVK4N4R-JwvbztCYZKdErVZp4lCiC6fIaOwxUu6-iDEYPw62Br0/s1600/20130603_110833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-YcpuEN4NfspTqKil7HDeUkzbcjtNrbWiaYevvmmkLz8kvCcP_oylmXptddjZvLg3z0ZYHvE0rehiVuzGUimg7AUdVK4N4R-JwvbztCYZKdErVZp4lCiC6fIaOwxUu6-iDEYPw62Br0/s640/20130603_110833.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same peak, more fun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SI8WkWyxvPL8mYEHAPJ4qXbvCkukr6OKdoxKoeXWZOapHjE6Vos_WEd7wskIpNm0mpeDx314q2Ou-nJpqRDglHN-LRE0mjJamxp3RDuwPI0zu2LrqQ2ynf6ZsGPKP_SUs3DTcYtfuvE/s1600/20130603_115220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SI8WkWyxvPL8mYEHAPJ4qXbvCkukr6OKdoxKoeXWZOapHjE6Vos_WEd7wskIpNm0mpeDx314q2Ou-nJpqRDglHN-LRE0mjJamxp3RDuwPI0zu2LrqQ2ynf6ZsGPKP_SUs3DTcYtfuvE/s640/20130603_115220.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake's sailboat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlWd-4f4uvOkG6xHasfw93Iezd6iDNdXlylZ4Gl3jmeweXI4dnhakAw_lBio3XeIHXtCdqtqFAbvw15Bs18WHraYvTdTfAbH1ExV1OdqDHFHLMrWBECs-MBVkIprk2Qbj1pBe1FPNxDk/s1600/20130603_121209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlWd-4f4uvOkG6xHasfw93Iezd6iDNdXlylZ4Gl3jmeweXI4dnhakAw_lBio3XeIHXtCdqtqFAbvw15Bs18WHraYvTdTfAbH1ExV1OdqDHFHLMrWBECs-MBVkIprk2Qbj1pBe1FPNxDk/s640/20130603_121209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bottom 200' or so was dirty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4RusUU9ZEpFp5Ud-oWYRXysvCjf3mfS9ivt6p636NyGY443UgbHOnThdBHGlZ-AVxrjz2vGp7zPKH-XQSjzjg38RDUwGLKvbTG2F-k3wTzhXdw1x7E5Fx1FsHX-gt64xI5Fa0oA6x0E/s1600/20130603_133238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4RusUU9ZEpFp5Ud-oWYRXysvCjf3mfS9ivt6p636NyGY443UgbHOnThdBHGlZ-AVxrjz2vGp7zPKH-XQSjzjg38RDUwGLKvbTG2F-k3wTzhXdw1x7E5Fx1FsHX-gt64xI5Fa0oA6x0E/s640/20130603_133238.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorado Trail near the Blank Cabin TH</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dweBllwT5Wb4rf0t4f2xp5rza4ENxPHS8zyPuQwM-AYL2HD9W-ckDUSGTUWSNAUHRQBZogqKQEIGvUQDPednQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjqvorTs3NynEpIIM-HgDZkBWwH7_INxtsMkcGI8fdhLqsoy0Tayq5Px81YFA6ohodWd7NQWpXy1IdC2CmOFdRF5zNSJa2sXra7h66QXyvw18TGjWwtec5Ip8BvmH_B3xPvmC0h67vQQ/s1600/angel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjqvorTs3NynEpIIM-HgDZkBWwH7_INxtsMkcGI8fdhLqsoy0Tayq5Px81YFA6ohodWd7NQWpXy1IdC2CmOFdRF5zNSJa2sXra7h66QXyvw18TGjWwtec5Ip8BvmH_B3xPvmC0h67vQQ/s640/angel2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-36377000604639930652013-06-04T15:54:00.003-06:002013-06-04T15:54:40.068-06:00Spring MountainSunday and Monday were some easygoing play days.<br />
<br />
<b>Sunday</b><br />
<b>Spring Mountain (13,244')</b><br />
~10.0 miles<br />
~4,200' gain<br />
~7 hour RT<br />
<br />
After <a href="http://seanoday.blogspot.com/2013/06/spread-eagle.html" target="_blank">Saturday's hike</a>, I slept like a baby in the back of my jeep. So much so that I didn't even hit the trail on Sunday until 9:00.<br />
<br />
Original plan was to do a counter-clockwise loop: Comanche Trail to Comanche Peak, Spring Mountain, Venable Peak, and back on the Venable Trail. I wasn't sure if this was feasible, as the valley portion of <a href="http://seanoday.blogspot.com/2013/06/spread-eagle.html" target="_blank">Saturday's hike</a> gave me more postholing fun than you can shake a stick at. Sure enough, I saw what appeared to be continuous snow coverage on the Comanche Trail starting at about 10,600'. I immediately turned right and gained Spring Mountain's loooooong east ridge.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Nc3Seq9w797M440hQWJLaZ_aZRx-ADRcWFExsPNxcCJ8bvXEPZq6XAq58mQTMw52hEYgglY09241MhWxw93XgNjYanUM-yZLbG50EdYD5_LgRpzSMhQ9-fYUzqhVmWezt57MTNabE0A/s1600/20130602_101518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Nc3Seq9w797M440hQWJLaZ_aZRx-ADRcWFExsPNxcCJ8bvXEPZq6XAq58mQTMw52hEYgglY09241MhWxw93XgNjYanUM-yZLbG50EdYD5_LgRpzSMhQ9-fYUzqhVmWezt57MTNabE0A/s640/20130602_101518.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horn Peak. Snow covering the north-facing headwall into the Hiltman Creek basin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At about 11,100' on the ridge, I found this abandoned cabin. Unlike other ones, this cabin had no visible trails leading to or fro. There were some sizable new trees growing inside the cabin. When I finally did find a faint trail leading away from the cabin, it was so faint I couldn't imagine many people had been here in the past 50 years or so. A hunting cabin, perhaps?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFDd2o-fs5Ts0uyPhdaAK0o3Jj5JgGCjzgBmuGrbWwxQm_Rf3GUwRPrYdjtdcOJsSjm-qNAxwBbPQGNmEzbgS8VcLp5nDB0_gcvvPjlIfjdj9oTYmMt4wmeN2A6Z_iOKs9iH5srO5o9U/s1600/20130602_104413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFDd2o-fs5Ts0uyPhdaAK0o3Jj5JgGCjzgBmuGrbWwxQm_Rf3GUwRPrYdjtdcOJsSjm-qNAxwBbPQGNmEzbgS8VcLp5nDB0_gcvvPjlIfjdj9oTYmMt4wmeN2A6Z_iOKs9iH5srO5o9U/s640/20130602_104413.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middle-of-nowhwere bed and breakfast</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZoPeKcLwrjkZ-nzvxj3g0IgcvTDfZjVuLl1TwblcYM45joB4nK3Ukz6-Tyshtj5r34YO1uf0knrgNrJxFZ-xzDVPkINRuKCfCk7HpLrOaCuOElqjVV2SpRbK4xtOWdrFnXxYK3bJ-R8/s1600/20130602_122933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZoPeKcLwrjkZ-nzvxj3g0IgcvTDfZjVuLl1TwblcYM45joB4nK3Ukz6-Tyshtj5r34YO1uf0knrgNrJxFZ-xzDVPkINRuKCfCk7HpLrOaCuOElqjVV2SpRbK4xtOWdrFnXxYK3bJ-R8/s640/20130602_122933.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few snow climbs?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The final pitch to the top of Spring Mountain was a little more engaging than anything else I had encountered during the day. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIIUKXJhJfodR-hmsCKG_FLTBS4hNY97imnkpd-XN70O4qqI2mTmcQG0FZRQQtVR6feB9SwA_UrZmRyHm_zn4fjMOEfj3_OS0JZVVU5zEKTQBYoG5ZN27GysfgtzTeq9fb3Q14BwRVEM/s1600/20130602_124000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIIUKXJhJfodR-hmsCKG_FLTBS4hNY97imnkpd-XN70O4qqI2mTmcQG0FZRQQtVR6feB9SwA_UrZmRyHm_zn4fjMOEfj3_OS0JZVVU5zEKTQBYoG5ZN27GysfgtzTeq9fb3Q14BwRVEM/s640/20130602_124000.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fun class 2+ summit pitch leading to Spring Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I got some bad news once I topped out on Spring. My original plan to circle up and around Venable, then take the southerly-exposed Venable Trail back. The view below convinced me that finding a way back might be challenging. With some clouds building and the Hiltman Creek basin to the south snowed in fairly well, I opted instead to punt and head back the way I came.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3JnYNjm7LgfMrW8dtKMl2_-al_VouFnEhZhk1L8zdDTKEiov8rXUPmQqiM1j4YY3vT3i54x7VGR6rA9CQ1DrMmOSzNiWqn1FDAryBfUtZJyQ2vmOB11Pc2pjORk-Yp-QWY2lIy-I8-g/s1600/snow+way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3JnYNjm7LgfMrW8dtKMl2_-al_VouFnEhZhk1L8zdDTKEiov8rXUPmQqiM1j4YY3vT3i54x7VGR6rA9CQ1DrMmOSzNiWqn1FDAryBfUtZJyQ2vmOB11Pc2pjORk-Yp-QWY2lIy-I8-g/s640/snow+way.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boo. Coulda been done with axe and 'pons.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I got back to the TH around 4 and high-tailed it for Salida. I booked a night at the <a href="http://www.simplelodge.com/" target="_blank">Simple Lodge Hostel</a> in Salida, showered up, and devoured an entire large pizza for the second night in a row at <a href="http://www.moonlightpizza.biz/press/" target="_blank">Moonlight Pizza</a>. Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-68806915217737497962013-06-04T15:01:00.004-06:002013-06-04T15:01:51.639-06:00Spread Eagle155 days. That's the longest stretch of <b><i>mountainlessness </i></b>I've experienced in the better part of a decade. Luckily, this terrible streak came to an end with three consecutive days of getting up high in the beginning of June.<br />
<br />
<b>Spread Eagle Peak (13,423')</b><br />
<b>"Peak of the Clouds" UN 13,524</b><br />
<b>Rito Alto Peak (13,794')</b><br />
<b>Hermit Peak (13,350')</b><br />
June 1, 2013<br />
10.9 mile loop<br />
5,483' gain<br />
9h30min<br />
<br />
<b>Friday </b><br />
My goal was to get in the jeep and disappear for three or four days. My climbing partner Jake wouldn't be free until Monday, and we hadn't yet decided on a plan, so I packed the kitchen sink in preparation for anything - car camping, snow climbing, ridge running, hiking in, you name it, I was ready for it. As I 'waited' for Jake over the weekend, I thought it might be a good time to head to the Sangre de Cristo Range and dip my toes in the water. After all, I hadn't been above treeline since December. The Sangres, as usual, are closer to snow-free than their northern counterparts. <br />
<br />
<b>Saturday</b><br />
Alarm went off at 2:00. After a bit of dilly-dallying, I was on my way out by 3:30, and in Westcliffe by 5:00. I finally settled on a group of peaks - I would park at the 9,800' Taylor Road "trailhead" (if you can call it that), ascend 13,423' Spread Eagle Peak, circle around to the west and south, hit peaks until I got tired, then drop down to the Rainbow Trail and take it north back to the jeep.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWbOl3XTOLzXOfMR5_5QWoBQDeuIZhuvc1ot6A5RQVlQeHgLY7XkMC7SVrXr9fanu2L1ihB6ibaEUudHUnYvF4CjP3IKs-e63YqquFXmTNBmX3tsEoyGce2tLUWwFQ6OLfEEsF1fSij8/s1600/20130601_055837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWbOl3XTOLzXOfMR5_5QWoBQDeuIZhuvc1ot6A5RQVlQeHgLY7XkMC7SVrXr9fanu2L1ihB6ibaEUudHUnYvF4CjP3IKs-e63YqquFXmTNBmX3tsEoyGce2tLUWwFQ6OLfEEsF1fSij8/s640/20130601_055837.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taylor Road TH, 9800'. The last mile of road is pretty rough. The TH is more of a dead end than anything else, but if you're looking for solitude, you'll find it here</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My <a href="http://seanoday.blogspot.com/2012/05/springtime-loop-4-in-sangres.html" target="_blank">experience in the mid-Sangres</a> from last May left an impression on me - during this time of year, it's hard to avoid postholing. Making matters worse is the depth (1-4 feet depending), range in elevation (on northern aspects it was continuous from 10,800' to 11,800') , and concreteish quality of the snow. I departed with the intention of leaving valley trails for ridges early and often. On this particular day, I think I made it about 400 yards before making a beeline up Spread Eagle Peak's SE ridge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTBO4gXX_cM306eGw4MGNRKGq4NZmLYQE_2nIY8yhLVeNZvfONTcE0gm_U0DmQtWU4DfNTTvH5hER6q0lDu_W5x-jUlytwunviNAUBS1vm5-WkL1_bQ9lKVtnLlf6WX5H6OT3bD0ELHI/s1600/20130601_060603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTBO4gXX_cM306eGw4MGNRKGq4NZmLYQE_2nIY8yhLVeNZvfONTcE0gm_U0DmQtWU4DfNTTvH5hER6q0lDu_W5x-jUlytwunviNAUBS1vm5-WkL1_bQ9lKVtnLlf6WX5H6OT3bD0ELHI/s640/20130601_060603.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a nice trail...really!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3GX82vumQ23cscSYfFf-2llER19wvxgyji3ZiOMhH7ryymum3X3bDl-yNzGoZhJHDsl6sBYwHSQZUwBr1cE1UR7PF1wrFun8-Co7HOhcm3sQniH1yaAGEAhy_F_hpZlbLf1v7QTC9WI/s1600/20130601_071736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3GX82vumQ23cscSYfFf-2llER19wvxgyji3ZiOMhH7ryymum3X3bDl-yNzGoZhJHDsl6sBYwHSQZUwBr1cE1UR7PF1wrFun8-Co7HOhcm3sQniH1yaAGEAhy_F_hpZlbLf1v7QTC9WI/s640/20130601_071736.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living tree, Spread Eagle Peak, Dead tree</td></tr>
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Upon gaining the ridge, I settled into a rhythm. I enjoyed the direct line and quick elevation gain, as it afforded me the usual breathtaking views of the Wet Mountain Valley.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8I5vpgUsCVSuJrMOFIqQgV52L-EcAJZzDED7hEOPm_6iJWZ-u3gm0PhZs0mHtWNbI3Vswsg1DxBnvkgzqn_gbne5bIQXkTlgF88IBPR23jpdvVnEBZf0niRf72rwON3RKsydKCqyjk4A/s1600/20130601_073048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8I5vpgUsCVSuJrMOFIqQgV52L-EcAJZzDED7hEOPm_6iJWZ-u3gm0PhZs0mHtWNbI3Vswsg1DxBnvkgzqn_gbne5bIQXkTlgF88IBPR23jpdvVnEBZf0niRf72rwON3RKsydKCqyjk4A/s640/20130601_073048.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living up here is tough</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP4hPS8XHbVk6L1ebDoldyztLm70esirSgZknJLyhOuq5LcLjnhFRTwiD8Qgb_1ad8sLFMZXkwoQP8yk8Y1a82k4IdGZa5QW4C-QPEz8GQx4RvRrbj81l4O8lmi46_pdmls6iJLX8AaE/s1600/20130601_080253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP4hPS8XHbVk6L1ebDoldyztLm70esirSgZknJLyhOuq5LcLjnhFRTwiD8Qgb_1ad8sLFMZXkwoQP8yk8Y1a82k4IdGZa5QW4C-QPEz8GQx4RvRrbj81l4O8lmi46_pdmls6iJLX8AaE/s640/20130601_080253.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spread Eagle's SE ridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOqskLyds5vXrCQhkZZ6k7nnEydUQ95UA9OsygdKpxn52H_3XyGaurWCZIo2aeAQSVUMvHbcBRnuVOTXCVa1JjKgQmt4QhsANmLW8ysdtc5sVEeNohWRG97tmFNb1RFQNpIFWAC2fRtk/s1600/20130601_090703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOqskLyds5vXrCQhkZZ6k7nnEydUQ95UA9OsygdKpxn52H_3XyGaurWCZIo2aeAQSVUMvHbcBRnuVOTXCVa1JjKgQmt4QhsANmLW8ysdtc5sVEeNohWRG97tmFNb1RFQNpIFWAC2fRtk/s640/20130601_090703.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spread Eagle's summit, looking west. Hermit is on the left, Rito Alto in the center, and "Peak of the Clouds" (UN 13,524) is on the right</td></tr>
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The route from the summit of Spread Eagle was straightforward. No surprises or difficulties other than my need to adjust to altitude. By the time I made it to the top of Rito Alto, my head was starting to throb. Taking a look into the Megan Lake valley, I thought some of the snow would be avoidable once I got down there. (oops) I made work of one last bump, Hermit Peak, before making some quick glissades to Megan Lake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTorYPVk8Ib_Fe0fOsFaHLwTGuaUfL3AjwOV6jIc8z7tkTypwOmW6HqRHT4ikZ8wh-P-QeG9e59fTHYminQWctLo_Kax0LMKkGTIUETRAX7UJo3SWTJR34Nr962ZfnyBKbi1nM4_a5NPA/s1600/20130601_103655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTorYPVk8Ib_Fe0fOsFaHLwTGuaUfL3AjwOV6jIc8z7tkTypwOmW6HqRHT4ikZ8wh-P-QeG9e59fTHYminQWctLo_Kax0LMKkGTIUETRAX7UJo3SWTJR34Nr962ZfnyBKbi1nM4_a5NPA/s640/20130601_103655.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rito Alto's east face, seen from the UN 13,524/Rito Alto saddle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSli885lAJFBJn2om38eEiEC9_3gb9QnqMB_gzQZp9CnGPxEoHnvq4XFxsoUEano1cWG9pkG7ll6PYkZm-amE6yKrAOQzsDKZXsRImijiExWCgj9XGIc36-MeY319mdOQWE2qPd2cDHS8/s1600/20130601_114532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSli885lAJFBJn2om38eEiEC9_3gb9QnqMB_gzQZp9CnGPxEoHnvq4XFxsoUEano1cWG9pkG7ll6PYkZm-amE6yKrAOQzsDKZXsRImijiExWCgj9XGIc36-MeY319mdOQWE2qPd2cDHS8/s640/20130601_114532.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rito Alto's summit. Looking south to the Crestones...the view that never gets old!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Shortly after Megan Lake, I found what I feared - concrete everywhere. The trail was rough and obscure enough that it was tough to locate as it intermittently exposed itself between blobs of snow. I'm not sure which was more of a pain - postholing or bushwhacking down the river valley. Eventually the snow gave up and I jogged the trail back to the jeep. I felt pretty terrible by the time I was done. Eight hours above treeline when you're not acclimated will do that to you. However, just being in a place I love made it a GREAT day.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlS6FtYxMCRiw5Z3pvLDw6si3y3inXp3TCOYJ0K1wpp693zeLHqVWovzp8jz2dDO5FJBCINySecrnzNCemz9nD4jKmVQUrCFSCs9Btsq0inbbaIiKPX5XVUvYtqbPlndc_GQ2G0CsfAlM/s1600/spread+eagle+loop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlS6FtYxMCRiw5Z3pvLDw6si3y3inXp3TCOYJ0K1wpp693zeLHqVWovzp8jz2dDO5FJBCINySecrnzNCemz9nD4jKmVQUrCFSCs9Btsq0inbbaIiKPX5XVUvYtqbPlndc_GQ2G0CsfAlM/s640/spread+eagle+loop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spread Eagle, UN 13,524', Rito Alto, Hermit from Taylor Road TH</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Once back at the jeep, it was time to regroup. I managed to eat an entire large pizza at R's in Westcliffe. I then made the quick drive to the Comanche/Venable TH to prepare for Sunday's adventure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-52865310275520723982013-04-14T13:36:00.000-06:002013-04-14T13:37:32.223-06:00Breakfast BurritosSince I'm finally healthy, I thought it would be fun to tempt fate and race with a little more frequency than usual this summer.<br />
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May 4 - <a href="http://collegiatepeakstrailrun.org/" target="_blank">Collegiate Peaks Trail Run 25 mile</a></div>
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May 25 - <a href="http://www.highaltitudeathletics.org/JemezMt.htm" target="_blank">Jemez Mountain Trail Run 50k</a></div>
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June 9 - <a href="http://www.gardentenmile.com/" target="_blank">Garden of the Gods 10 mile</a></div>
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June 15 - <a href="http://www.racingunderground.com/mtevans/" target="_blank">Mt. Evans Ascent</a></div>
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July 7 - <a href="http://www.summerroundup.com/" target="_blank">Summer Roundup 12k</a></div>
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July 27 - <a href="http://grandmesa100.com/" target="_blank">Grand Mesa 60k</a></div>
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August 4 - <a href="http://www.abqroadrunners.com/la-luz-trail-run.html" target="_blank">La Luz Trail Run</a></div>
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August 18 - <a href="http://pikespeakmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Pikes Peak Marathon</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of bonking "like a boss" - complete with a little bit of stagger in the last few of my 22 miles. Crystal Park is...up there. As I passed the Crystal Park Cantina, I noticed they were serving breakfast. Think about it: what could possibly be more appetizing when you're tapped out and on the ropes than a beefy breakfast burrito? I ended up gorging myself to the point where I called the ladyfriend for a ride home. Soo weak. But the breakfast burrito was soo good!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CC - Santa Fe Trail - Bear Creek Trails - Section 16/Palmer Trail - Crystal Park Road</td></tr>
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Laps 31 and 32 on the Incline this morning. 32 / 104 * 365 = 108.8, so I'm still on pace for 101 this year.</div>
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Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-62407195128489775002013-01-07T14:36:00.001-07:002013-01-07T14:36:57.853-07:00101Got some pre-fatassery in this weekend. Saturday morning, I did a little jaunt up Crystal Park Rd to catch Intemann Trail. No headlamp, so I had to time it right and hit it right around 6:45. <br />
<br />
The Waldo Fires were about the crappiest thing to happen here in COS this past year. I suppose the silver lining is the new Fatass now incorporates many of the North Cheyenne Canyon trails that have long been my favorite.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9yd4WyNYa1s/UOhUMT6i_2I/AAAAAAAACAg/bC6pbsnz2Yg/s1600/Intemann+RROS+8+mile+loop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9yd4WyNYa1s/UOhUMT6i_2I/AAAAAAAACAg/bC6pbsnz2Yg/s640/Intemann+RROS+8+mile+loop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pikes Peak/Manitou Ave to Crystal Park Rd <br />
to Intemann to Section 16 to White Acres to Red Rocks.</td></tr>
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I'm thinking 101 is a good number of Incline ascents to hit this year. As of today, only 100 more to go. Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-7313473657963665392013-01-02T22:03:00.002-07:002013-01-02T22:03:28.759-07:00Pity PartyAugust 19th, 2012. Sometime shortly after midnight. I begrudgingly offer up my wrist to the Half Pipe crew chief. Tap out. I'm done. All this time and effort. All the miles of preparation. The rehearsal in my mind. The day trips to Twin Lakes, Winfield, the Fish Hatchery. For what? For this?<br />
<br />
One quick snip. It's over.<br />
<br />
Nearly two hundred days have passed since that sequence of events seared itself into my memory. And yet the pain that decision has given me won't subside. How I wish it was the only residual pain from that weekend.<br />
<br />
My achilles had become fairly tender over the course of 2012. It never begged me to stop, but I could tell it was there. Nor was it the reason I dropped out at Leadville. I didn't even have that much trouble with it when I attempted to start training again four weeks later. But every run I went on last fall made it worse, to the point where I finally cried uncle in mid-October. I didn't run a step for another six weeks and instead focused on rehab - heat, ice, ultrasound, stretching, and self-pity. OK, mostly self-pity.<br />
<br />
From August 19 to November 19, I ballooned to a full 156 pounds - nearly 20 more than I carried with me into Leadville. Running sucked. Not running sucked. Thinking about running sucked. Thinking about not running sucked. Hearing other people talk about running sucked.<br />
<br />
Over the course of the past month, though, I've seen glimmers of hope. Running hasn't made my achilles any better, but it hasn't been getting worse, either. I was able to hobble up Belford with Jake on Sunday. Not much in the form of snow cover, but wind from the southwest wasn't pleasant. It definitely motivated us not to mosey over to Oxford. Up and down in 4:57, my 119th summit of a 14,000' peak.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbX2zjZDV1rTx9wMJqmfcvk1-lQ-Dk16sji9nMgcbYnIq09kO1q-Q9fnD3TPn4915oIbdtj5m-5ODVoGmhfwx17dvmHPgf_-2G23bmeKiHjV1NLXrpJC1_isQdp9-bviBlLQNHZ24Sr0/s1600/737372_475024182550369_870112779_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbX2zjZDV1rTx9wMJqmfcvk1-lQ-Dk16sji9nMgcbYnIq09kO1q-Q9fnD3TPn4915oIbdtj5m-5ODVoGmhfwx17dvmHPgf_-2G23bmeKiHjV1NLXrpJC1_isQdp9-bviBlLQNHZ24Sr0/s640/737372_475024182550369_870112779_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a reason you won't find much snow here</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqXwVtI9dmwh4Is_8LJiwrXL0Y2Zp-IURAGzehXlIV1hJ7TSQVIeTJnqMlw0NppRmuJU1YUDw1VOVzOS5hJJSq0RfdJGIbtnbG2VtmArEWXJ7nE4WTo2svMIKNPtF6CRFuYstDFDuMVI/s1600/740069_475024155883705_1837043018_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqXwVtI9dmwh4Is_8LJiwrXL0Y2Zp-IURAGzehXlIV1hJ7TSQVIeTJnqMlw0NppRmuJU1YUDw1VOVzOS5hJJSq0RfdJGIbtnbG2VtmArEWXJ7nE4WTo2svMIKNPtF6CRFuYstDFDuMVI/s640/740069_475024155883705_1837043018_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paying salutations to my friend, Hope Pass (the low point to the right of the sunny mountain in the center)</td></tr>
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With the publishing of this post, my pity party officially is over. I'm definitely not 100% healthy, and might not be for a long time, but I'm sick of sitting back and letting this own me. Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-44247130755131450982012-07-03T14:39:00.003-06:002012-07-03T14:39:30.121-06:00Winfield wanderingsSo I've heard rumors and hope someone in the know can clear things up for me. I heard a few months back about a "parallel trail" to the Winfield Road that was being built to help alleviate congestion during this section of the LT100. When I heard this, I assumed there would be a ribbon cut right next to the road, but as I drove in to Winfield to do some Nolan's scouting last night, I saw no such thing. <br />
<br />
This morning I thought I'd sniff around Sheep Gulch and get a look at the south side of Hope Pass. About 1/3 of a mile in, though, I found a trail splitting off to the left. It looked interesting, so I followed it, not sure if it was going to be of the uphill or downhill variety. Turns out it simply traversed the Clear Creek valley a couple hundred feet above the Winfield road. It had more ups, downs, turns, and other trail-ish stuff than the road, and ran about 3 min per mile slower. It climbed from 10,200' to about 10,550' at its high point before dropping down to a 4WD about a half mile west of Winfield proper. It was fairly new and well-maintained until just before that junction - looks like it was constructed in the past month or so. However, it wasn't complete - it turned into a social trail for maybe a quarter to a half mile on its west end. It also dropped onto the road later than I had expected.<br />
<br />
So I'm wondering a few things. Is this the trail I heard about? I assume so. Are there plans to change the course to take advantage of this trail? Will distance be cut off elsewhere or will the course just get a little longer? And how much slower would the race run if this trail is used? (I'd estimate 10-15 minutes) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLTsaqJDnGrIiIoCMZq4WXBMyC71M1enACuU6fp728MK8ZoZx1pk2IIj-B2qN3BztJhWosqoAJM2LEXHPIUpril1e9RrDrTD1lSpHlVxysDrf23qgvAau0YtOEybPx0AXd9C4c7rs6LM/s1600/winfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLTsaqJDnGrIiIoCMZq4WXBMyC71M1enACuU6fp728MK8ZoZx1pk2IIj-B2qN3BztJhWosqoAJM2LEXHPIUpril1e9RrDrTD1lSpHlVxysDrf23qgvAau0YtOEybPx0AXd9C4c7rs6LM/s640/winfield.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheep Gulch TH is bottom center. "Parallel trail" starts where the red line takes a sharp left, 10:30ish direction</td></tr>
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<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-88211498311911531432012-07-02T13:24:00.002-06:002012-07-02T13:24:30.031-06:00Lake City Lessons, Tenmile almost Traversed, Nolans run-thru countdownTo not mention the<a href="http://www.lakecity50.com/" target="_blank"> Lake City 50</a> would do disservice to a wonderful ultra, wonderful town, wonderful time with wonderful friends. I do believe that the benefit of recency has fleeted, though, so I will give the quite abridged version. Maybe I should have titled this: how to compound a problem by overcompensating for it, how to be a bonehead, how not to do your nutrition, or plain ol how to try hard to do the right thing and still bungle it.<br />
<br />
I wanted to not pull a Matt Carpenter by putting it all out there in late June just to find the tank hadn't refilled by Pb. Knowing how hard it would be to not all-out race SJS, I figured I could force the issue by spending uber time <a href="http://seanoday.blogspot.com/2012/06/arrow-peak-from-beartown.html" target="_blank">in the mountains</a> preceding the race. Interesting philosophy; I was miserably sore when I woke up on Saturday morning. With no desire to push on trashed legs, I quickly settled in way back of the leaders. I estimate I was in 50th place by the time we hit the trails at mile 2.5. <br />
<br />
Everyone around me settled down eventually, and I rolled into the Williams Aid station feeling better than I did at the start. I had 'gotten ahead' on nutrition, having put down some gels to go along with a very concentrated mixture of Hammer Perpetuem. Up the Carson climb, I found a VERY comfortable pace, but it still found me reeling in runner(hiker) after runner. <br />
<br />
Once on the divide, I began to wonder how things were shaking out and even considered seeing what was under the hood. Around mile 28, a spectator informed me I was in 8th place. I could see 3 or 4 shapes up over the next ridge. How did THAT happen? About the same time I decided to throw down a little bit, my nutrition began to fall apart. I realized my Perpetuem mixture was beginning to haunt me - just the thought of another sip made me nauseous, while I began to crave plain ol H20 like crazy. <br />
<br />
At the Yurt aid, I attempted to catch up and put down a large quantity of water. Things seemed to be more under control until I realized that none of the water I drank was going anywhere - it was still sloshing around in my gut. Probably needed some salt! The steep downhill from mile 35 to the Slum aid station saw me give back a good half-dozen places as my stomach began cramping bad enough to force me into walking. <br />
<br />
When I pulled into Slum, I took a HUGE pull straight from a Morton's shaker and washed it down with as much water as I could handle - which wasn't much, considering how much was sitting in my stomach at the time. Within a mile from Slum, I discovered two things. #1 - yes, I was correct in assuming I was sodium deficient. The major bloating and such I had experienced went away, and suddenly I found myself able to sweat again. #2 - I was now way too rich in sodium and thirstier than I can ever remember being. I had just jettisoned my second water bottle at Slum and had sucked the one I had dry within the first mile after Slum. WTH. I walked/staggered nearly every step from mile 41 to the Vickers aid, losing a few more places in the process. If there had been an easy way to DNF here, I would've done it in a heartbeat. I would've drank water from a rancid pond had there been one. I would've even drank a <a href="http://pittbrownie.blogspot.com/2012/07/fridge.html" target="_blank">PBR</a>. <br />
<br />
I pulled into Vickers at the same time as past champ David Phillips. He was having a rough day as well. We spent a good five minutes at Vickers, just trying to catch up on hydration, food, and life in general. I bounced back a little bit in the remaining few miles, but the damage had been done. I staggered to the finish in 14th place, 10:31 after I started. My goal of not trashing myself had not been met - I felt pretty awful upon crossing the line.<br />
<br />
In the ensuing week, I've bounced back fairly well. I took Sunday and Wednesday off. Got a pretty good (for me) effort in on Quandary Thursday, getting up in 65 and change. Spent nearly 10 hours above treeline on Friday as I got in three thirteeners most of the Tenmile Traverse before bailing at Peak 4 due to weather.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCo_QzvBh7zBMy_PRY7iwqWXXtmUMryCJ_eNkQc49GGxqRRwD2WLVjNU6Gg1x9mlO_YvCxtB-q9hWqDxH_ddrbSBbzDF-JEjnxKyTvkWU-Wu29KyljHWPaHLuTFno5FzUvXu2fbVfrM4/s1600/2012-06-29+05.49.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCo_QzvBh7zBMy_PRY7iwqWXXtmUMryCJ_eNkQc49GGxqRRwD2WLVjNU6Gg1x9mlO_YvCxtB-q9hWqDxH_ddrbSBbzDF-JEjnxKyTvkWU-Wu29KyljHWPaHLuTFno5FzUvXu2fbVfrM4/s1600/2012-06-29+05.49.40.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quandary's reclusive north face</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULZc1hmkwp-_8Yb2uH9SYnemWWYZwNMk3IX6kUZHtZKBx9RfycROY4VMvcUxrDGvHs9OUWhJmGrBAUip78-nB9ehzN-p5g1OzOmrZ3JTHpocHFE2b63L-_9crs6JMYKML52_e3vM3ig4/s1600/2012-06-29+06.10.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULZc1hmkwp-_8Yb2uH9SYnemWWYZwNMk3IX6kUZHtZKBx9RfycROY4VMvcUxrDGvHs9OUWhJmGrBAUip78-nB9ehzN-p5g1OzOmrZ3JTHpocHFE2b63L-_9crs6JMYKML52_e3vM3ig4/s1600/2012-06-29+06.10.56.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Treeline in McCullough Gulch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCR0Y5IGK7jBYTZfQcMcD-QlaOTnjuSy59d-3UtbYPp-W-Yt-wWcjaR9ZHr4hIJ3MdGR4iLxzsY_0WJnrKKApqAqXGHDxWzl0zIdQ_Sat6x6Rh8r8v4Bdn8XD1TwPIcsUmW-7ojlsvrk/s1600/2012-06-29+09.34.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCR0Y5IGK7jBYTZfQcMcD-QlaOTnjuSy59d-3UtbYPp-W-Yt-wWcjaR9ZHr4hIJ3MdGR4iLxzsY_0WJnrKKApqAqXGHDxWzl0zIdQ_Sat6x6Rh8r8v4Bdn8XD1TwPIcsUmW-7ojlsvrk/s1600/2012-06-29+09.34.04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peak 10, looking south towards 9, 8, 7, etc</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ-1GngpQ4rs3M3JhjWCC0IMb-wW_noSQ9Smfuw0-QLL4yedOcaFi9ZdRXz11HM3RZYudmWg1rXVy7EO6LB68RppOxyWXzFFTXN21dMkW_c4DWegxaLQnz6AEl2gwELhUAOQrRwRnkAI/s1600/2012-06-29+10.15.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ-1GngpQ4rs3M3JhjWCC0IMb-wW_noSQ9Smfuw0-QLL4yedOcaFi9ZdRXz11HM3RZYudmWg1rXVy7EO6LB68RppOxyWXzFFTXN21dMkW_c4DWegxaLQnz6AEl2gwELhUAOQrRwRnkAI/s1600/2012-06-29+10.15.14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howdy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qcYPpJ5RU1pyGQnXAVRGKqGQNg8X6YgOr_L8SBCGCkr1ibWFAOPggrjpTsF1nYEzce8WHsw6Rh39WxEo7nZOG7V5ERA5bDgMjLD639RMRN2jzlFO3ea-nXL30CPbrpnFzSXu-TakI5g/s1600/2012-06-29+10.44.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qcYPpJ5RU1pyGQnXAVRGKqGQNg8X6YgOr_L8SBCGCkr1ibWFAOPggrjpTsF1nYEzce8WHsw6Rh39WxEo7nZOG7V5ERA5bDgMjLD639RMRN2jzlFO3ea-nXL30CPbrpnFzSXu-TakI5g/s1600/2012-06-29+10.44.52.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not your standard mountaineering route</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIlk3UDPUy-ysidiDZ_aOITfLdxi1nmx7anAnm3gt0HALpYdvuLBPejUTCv4Yy-a23WEX6X9euRgb69XmZgT_idWpGR9gaTkQuucaDzGeDEKrYTsqawjKfDNSk5wWjQux43degE4gHr0/s1600/2012-06-29+10.55.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIlk3UDPUy-ysidiDZ_aOITfLdxi1nmx7anAnm3gt0HALpYdvuLBPejUTCv4Yy-a23WEX6X9euRgb69XmZgT_idWpGR9gaTkQuucaDzGeDEKrYTsqawjKfDNSk5wWjQux43degE4gHr0/s1600/2012-06-29+10.55.56.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peak 8, looking east to Breck</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj252jIH9nYOYq5nOHTO9zjLOmASYVO_GHfOFMv6g61jqR0sowb1FAH4Hs568ayge62BZ-b2rqUU9CbVJhpW8boHn4rqfqov4ZkgvdcRzp4aO0KRXtFNzS0k35Ykpoj9IpTiWbm3Rkvao/s1600/2012-06-29+12.07.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj252jIH9nYOYq5nOHTO9zjLOmASYVO_GHfOFMv6g61jqR0sowb1FAH4Hs568ayge62BZ-b2rqUU9CbVJhpW8boHn4rqfqov4ZkgvdcRzp4aO0KRXtFNzS0k35Ykpoj9IpTiWbm3Rkvao/s1600/2012-06-29+12.07.59.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this must've been the view south from Peak 5 or so. Pacific should be the pointy one to the right and further off than the other pointy one, Peak 10. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfRQdfkTU0oYLuYIgeIh4117umqBIiD3kvQbHauYOzM1qGyeqfuwYQaeSuHXdBSjNh0ohbsz81SAU36q2ynjLPbeJHU7NPpBhujuhyslldp-uOzLNMqVuaTZrTxd8AtpiG4FhylSph6M/s1600/2012-06-29+12.40.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfRQdfkTU0oYLuYIgeIh4117umqBIiD3kvQbHauYOzM1qGyeqfuwYQaeSuHXdBSjNh0ohbsz81SAU36q2ynjLPbeJHU7NPpBhujuhyslldp-uOzLNMqVuaTZrTxd8AtpiG4FhylSph6M/s1600/2012-06-29+12.40.10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 7 hours, my reward finally sat in front of me - the fun scramble from Peak 4 to Peak 1. Shortly after this picture was taken, it got dark and thunder-y real quickly, and I bailed east just past the low point of the ridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0kclk_qwGy5KaP_AcmxN06Gu4pW8ez9n12gCcrgn7MdH8ecm-HFV8TpLg_r6aAIVQ3kPrLfaFyp2_3T1QnRx8jx7d-yZmDlouF6-G0dh8edeWSUnalVeW0PYHnslPmt-ZJzn6A62J18/s1600/2012-06-29+12.40.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0kclk_qwGy5KaP_AcmxN06Gu4pW8ez9n12gCcrgn7MdH8ecm-HFV8TpLg_r6aAIVQ3kPrLfaFyp2_3T1QnRx8jx7d-yZmDlouF6-G0dh8edeWSUnalVeW0PYHnslPmt-ZJzn6A62J18/s1600/2012-06-29+12.40.14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I-70</td></tr>
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Heading out to the Arkansas River Valley tonight to do some last-minute scouting for the Nolan's course. Looks like Brandon and I will have some company. Promises to be a good time, that's for sure. Happy 4th to everyone, and I'll see you all in a week.Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-65357452499968898142012-06-25T13:22:00.000-06:002012-06-25T13:37:09.869-06:00Arrow Peak from BeartownBefore I moved to Colorado, I had never heard of <a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/" target="_blank">In N Out Burger</a>. I believe I met my first California transplant within 10 seconds of arriving here, which means I was already well-informed of the virtues of In N Out by second 12 or so. It wasn't until a few years later, when I traveled to the Golden State for a <a href="http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/WildFlower2013-main.htm" target="_blank">triathlon</a>, that I actually got to measure the experience against the hype. I distinctly remember not being very hungry and only getting one burger, but having just a taste made me want to go back. I'm pretty sure that the buildup helped make my first In N Out experience a good one. Similarly, my first trip to the Grenadiers has me wanting to get back there in a big way. <br />
<br />
<b>The Plan</b><br />
I found myself with a great problem: being in <a href="http://www.lakecityswitchbacks.com/?gclid=CJ2ViN_06bACFQ8KKgodmDli1Q" target="_blank">Lake City</a> with no firm plans between the <a href="http://seanoday.blogspot.com/2012/06/redcloud-sunshine-handies.html" target="_blank">Wayzata trip</a> on Monday-Wednesday and the <a href="http://web.me.com/grayj923/San_Juan_Solstice_50_Mile_Race/Welcome.html" target="_blank">San Juan Solstice 50</a> on Saturday. Instead of putting a ton of miles on the car going back and forth between Lake City and the Springs, I decided to do a little climb instead. My Lake City 50 plan was to take it easy, avoid going to the well, and make sure I still had some gas in my tank for the upcoming training weeks. I figured putting in a big day 48 hours before the race would "encourage" me to do just that. Put another way, I thought two days just under my physical/recovery threshold would be more beneficial than one huge day way beyond my threshold. <br />
<br />
Thus, the plan began to take root. I had mentioned my intentions to Jake a week previously. After spending a few days off the grid, I returned to Lake City for some coffee and a <a href="http://www.theravensresthostel.com/" target="_blank">shower</a>. It was there that I received a text from Jake telling me that he and his buddy Grant were in for a trip to the Grenadiers and would be rolling into Lake City momentarily. <br />
<br />
Our tentative plans was as follows:<br />
Wednesday noon - depart Lake City for the Beartown Trailhead.<br />
Take the Upper Elk Creek approach to the Vestal Basin, or make it as far as possible before dark.<br />
Climb Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinities at a "climbing" (not running) pace on Thursday.<br />
Hike out Friday morning.<br />
<br />
<b>The Approach</b><br />
Simply put, Beartown is out there. Maybe 20 miles as the crow flies from Lake City, it still took us nearly three hours on some pretty rough jeep road to get to the trailhead. Lots of very cool scenery along the way, though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgem1E4i3zJdHaIep-50GFq80m7_fQVADeACZliQW-lT3-tYxvoYB8dbEMo4tpj4V4L5EambauIapzuuakBNJia0vqzpla15vqr2IDxapKyTNxA5LvpsWAypkWdSOQ3-AgndjhPPD4npI4/s1600/SAM_0489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgem1E4i3zJdHaIep-50GFq80m7_fQVADeACZliQW-lT3-tYxvoYB8dbEMo4tpj4V4L5EambauIapzuuakBNJia0vqzpla15vqr2IDxapKyTNxA5LvpsWAypkWdSOQ3-AgndjhPPD4npI4/s640/SAM_0489.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rio Grande River, about a mile upstream from the Rio Grande Reservoir.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwMusDIP8ezt6IvlTTLNGDA29CRlCz_ja8iqChPnLsBPc9uLH37-dDnCiiv85bjkYwd3aqIRetBT7xUcQGeqcNNQmV7k65p1xH8CNsl_YEKLzgK0rT-korro7-Iv2GX0qDEA-6s8rg3s/s1600/SAM_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwMusDIP8ezt6IvlTTLNGDA29CRlCz_ja8iqChPnLsBPc9uLH37-dDnCiiv85bjkYwd3aqIRetBT7xUcQGeqcNNQmV7k65p1xH8CNsl_YEKLzgK0rT-korro7-Iv2GX0qDEA-6s8rg3s/s640/SAM_0492.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After quite a few miles of rough 4 x 4 road, we came to the supposed crux of the drive: fording the Rio Grande. Sadly, we were correct in assuming that a late-June crossing wouldn't be problematic this year.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxhvHrt7e7IjNrPsurQnX_unoDYEGXhRe4G0aus6o7uW3Rzp7Wrtxn2fRhygSbWW6V69lKTAtGMsh0IhXiRC1pLyT3ACxKqDrxAmM3HFb6gGJfWdYx6Y7zjTxlacechvcBANoM9DqpXc/s1600/SAM_0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxhvHrt7e7IjNrPsurQnX_unoDYEGXhRe4G0aus6o7uW3Rzp7Wrtxn2fRhygSbWW6V69lKTAtGMsh0IhXiRC1pLyT3ACxKqDrxAmM3HFb6gGJfWdYx6Y7zjTxlacechvcBANoM9DqpXc/s640/SAM_0496.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Rio Grande. It could definitely be scary in a normal year or with a vehicle lacking high clearance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbltw8xJ1LS0OBBk5v3_JXuzdozvqYEeqSVIPdgP6uVIcBf1FeVH085M2oNgh2BJpwkRPpehAuDxUxxi_cinZf6h81u-fJaOkbZyPYdV2KP9FRHri-kL5sr2K7HlsFA2vq8Wqc0DZktK0/s1600/SAM_0508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbltw8xJ1LS0OBBk5v3_JXuzdozvqYEeqSVIPdgP6uVIcBf1FeVH085M2oNgh2BJpwkRPpehAuDxUxxi_cinZf6h81u-fJaOkbZyPYdV2KP9FRHri-kL5sr2K7HlsFA2vq8Wqc0DZktK0/s640/SAM_0508.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "other" Kite Lake - this is about 2 miles past the Beartown Trailhead and where the Jeep road finally ends. We felt about as far from civilization as we could possibly be at this spot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl9lK5otuIjaguvT69GlcpBkvcqepwacgENi0ieIZFqDDpFn0x2SYGEdEJyMJJT-1qBSYwB0QFgAcNIGBaAel4zOOihhev7sHp-R4gzDzRxQP4IdkLMZTMV6mkmdMsOqkJgyPYap3qxk/s1600/SAM_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl9lK5otuIjaguvT69GlcpBkvcqepwacgENi0ieIZFqDDpFn0x2SYGEdEJyMJJT-1qBSYwB0QFgAcNIGBaAel4zOOihhev7sHp-R4gzDzRxQP4IdkLMZTMV6mkmdMsOqkJgyPYap3qxk/s640/SAM_0510.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Selfie" from the trailhead</td></tr>
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We departed the trailhead at 6:00PM on a beautiful Wednesday evening. The first two miles of hiking found us climbing from 11,500' to a high point of 12,600' on the Continental Divide. The views in the first two miles were big.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekpX_7_ngvDVNfy-Sib8r2FpBjdYGgbabyMk-B1IC_-qKa4sw52tEjOsn1-NSUNtVsHhZbC5TIuEMTFB9gtumHJ6l-0BqJskQKPoF01YqethG5U9TfKxwSNRvjr9T8ggwx9XrZi8nEEw/s1600/SAM_0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekpX_7_ngvDVNfy-Sib8r2FpBjdYGgbabyMk-B1IC_-qKa4sw52tEjOsn1-NSUNtVsHhZbC5TIuEMTFB9gtumHJ6l-0BqJskQKPoF01YqethG5U9TfKxwSNRvjr9T8ggwx9XrZi8nEEw/s640/SAM_0511.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking west from the beginning of the trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqGnfb7ZLBJsdStKyb4SSq7jF6TpCVtp0JbVjMAZ9aurs6Rk422kR6upNdSPAA9iqs-qfqn-NiawPkCdMMkbQOcvY0OlsL-hBZ4spUCnFZrMjpks-M-K6l5qZqrCpihxhWkz25dLhF5g/s1600/SAM_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqGnfb7ZLBJsdStKyb4SSq7jF6TpCVtp0JbVjMAZ9aurs6Rk422kR6upNdSPAA9iqs-qfqn-NiawPkCdMMkbQOcvY0OlsL-hBZ4spUCnFZrMjpks-M-K6l5qZqrCpihxhWkz25dLhF5g/s640/SAM_0512.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We eventually would get to the top of the ridge in the center, veer left(south), then take a right where the Elk Creek trail split off of the CDT/CT.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdscJVqCw1Aroa3i9POUbzQRfZLIziwz-4Fu4fOr-a4922IuR_7Vzn__uXLFVL2lUt2EU1psILiSI8TvN49mwjWMDmdlrIM2X75DWzJLrBI0FwIMKbBhk_CCh097_qYCWkiTIkPpm-LA/s1600/SAM_0515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdscJVqCw1Aroa3i9POUbzQRfZLIziwz-4Fu4fOr-a4922IuR_7Vzn__uXLFVL2lUt2EU1psILiSI8TvN49mwjWMDmdlrIM2X75DWzJLrBI0FwIMKbBhk_CCh097_qYCWkiTIkPpm-LA/s640/SAM_0515.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of a few abandoned cabins.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLU3GZJuNkl927h7ZMEoJE_1onV3xpXvULAux78taGW5m3puVRUsniOH2886EOb7HAs1qwKTy-xCG3pJDX40ZDy5R7sAUY6wo0IOScQtW9AYnHiAI6U4Xb5DeEfdbHyw7cAAr6hZuEbw/s1600/SAM_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLU3GZJuNkl927h7ZMEoJE_1onV3xpXvULAux78taGW5m3puVRUsniOH2886EOb7HAs1qwKTy-xCG3pJDX40ZDy5R7sAUY6wo0IOScQtW9AYnHiAI6U4Xb5DeEfdbHyw7cAAr6hZuEbw/s640/SAM_0520.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atop the Continental Divide. The view from here is staggering.</td></tr>
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Roach states that from this point, it's a 4.4 mile descent to the Vestal Creek/Elk Creek junction. This is incorrect - the distance is closer to 5.7 miles. Luckily, it's hard to miss the beaver ponds that signify the turnoff into Vestal Basin.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicp-z09dtvo4bbiVfAepHRfBZXXUAFJla7SoAkRIT4PVVYDKYbbrxzQfpG7BMY2bCUGAPZKtszJSDLIl_hesY8xukwLk0ac1PlHKmzo6ldeCln0-8S5rvLkSNh7XuQyAMllvQxz3UGc4M/s1600/SAM_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicp-z09dtvo4bbiVfAepHRfBZXXUAFJla7SoAkRIT4PVVYDKYbbrxzQfpG7BMY2bCUGAPZKtszJSDLIl_hesY8xukwLk0ac1PlHKmzo6ldeCln0-8S5rvLkSNh7XuQyAMllvQxz3UGc4M/s640/SAM_0521.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breathtaking. Elk Creek drops down to the left of this shelf.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIpXQAO92sYpcn0AiZCTMDN1-_4-OsQLm4P3IKnfgqCjmzpNkVQV8I8SaFgJqQ0Xiyain2-8jYxKzOY5EWFxjwzwt7ZoPRRqzGDrrl1ZFII3upQJNkS68vc-bhQRRyR0txSEZscvLvGQ/s1600/SAM_0522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIpXQAO92sYpcn0AiZCTMDN1-_4-OsQLm4P3IKnfgqCjmzpNkVQV8I8SaFgJqQ0Xiyain2-8jYxKzOY5EWFxjwzwt7ZoPRRqzGDrrl1ZFII3upQJNkS68vc-bhQRRyR0txSEZscvLvGQ/s640/SAM_0522.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down the upper Elk Creek's valley. Notice the switchbacks in the left foreground; I've rarely seen a trail cut so cleanly through such a pristine place. Very, very little evidence of people cutting the switchbacks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjA8voM5cNrxcFOomWI4SzOZsutwhV1ZBRyhn-cQ04z_EM6n9pkrY6twqSn_2tMWTu7SR9B_tLmGc1PQ1ZDMlevfYC9-FoChkdVoiZrm2-CBTl8ERQIipcQM6-V4622ekegqjJrlD9hfM/s1600/SAM_0523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjA8voM5cNrxcFOomWI4SzOZsutwhV1ZBRyhn-cQ04z_EM6n9pkrY6twqSn_2tMWTu7SR9B_tLmGc1PQ1ZDMlevfYC9-FoChkdVoiZrm2-CBTl8ERQIipcQM6-V4622ekegqjJrlD9hfM/s640/SAM_0523.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe this is 13,627' White Dome</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1ePeSoJ9aiEwOoa3yfN_qhwbETkr5BySxgQxjyKxc6DabMoFTodIZvOi7PvlOskSc7PKnivCDXyYSZyrC4Awa0hgyWX5BekUhn9myTFaTKoM4ggJ7HslK427vON-CnfxXONc1iYF2OA/s1600/SAM_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1ePeSoJ9aiEwOoa3yfN_qhwbETkr5BySxgQxjyKxc6DabMoFTodIZvOi7PvlOskSc7PKnivCDXyYSZyrC4Awa0hgyWX5BekUhn9myTFaTKoM4ggJ7HslK427vON-CnfxXONc1iYF2OA/s640/SAM_0525.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trifecta of wildflower colors.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoKEL41ujJTA6_MgSriQY8w3WpzRHtuAaCBIQXQFXXTrmPyN45HmYd8b4NlhNJjq0BMriDkbKcI0AeBCe_a5VqD9X2OsvODC6t1VMbncxYtQyOgBGnzDmXdv88bwLlAwVwENj7V06m6E/s1600/SAM_0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoKEL41ujJTA6_MgSriQY8w3WpzRHtuAaCBIQXQFXXTrmPyN45HmYd8b4NlhNJjq0BMriDkbKcI0AeBCe_a5VqD9X2OsvODC6t1VMbncxYtQyOgBGnzDmXdv88bwLlAwVwENj7V06m6E/s640/SAM_0526.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking east, back at the divide after descending the switchbacks into upper Elk Creek.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKysVWq1BVxbQ_UINTEFiTlvSx0cV2iRTXvoVWFG-STCKbtWJ1N9EW4ENMEFv7ICAEguA7RtbkiCpMNR-CwAhgNLKxg2UkoRRKW3TSllYn9YB76PtypWXgkaYwGWuTlWyMFYeiiNRLnyU/s1600/SAM_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKysVWq1BVxbQ_UINTEFiTlvSx0cV2iRTXvoVWFG-STCKbtWJ1N9EW4ENMEFv7ICAEguA7RtbkiCpMNR-CwAhgNLKxg2UkoRRKW3TSllYn9YB76PtypWXgkaYwGWuTlWyMFYeiiNRLnyU/s640/SAM_0539.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What makes this approach interesting is that it's a big net elevation loss. You start at 11,500', climb to 12,600' in 2 miles, then descend for the next 5.7 miles to approximately 10,000'. Of course, this means you end up re-ascending nearly 3k on your way back out with heavy packs. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9E08lfLQFiDgZrsAsurevSI07LSmhL6jQEaR1fo_4nuyzzXauMVf_geBXym0iOZFvKFc9qfvC9TXsWkbp-U4vE8Vi6n_0mpGFzLTKxrSKtjBupF4HVbN2T2IaOf-3mRviI4O37_1FAI/s1600/SAM_0541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9E08lfLQFiDgZrsAsurevSI07LSmhL6jQEaR1fo_4nuyzzXauMVf_geBXym0iOZFvKFc9qfvC9TXsWkbp-U4vE8Vi6n_0mpGFzLTKxrSKtjBupF4HVbN2T2IaOf-3mRviI4O37_1FAI/s640/SAM_0541.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heart of the Wenimuche</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26DanSP8hj5bZgaaC_KdS92xGX9ntYTpSgcBp7RY4ZcQlew_gyV-dmpL-u_SIsd4qkpOggWHPWLUm63PQZdnVCgpPCgagm4vU1jOBC1sdC0EmnDq6OZWpOwun0EByKci8sfDBlsi6Q9U/s1600/SAM_0554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26DanSP8hj5bZgaaC_KdS92xGX9ntYTpSgcBp7RY4ZcQlew_gyV-dmpL-u_SIsd4qkpOggWHPWLUm63PQZdnVCgpPCgagm4vU1jOBC1sdC0EmnDq6OZWpOwun0EByKci8sfDBlsi6Q9U/s640/SAM_0554.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe this is 13,475' Peak Two.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As the sun dropped lower, we decided it best to set up camp near the beaver ponds where Vestal Creek joins Elk Creek at 10,000'. We knew that the initial climb into Vestal Basin was fairly steep. Anyone who has ever done a multi-day trip knows the dilemma - how far to hike with full packs? Jake and Grant were both fit, and we figured to be able to get up to the base of Arrow quickly with an early enough start.<br />
<br />
<b>The "Snag"</b><br />
I told Grant I didn't know how to share this important part of the trip without throwing him under the bus. He replied that he should be thrown under the bus, but I think both Jake and I need to take a little bit of the blame. The conversation went something like this:<br />
<br />
"So...dudes. I, uhm, didn't bring any food."<br />
"Huh?"<br />
"Well, OK, I brought these four beers. But, yeah. I don't have any food."<br />
<br />
Grant apologized to both of us for forgetting food.<br />
Jake apologized to me for not checking with Grant beforehand.<br />
I wouldn't apologize to myself for not checking with Grant and Jake. I know that backcountry protocol involves everyone laying out all of their gear beforehand to eliminate redundancies and avoid problems like this. That didn't happen. Further compounding the problem - both Jake and I went as bare-bones as possible on food to keep the weight down.<br />
<br />
Thus, the plan had to change. With all of our remaining food laid out in front of us - including the 960 beer calories - we clearly didn't have the ammo needed to make a sweep of the Vestal group, let alone hit them AND hike the uphill 8 hours back out to Beartown. Whether we could even get one peak in was up in the air. We decided that the best course of action would be to call Grant a lot of four-letter words, eat most of his food, cover him in honey, stick him in the bear bag overnight and hope for nature to take care of the rest. He resisted this plan. Instead, we chose to play it by ear and maybe at least get up one peak in the morning. A rationed dinner made, tents set up, and we were sawing logs by 11:30.<br />
<br />
<b>Arrow Peak</b><br />
Alarms woke us a little before 5:00. Skipping out on most of our planned breakfast, we ingested a bit of caffeine and began the climb into Vestal Basin by 5:45.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSp9KEpu4xFMWjp1t6aDhgGBhXHXHxiftPeql9mcM1824vcNnD2H_fZEKVeYsBnN1_b6tQ5-prDT8gXO7eyZkDMefRNqBtB073EgKvwOtvvuZPsWnnJyuGRS5YP7ZRiw1ixKnM9-XxmrI/s1600/SAM_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSp9KEpu4xFMWjp1t6aDhgGBhXHXHxiftPeql9mcM1824vcNnD2H_fZEKVeYsBnN1_b6tQ5-prDT8gXO7eyZkDMefRNqBtB073EgKvwOtvvuZPsWnnJyuGRS5YP7ZRiw1ixKnM9-XxmrI/s640/SAM_0559.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing Elk Creek can be problematic; with the low rainfall this year, we found it to be trivial.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g70Nk9dlK_zPRAfKAyrzULuQgzWp0OS79oy-ZEk5vyhp9dJEqEOr-yricMAbyG7myI7ibrHiZeDp17YZ2ttGshxOLHI-XU3LhuUKAcJdPTwBnwJcitjwIgvwWFvxDK_N8ULbH-w4AIs/s1600/SAM_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g70Nk9dlK_zPRAfKAyrzULuQgzWp0OS79oy-ZEk5vyhp9dJEqEOr-yricMAbyG7myI7ibrHiZeDp17YZ2ttGshxOLHI-XU3LhuUKAcJdPTwBnwJcitjwIgvwWFvxDK_N8ULbH-w4AIs/s640/SAM_0567.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vestal and the Trinities come into view.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8ZazptBqEPckOknuTZcSFAuFMa61NXPqiL60h1tiUoCN1vCin_bsnEbtP442pb3T0LA5gT3M8ahzhKxmE7WtgypldlTqaPyrKbGO2WRUUXnVyvn065zP-eGpkXtuNMhgNNTLvXrGcqQ/s1600/SAM_0570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8ZazptBqEPckOknuTZcSFAuFMa61NXPqiL60h1tiUoCN1vCin_bsnEbtP442pb3T0LA5gT3M8ahzhKxmE7WtgypldlTqaPyrKbGO2WRUUXnVyvn065zP-eGpkXtuNMhgNNTLvXrGcqQ/s640/SAM_0570.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting to the upper basin proved to be a little more challenging than we thought; we couldn't find the turnoff for Arrow in the thick underbrush and ended up bushwhacking quite a ways east.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG47KQM3K_TkhzG2_J8kVLatU4vRLaFrtH_e0FmfGE5jUANGkjnwe2-TzP3d2rRKzlV8lqXffGZs2eZqhqEjIegCdfyiPFm6zZqacA3qmv228pJPVStzRdpb-fWXeVBrKkCsIedzQL8Ks/s1600/SAM_0580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG47KQM3K_TkhzG2_J8kVLatU4vRLaFrtH_e0FmfGE5jUANGkjnwe2-TzP3d2rRKzlV8lqXffGZs2eZqhqEjIegCdfyiPFm6zZqacA3qmv228pJPVStzRdpb-fWXeVBrKkCsIedzQL8Ks/s640/SAM_0580.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vestal's famous Wham Ridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTiW_GSkJKzpjk-lkCUE3XD5P28NVNU7RrhedPqahShY1e6cDRcwvQdE9vVCrGb3_Y7af7pQJ56FWnkVun__edlqnjGZcQqkeZZJbYR9H0epDgrVhzpX4jTFMbRM5hvKxr8I_X7JuzM0/s1600/SAM_0581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTiW_GSkJKzpjk-lkCUE3XD5P28NVNU7RrhedPqahShY1e6cDRcwvQdE9vVCrGb3_Y7af7pQJ56FWnkVun__edlqnjGZcQqkeZZJbYR9H0epDgrVhzpX4jTFMbRM5hvKxr8I_X7JuzM0/s640/SAM_0581.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traversing back to Arrow's base</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrcmgoWC5iRV0AciS9yKLgsOkrJqX8-ACbfN3kRWtLfySXJow0e3GKaqMJxzydVTVyCUfV3NB9VXMq5ydAMaFIJegVDj_YLy25t39DjEaa0g-9DqmA_Njq2IKU8krtSieFytj2OHHqQs/s1600/SAM_0589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrcmgoWC5iRV0AciS9yKLgsOkrJqX8-ACbfN3kRWtLfySXJow0e3GKaqMJxzydVTVyCUfV3NB9VXMq5ydAMaFIJegVDj_YLy25t39DjEaa0g-9DqmA_Njq2IKU8krtSieFytj2OHHqQs/s640/SAM_0589.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready for "the ramp"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Rfyp8rIaPxL4vKZnb13FxreFu7nh06KgoPqvCKdqR00pM61B3INcLsnt7pN4rt6OVHGVWahdspeP4QKRLJyTcTPqA3Z5Q_7MYe3NBKfUf8gUd-2e2SpsTpZejFfEk_6ilRVnRWm0c9c/s1600/SAM_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Rfyp8rIaPxL4vKZnb13FxreFu7nh06KgoPqvCKdqR00pM61B3INcLsnt7pN4rt6OVHGVWahdspeP4QKRLJyTcTPqA3Z5Q_7MYe3NBKfUf8gUd-2e2SpsTpZejFfEk_6ilRVnRWm0c9c/s640/SAM_0593.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The ramp"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRJONlIjeSJ-hsQa_c6kIpMDEdhmn_IHFDsXGonCF6ZIZr1oGdIMRgnFmVKzcFmTb3QGlQSGMNhnWX6l1xvH0Bewch10o_FYIFvtYocCUXLhXtnUiIqfP1O2Eito3HpHBVb6JUfYvaP4/s1600/SAM_0597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRJONlIjeSJ-hsQa_c6kIpMDEdhmn_IHFDsXGonCF6ZIZr1oGdIMRgnFmVKzcFmTb3QGlQSGMNhnWX6l1xvH0Bewch10o_FYIFvtYocCUXLhXtnUiIqfP1O2Eito3HpHBVb6JUfYvaP4/s640/SAM_0597.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrow's ramp is mellow at first, but gradually steepens as you approach the summit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtlFE23T1THPR2BOUwU28lsO2PTXpAGFS3bLRHEqkRVplJWU2GOm82z7KwguBJpf6V-JhrJJmAmlDPdUJ_WICsoprcAJn1sqHWZBUvrgeO_C9yOKLmDWCnvmkJ1tGujRreCbmfmm51Vo/s1600/SAM_0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtlFE23T1THPR2BOUwU28lsO2PTXpAGFS3bLRHEqkRVplJWU2GOm82z7KwguBJpf6V-JhrJJmAmlDPdUJ_WICsoprcAJn1sqHWZBUvrgeO_C9yOKLmDWCnvmkJ1tGujRreCbmfmm51Vo/s640/SAM_0598.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The classic Vestal-from-Arrow picture. I used to think anyone who free soloed Wham was a nutjob; after both seeing it for myself and talking to two guys who have done it, I'm thinking it's doable if you don't mind a lot of air under your butt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We initially just took the left ramp up, keeping an eye on the traverse options to the right ramp. A little past 13,000', though, Jake and I talked. It appeared that the left ramp/ridge might go. The rock was super solid - much moreso than the class 3 right ramp. Grant was comfortable enough to give it a shot, and we found ourselves with nearly 1k of class 3+/4 bliss all the way to the summit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmqPwzJ0DHvqFcNITamSEhfiWBmZyrJioxuzqFgcHOihtPuPdiisOIvACnkfyOX6tmGiRtvbWAcQXdXB3camakIrLkGU00FpEctHpld3DhmVfDALCcnc1AOLdWTbeytLVRvskHUYVKF4/s1600/SAM_0626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmqPwzJ0DHvqFcNITamSEhfiWBmZyrJioxuzqFgcHOihtPuPdiisOIvACnkfyOX6tmGiRtvbWAcQXdXB3camakIrLkGU00FpEctHpld3DhmVfDALCcnc1AOLdWTbeytLVRvskHUYVKF4/s640/SAM_0626.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kudos, mountain goat. 13,750' and you must've been rockin' it when you snagged this on a rock.</td></tr>
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We re-joined the standard route maybe 50 feet from the summit. I'll say it again - if you prefer solid rock with exposure over looser but less steep stuff, forget the ramp. Stay far left, almost till you hug the NE ridgeline, and you will find one of the most enjoyable scrambles you've ever had.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSz_hNNTXsDfFEQ5x5WbTZyfYOIDfIsc8qtRT7F8jfWsw0WLkM7Z4xHIVNBvPl_pF88JoMhs8Ur0aYFahE1dMwTqYJHCtmySay20VLH3cddAy_pZAPSAkMBIJT4yqaN4bUJObiMPPtqE/s1600/SAM_0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSz_hNNTXsDfFEQ5x5WbTZyfYOIDfIsc8qtRT7F8jfWsw0WLkM7Z4xHIVNBvPl_pF88JoMhs8Ur0aYFahE1dMwTqYJHCtmySay20VLH3cddAy_pZAPSAkMBIJT4yqaN4bUJObiMPPtqE/s640/SAM_0628.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit - 13,803'</td></tr>
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I wish we could've stayed on the summit all morning, but we had a LONG way to get back to civilization. 4 hours to camp, another 4 to the car, another 3 to Lake City, and another 5 for the other two to get back to COS. Not only that, the longer we stayed, the higher the chances that our lack of food would come back to haunt us. We chose to descend the standard route.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JNuwVZZ12mbWnWiqcCtx4VEXWe396wRLJlF2nJocDU2J9PwbrFsIpJlb1aZbrB0rdEDGxWozMmQgWgaUeEcNN4wY-E-4MOOihwKcVlOvE9IdjqAopB954wLJCP3wsUfWExxsCnqSTJE/s1600/SAM_0638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JNuwVZZ12mbWnWiqcCtx4VEXWe396wRLJlF2nJocDU2J9PwbrFsIpJlb1aZbrB0rdEDGxWozMmQgWgaUeEcNN4wY-E-4MOOihwKcVlOvE9IdjqAopB954wLJCP3wsUfWExxsCnqSTJE/s640/SAM_0638.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending. The lower/left(when up-climbing) ramp is clearly visible here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iVn8YXcJderJLJqXEcayhE7LydYtCacdPvG6qqmfAz-OR27zJua9YfMAwjp3WbQ_gzPkw4A6FvdK6YCsk8dCFfcosDsZJXzYkuGIfjpar-Ks7DOMhMr8j2oSbjTR1hzBqogQODCDM6E/s1600/SAM_0651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iVn8YXcJderJLJqXEcayhE7LydYtCacdPvG6qqmfAz-OR27zJua9YfMAwjp3WbQ_gzPkw4A6FvdK6YCsk8dCFfcosDsZJXzYkuGIfjpar-Ks7DOMhMr8j2oSbjTR1hzBqogQODCDM6E/s640/SAM_0651.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down at the lower meadow before descending into it. There was a tent; we also saw two guys over on Wham during our ascent.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll be back. With food.</td></tr>
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We were back at camp by 1:00 and heading back up heavy by 2:00.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixApsVVnymRmjSGC8cwU3AONXd-AaRe4QtyNJe0d9yJ5-9TyBBTrJhd51QFLvFJFd2LbH7k5jKuM5kUgO2R3CzWKbsI-Dad4pnWCBJUiIBudw-Of_jrFMYRGkS27YQ9N_qhf9_RXSL9JM/s1600/SAM_0662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixApsVVnymRmjSGC8cwU3AONXd-AaRe4QtyNJe0d9yJ5-9TyBBTrJhd51QFLvFJFd2LbH7k5jKuM5kUgO2R3CzWKbsI-Dad4pnWCBJUiIBudw-Of_jrFMYRGkS27YQ9N_qhf9_RXSL9JM/s640/SAM_0662.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last look from the beaver ponds</td></tr>
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The trip back up to the Divide was rough. I bonked in a serious way. Jake, being the Navy guy he is, dropped his bag off at the divide, ran back down the trail, met me at the bottom of the switchbacks, and took my bag from me. His justification was that I needed to save my legs for Saturday's fun run. Truth be told, the damage had already been done. 24 miles in 24 hours doesn't wreck me, but it surely doesn't leave me feeling fresh the next day! Nonetheless, Jake, I again thank you.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All downhill from here.</td></tr>
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We got back to the jeep a few minutes before 6:00 - it took about 4 hours for us to hike out. We were out of food, and the next challenge was to make it back to Lake City for dinner before the town's seemingly mandatory 9:00 closing time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmmm, burger.</td></tr>
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We did make it to Lake City in time, getting in our orders for Pork Taco's at Southern Vittles at 8:45PM. Food is amazing when you're starving.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our approach. Beartown on the left.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climb into Vestal Basin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer view of the scramble. Ascent is generally the left line, descent is the right.</td></tr>
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<b>Closing Thoughts</b><br />
<ul>
<li>The Beartown/Upper Elk Creek approach is special. Remote, spectacular, time-consuming, and rewarding are all apt descriptors. </li>
<li>Arrow is one of my new favorite climbs; only on Capitol's "North Ridge Direct" have I found that much continuous class 3+/4 fun. </li>
<li>I think if I could do it all over again, I would forgo the heavy pack and daytrip it from Beartown. Making it from TH to Beaver Ponds with a light pack could be done in half the time, and the re-ascent of Elk Creek wouldn't be so bad if one was traveling lightweight. </li>
<li>Vestal looks 100% pure fun; the Trinities do as well.</li>
<li>Grant owes me dinner. Preferably In N Out Burger.</li>
</ul>
<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-8076106416375641922012-06-25T10:44:00.000-06:002012-06-25T10:44:14.424-06:00Redcloud, Sunshine, HandiesCatching up here in the blogosphere, as I've been off the grid for the majority of the past week. Last Tuesday, I had the pleasure of chaperoning the Wayzata cross-country team up a fourteener for the seventh consecutive summer. This year, they actually got to do a "twofer" - both <a href="http://www.14ers.com/photos/peakphoto.php?peak=Redcloud+Peak&photo=40684&start=1" target="_blank">Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks</a> in the San Juan range. Later that evening, a couple of us went for a sunset hike of <a href="http://www.14ers.com/photos/peakphoto.php?peak=Handies+Peak&photo=40220&start=19" target="_blank">Handies Peak</a>. 7,000' slow and easy. Good times. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sup?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8Vv9kXjBzpVA0bEMjbMnousHazud4XRCS6Ekt92LViO9tnnHdudIUSe_Tyj6cFVHv_rTEsh3Set_62U5IVUSXbYDPWxTmQJpVovJPukuY-SiMBn0PAF72TRKIyCB5i4yIyRnL8Vthhc/s1600/SAM_0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8Vv9kXjBzpVA0bEMjbMnousHazud4XRCS6Ekt92LViO9tnnHdudIUSe_Tyj6cFVHv_rTEsh3Set_62U5IVUSXbYDPWxTmQJpVovJPukuY-SiMBn0PAF72TRKIyCB5i4yIyRnL8Vthhc/s640/SAM_0423.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guy with the beard was my high school coach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atop Redcloud. In past years, these boys (well, not exactly this group, but the top 10-14 kids from the team on any given year) have seen the summits of La Plata, Humboldt, Pikes, Uncompaghre, Massive, Lindsey, and Sunshine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun with snow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading up Handies in the late PM hours.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thirteeners in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Juans</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit cheese. Fun day.</td></tr>
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<br /><br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-83925988276680771212012-06-13T22:27:00.001-06:002012-06-13T22:27:05.474-06:00Elbert, Massive, etcI guess summer is in full swing, today being the 13th weekday since school ended and all. To date, though, I've only had one true "day off". I just got back from Cheyenne Mountain's annual high altitude training camp. I definitely made the most of it, getting on top of South Almagre last night at sunset. This morning, some of the kids and I made it to the higher of the Almagre summits at 12, 367'. The views of both Pikes to the NW and the city below are awesome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCryImpwHdbTgJPL4_lJtlrCSc2IlbLbxzMQXhahaLiqjDh28GmmUHJ6Njl1UItPcW0wrT6w0QBT7KNg5SwEaR8TRlyc01k4mGftRJSboOGSwo11wW-3kMB4RQEBi0i7ERo7di4afDVM/s1600/almagre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCryImpwHdbTgJPL4_lJtlrCSc2IlbLbxzMQXhahaLiqjDh28GmmUHJ6Njl1UItPcW0wrT6w0QBT7KNg5SwEaR8TRlyc01k4mGftRJSboOGSwo11wW-3kMB4RQEBi0i7ERo7di4afDVM/s640/almagre.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11-ish miles. Low point of 10,300' or so, plenty of runnable miles through some spectacular meadows on the south side of Pikes.</td></tr>
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I was able to squeeze in a big mountain day on Monday with my new partner in crime, Jake. He's up for most anything as long as it's tough. I asked him if he wanted to take a look at some possible variations on the Nolan's run and he of course obliged. My question was this: seems many folks choose to descend Massive's SW slopes and ascend Elbert via the quiet W face route. I figured we could do a loop to see to compare the two western routes to the standard eastern ones. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIAazms6Xt9WVMuF1u3M3MEjG4oOC_X9avusNCForUjLE9tvfJ8aebjavZLaoynJMRfVKv8pVkStq2RC5H2adfH8QHnPCcdeK2QN3QvOemWPvtwDI98lF28lbtcs7iqKU9RXCzan3QWM/s1600/elbertmassive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIAazms6Xt9WVMuF1u3M3MEjG4oOC_X9avusNCForUjLE9tvfJ8aebjavZLaoynJMRfVKv8pVkStq2RC5H2adfH8QHnPCcdeK2QN3QvOemWPvtwDI98lF28lbtcs7iqKU9RXCzan3QWM/s640/elbertmassive.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Started at North Halfmoon Creek (nine o clock-ish in this picture) and went counterclockwise, summitting Elbert via the its west face, descended down the northeast ridge (mostly), joined the CT, up Massive via the standard east face route, back to camp via the SW slopes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXDSYLc0A01-ZziA3PCoVxCEHvldww_4o9FWLhgOViiGVLb0cxkFFWT0qlyDy1vLzoSoxFIbvrOvfc4ItsF7BFEENH9Ki3JRbPuQ8jo9cyR5xFB4k-COlY5Ms83f9uuBi0lHvDvN6m_U/s1600/SAM_0378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXDSYLc0A01-ZziA3PCoVxCEHvldww_4o9FWLhgOViiGVLb0cxkFFWT0qlyDy1vLzoSoxFIbvrOvfc4ItsF7BFEENH9Ki3JRbPuQ8jo9cyR5xFB4k-COlY5Ms83f9uuBi0lHvDvN6m_U/s640/SAM_0378.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of Elbert from the west. We shot straight up the gulley in the middle and then joined the rightmost ridge. Steep, but good footing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massive in the background</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of Elbert, looking south. La Plata is the cool bowl-looking one just left of center.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzk-nZUE0gdZTy6k_gYzyfuHNT8kza5dXfiZRgIhs3Yu_Up17wSnof0NE6Uy8ebm27Rtgl_4eNptVeDKScSX7l0HSam1OG0wqZMvR7VWvPwKzbOT3WFPmTzcIZQRSuxf3L9sNHDCiSbA/s1600/SAM_0391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzk-nZUE0gdZTy6k_gYzyfuHNT8kza5dXfiZRgIhs3Yu_Up17wSnof0NE6Uy8ebm27Rtgl_4eNptVeDKScSX7l0HSam1OG0wqZMvR7VWvPwKzbOT3WFPmTzcIZQRSuxf3L9sNHDCiSbA/s640/SAM_0391.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain running!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a break on our way up Massive. I love this trail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massive's summit, noonish.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake standing proud next to his makeshift shelter.</td></tr>
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<br />Going down and up the east sides of these two mountains is a few miles longer than taking the western route. I get why people would want to take as many shortcuts as possible. We found the descent off of Massive's southwest slopes to be awful. Rocky, steep, and jarring. A few of those downhill miles averaged 30 minutes per mile...a pace we could do more quickly on most uphills. Elbert's west face is a nifty little route, but besides the first mile and a half, isn't runnable at all. I think that even though it's a bit longer, I'd prefer to take the "standard" routes and save the wear and tear on my legs that the western routes would cause.<br />
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There's a lot on my plate over the next couple of weeks. I'm excited for it all. The Nolan's run-through is coming up on the July 4th weekend. I feel confident in almost the entire route. The whole up-and-down Princeton part is probably the most problematic remaining, but I think we'll be able to figure that one out on the fly. I'll be running flat miles for the next few days due to a conference I'm attending in Denver, and then my old <a href="http://wayzata-xc.org/" target="_blank">high school team</a> comes into town for their annual Colorado 14er trip. When they leave on Wednesday, I'll stay in Lake City, climb a few peaks on Thursday, and get ready for a 50 mile fun run there on Saturday!<br />
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<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-50601889846002803282012-06-04T07:28:00.003-06:002012-06-04T14:57:56.325-06:00Little Browns Creek Mountain Marathon<b>The Shavano "Marathon"</b><br />
<i>Mt. Antero, Tabeguache </i><i>Peak, and Mt. Shavano from Browns Creek TH</i><i> </i><br />
<i>26.3 miles</i><br />
<i>9,750' gain</i><br />
<i>10 hours, 20 minutes of fun</i><br />
<i>Hikers/Climbers/Runners/Whateverers: Me, Jake, Christoph* </i><br />
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I had a free weekend, so I figured I better spend some time on my feet. On Saturday, I ran the 26.5 miles from Palmer Lake to my place in 3:33. No Boston qualifier, but the 8:00 miles did feel good.<br />
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Sunday's plan came together as the week progressed; I'd known I wanted to get into the mountains for something long, but had a bunch of ideas. By mid-week, I had done some research and decided that hitting the Shavano group would be a good run. I also hoped to scout out more of the Nolan's 14 course. (I had already been to the top of all three peaks, but had never been in the basin between Antero and the other two) Christoph was up for a day in the mountains. So was Jake, a sophomore at the Naval Academy who used to run for Cheyenne Mountain. Crew assembled; game on. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The route - start at Browns Creek TH west of Buena Vista. Up Little Browns Creek trail until we got bored, then up Antero's SE face. Down Antero, into the Browns Creek basin, up to the Carbonate-Tabeguache saddle, complete the Tabeguache-Shavano traverse, standard Shavano trail to Blank Cabin TH, Colorado Trail back to Browns TH. Got all that?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheels up at 6:30. A little on the late side, but we move.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Browns Creek TH serves both Browns Creek Trail and Little Browns Creek Trail. From the TH, a trail goes about 1.7 miles until it hits the Colorado Trail. From here, you go left on the CT for a short while to catch the Browns Creek Trail. Of course, the creek you cross en route is Little Browns Creek. If you want to get on the Little Browns Creek Trail, don't turn towards Little Browns Creek; instead, go right on the CT for a little bit before making a left at Little Browns Creek Trail. The good news is that all of these junctions are clearly marked.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Browns Creek Trail was somewhat undulate-y. For us, it was about 75% runnable going up. As with everything else I've seen in the Sawatch this spring, there was quite a bit of deadfall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdz7W6E_Hvi8SNJ2PS4o0gVVHerad00V3NlJnsrUq6RmTjB7jALvn64hI4iyhNw3VMifEpRlhgN_Sm0lSMXZNeTm7TIu79KsMEZfeBLdoRJHMMIdcBnD9ga-4fYXM8X5zvnojupgClrM/s1600/SAM_0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdz7W6E_Hvi8SNJ2PS4o0gVVHerad00V3NlJnsrUq6RmTjB7jALvn64hI4iyhNw3VMifEpRlhgN_Sm0lSMXZNeTm7TIu79KsMEZfeBLdoRJHMMIdcBnD9ga-4fYXM8X5zvnojupgClrM/s640/SAM_0266.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trail is lest densely forested than those in the northern Sawatch. This cool little clearing must've been around 10,000'.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. White in the background. Our route would find us circumnavigating the whole thing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Around treeline. Christoph decided at this point to bag any idea of hitting a bunch of peaks, as he wasn't feeling too hot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh71OHKzKetsrZ-DrhrXNRzlUe4CDeMZAe1n08a9Dm-WNRybw4szwZk0dXQSBI0so3eNvMXDctYsqgC1b42cIfIbnmq5BKID2GJfLrseEWk0gO-9YdJjQ8yIPOLxIfDyGTWh2MzM9AMc/s1600/SAM_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh71OHKzKetsrZ-DrhrXNRzlUe4CDeMZAe1n08a9Dm-WNRybw4szwZk0dXQSBI0so3eNvMXDctYsqgC1b42cIfIbnmq5BKID2GJfLrseEWk0gO-9YdJjQ8yIPOLxIfDyGTWh2MzM9AMc/s640/SAM_0288.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9AM - 3:30 into our day. Jake looking out toward our next objective - Tabeguache. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't particularly enjoy any of these three peaks when I did them individually the first time around. However, I had read enough trip/race/experience/adventure reports from people who had done portions of Nolan's 14 to know that getting sidetracked and lost, even for a couple of miles, can spell the end of one's adventure. More than one party had gotten confused and/or lost during this part, or had chosen a route that required a great more deal of effort than necessary. I wanted to get familiar with the Browns Creek basin in case I had to deal with this portion in the dark. Instead of ascending up the Tabeguache/Shavano saddle (which by every account I've ever read is horrible), I thought it might be more expedient for us to gain the Tabeguache/Carbonate saddle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizncfqkKFNV8q1t7Y0W3ZKNZQKA-Kuh_BU3d9D7tAjfKj_NLl4o0c-8UFp38TXJ-OdKlCq_yZzV184Gi62zvLveHZuL6df09scK_I7nyCbEVy0Fwiz3JhNJnxkp6KvYFOGr1gb4CRJK4/s1600/SAM_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizncfqkKFNV8q1t7Y0W3ZKNZQKA-Kuh_BU3d9D7tAjfKj_NLl4o0c-8UFp38TXJ-OdKlCq_yZzV184Gi62zvLveHZuL6df09scK_I7nyCbEVy0Fwiz3JhNJnxkp6KvYFOGr1gb4CRJK4/s640/SAM_0299.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took Jeep roads down from Antero for as far as we could. Eventually we had to bite the bullet and bushwhack across the upper basin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up to the Tabeguache/Carbonate saddle. Notice the clouds...trust me, we did. We knew we were racing time and were in full-on kick ass mode, as the next couple miles were all very high and exposed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view east to Tabeguache's summit from point 13,936. It's interesting to note a comment Roach makes in his book about the current standard route up Tabeguache, which involves first summitting Shavano. He mentions his concern over being above treeline for a long time, thereby inviting bad weather. One look here makes me say it doesn't really matter - in order to get to the top of Tabeguache, you are going to have to spend a good deal of time near 14,000' no matter how you do it. We had just gained almost 2,000' in VERY short order. The clouds hadn't yet fully formed. There were isolated patches to our north and west, but we knew we were on borrowed time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9c5uaoDCcO2ZO1JW3WvlF_DveNC6A5VXo4ZobKXyoH4FeLZqGtkz1aXjTtX__Z25_CtTFb3lE9cmf1k1Lpe26_6HFIemjv2C9ZrVa35nQkD0ztpQo6zc1T6ZBOrvRmgDXgRDkTjO72I/s1600/SAM_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9c5uaoDCcO2ZO1JW3WvlF_DveNC6A5VXo4ZobKXyoH4FeLZqGtkz1aXjTtX__Z25_CtTFb3lE9cmf1k1Lpe26_6HFIemjv2C9ZrVa35nQkD0ztpQo6zc1T6ZBOrvRmgDXgRDkTjO72I/s640/SAM_0312.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake near the summit, looking east toward Shavano and wondering which one of us was going to get struck my lightning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG62djVschvBzvlU6rPPyyvnlwr5x5mkZYAbWmQlUL-HZ5rGcYeHCBfF0u82i4G5CNWL24Gwd68XBQ4mp7FuJCrjT7Ch0Nspq4-o-sJJUrG9lAYuA-hPcnJTH-2lOq9QKSFKnfgXUrwFE/s1600/SAM_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG62djVschvBzvlU6rPPyyvnlwr5x5mkZYAbWmQlUL-HZ5rGcYeHCBfF0u82i4G5CNWL24Gwd68XBQ4mp7FuJCrjT7Ch0Nspq4-o-sJJUrG9lAYuA-hPcnJTH-2lOq9QKSFKnfgXUrwFE/s640/SAM_0314.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"LET IT BE ME, LORD.....LET IT BE ME!!!" Tempting fate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf03WsB-cJwtqr_Vawx9weKqcDuODOhocx1w913FqfwfuBDcLj36DNYxNl61Z6EzGHEE4Xj9lgt0k0xPVfQH1pueXIgzd8gr_eX-NmQMaKvb9nXQdYUlN5EbuxeicgTyqwReG3ok6YEM/s1600/SAM_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf03WsB-cJwtqr_Vawx9weKqcDuODOhocx1w913FqfwfuBDcLj36DNYxNl61Z6EzGHEE4Xj9lgt0k0xPVfQH1pueXIgzd8gr_eX-NmQMaKvb9nXQdYUlN5EbuxeicgTyqwReG3ok6YEM/s640/SAM_0315.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once we got to Tabeguache, our bailout option finally switched from backtrack to drop down the Tabeguache/Shavano saddle to the north into Browns Creek. As we busted ass down Tabeguache, we noticed a couple dudes hiking down Shavano, obviously looking to summit Tabeguache. OK...by now, I was convinced Jake and I were idiots. But these guys...were willingly pushing on. A small wall of rain/graupel/something was about to hit us, but behind it was another stretch of clear skies. They seemed unconcerned, as this would surely pass. I've learned enough to not preach on the mountain. And who was I to talk anyway. We were up high too, but I did share our plan to skirt around the summit as we didn't like what we were dealing with. Sure enough, within two minutes of parting ways, I felt it..."JAKE, GET DOWN!" No questions asked, we hunkered down at 13,800'. Less than a minute later, flash and boom from not too far away. These other two guys let that serve as their warning to turn around and joined us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YGkepqSEymY_1sImRelABpBbVusS9Jj-53ujObEyE6DsLZddpBUj_P7UnXFdPCajKVlRI8QL_JAT6tyrzjp-kJ3RjLSGqkEEM8Hr9j35BOhVO1SIT4n509wnCGE9sxEFbgd_fje4smg/s1600/SAM_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YGkepqSEymY_1sImRelABpBbVusS9Jj-53ujObEyE6DsLZddpBUj_P7UnXFdPCajKVlRI8QL_JAT6tyrzjp-kJ3RjLSGqkEEM8Hr9j35BOhVO1SIT4n509wnCGE9sxEFbgd_fje4smg/s640/SAM_0316.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right after a strike...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihflSxMU63VrPOAKnHuvMFSODmV6aw7iLTpxy7u5ZaKbn6W8lF26VhHo5QvdwxID_X_vJZ_28c1ogdQnROF0KP1spu2l5WvwHH8n5HwA6P4SSc-IPp44kB7TvX3yUj8acN59bHdXflewY/s1600/SAM_0317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihflSxMU63VrPOAKnHuvMFSODmV6aw7iLTpxy7u5ZaKbn6W8lF26VhHo5QvdwxID_X_vJZ_28c1ogdQnROF0KP1spu2l5WvwHH8n5HwA6P4SSc-IPp44kB7TvX3yUj8acN59bHdXflewY/s640/SAM_0317.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and right before another one. Yes, your hair really does stand on end. Another eerie thing - if there's a lot of charge in the air, you can stick your hand up and hear it. Don't stick your hand up. :/ How about don't get stuck up high during an electrical event?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQkq9hC82Gb4F5D0HahC5MyzymqPAK21BVbWLxyTQxlbuqGHWfWijtO5rbHVV1gTunXVijSV2seVjBXqYRPQjRQMelBo1D7s7ljNxLpf0OEdUajl2A0VtfZ5QGLNly1V-4nyD96GV8SY/s1600/SAM_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQkq9hC82Gb4F5D0HahC5MyzymqPAK21BVbWLxyTQxlbuqGHWfWijtO5rbHVV1gTunXVijSV2seVjBXqYRPQjRQMelBo1D7s7ljNxLpf0OEdUajl2A0VtfZ5QGLNly1V-4nyD96GV8SY/s640/SAM_0319.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last bit passing by. Mammatus clouds, I believe?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9ry3r5bR01n3G_5qses8V6qiwKTxTktm1jvj7CRVz0HQrqqAIzoV_IrBRoCXvgTHLZXgXuaY3BDxD3hncsl90BCSDFXLRLJuBTRvSwbOndFzi277AxTmp-hodCollEM2ETs5URxSQpk/s1600/SAM_0321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9ry3r5bR01n3G_5qses8V6qiwKTxTktm1jvj7CRVz0HQrqqAIzoV_IrBRoCXvgTHLZXgXuaY3BDxD3hncsl90BCSDFXLRLJuBTRvSwbOndFzi277AxTmp-hodCollEM2ETs5URxSQpk/s640/SAM_0321.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in the sun on Shavano's summit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwnseOHAm2SouNzsy58YFfZglFWlKQtm1KvNobCOR-4hxVcr_-o8JsdCJ-JT5BuvL06zMRukWNAKOibmGSLY6ky1x1n156z2-SDJU4YyCf3OTljvn2MOynNoqiGfPM2LMVLGi8fCwCpo/s1600/SAM_0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwnseOHAm2SouNzsy58YFfZglFWlKQtm1KvNobCOR-4hxVcr_-o8JsdCJ-JT5BuvL06zMRukWNAKOibmGSLY6ky1x1n156z2-SDJU4YyCf3OTljvn2MOynNoqiGfPM2LMVLGi8fCwCpo/s640/SAM_0327.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down, down, down.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcbaX2dWXJjdNhnT156tjB34f324tNs_5ShbPkxrw5pmo5Yvpe_iYe63XULeJpKNU2OJPmj-OCDje6fiv5zMwMCktzSQ2WdQjJRJb_01KJFqZnNt4uJSmE_khqb2gIcMnkvQvLxOYen0/s1600/SAM_0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcbaX2dWXJjdNhnT156tjB34f324tNs_5ShbPkxrw5pmo5Yvpe_iYe63XULeJpKNU2OJPmj-OCDje6fiv5zMwMCktzSQ2WdQjJRJb_01KJFqZnNt4uJSmE_khqb2gIcMnkvQvLxOYen0/s640/SAM_0330.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "impassable deadfall" on Shavano's standard route. Hey Forest Service dudes...you guys are freaking awesome. Seriously, some amazing work to clear the trail!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh88WuAEIyGX5rZ4u2EGeg8eowDAtn-jdzqhHYsIaSsCZkvWOSz3Me8DjGl-59n9KA6SbXfixLNLVSOneBzdHxhaXP7LY8Ddy5Xk4XjdyTEOezvMmzSgfrvY14oJiCdDcqrDLsnbaw-zk/s1600/SAM_0332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh88WuAEIyGX5rZ4u2EGeg8eowDAtn-jdzqhHYsIaSsCZkvWOSz3Me8DjGl-59n9KA6SbXfixLNLVSOneBzdHxhaXP7LY8Ddy5Xk4XjdyTEOezvMmzSgfrvY14oJiCdDcqrDLsnbaw-zk/s640/SAM_0332.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some sort of demonic deadfall hatchling I suppose.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgw2KjmLxynACdgJxRphlkpqgOzFb8kiI91WLWv9ZBDcwR7CqbTA_Kob5enyXVePAPTlLKJeq-KCw_VIAKPeoG2mtsp3ZUlbgEsQdVxiRmVVgUGvMFV9KKl9cEGQlTtCb-26sfBZjsuZw/s1600/SAM_0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgw2KjmLxynACdgJxRphlkpqgOzFb8kiI91WLWv9ZBDcwR7CqbTA_Kob5enyXVePAPTlLKJeq-KCw_VIAKPeoG2mtsp3ZUlbgEsQdVxiRmVVgUGvMFV9KKl9cEGQlTtCb-26sfBZjsuZw/s640/SAM_0341.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hey Jake, do you want Christoph to pick us up at Blank Cabin?" "Nah, I want to run the Colorado Trail!" And thus, an 18-mile day became a 26-mile day. We each had our last sip of water at Blank Cabin. The last 8 miles (the sign at Blank Cabin says it's only 5...yeah, right) were TOUGH, but beautiful.</td></tr>
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When it was all said and done, we covered 26.3 miles. I had no intentions of running back-to-back marathon distances days, but there it was. I ended up with 101 for the week...somewhat by accident. A great day, though, as I got to see much more of this area than I ever experienced during my initial climbs of these three peaks nearly ten years ago. We stopped at the Coyote Cantina in Johnson Village, ate like kings, and began scheming for the next meaty mountain loop. <br />
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<b>Disclaimer</b>: OK, so let me get this straight. Getting stuck up high during a storm is no picnic. Could it have been avoided? Yep. An earlier start would've been the best defense. In 100+ summits of 14,000' peaks, this was the sketchiest weather I've ever had to deal with. Considering the stories I've heard from others, I consider myself lucky.<br />
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Ultra-types: Another pretty cool loop. Of the 26 miles, I'd estimate we were able to run about 13-15 of them. Going Antero first allowed us to run the jeep roads down for a few miles...it might be pretty difficult to run them upward. The icing on the cake was the stretch of the CT from Blank Cabin to Browns Creek...beautiful stuff.<br />
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Hikers: Little Browns Creek is a way to take in some otherwise ho-hum mountains. I distinctly remember being kind of jaded by Antero - the roads, gem-diggers, 4x4's, etc. Approaching this way meant we didn't have to deal with the junk show until the very end. For those of you who kind of like the "solitude" thing, forget Baldwin Gulch!<br />
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26, 45, close enough. Cannot wait till this album comes out in July.<br />
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<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-29009536089824390762012-05-28T15:54:00.002-06:002012-05-29T16:31:11.054-06:00Tour de Yale!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So there I was, wilting in the early afternoon sun after many hours of running, 2/3 of the way up a climb that would take me from 9,000' to 12,000'. Powerhiking was draining me; running was out of the question. <br />
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Where was I? If you guessed Hope Pass, not quite. However, if you guessed Hope Pass, then you might want to read on and give this loop a shot yourself some day.<br />
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<b>Tour de Yale</b><br />
Silver Creek TH -> Mt. Yale summit via NW Ridge -> Denny Creek TH via SW Slopes (standard route) -> Avalanche Gulch TH via Cottonwood Pass Rd -> Silver Creek TH via Colorado Trail<br />
<ul>
<li>24.5 miles</li>
<li>7,570' vertical</li>
<li>Start 7:01 AM</li>
<li>End 2:51 PM</li>
<li>7 hours 50 minutes</li>
</ul>
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I hatched the idea of doing a circle tour of Yale a few weeks ago, when Cale and I wandered up the lower portion of Yale's <a href="http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=yale2&peak=Mt.+Yale" target="_blank">East Ridge</a> route. I liked what I saw; the trail was mellow enough to run and very scenic. I did a little research and realized that I could link up a few trails to create a fat loop that would essentially circumnavigate the entirety of the Yale massif. En route, I would be able to hit at least portions of every feasible route on Yale. In addition, I would also get a chance to go through each of the four trailheads that service this Collegiate Peak. Seemed to me a perfect mix of adventure, training, and challenge, and on May 27th, I made a go for it. My primary goal was to circumnavigate the peak, but I would summit if the opportunity presented itself.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-MCJcoiyrtNCnFs15v_oQ_HifbxsIRGrC-pwYkrXDu26059kWdFSYV8Wcr8lfXo2kKNthmJ3nsFffrVTqFoKggKnPJz5deBSRR0CO7-nlasfD6xFvlTv6IQc2hJltYbQ6TJXPQWhV-A/s1600/yale1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-MCJcoiyrtNCnFs15v_oQ_HifbxsIRGrC-pwYkrXDu26059kWdFSYV8Wcr8lfXo2kKNthmJ3nsFffrVTqFoKggKnPJz5deBSRR0CO7-nlasfD6xFvlTv6IQc2hJltYbQ6TJXPQWhV-A/s640/yale1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First part of the day - up Cottonwood Creek to Kroenke Lake (where the red line disappears in the upper left)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning on the road between Silver Creek TH and North Cottonwood TH.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Xsh5nOqpJWCzhjoEphgiPBbaaSYmZo47oqMEqZ-mwkdnI7BRHM5xZixWY-O8fOgo1UVpO_iyU6jNgjV7aQgX3vb2lQZx1CXz5-Gr9EyrmfWgFlDa3LaFJX4zeQfzMlb-RkoLbDglfFI/s1600/SAM_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Xsh5nOqpJWCzhjoEphgiPBbaaSYmZo47oqMEqZ-mwkdnI7BRHM5xZixWY-O8fOgo1UVpO_iyU6jNgjV7aQgX3vb2lQZx1CXz5-Gr9EyrmfWgFlDa3LaFJX4zeQfzMlb-RkoLbDglfFI/s640/SAM_0168.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The North Cottonwood/Horn Fork TH serves mostly those looking to climb Mt. Harvard and Mt. Columbia via their standard routes. However, it also provides access to Mt. Yale from Kroenke Lake to the northwest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYe3ZUL-vZtpn_jXhoDJRA0kKX9tQRITvpkuHcMuBaPBqBBKLXwD3PMFiF8RfaeAmQNYqPTOPDjfUbZwn39ZG9ddaLbLq-HrlnTaIrLW95nrS61U0QREo5lytzvvp7rgw77PvmuF01tk/s1600/SAM_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYe3ZUL-vZtpn_jXhoDJRA0kKX9tQRITvpkuHcMuBaPBqBBKLXwD3PMFiF8RfaeAmQNYqPTOPDjfUbZwn39ZG9ddaLbLq-HrlnTaIrLW95nrS61U0QREo5lytzvvp7rgw77PvmuF01tk/s640/SAM_0170.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trail along North Cottonwood Creek is in great shape.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGfuH_N7egQTXw_4_pFXXjFkPCNffUS_MvsbdLY4psPL0JlrVeBgy5gJgT32kZoyQDQqkzBqZwnFy-fa381kTeSeg_LH-9Q_yurbyUebbrIypMgqcZ3BVZ5A7ycMBvyO33S3j8RXauEE/s1600/SAM_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGfuH_N7egQTXw_4_pFXXjFkPCNffUS_MvsbdLY4psPL0JlrVeBgy5gJgT32kZoyQDQqkzBqZwnFy-fa381kTeSeg_LH-9Q_yurbyUebbrIypMgqcZ3BVZ5A7ycMBvyO33S3j8RXauEE/s640/SAM_0171.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge across N. Cottonwood Creek.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qTAgKD9Hvcf2eAZzFGw2TrvrzoJD9hwh5GpwsZry04P0MN1rHtdjCBXB1O8rK5quv-OC-xYyO-DRBy7H8FMfKp_mKyvPWadHkQr962zvTIjYydRibLeJHpKK-_j5dDvgyKg7YCeExe4/s1600/SAM_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qTAgKD9Hvcf2eAZzFGw2TrvrzoJD9hwh5GpwsZry04P0MN1rHtdjCBXB1O8rK5quv-OC-xYyO-DRBy7H8FMfKp_mKyvPWadHkQr962zvTIjYydRibLeJHpKK-_j5dDvgyKg7YCeExe4/s640/SAM_0172.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail splits - to the right is the trail into Horn Fork Basin. To the left is Kroenke Lake. About a mile up the trail I ran into a guy who had mistakenly turned left instead of right here.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hAIr5NRgGweENuea2D97s_9OAvgL02uov88_8B-ZsJLfgNx7gFro_C6Q6XRNuX7ioe83F9lsZI7tEfPrdmobOiUMXRvzV1kzgBkPi4O5-F68Wgh6iBQBCS2Xqa9DG23ODky33j4s5pA/s1600/SAM_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hAIr5NRgGweENuea2D97s_9OAvgL02uov88_8B-ZsJLfgNx7gFro_C6Q6XRNuX7ioe83F9lsZI7tEfPrdmobOiUMXRvzV1kzgBkPi4O5-F68Wgh6iBQBCS2Xqa9DG23ODky33j4s5pA/s640/SAM_0174.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are a couple of smaller crossings over North Cottonwood Creek.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkf5Wi5AtKZeZ1zI3ka4FxraX0jFsbaJDfliceiQ71Pib0snPSAOrbX8C1CgxlAz1UbrvMn2JewVsXbD68Owky4Gzk2zRJdtDfiSe70SivRKsWHns1Wt7uPRT-JfJZh3fkNaD3ahU96w/s1600/SAM_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkf5Wi5AtKZeZ1zI3ka4FxraX0jFsbaJDfliceiQ71Pib0snPSAOrbX8C1CgxlAz1UbrvMn2JewVsXbD68Owky4Gzk2zRJdtDfiSe70SivRKsWHns1Wt7uPRT-JfJZh3fkNaD3ahU96w/s640/SAM_0179.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kroenke Lake(~11,500') - definitely worth coming back to. There was one tent up there when I passed. Doesn't seem like there are nearly as many alpine lakes in the Sawatch as the other ranges.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ60H2f0V2BUNUmWKV08JLdTNKTqRu6OU_ixSqF1fSXP4-TCJOQwWaJt3ZgvTN1dnE4G6QGwcXC5EEGI8WJMO8U7DpK9SkYVj2VXNKTiZ2E1u9raukEWM5iP1DmUIxAk2iRRR0L2h4gic/s1600/SAM_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ60H2f0V2BUNUmWKV08JLdTNKTqRu6OU_ixSqF1fSXP4-TCJOQwWaJt3ZgvTN1dnE4G6QGwcXC5EEGI8WJMO8U7DpK9SkYVj2VXNKTiZ2E1u9raukEWM5iP1DmUIxAk2iRRR0L2h4gic/s640/SAM_0180.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful trail alongside Kroenke Lake as I continued south toward Browns Pass (background)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5pvhBrnzQj7hXZbZgBhFbm00zWTrc8N6jx6JBdWKmJAgzXJI4ImaCTHHIJXWi-ygUHF4rFUHsDVaqAn_Qq_OD4KXUEqxgH3O11kMZ9evetnV-7TAxhzmvSgJ6sQ29jlc0LLnZU-l1ps/s1600/SAM_0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5pvhBrnzQj7hXZbZgBhFbm00zWTrc8N6jx6JBdWKmJAgzXJI4ImaCTHHIJXWi-ygUHF4rFUHsDVaqAn_Qq_OD4KXUEqxgH3O11kMZ9evetnV-7TAxhzmvSgJ6sQ29jlc0LLnZU-l1ps/s640/SAM_0181.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back north toward Kroenke Lake as I began the climb to Browns Pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lGRuGMEkv8hUigTY9DEKkTHjr5sJ280XC9KlR5Es5mV3uT48bHkgamHYLJ2K0lpTuDqiaaI9XcXOCq6nf-coDfibEcMA2I5YIPa2xTa0vNIeH-PAgp1DPVevKmU4Bwre8Gl3Ggj4xug/s1600/SAM_0183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lGRuGMEkv8hUigTY9DEKkTHjr5sJ280XC9KlR5Es5mV3uT48bHkgamHYLJ2K0lpTuDqiaaI9XcXOCq6nf-coDfibEcMA2I5YIPa2xTa0vNIeH-PAgp1DPVevKmU4Bwre8Gl3Ggj4xug/s640/SAM_0183.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The NW ridge of Mt. Yale, with the summit poking out in the far center.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGSPWlZiew0vcxoN-TfXopw8q0L0JS8NQW0Yp-AFAIIy7Wzdwf-DlD21wUj9AcuhM_pCGdeY64LYtw98KFfnemXExtbkddfcu8qlzGAIY1aB1iaJy4O71B_6IM0xnZblgHlcUtLMFlew/s1600/SAM_0184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGSPWlZiew0vcxoN-TfXopw8q0L0JS8NQW0Yp-AFAIIy7Wzdwf-DlD21wUj9AcuhM_pCGdeY64LYtw98KFfnemXExtbkddfcu8qlzGAIY1aB1iaJy4O71B_6IM0xnZblgHlcUtLMFlew/s640/SAM_0184.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After some bushwhacking due to the trail being snowed in, I came upon a pretty cool (frozen, even!) alpine pond at 12,200'.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz4RPedD0OFunFbGEQ07EpdLPtXy8kDao5bNLdk611GrSzPa08cJQyGwMPUiGr1g7HWyx8zq2-tERbi6wyYz-yWBakGt6l7Bc_mkkLZLi-MeZuq0caANm9bwDI0L7lO1xqowQ5MEMy60/s1600/SAM_0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz4RPedD0OFunFbGEQ07EpdLPtXy8kDao5bNLdk611GrSzPa08cJQyGwMPUiGr1g7HWyx8zq2-tERbi6wyYz-yWBakGt6l7Bc_mkkLZLi-MeZuq0caANm9bwDI0L7lO1xqowQ5MEMy60/s640/SAM_0186.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvard(L) and Columbia(R) in the background.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Y_h4NIQYf_-QcWS3sh0la8FoT3nGX8R4ha-P8LKseoA0FmOJOBDn3_Zrx11NXqU-ZEqNK8H8G9BYjyqJJSQXX6tyIdkLMVhmceiHebE1W7Rn6pzIa5VzcxNAjP4Hqjf7Y44rBjzwfc8/s1600/yale2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Y_h4NIQYf_-QcWS3sh0la8FoT3nGX8R4ha-P8LKseoA0FmOJOBDn3_Zrx11NXqU-ZEqNK8H8G9BYjyqJJSQXX6tyIdkLMVhmceiHebE1W7Rn6pzIa5VzcxNAjP4Hqjf7Y44rBjzwfc8/s640/yale2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second part of the day; up Yale's NW ridge, summit, then descend via the SW slopes.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofhyUD-ubUE9WPLS9WY0bCRCALvi-QH7-YYE2102oNOYDwSUmWV2rDo3mewB3AQ0mVHECVLd6NKVnoIgn4vqSeM6vjyp9r9x2t6nsCrrBxTocpu1g7pgQDxFcBApr8DDAz7mWpfm45xw/s1600/SAM_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofhyUD-ubUE9WPLS9WY0bCRCALvi-QH7-YYE2102oNOYDwSUmWV2rDo3mewB3AQ0mVHECVLd6NKVnoIgn4vqSeM6vjyp9r9x2t6nsCrrBxTocpu1g7pgQDxFcBApr8DDAz7mWpfm45xw/s640/SAM_0189.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of Yale's northwest ridge. It's fairly gentle, never exceeding class 2. I had originally planned on just climbing Browns Pass and dropping into the Denny Creek drainage, but I felt pretty good and the ridge didn't look too formidable, so I went for it. This did, however, put me a good mile west of where I would have otherwise gained the ridge.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKfnGcQmHDQPmc1SgQASNBlrtwcRIEbRL2d8FNIVQ8YL-2Y4VoRxHZvxSMWyNFlzas1tge8KrY8pKWLzw7vrb2sijxP-xxzo2b6QtlbfjknHBJfAAeBluXD_Yo9IG2Q-tKw3op0qsS9c/s1600/SAM_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKfnGcQmHDQPmc1SgQASNBlrtwcRIEbRL2d8FNIVQ8YL-2Y4VoRxHZvxSMWyNFlzas1tge8KrY8pKWLzw7vrb2sijxP-xxzo2b6QtlbfjknHBJfAAeBluXD_Yo9IG2Q-tKw3op0qsS9c/s640/SAM_0190.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of the remaining route from 13,600'. I had gained about 1,200' in the preceding mile.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgo3_n_U2A5UDfpq_F3Kwc_KUDr0IbUdyKqWZnlie_wGWrEe_ObT5ix8vB_qVzteSZ4CVZ0F_wfxgrYTtdVGEiRROq0osAgtYyT1MsjONFztXwUu6HBg1cFb4HEkxz1VPeoP1X1wGnMQ/s1600/SAM_0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgo3_n_U2A5UDfpq_F3Kwc_KUDr0IbUdyKqWZnlie_wGWrEe_ObT5ix8vB_qVzteSZ4CVZ0F_wfxgrYTtdVGEiRROq0osAgtYyT1MsjONFztXwUu6HBg1cFb4HEkxz1VPeoP1X1wGnMQ/s640/SAM_0193.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit. It was windy enough to hinder one's enjoyment of the surroundings, so I didn't stay long.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1_-KZtpbLBLlybHpui-bdK1H6SxD6QS3UUGvS39EAJSyIjgXr2KI7opbSQUgeuAvaJwaBLpangvwPBAxrGIn5FMCAwu0If-rYxbyuoX5UdCD7KExOJe_FNqfbncN8LkQRWJmiuY9QGU/s1600/SAM_0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1_-KZtpbLBLlybHpui-bdK1H6SxD6QS3UUGvS39EAJSyIjgXr2KI7opbSQUgeuAvaJwaBLpangvwPBAxrGIn5FMCAwu0If-rYxbyuoX5UdCD7KExOJe_FNqfbncN8LkQRWJmiuY9QGU/s640/SAM_0196.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was able to make really good time on the really good trail. I saw a total of maybe 50 people on the day; 45 or so of them were on Yale's standard route.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHSDADJ8f1fzMx7Pn4gZCqAIEWyGPLqDS34QqBDZhZiLKR2DjqKdCqFXK4FgDni8Ysvil3Zd22DPGMQsueHY9DmVG6MmwY8xWCZ2byxFMo0ZTOlq6JHq3VpHdXnlfG_TuzZTmVDrrRxc/s1600/SAM_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHSDADJ8f1fzMx7Pn4gZCqAIEWyGPLqDS34QqBDZhZiLKR2DjqKdCqFXK4FgDni8Ysvil3Zd22DPGMQsueHY9DmVG6MmwY8xWCZ2byxFMo0ZTOlq6JHq3VpHdXnlfG_TuzZTmVDrrRxc/s640/SAM_0198.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mellow portion of the descent</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPNIP5Ibh8rPCD3ja7PnNCHGn05hsUTaETB47LExCQ3uQgD21iAP7nEEeUu-zzlHP6xDdNFriwUl3YykJBpPUBMCsW4-8FoAVxE3MUYhdbZZDn0ddUeOm7QrhF4rA1FoIRxbetu249Lo/s1600/SAM_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPNIP5Ibh8rPCD3ja7PnNCHGn05hsUTaETB47LExCQ3uQgD21iAP7nEEeUu-zzlHP6xDdNFriwUl3YykJBpPUBMCsW4-8FoAVxE3MUYhdbZZDn0ddUeOm7QrhF4rA1FoIRxbetu249Lo/s640/SAM_0199.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg1PrWaNtBb6IyV06wRH4qOqv76SOycf0LcyWRZNAKySDe3LJo37nIB7rHMpPfkJkKZtc_lNZSRRZzT6tSV4Q62x2b3Dc-x21HingcE9O5jbS6R73tF-YSNoggdFvKZ5xaQY9G_jro3g/s1600/SAM_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg1PrWaNtBb6IyV06wRH4qOqv76SOycf0LcyWRZNAKySDe3LJo37nIB7rHMpPfkJkKZtc_lNZSRRZzT6tSV4Q62x2b3Dc-x21HingcE9O5jbS6R73tF-YSNoggdFvKZ5xaQY9G_jro3g/s640/SAM_0203.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although it held a slight decline in elevation, I still found the 3 mile stretch of road from Denny Creek to Avalanche Gulch to be one of the more challenging parts of the day. It was hot, I was tired, and I still had a big climb coming up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBK8ixsZZeYsyVPA2v9d5Li89P2u6ksxqXlc9wPvAWQpQA0h3qsgOUz0QXCwsMAVlifPtHwo3wAoj3aSsSFQp8ngTzhrCJjBbCq_A1WXBQ7zo-lhre4tZPwal2ZHKoVG9uMPC6IxNjBpo/s1600/yale4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBK8ixsZZeYsyVPA2v9d5Li89P2u6ksxqXlc9wPvAWQpQA0h3qsgOUz0QXCwsMAVlifPtHwo3wAoj3aSsSFQp8ngTzhrCJjBbCq_A1WXBQ7zo-lhre4tZPwal2ZHKoVG9uMPC6IxNjBpo/s640/yale4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down the road, up the trail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSBnrKFHrgxnKDkOWrfMfob7ukphrPbypK-u8eRFWWkT0Z1bib07zR32PRvC6W38qQXnnMqix9e4VsWG4CfvzKS5AsKRZaAOIYNbmwuz3ojfGYPjAlYTs0hohWNHIXKbaru2xeST3D54/s1600/SAM_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSBnrKFHrgxnKDkOWrfMfob7ukphrPbypK-u8eRFWWkT0Z1bib07zR32PRvC6W38qQXnnMqix9e4VsWG4CfvzKS5AsKRZaAOIYNbmwuz3ojfGYPjAlYTs0hohWNHIXKbaru2xeST3D54/s640/SAM_0204.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">17.5 miles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFAp9js5vLa8-WvM6qzULc3lqDvHW5_dhuyEEhwY2P177HWl8_a_pLUI45jaMnJTpQgEGMK_taa6QtsHyAo136jMj7R0nlhZZYBjfYclbI_KugBrlJgd41Sv8VZGtGNFezrS_kpeHe60/s1600/SAM_0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFAp9js5vLa8-WvM6qzULc3lqDvHW5_dhuyEEhwY2P177HWl8_a_pLUI45jaMnJTpQgEGMK_taa6QtsHyAo136jMj7R0nlhZZYBjfYclbI_KugBrlJgd41Sv8VZGtGNFezrS_kpeHe60/s640/SAM_0206.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took a break at the base of the trail to refuel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DyJmRc6MhpUvOmnBuO0o3gJbEQxuLKs7GLatT0so606t2LZR-c1iRj3SH0JsRimw8zHdLHWJqtJUiURgyzq1i6-WnFdTOS-0aljO57h2YyK8p7pWRnooBTww2hCPB1LamLNvLxTRptc/s1600/SAM_0208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DyJmRc6MhpUvOmnBuO0o3gJbEQxuLKs7GLatT0so606t2LZR-c1iRj3SH0JsRimw8zHdLHWJqtJUiURgyzq1i6-WnFdTOS-0aljO57h2YyK8p7pWRnooBTww2hCPB1LamLNvLxTRptc/s640/SAM_0208.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick glimpse at "Mascot Peak", a 13,400ish' sub-peak of Yale.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2BPAXp7YSbkBrcWIgvmsJ4w6SCkYCxxosPsxgVG4Vjk37rC4IrHxCvwBFsWZTSuh6QROOarXZlw8Vb9esmld3-wApqhGF7eAKQx_bA942n5Dc2EfgCg-Xyop_8BF_Sbw-3Hm89mOuHE/s1600/SAM_0210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2BPAXp7YSbkBrcWIgvmsJ4w6SCkYCxxosPsxgVG4Vjk37rC4IrHxCvwBFsWZTSuh6QROOarXZlw8Vb9esmld3-wApqhGF7eAKQx_bA942n5Dc2EfgCg-Xyop_8BF_Sbw-3Hm89mOuHE/s640/SAM_0210.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the last climb of the day; in the valley is the road I had come from.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtdZmzO8SCC4B7QGLmwKq3dWxR98GXkPYE0_iXFVC2al5cTRmddVyf_Z-Iu6wZQywH1HeU8F8IesNPx0qn1gHoiiDewV5w6pBB1aEV9FTKjc0zmhr32QKqS9FF_2v2yq2v5h4zlSPm7A/s1600/SAM_0212.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtdZmzO8SCC4B7QGLmwKq3dWxR98GXkPYE0_iXFVC2al5cTRmddVyf_Z-Iu6wZQywH1HeU8F8IesNPx0qn1gHoiiDewV5w6pBB1aEV9FTKjc0zmhr32QKqS9FF_2v2yq2v5h4zlSPm7A/s640/SAM_0212.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnubd7JMuQM8HGkBKVFIL1s7cZegCXbb2momHHGL2Yfz2oekW7bnYTmSTZDepYK8ZkeuTJktHMKH7Ju4Uj2JdIUdZ20Jbb4ViPGrIiRCxat8ho-uv-wdrUuwnVYZFkE38zCtMjZuhNfQ/s1600/SAM_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnubd7JMuQM8HGkBKVFIL1s7cZegCXbb2momHHGL2Yfz2oekW7bnYTmSTZDepYK8ZkeuTJktHMKH7Ju4Uj2JdIUdZ20Jbb4ViPGrIiRCxat8ho-uv-wdrUuwnVYZFkE38zCtMjZuhNfQ/s640/SAM_0213.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old deadfall at 10,500'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUozlv8WiV78-JnEBT7Nq6zlmPbWbLyFIdNjsauq186gGTEMlAJoR-uefj8rI0gxzvtJ6hCQypkOly_WXDkZbbFzWGSYiaxSH2JsVI7zFvy5IGEJssADLmt32WJhbVk90DtNhTZtHDBc/s1600/SAM_0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUozlv8WiV78-JnEBT7Nq6zlmPbWbLyFIdNjsauq186gGTEMlAJoR-uefj8rI0gxzvtJ6hCQypkOly_WXDkZbbFzWGSYiaxSH2JsVI7zFvy5IGEJssADLmt32WJhbVk90DtNhTZtHDBc/s640/SAM_0215.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More deadfall. I felt here as if I could dead-fall as well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRE4WL06Hzk55bGZ5gQjkWzZwpnfVrLJBf_AUbyuIbTpX-FeNLyZqUDQbroRM2uC6NTHf4x3ggqbGouV4wJ78kfCCa8uLp5zg3bfFaE4YKi2kZFfptASjCWqCbeg9Kx4AMxXF_f_OHPE/s1600/SAM_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRE4WL06Hzk55bGZ5gQjkWzZwpnfVrLJBf_AUbyuIbTpX-FeNLyZqUDQbroRM2uC6NTHf4x3ggqbGouV4wJ78kfCCa8uLp5zg3bfFaE4YKi2kZFfptASjCWqCbeg9Kx4AMxXF_f_OHPE/s640/SAM_0217.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of recent deadfall throughout the Sawatch. The size of the trees that got blown down by wind this past winter/spring is crazy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50I2lejS0-GeumNxZm5cq-WvHzFeCPO87jF9-G2qtP9o9nzwEB2iV8_SoS_6VjNl96STHqaslItyhLKsy_4C8ukU8hB9yZS3PaFNXvNWpFkB8rMkLodirwauNSfI4sMRxnVq-qvEQRok/s1600/SAM_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50I2lejS0-GeumNxZm5cq-WvHzFeCPO87jF9-G2qtP9o9nzwEB2iV8_SoS_6VjNl96STHqaslItyhLKsy_4C8ukU8hB9yZS3PaFNXvNWpFkB8rMkLodirwauNSfI4sMRxnVq-qvEQRok/s640/SAM_0219.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the high point of this section of the Colorado Trail, 12,100 or so. Getting ready to drop back down the other side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYE2kStC1myMMfK997d74VsJGStLHGXLzVooGyMZ1jFu28_9yvDJBWqnFn0ZOC-q4Boz7yQfkp8oKrtj8bqrzbmSbyuWNpWRVoFYU0OBC2vv0LR0fNZFa9wRDGV-2-X82h5ZgQUTkax30/s1600/SAM_0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYE2kStC1myMMfK997d74VsJGStLHGXLzVooGyMZ1jFu28_9yvDJBWqnFn0ZOC-q4Boz7yQfkp8oKrtj8bqrzbmSbyuWNpWRVoFYU0OBC2vv0LR0fNZFa9wRDGV-2-X82h5ZgQUTkax30/s640/SAM_0220.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A harbinger of things to come - some pretty substantial drifts met me right away. Bummer; there was no snow whatsoever on the south side of the mountain!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXiNAkJKdunaeP9cu_QpXhVeQlB2Eb3csDhjaVOVGkWi4rB-SpWzU5Hxw6mvsdu7a7S5qKevlcbII7mlFIKx4isEgIfiT_eZEglgi_st9tKpAQ0fsZ0UVAB8nMd6D_VrT911eJLQkYXM/s1600/SAM_0224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXiNAkJKdunaeP9cu_QpXhVeQlB2Eb3csDhjaVOVGkWi4rB-SpWzU5Hxw6mvsdu7a7S5qKevlcbII7mlFIKx4isEgIfiT_eZEglgi_st9tKpAQ0fsZ0UVAB8nMd6D_VrT911eJLQkYXM/s640/SAM_0224.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deadfall dodging + postholing /= fun. Over 20 miles in and only 4 to go, though!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EcBIgDVAN18FCa-uIDau-4fgA2QgPio1mJMmSo5vRzL2lgQ-2lhzlWiVeVkT9buYsSv-Sj4VA1gkui6sOEY_gI7P4MsDvwWxqFTV_nzLeiCUymbR4emr6lx8GBjFvqX7suFq2mLjAbQ/s1600/SAM_0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EcBIgDVAN18FCa-uIDau-4fgA2QgPio1mJMmSo5vRzL2lgQ-2lhzlWiVeVkT9buYsSv-Sj4VA1gkui6sOEY_gI7P4MsDvwWxqFTV_nzLeiCUymbR4emr6lx8GBjFvqX7suFq2mLjAbQ/s640/SAM_0226.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only real creek crossing on the last stretch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxIrbY5yd28jqUy4Iz0Lf0ryjw2NxMHPhYLiixgrWt-Gm3ibEG9I1VXLE9Ok9O8E9n9_cl_IFpC-s5PKQ2CHNJFgllvC80gwf7wm9HjSM6U-Aa2XX8ZSdd8CXUz5_fzyu5vammXZajk0/s1600/SAM_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxIrbY5yd28jqUy4Iz0Lf0ryjw2NxMHPhYLiixgrWt-Gm3ibEG9I1VXLE9Ok9O8E9n9_cl_IFpC-s5PKQ2CHNJFgllvC80gwf7wm9HjSM6U-Aa2XX8ZSdd8CXUz5_fzyu5vammXZajk0/s640/SAM_0228.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four-star lodging at 10,500'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-LeoiOV29jD_AVf9aLTpUVQ6tASLGZtZdNHfcIL_1bDlc5yJAZDf5GFdLN9GPnJTQ4R4v4Lqu7DqaRi_l42oI-pujrj-rbeFjhTYmQFpCK5jaLtycSk1nTIASWqve03HoGWUIgSnyEc/s1600/SAM_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-LeoiOV29jD_AVf9aLTpUVQ6tASLGZtZdNHfcIL_1bDlc5yJAZDf5GFdLN9GPnJTQ4R4v4Lqu7DqaRi_l42oI-pujrj-rbeFjhTYmQFpCK5jaLtycSk1nTIASWqve03HoGWUIgSnyEc/s640/SAM_0230.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVQOuaj6qRYIU694AtmdRvhVnHn5Eqerk9J7gSnk3KGllM_UOOOXOAWa8R6qkEPpmDJgIXMw4bKVGjTtzEZesCwqTyFLzCkmjOWKZP1QbI0fuhO_vEdhaHqXLE2RrdtRZm3SLDEZfpOM/s1600/SAM_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVQOuaj6qRYIU694AtmdRvhVnHn5Eqerk9J7gSnk3KGllM_UOOOXOAWa8R6qkEPpmDJgIXMw4bKVGjTtzEZesCwqTyFLzCkmjOWKZP1QbI0fuhO_vEdhaHqXLE2RrdtRZm3SLDEZfpOM/s640/SAM_0231.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A peak down toward the Arkansas River Valley.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rlxe3RQzdsJZ4RMFq6lCWX-Sz1grdgcrVD1DS7kxn7Sl-lgPtCE5Sq8XuVZbc_mzPtWADTO0utlO3lGlz8cFL3Jh8YQbL-Jb4o5436kLykTlNwK8XzYlZUTbd44cW7FklKQ-mJrXDII/s1600/SAM_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rlxe3RQzdsJZ4RMFq6lCWX-Sz1grdgcrVD1DS7kxn7Sl-lgPtCE5Sq8XuVZbc_mzPtWADTO0utlO3lGlz8cFL3Jh8YQbL-Jb4o5436kLykTlNwK8XzYlZUTbd44cW7FklKQ-mJrXDII/s640/SAM_0233.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By now, I was absolutely exhausted. The last half-mile and the lack of +/- was much appreciated - each of the previous two miles coming off the low point of Yale's ridge had dropped over 1,000'. Real quad-busters.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>To the ultra-crowd:</b> highly recommended run. If you're not looking to get in quite as much scrambling and rock-hopping, you could do this loop with Browns Pass instead of Yale's summit. That would likely put it at more like 21 miles and 5,500' climbing. I would recommend doing it either way if you're not planning on hitting Yale's summit. However, descending via Denny Creek allows you to maximize your running mileage. Done in the other direction, you would have to be much more careful with your footing on the descent.<br />
<br />
<b>To hikers: </b> after getting a chance to soak in Yale from all directions, I would recommend this: do something other than the standard route! The northwest ridge from the North Cottonwood TH is doable as a day-trip and fairly straightforward. The trail to Kroenke Lake is beautiful and in good shape. The ridge itself doesn't have a trail, but it is scree-free. If you choose to do the east ridge, I would recommend coming from Avalanche Gulch and not Silver Creek. Silver Creek has a couple of rather unpleasant miles of trail - exposed to sun, kind of steep, just a trail on the side of a hill. Avalanche Gulch's approach is much more scenic.<br />
<br />
<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-89074439100828709882012-05-06T15:05:00.000-06:002012-05-06T15:15:59.998-06:00A springtime loop - 4 in the Sangres<a href="http://www.14ers.com/" target="_blank">14ers.com</a> held its annual spring gathering this weekend. Much to my relief, the location that "we the people" voted for the gathering was the Horn Creek trailhead in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangre_de_Cristo_Mountains" target="_blank">Sangre de Cristo</a> range. I did find some irony in the fact that the trailhead didn't give immediate access to any fourteeners. But I definitely wasn't complaining. I had to miss the gathering last year, as it fell on the same weekend as <a href="http://www.collegiatepeakstrailrun.org/" target="_blank">Collegiate Peaks</a>. This time around, though, the timing was perfect and I had myself with enough free time to go spend a day in the mountains.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSPzF_zVI-kPyYlPp4Fv0XKK6rbS8hXEC7NijRBBwXvtHw3g9rVYbBBUv17z8Z1kpS82KSvvr-eQdb6SjBH28vjI-wdwXq9ZXvd9FXCXtM6u8pKeCM8Y65UVhx8nIw3_37EIzVP-f1o0/s1600/SAM_0125+(2)+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSPzF_zVI-kPyYlPp4Fv0XKK6rbS8hXEC7NijRBBwXvtHw3g9rVYbBBUv17z8Z1kpS82KSvvr-eQdb6SjBH28vjI-wdwXq9ZXvd9FXCXtM6u8pKeCM8Y65UVhx8nIw3_37EIzVP-f1o0/s640/SAM_0125+(2)+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View southward of the central Sangres from<br />
the top of Horn Peak.</td></tr>
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I pulled into the trailhead on Friday night with some ideas of what I would like to do, but no firm plan. I had studied up on some of the possible climbs in the area, but wanted to see what everyone else was doing before settling on anything. By the time I slipped into my sleeping bag under an almost too obnoxiously bright <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermoon" target="_blank">supermoon</a>, I had decided to check out the "Horn Loop" - Little Horn Peak(13,141'), Fluted Peak(13,554'), and Horn Peak(13,450'). I also held in the back of my mind the possibility of attempting the centennial Mt. Adams(13,931') in addition to the loop. That part of the plan was contingent on conditions allowing for a safe ridge traverse without snow equipment, which I wouldn't be able to judge until I was there. Bottom line - I just wanted to have a fun day in the mountains. <br />
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One of my favorite aspects of spring climbing is the stable afternoon weather. It afforded me the luxury of sleeping in - I didn't even hit the trail until 8:15 on Saturday morning. I geared up fast and light, hoping to run as much of the approach as I could before an inevitable blanket of melting snow buried the trail. A couple quick turns on and off the Rainbow Trail found me on my approach - the Horn Creek trail. (which, I should point out, doesn't lead to Horn Peak. Horn Creek drains Little Horn Peak. Dry Creek drains Horn Peak. Unfortunately there is no Dry Peak to further this confusion) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSsePNDoCeSoqwgv28JEupPItG0x0K6f-AvXiy2kZDeYVPY88zhShhLWYHbPVVP05ehkRn2CWXbGWagn3-4a8Vedql-5zJBW0ROqih_iO9RfakcAv6CRg2G_XbYQKvYHTQQpNnlP2tuQ/s1600/SAM_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSsePNDoCeSoqwgv28JEupPItG0x0K6f-AvXiy2kZDeYVPY88zhShhLWYHbPVVP05ehkRn2CWXbGWagn3-4a8Vedql-5zJBW0ROqih_iO9RfakcAv6CRg2G_XbYQKvYHTQQpNnlP2tuQ/s320/SAM_0067.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Horn Creek trail alternated between open meadows...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULavzi135mCvRNe2Rwd7Nth10CZdIIKmKzZtiU5inT_N9mhsPm2Ubh0ib3uoRKzneOKonUsgzs8OfiTpzllRyvGLE39XuVZXCVoOdkKZPT2vrGMakkW8M7B5OfWjUXPCQDwcHW3b4O6w/s1600/SAM_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULavzi135mCvRNe2Rwd7Nth10CZdIIKmKzZtiU5inT_N9mhsPm2Ubh0ib3uoRKzneOKonUsgzs8OfiTpzllRyvGLE39XuVZXCVoOdkKZPT2vrGMakkW8M7B5OfWjUXPCQDwcHW3b4O6w/s320/SAM_0068.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and mangled masses of downfall.</td></tr>
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A little over 2 miles in at 10,400', I ran into one of the guys who had turned around. He had a defeated look in his eyes as informed me of the postholing nightmare just ahead of me. Ugh, that kind of stuff usually doesn't attack until the afternoon! Of course, I did what any normal person would do - I turned sharply right, straight up the south face of Little Horn's long east ridge. This afforded me the "opportunity" to gain 1,600' vertical in a little less than .6 of a mile. Joy. It did get me to better footing quickly, though, and once on the ridge I made quick work of the terrain. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Horn comes into view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNmiqXpSG-FiZz3jThrMQpMnzcEzDL1mIpADqG1vGJ0VJSlAJVCozu9918oAmfoo2IIGGH_zJ4djo-mdNipYkXhqgTjdfid8KuSScMZGZe5RbHEE0dPnu5G8UD4QneyKNh_a7vHks8EU/s1600/SAM_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNmiqXpSG-FiZz3jThrMQpMnzcEzDL1mIpADqG1vGJ0VJSlAJVCozu9918oAmfoo2IIGGH_zJ4djo-mdNipYkXhqgTjdfid8KuSScMZGZe5RbHEE0dPnu5G8UD4QneyKNh_a7vHks8EU/s400/SAM_0079.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Horn, with Adams(L) lurking in the distance</td></tr>
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I ran into (the) Bill Middlebrook near the summit of Little Horn. He snapped a shot for me and let me know a few of my friends were just headed down the other side of LH on their way to Fluted.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mbsIGKtQjApf4R4RyFAzwIlz0WB55LmsyC5ndtqzgZgExeDqdw6-FcTNsn-6kGpi42WPwmt5oX9rCB-vYcgtTKKby-rnAmT7lPOPqDtxOezQzUq06dDZdhh4IcfIs_k7riiSiXqwZ6s/s1600/SAM_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mbsIGKtQjApf4R4RyFAzwIlz0WB55LmsyC5ndtqzgZgExeDqdw6-FcTNsn-6kGpi42WPwmt5oX9rCB-vYcgtTKKby-rnAmT7lPOPqDtxOezQzUq06dDZdhh4IcfIs_k7riiSiXqwZ6s/s400/SAM_0082.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for the pic, (the) Bill!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp589wjqDnERaIWJOhoVuvJY2Inw0c1QrpAds4Nf3OO3pc9cAakBwjRhdpa9xgpr_vqjEUqfZU8oZ5T3KtQBnaoQCoouCZHoS48DvOZiDa-MdJh2397X5WbX6kqe2k3di-5Q8cTaxgr8/s1600/SAM_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp589wjqDnERaIWJOhoVuvJY2Inw0c1QrpAds4Nf3OO3pc9cAakBwjRhdpa9xgpr_vqjEUqfZU8oZ5T3KtQBnaoQCoouCZHoS48DvOZiDa-MdJh2397X5WbX6kqe2k3di-5Q8cTaxgr8/s400/SAM_0084.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gentle descent on the LH/Fluted saddle</td></tr>
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On the descent of Little Horn, I started eyeing up the ridge to Mt. Adams. It seemed to be clear enough of snow to at least take a look at it. I was making great time, so just as I caught Otina and her crew, I veered left and got ready for the most exciting part of my day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQInvl21uE_mI_MK6fDD2HY6jPH4VuQCA0FT6XE6a0H7Yuq2pC_elvREZ2jB7GqfCugb2mZnIoBFYC78eGapBsP7byEoiuoWbc7WlkeoQ1Uu0_xmvxC0GF5Z8154CGB9oAQ8mm7MQ3Ris/s1600/SAM_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQInvl21uE_mI_MK6fDD2HY6jPH4VuQCA0FT6XE6a0H7Yuq2pC_elvREZ2jB7GqfCugb2mZnIoBFYC78eGapBsP7byEoiuoWbc7WlkeoQ1Uu0_xmvxC0GF5Z8154CGB9oAQ8mm7MQ3Ris/s400/SAM_0087.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hidden ledges...not so obvious, is it?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFZbwgJ5qBiDlFwe9_Sipjc7_6OAuWM6xrRc36w-6CmT4RObOaPxCReiGC8CGAyXioOuDs6MBMFRtXqXWj4J6JSUdgiVSRil6y7NfM8uiHYzS_Lyd4wDOV6_Prk2T9QYsnRhROCC9Mc0/s1600/SAM_0089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFZbwgJ5qBiDlFwe9_Sipjc7_6OAuWM6xrRc36w-6CmT4RObOaPxCReiGC8CGAyXioOuDs6MBMFRtXqXWj4J6JSUdgiVSRil6y7NfM8uiHYzS_Lyd4wDOV6_Prk2T9QYsnRhROCC9Mc0/s400/SAM_0089.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little more obvious here</td></tr>
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The going on the Fluted/Adams ridge was slow to say the least. More than once, I found myself making a challenging move or two. Nothing too crazy, just enough to keep it fun. I was surprised by the amount of exposure offered by the ridge, too. All in all, I put this up there near the El Diente/Mt. Wilson ridge in terms of difficulty. A little more exposed, but not nearly as rotten.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXCUQ_YC2sIlyCuFQV69c7UGvwogGVUDT9baHWyY70W8aSuEa9wJx0BctCXnOFlC5M6jlI_BfnNJ7EIC31iFXxjNe-4Dfi7GoVt8p-lTg76kgeVRYl0EaAq0ylUp_kdHyD0b1FoS7Nkg/s1600/SAM_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXCUQ_YC2sIlyCuFQV69c7UGvwogGVUDT9baHWyY70W8aSuEa9wJx0BctCXnOFlC5M6jlI_BfnNJ7EIC31iFXxjNe-4Dfi7GoVt8p-lTg76kgeVRYl0EaAq0ylUp_kdHyD0b1FoS7Nkg/s640/SAM_0095.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Some of the Fluted/Adams ridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbqPgxeTvS2kax_avYeQ8IE2DNsWLM_zUDvfJSz4uOnvSSPwkgYr3bQ0m6cKQfWYOIxLqQXuMUwvUyw-uH5ExmpgVG1_4i8ARLv0EdDy6LhQFgpjIL_xWmW5oIBN3YNlK8qTUUy3fwE4/s1600/SAM_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbqPgxeTvS2kax_avYeQ8IE2DNsWLM_zUDvfJSz4uOnvSSPwkgYr3bQ0m6cKQfWYOIxLqQXuMUwvUyw-uH5ExmpgVG1_4i8ARLv0EdDy6LhQFgpjIL_xWmW5oIBN3YNlK8qTUUy3fwE4/s400/SAM_0097.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at the Horn Loop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJaojOMyVr5h1udzVtNTIPB8tZdyVAnTgusD-lf9l_T6NZ9518vITMD9INChg4u0fMIJEWpLMtdGWLegZghsiypZuUx_mUtiQ9PVjzpGEBpFkOYXFA8MizlWqqPYK2BCMtMMP7Ii9bR0/s1600/SAM_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJaojOMyVr5h1udzVtNTIPB8tZdyVAnTgusD-lf9l_T6NZ9518vITMD9INChg4u0fMIJEWpLMtdGWLegZghsiypZuUx_mUtiQ9PVjzpGEBpFkOYXFA8MizlWqqPYK2BCMtMMP7Ii9bR0/s640/SAM_0101.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a view</td></tr>
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I had read a few TRs of Adams before heading out for the weekend, and I remembered distinctly the "Class 5 Chimney" mentioned in one of them. Sure enough, there it was. Sure enough, it was a thrilling finish to a beautiful summit. Getting to the top of Adams via the Fluted ridge gave me reason to do a fist pump. Awesome!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s5ziBfWeOESdVGPChg8sJ6ukGWnSRxONEYNk_7BVVT6UHFiGrFTOY0uVQgUl-5FukD8Y8S2FSogofh2sQA9eOzRgTtjT6RabH5KEmGAFOeK2sxvq1tDFQrbHAEK1a2ikHKAwHmtAK6M/s1600/SAM_0102+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s5ziBfWeOESdVGPChg8sJ6ukGWnSRxONEYNk_7BVVT6UHFiGrFTOY0uVQgUl-5FukD8Y8S2FSogofh2sQA9eOzRgTtjT6RabH5KEmGAFOeK2sxvq1tDFQrbHAEK1a2ikHKAwHmtAK6M/s640/SAM_0102+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess which way I chose?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_TJ5Z3f-nnrMYC_a5KH8EjDSsM5YnVsLiChkFYMGXIpcE-oyTHzgNQz-Y1IGGgIUQLnYPLrlzJyOKw-RRTrxI8468iwC8hwlbFWa9N9MsNwZybwepDhIsXSvwT864bAy5qZVshWngeo/s1600/SAM_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_TJ5Z3f-nnrMYC_a5KH8EjDSsM5YnVsLiChkFYMGXIpcE-oyTHzgNQz-Y1IGGgIUQLnYPLrlzJyOKw-RRTrxI8468iwC8hwlbFWa9N9MsNwZybwepDhIsXSvwT864bAy5qZVshWngeo/s320/SAM_0104.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock on</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaV4o4SG926wwfEEa0Tf_Pae0yNnvE5diAGmop5_ms4xGE3AlfvV7kBI5QecjmsdI1X0zDPXmavbZZlU_YEvB1tY-MrnDhJBlehsYHNy5eiM5z7hUFRyuSxLeAwo-13LJ6PslK7aydft8/s1600/SAM_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaV4o4SG926wwfEEa0Tf_Pae0yNnvE5diAGmop5_ms4xGE3AlfvV7kBI5QecjmsdI1X0zDPXmavbZZlU_YEvB1tY-MrnDhJBlehsYHNy5eiM5z7hUFRyuSxLeAwo-13LJ6PslK7aydft8/s320/SAM_0107.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up of the chimney</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7caUqbnv1nZsnggj8w3YBmpp5vS-KWMyN20-HRCag4l2OnLtZ9r_zFAxVH9nQIMATPBroa4-eoQKdo0mPihHUUjKvvUkZydkosp9Hpwr7xpR3dEKyO7v0MR9YE2CbrwDVNE7Ta0ZBhQ0/s1600/SAM_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7caUqbnv1nZsnggj8w3YBmpp5vS-KWMyN20-HRCag4l2OnLtZ9r_zFAxVH9nQIMATPBroa4-eoQKdo0mPihHUUjKvvUkZydkosp9Hpwr7xpR3dEKyO7v0MR9YE2CbrwDVNE7Ta0ZBhQ0/s640/SAM_0110.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of a few technical sections</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Besides the chimney, most of the difficult scrambling was found low, near the Fluted/Adams saddle. Going up, I knocked out one mile of the ridge in 80 minutes. Coming back down, it "only" took 60 to cover the same mile. I still had a long ways to go; however, once I reached the saddle the tough stuff was behind me. Before I knew it, I was looking at the surprising summit of Fluted Peak.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXAFDUsPco2JeNgEznW94TRIKp3V2D1FCRr0iK4zGG9e1ZgUe8Hw1zguCKYplUI5HevBOnRM2W6F_2ibuatkvysTqxZu7-2G2-aM_YGabvdWpl1Y5SpAc115Pe8Sl9CIYHYlFATTgnX8/s1600/SAM_0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXAFDUsPco2JeNgEznW94TRIKp3V2D1FCRr0iK4zGG9e1ZgUe8Hw1zguCKYplUI5HevBOnRM2W6F_2ibuatkvysTqxZu7-2G2-aM_YGabvdWpl1Y5SpAc115Pe8Sl9CIYHYlFATTgnX8/s320/SAM_0112.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of Fluted Peak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My water level was getting alarmingly low by now, but otherwise I was just soaking in every moment as I meandered down and around to begin the climb of Horn Peak. The rock on the lower part of the ridge was "scralus" - that sharp, crappy stuff that moves AND rolls on you. Yuck. The higher I got on the ridge, though, the higher quality of talus I came across. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM28dxZYDICbEI-quRu0Ij6P1Qbz_uIwiPpFo04WtmLsbTCIyTi5b74UQUNmmlUxXX7pGW7z8yyef-6zHftU2TGU9-Bdc4WrCfNDR54AyDGs20Wz_G5dUe208o1lWOcqzC0N5_Y_7s5CU/s1600/SAM_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM28dxZYDICbEI-quRu0Ij6P1Qbz_uIwiPpFo04WtmLsbTCIyTi5b74UQUNmmlUxXX7pGW7z8yyef-6zHftU2TGU9-Bdc4WrCfNDR54AyDGs20Wz_G5dUe208o1lWOcqzC0N5_Y_7s5CU/s400/SAM_0116.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fluted from Horn's west ridge</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhwAtIB9YBHzaQc5pX4Mq1VCFnNmIWw6HwDXXab4JMynLNwzlIaGk7864uLPK5OidrAfSMzxcMOUK2p1JbDovZ4dnH8Cj4FGNvbTekaltiOKYlH_9fz-hc3Vjn63z5BKBbXodxTCtrok/s1600/SAM_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhwAtIB9YBHzaQc5pX4Mq1VCFnNmIWw6HwDXXab4JMynLNwzlIaGk7864uLPK5OidrAfSMzxcMOUK2p1JbDovZ4dnH8Cj4FGNvbTekaltiOKYlH_9fz-hc3Vjn63z5BKBbXodxTCtrok/s320/SAM_0119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of Horn. Adams doesn't look very close any more</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hit the summit of Horn at 4:15 PM, 8 hours after I started. 8 hours is a full day's work. I know where I'd rather be.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVbScV9dgZQ7xdZgapCjY24GFBvvU0gCOzorG_BdHv1pQuFrcAM0nstgLZqgfJK71xnQHLmuTZ80I3JWmm3Ye03_hCHKWi2fhUYDOm6fNKfPManb6oobodF1MOTNtHJxXAl9JmmX4VYc/s1600/SAM_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVbScV9dgZQ7xdZgapCjY24GFBvvU0gCOzorG_BdHv1pQuFrcAM0nstgLZqgfJK71xnQHLmuTZ80I3JWmm3Ye03_hCHKWi2fhUYDOm6fNKfPManb6oobodF1MOTNtHJxXAl9JmmX4VYc/s400/SAM_0120.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avy chutes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOLlv-zLKtovCGV3IDVCtEatbshkGrT6RTcQnIUexdYVcMARoXYPP8jYB2vxMfYoLOrK8tmiOcmnuKE_Pj56RZD_xQinnUknkVa_Yp5-LW_Lp9tOnVmPVwR9MJzmh8WLsJUShwizfOy0/s1600/SAM_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOLlv-zLKtovCGV3IDVCtEatbshkGrT6RTcQnIUexdYVcMARoXYPP8jYB2vxMfYoLOrK8tmiOcmnuKE_Pj56RZD_xQinnUknkVa_Yp5-LW_Lp9tOnVmPVwR9MJzmh8WLsJUShwizfOy0/s320/SAM_0128.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild, wild life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One concern I had was the condition of the Dry Creek drainage. If it was anything like Horn Creek, it was sure to be chock full of snow still. I attempted to stay ridge proper for as long as possible, but shortly after treeline I found even the top of the ridge to hold a surprising amount of snow. I ducked down into the valley after a while, hoping the elevation loss would lead to shallow snow, but alas, I had to pay my dues for having such a fantastic day to that point. The next mile-plus was post<strike>hole</strike>hell. The snow was so wet and warm, it acted like concrete at times. Too often, I found myself thigh, hip, even belly-deep in the stuff. Of course by now I had run out of water, as well. The power of a good day was too much, though, and I was able to view this stretch as a mere hiccup to a great day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-7yhKJTQeCsZFcYCWa2IQjbKJRF1oxiKhavXRoze3RIbAwacqx57_VdhI7ou2YYyNWZcH3gl4x6-0bCOULnbbafgyZQtEB7PL9eS4tsZd7dmMabypMSF7vUAxJCb6xuCCziUYtNmvAU/s1600/SAM_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-7yhKJTQeCsZFcYCWa2IQjbKJRF1oxiKhavXRoze3RIbAwacqx57_VdhI7ou2YYyNWZcH3gl4x6-0bCOULnbbafgyZQtEB7PL9eS4tsZd7dmMabypMSF7vUAxJCb6xuCCziUYtNmvAU/s320/SAM_0131.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Oh $#%, I'm stuck!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ41UGkclAeHkysMxQNTaCr2v617lHh_3Xj1EOj8IH9jVgABYkEad5u8DS_ZQySE6cH1EGxnds4rfAFJrhWiUbX47Z8GkYq3Ts2xd_0vzIWd0j7B74AR-Y48JRwLhJO4_-pMSetVeTndY/s1600/SAM_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ41UGkclAeHkysMxQNTaCr2v617lHh_3Xj1EOj8IH9jVgABYkEad5u8DS_ZQySE6cH1EGxnds4rfAFJrhWiUbX47Z8GkYq3Ts2xd_0vzIWd0j7B74AR-Y48JRwLhJO4_-pMSetVeTndY/s320/SAM_0132.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cement</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nC_v-GTAfJ8V6njcAVXac_hUdIuA92a1UafrIfIqNMM1o-bOaSpRPxr9WQlqOLQV7htW5jnIkx64IaK-Uknefy7m5v-DmhkE5NR2rwVTAqjN48raM5rhBUPY8FjTNK8q91rrT2yhdr8/s1600/SAM_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nC_v-GTAfJ8V6njcAVXac_hUdIuA92a1UafrIfIqNMM1o-bOaSpRPxr9WQlqOLQV7htW5jnIkx64IaK-Uknefy7m5v-DmhkE5NR2rwVTAqjN48raM5rhBUPY8FjTNK8q91rrT2yhdr8/s320/SAM_0133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q4hzolSVzzlWe5YJmJmDm4je_GLs9fYrjW5G_-YUeFftzm5ILiXN0_fAht0tBvN4tx_dEHcjDacY_V03yic45lD3Km7I96fNkSnS4Ios9KEDMOX2D7hHqZkk0qGbkW9TiZjuFpNy6aw/s1600/SAM_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q4hzolSVzzlWe5YJmJmDm4je_GLs9fYrjW5G_-YUeFftzm5ILiXN0_fAht0tBvN4tx_dEHcjDacY_V03yic45lD3Km7I96fNkSnS4Ios9KEDMOX2D7hHqZkk0qGbkW9TiZjuFpNy6aw/s320/SAM_0134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The last two miles of trail opened up enough for me to get my running legs going again. After 10 hours, the thought of food, water, and a few other cold beverages kept me fueled and focused. I pulled into the trailhead at 6:15 and promptly got busy at doing absolutely nothing. Good times.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1rjfC-Hg3-czwgu7TJR-3n-NNpZER_l2e8yGtda7MPdcZTHAg6tlk2F51ICiEhpUAR-vqXECYpf_7KRf67xppeoKtXdPNipOiGyt8YZoV0TPdfHk9iwaKnJd_toIqoYcn4FaqFU9TvY/s1600/adams2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1rjfC-Hg3-czwgu7TJR-3n-NNpZER_l2e8yGtda7MPdcZTHAg6tlk2F51ICiEhpUAR-vqXECYpf_7KRf67xppeoKtXdPNipOiGyt8YZoV0TPdfHk9iwaKnJd_toIqoYcn4FaqFU9TvY/s640/adams2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Stats on the day:<br />
15.4 miles<br />
7,510'<br />
10hours, 2 minutes<br />
4 peaks<br />
1 tired guy<br />
<div>
<br /></div>Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-570953899542730332012-04-30T06:13:00.001-06:002012-04-30T06:13:16.953-06:00Adaptation - 2012 Collegiate Peaks 50Quotes abound to the effect of how you can't control external events, but you can control how you choose to react to them.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First, the facts:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.collegiatepeakstrailrun.org/" target="_blank">Collegiate Peaks 50</a> - April 28, 2012</div>
<div>
7:43</div>
<div>
5th place</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Collegiate Peaks 50 - May 4, 2011</div>
<div>
7:45</div>
<div>
6th place</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Lap 1</b></div>
<div>
I believe I was somewhere around 20th-25th place after 3 miles. With the 25ers mixed in, there was no need to worry about position. Every time I got the itch to push, I held myself in check. We had a little surprise when aid station 4 (at the course high point, near 17 miles) wasn't set up yet. I had nearly cached my water in anticipation of refilling. Luckily, 17 to 22 was all downhill, and it forced me to stay conservative. Turning onto the singletrack at 23.5, I knew I'd get my first look at my position. No surprises; there were four guys ahead of me. I estimated the gap between myself and 4th to be pretty big - at least ten minutes. Melissa did some awesome crew work for me, getting my drink and belt ready for the second lap. I hit the turnaround in 3:33:30-ish feeling pretty good, which was exactly what I was shooting for. 10 minutes was a big gap, but I kept thinking of how Duncan and Corey had a similar gap on me last year and didn't extend their lead on the last lap. The race begins at the halfway point.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Lap 2</b></div>
<div>
It was a bit more difficult estimating the gap between me and 6th, as the people I passed on my way back up were a mixed bag of 25ers and 50ers. I did pick out Benjamin Dunn, who had spotted me maybe 3 minutes. The 7 miles from the turnaround to the high point would be, at least in my mind, the crux of the day. Last year, I absolutely wilted through this stretch. Fortunately, I held together much better this time around. Still, Ben had closed the gap substantially, hitting the high point aid station just as I left it. I noticed he went through the station very quickly, which suggested to me that he was putting forth a concerted effort to make contact with me. Having learned a lesson about skipping aid last year, I had decided that with a decent amount left in the tank, I wasn't going to worry about maintaing that gap yet. If he wanted to chase, so be it. I caught sight of him a few times during the 30-40 miles, but it seemed he wasn't gaining. Aid crew at mile 38 reported that I was still about 10 minutes back of 4th. I felt decent at this time, but the memory of falling apart in the mid-40's last year stuck. Instead of pushing to see if I could make a dent in that gap, I stayed within myself to make sure I got to the mile 44 aid station able to run the remainder of the course in. By the time I hit 44, I learned my gap was still 8 minutes. Not knowing where Ben had gone, I again decided to run within myself and lock up 5th instead of risking a blowup chasing down 4th. The last miles felt surprisingly easy - I was in so much better shape this year than last year at this point. My mind kept looking ahead to August during the final stretch - 100 miles finally began to feel comprehendible. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The negatives</b></div>
<div>
With more mileage under me, I was hoping to shave more than 2 minutes off my time from last year. My tier of personal goals going into the race went something like this:</div>
<div>
C goal - sub 7:45</div>
<div>
B goal - sub 7:38</div>
<div>
A goal - sub 7:30</div>
<div>
To only shave off a nominal amount was kind of a bummer. I even have to acknowledge that the conditions were more favorable this year - last year, the heat was much more of a factor than it was yesterday.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The positives</b></div>
<div>
I ran smarter splits - 3:34/4:09 vs 3:30/4:15 last year.</div>
<div>
Less 'want to die' moments.</div>
<div>
Felt much better post-race.</div>
<div>
Dialed into my needs better - nutrition, hydration, electrolytes, etc.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Put it all together, and what do I have? Well...my ultimate goal this year is a strong performance in my 100 mile debut. Once I finished CP last year, I couldn't even fathom doubling the distance. After yesterday, though...I can wrap my head around it. I think my training has actually been quite appropriate for the 100, maybe even slightly at the expense of 50. The focus on distance as opposed to turnover showed yesterday, as I didn't seem to have the ability to hammer...but I didn't have the extended periods of struggle, either.<br />
<br />
Collegiate Peaks is a great event, and Burke Kaiser is a cool dude. It's a bummer that this race and the <a href="http://epicenduranceevents.com/index.php/cheyenne-mountain-trail-race" target="_blank">Cheyenne Mountain trail races</a> fall on the same weekend, as that's another class event.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I choose to be OK with yesterday's result. While there are lessons to be taken away by yesterday's performance, I do think I'm on the right track for the race across the sky in August.</div>
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</div>Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-76702327430313066272012-04-22T10:13:00.000-06:002012-04-22T14:32:53.356-06:00What to do with a full basket...I lay my eggs out on the table. I measure them. I weigh them. I feel them. I shake them. I do buoyancy tests, acidity tests, symmetry tests. In other words, I analyze the living @#$% outta them. What truly separates an "A" race from any other race? In this post, I will share my answer to that question in the context of next Saturday's <a href="http://www.collegiatepeakstrailrun.org/Big-Map" target="_blank">Collegiate Peaks 50 miler</a>.<br />
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<b><u>Background</u></b><br />
I firmly believe that I only have so much energy to give to this endeavor, whether it be physical, mental, or emotional. By 'picking my battles' and only expecting to be at my best for finite periods of time, I feel I can stay "balanced" and fresh for the remainder of the year. In my previous post, I alluded to differences in how people approach their racing. Post-race at the <a href="http://www.badgermountainchallenge.com/" target="_blank">Badger Mountain Challenge</a> last month, <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=Justin&lname=Yates&age=0" target="_blank">Justin Yates</a> and I were talking. He's the guy that doesn't like to race much; he just likes to go for long mountain runs. It kind of blows my mind that anyone could be so casual about it, <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=14799" target="_blank">yet still be faster</a> than the <a href="http://sharmanian.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">world's fastest Elvis</a>. Racing motivates me. It's <i>fun</i>! If I just ran to run, I may actually get...bored.<br />
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On the flip side, there are <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/profiles/blog/list?user=3uo0nzw1jjqyo" target="_blank">plenty of guys</a> out there who routinely <a href="http://www.sportiva.com/ambassadors/athletes/mountain-running/bernie-boettcher" target="_blank">pull a Bernie</a>. It's hard to argue with it - Bernie is one fast dude. Racing a ton works for some. I just know I personally can't handle it. Injured, burned out, broke...all symptoms of over-racing.<br />
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So what works for me? I am still a fan of the old periodization plan. Spring season/fall season/offseason. Pick a big race for the spring, another for the fall. Fill in with appropriate workouts and races, each strategically chosen to help accomplish the goal of being at my best on the day of the goal race. My 2012 calendar has been built around Collegiate Peaks(spring) and Leadville(summer/fall).<br />
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<b><u>Approach</u></b><br />
So what do I do differently for an "A" race vs. any other?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Cut mileage. </b> Consistent 70-80 mile weeks to 65 to 50 to 40.</li>
<li><b>Maintain intensity.</b> Tempo/LT/Marathon pace days, 2-5 miles of it, ~2x a week.</li>
<li>Focus on the <b>little things</b>. Strides. Stretching. Post-run recovery.</li>
<li><b>Study.</b> Know the course. Know the other runners. If it's a race I've done before, know what I did and didn't do well the last time.</li>
<li><b>Visualize.</b> Set goals - "tiers" of goals, if you will. ("A" goal, "B" goal, "C" goal, etc. What MUST I do, what do I need to do in order to be satisfied, what am I capable of on a good day, what am I capable of if EVERYTHING goes right)</li>
</ul>
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My journey into the ultra world has been slow and deliberate. Collegiate Peaks has a special place for me, as it was the first ultra I ever ran. It also is the only race on both my 2011 and 2012 calendars. That fact makes it my best point of comparison - my best answer to the question, "Have I improved over the past year?" I do hope that the answer will be a resounding "yes", but it takes more than hope to accomplish one's goals. This is where data collection and analysis aid in making an informed decision.<br />
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The four months leading up to CP last year went fairly well. I ran 1:18 and PR'd at the Austin 13.1 in February. My 5th place finish at Salida was a pleasant surprise. Frequent runs at LT on the Santa Fe trail seemed to have given me the ability to do well at the "shorter" distances. However, I did have some hip issues throughout the month of March. This meant that I was nursing it during the meat-and-potato weeks of training. While I can't say I was specifically trained for a great day, I certainly arrived at the starting line ready.<br />
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This year, I changed a few things. My goals: stay healthy. More mileage and vertical, more long days. The tradeoff that I was willing to accept: less intensity/turnover workouts, shorter "short" days. With a finite amount of time per day/week/etc to train, one must pick his battles. Preparing for a mountain 100 is a little different than a mountain marathon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclsrcn93kLy0hdSdzznbiAeM4FdLUVstwesuwc4ahOkYi5-vQDBn0E5C-0soyWkxAyqDYLXnOZY8sjK0gEtWexoJTNwFVA9ENW833n943OV4uJldmKvf_TcMoW9x49bUzG13gGRw205E/s1600/CP+preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclsrcn93kLy0hdSdzznbiAeM4FdLUVstwesuwc4ahOkYi5-vQDBn0E5C-0soyWkxAyqDYLXnOZY8sjK0gEtWexoJTNwFVA9ENW833n943OV4uJldmKvf_TcMoW9x49bUzG13gGRw205E/s400/CP+preview.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Above shows the 15 weeks preceding Collegiate Peaks this year vs. last year. Pictures really are worth a thousand words. In the early weeks (January/February) I was putting in just a tad more mileage than last year. The big difference, however, is at the big drop at week 11 last year. That's where I encountered my hip issues. By staying healthy this year, I was able to get some quality weeks in during the same time period, logging 300 miles during that crucial four-week stretch (vs. 185 in 2011). If one accepts the direct correlation between mileage run and race performance to be true, then this would suggest I'm in a better place now than I was in 2011. Next, I look at a second measure: vert!<br />
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I still find vertical feet climbed to be a strange statistic. However, it's a very good way of taking into account the <b>Colorado Factor</b>. I hate to state the obvious, but 70 road miles at sea level comes a lot more quickly than 70 on mountain trails between 6,000' and 10,000'. Anecdotal data suggests to me that every 1k up here is equivalent to a mile of flat mileage. Therefore, a 70 mile week with 10k of gain is similar time-wise to a flat 80 mile week. (furthering this, I would argue that 80 flat miles done at an average of 7,000' is equivalent to 90 at sea level. Again, strictly anecdotal, but studies have been done to correlate these efforts)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdikmsaolly19nD-Z4ox70mv2M9NE1X5613qyqx-J56KQkOfMh1470qtbuRAYval25XK7Db_glM4VviQTIkJWKRmNXZtOkEbSypvdHsuiEC-CN932S5A243Ikn3qBIGAgFmN3hzDF644/s1600/cp+preview+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdikmsaolly19nD-Z4ox70mv2M9NE1X5613qyqx-J56KQkOfMh1470qtbuRAYval25XK7Db_glM4VviQTIkJWKRmNXZtOkEbSypvdHsuiEC-CN932S5A243Ikn3qBIGAgFmN3hzDF644/s400/cp+preview+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mile repeats get you ready for a quick 5000. Long days up and down mountains get you ready for the Hope Pass double-cross. Therefore, I decided to eschew the Santa Fe for some real trails this winter. The graph above clearly shows that focus - 11 weeks of 8k+ this year vs 3 last year. I also notice that much of last year's climbing pre-CP came immediately before the race...the very weeks I was supposed to be cutting back. What was I thinking? In retrospect, I believe it was attempt on my part to 'make up for lost time' due to my hip injury.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghULGp_wzCdZWJ8fBr_xqibyx4aIKWMaaFY4_xJ3HQ3YE_P-dXdTcQ1rNMrlyyMwxXHLycvXxBfYSoM6h8hPmqIkmucy5QBqfwMRuEPlzhUlYClV1uMAOIWS-RSJPVJXXjQRJXK9l9dM/s1600/cp+preview+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghULGp_wzCdZWJ8fBr_xqibyx4aIKWMaaFY4_xJ3HQ3YE_P-dXdTcQ1rNMrlyyMwxXHLycvXxBfYSoM6h8hPmqIkmucy5QBqfwMRuEPlzhUlYClV1uMAOIWS-RSJPVJXXjQRJXK9l9dM/s400/cp+preview+4.jpg" width="240" /></a>Another measurement: number of long runs. I have made a conscious effort to spend more "time on feet" this year. I've been to Barr Camp 5 or 6 times already, and most of those runs have originated from my house 4 miles from the trailhead. I've also begun back-to-backs, where instead of one 30-miler, I might go for 20 flat miles with an hour of tempo at the end one day, and follow it up the next day with a 3-4 hour mountain run. During the upcoming months, I plan to incorporate frequent back-to-backs into my Leadville training.<br />
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The Incline. 12 trips this year vs. 2 last year. I've never been crazy about its training effect; I know there is a huge difference between Incline shape and running shape. I have been hitting it more frequently this year en route to other destinations, though. Seems mentally to be a good Hope Pass primer.<br />
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<b><u>What hasn't been measured?</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Intensity. I don't have a good way to quickly pull out the exact amount of time I spent at a "quality" pace this year vs. last year. I am quite certain though that I've spent less time clipping 6:15's on the Santa Fe in 2012. I think this is OK, but it's definitely an unknown - something had to give, and I'm betting that for 50 miles, this price to pay was worth it, as it allowed me to get in those longer runs.</li>
<li>Diet. Easily overlooked, but definitely a factor I should mention. Without going into minute detail, I feel I did a better job last year than I have in recent months. To show for it, my body comp isn't quite where it was 12 months ago. If things don't go swimmingly next week, I will probably have to unpack this one.</li>
<li>Cross-training. Last year saw me doing a little better on this front than this year. See above comment on body comp.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Interpreting the Data</u></b><br />
Some might skim through this and say, "uhm, yeay. Just run fast, stupid!" Yeah. I don't work that way. I have come to the conclusion that I'm <i>probably </i>overall in a better place today than I was this time last year. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceteris_paribus" target="_blank">Centeris paribus</a>, I think that might be worth 10-15 minutes. The next step is to look at my race-day execution last year and see what I would have done differently. Guessing what I was capable of on that day, then applying the 10-15 minutes to that time will help suggest to me this year's pacing strategy.<br />
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Following are my splits (per 5 miles) from 2011, rounded to the nearest minute and broken up into the first loop and the second loop. They tell a story.<br />
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<ul>
<li>41, 45, 41, 43, 41. I made it to the 25-mile turnaround in 3:30 and change.</li>
<li>51, 52, 54, 48, 45. It's quite clear that the return trip took me a lot longer - 4:15 to be exact.</li>
</ul>
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I'm thinking that 3:30/4:15 is not the most efficient way to run that course. No, I don't believe that even splits are optimal at a distance like 50 miles. But I do think that something like 3:40/4:05 might be the optimal way to run a 7:45. Furthermore, I think had I been through in 3:40, a 4:00 return trip would have been likely. Maybe a more realistic scenario may have been 3:38/3:58 for a 7:36 had nutrition, etc, been fully dialed in. Coulda, shoulda, woulda...but it gives me basis for my 2012 expectations.<br />
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ALL OF THE ABOVE is my justification to say:<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">I visualize coming through 25 in 3:33 or so feeling strong and fresh. I will then turn around and begin the actual race. </i>There is no need to verbalize what will happen from 26 to 50, but if I do this right, I think I will be happy with the result.<br />
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Simple, right?<br />
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-55337604868067630032012-04-19T06:05:00.000-06:002012-04-19T06:25:29.150-06:00Eggs, Baskets, and OgreI'm really itching for the opportunity to <a href="http://www.collegiatepeakstrailrun.org/" target="_blank">get after it</a>. More on this shortly.<br />
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Blogosphere has been a pretty cool and thought-provoking place lately. <a href="http://georgezack.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">GZ's self-reflective training shift manifesto</a> has had quite the ripple effect.<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://knuckledraggingrunner.blogspot.com/2012/04/running-core-values.html" target="_blank">This knuckledragger</a> weighs in on what makes him tick</li>
<li>As does <a href="http://nolimitsever.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-i-run.html" target="_blank">the running man</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://footfeathers.blogspot.com/2012/04/running-10-years-later.html" target="_blank">Footfeathers </a>decides to get a little nostalgic.</li>
</ul>
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GZ's series has caused me to do a little self-analysis as well. Not that I have any answers, but one thing has been on my mind lately...and I'm not even sure what that thing <i>is</i> exactly.<br />
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Training cycles. Racing patterns. Motivation. Running as an aspect of life. Who knows...for anyone who spends a good portion of his free time running, these subjects are all so interrelated. Attempt to unpack one, and you have no choice but to try and figure it all out. Next thing you know, you're lying around the campfire trying to discern what it would mean if C-A-T really DID spell "dog". And that's a lotta work for a petty hobby.<br />
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So back to the title of this post and what GZ got ME thinking about. I raced the <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=14799" target="_blank">Badger Mountain Challenge 50k</a> on March 31st, but otherwise haven't done any other racing since last fall. Badger Mountain has been one tough pill to swallow. I fully expected to show up and compete...and it didn't happen. Doubt has since crept in. What caused that poor performance? Was it just a bad day? Hydration? Nutrition? Tired legs? Unrealistic expectations? Tactical errors? Lack of base? General I-suck-ed-ness? Lack of ability at longer distances? As I continue to mull over the race and what it might mean, I don't get much closer to any answers. At the end of the day, I got rolled by guys that I rolled as recently as <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=Scott&lname=McMurtrey&age=34" target="_blank">last fall</a>. By<a href="http://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=Daniel&lname=Greer&age=52" target="_blank"> guys who just barely beat out guys(and girls)</a> that I've been 15 minutes ahead of at shorter distances. And it's not sitting well with me.<br />
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Everyone has bad days. Here's the problem. I have always put all of my racing eggs in one basket. I believe I only have so much emotional capital, and I want to spend it in the most effective way possible. This belief system comes from my <a href="http://wayzata-xc.org/" target="_blank">high school </a>coach, and back then it paid dividends. We sacrificed entire seasons for the chance to be at our best for one day - the <a href="http://www.raceberryjam.com/xcarchives.html#1992" target="_blank">state meet</a>. Meanwhile, other teams collected trophies at all sorts of other invitationals throughout the season. In order to do this successfully, it took tons of courage and trust. We had to forgo all sorts of short-term rewards in order for just a chance at something more long-term. (we all agreed that our #1 priority was to win the state championship) Being not at our best and having other runners, other teams beat us early in the season was tough. Believing that we were better, that we would be at our best when it mattered most...we had to have faith that would be the case. And it was. And I have trusted this to be the way ever since.<br />
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The problem with the all-eggs-in-one-basket theory is this: mess up that one basket, and what do you have?<br />
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<a href="http://georgezack.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Some folks</a> stuff all their eggs in just one basket. <a href="http://footfeathers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Others</a> don't even bother with the basket; they just eat the egg straight outta the hen's vent. Each of us does what we <i>think </i>makes us tick.<br />
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<a href="http://www.collegiatepeakstrailrun.org/" target="_blank">Collegiate Peaks</a> is just over a week away. My entire basket of spring training eggs reside in this one basket. My training load suggests I may be in for a good day. My one previous result suggests otherwise. Had I raced multiple times this year already, I would probably be able to decide which of these competing ideas I should listen to more.<br />
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I should listen to more of this. So should you.<br />
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<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-17202089134830184532012-04-08T19:45:00.001-06:002012-04-08T19:45:05.684-06:00This is what an hour of ultimate frisbee looks like.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU5NgwQQOmasAJscrhn2O71wygkYd-ZpjBL23joyOm5rUuLQx8ZAzDAh2KmTwvM9DB_yrznMZcIYoNLxGini446BfN5lav2hYomgEGNGX64lfG85GZbl1xf5kYaaO9efl6byhhRJA3J4/s1600/bear+creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU5NgwQQOmasAJscrhn2O71wygkYd-ZpjBL23joyOm5rUuLQx8ZAzDAh2KmTwvM9DB_yrznMZcIYoNLxGini446BfN5lav2hYomgEGNGX64lfG85GZbl1xf5kYaaO9efl6byhhRJA3J4/s320/bear+creek.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-33111659544734342932012-04-08T12:18:00.000-06:002012-04-08T12:18:29.370-06:00Leadville EntriesI've been offline for quite a while - nearly two weeks. Got a bit to catch up on.<br />
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A quick skim over the last week from blogs I follow and I didn't find any mention of the Leadville <a href="http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0026/6544/100_Run_for_website.pdf" target="_blank">entrant list</a> being posted. My apologies if I missed someones post.<br />
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I decided to do a little homework to see how the field is looking this year. Following is a list of those signed up who have gone sub-21 since 2007.<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.thefruitarian.com/" target="_blank">Michael Arnstein</a> (17:56 in 2011)</li>
<li>Zeke Tiernan (18:25 in 2010, 18:37 in 2008)</li>
<li>Charles Corfield (19:09 in 2011, 19:42 in 2007)</li>
<li><a href="http://joghard.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lucho </a>(19:19 in 2010)</li>
<li>Harry Harcrow (19:23 in 2010, 19:33 in 2007)</li>
<li>Garrett Graubins (19:38 in 2009)</li>
<li>Jason Koop (19:40 in 2010, 19:43 in in 2009)</li>
<li>Bryon Powell (19:54 in 2009)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.runtolive.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Brooks Williams</a> (19:57 in 2010)</li>
<li>Lynette Clemons (19:59 in 2011, 20:58 in 2009)</li>
<li>Brian Fisher (20:28 in 2011)</li>
<li>Marty Wacker (20:52 in 2009)</li>
<li>Patrick Stewart (20:59 in 2011)</li>
</ul>
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In addition, there are a couple other fast guys off the top of my head that haven't done Leadville before...or at least not for a while. I'm guessing I've missed a few, but hey - gimme a break - that list is like 800 names long.<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://irunmountains.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Nick Clark</a></li>
<li><a href="http://teamfasteddy-fasted.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Scott Jaime</a></li>
<li>John Anderson</li>
<li><a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/profile/BrandonStapanowich" target="_blank">Brandon Stepanowich</a></li>
<li>Todd Ganglehoff</li>
</ul>
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<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1693204241798103436.post-35360446977533164462012-03-25T17:24:00.000-06:002012-03-25T17:24:47.211-06:00Tier 2 meet-upGreat end to the week. Up Waterton Canyon on <a href="http://www.thecoloradotrail.com/segment1/segment1.htm" target="_blank">Segment 1 of the Colorado Trail</a> with a bunch of the other "Tier 2" guys - <a href="http://georgezack.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">GZ</a>, <a href="http://nolimitsever.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wyatt</a>, <a href="http://www.pittbrownie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Brownie</a>, Ryan, Paul, Shannon, Wes, Rick, Brandon, etc. Everyone seemed to have his own turnaround point - Brandon and I ended up putting in 27ish. I log a ton of solo miles, so getting to share a big day with others is always a treat.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FawI-hrI48M/T2-fbHQF7dI/AAAAAAAABfk/QnqrDqBGjiI/s1600/2012-03-25+08.20.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FawI-hrI48M/T2-fbHQF7dI/AAAAAAAABfk/QnqrDqBGjiI/s320/2012-03-25+08.20.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost 7 miles of road before you even get to the...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7C3sTrRzE64/T2-gTyXUkmI/AAAAAAAABfs/F-pxQNIM5tc/s1600/2012-03-25+08.32.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7C3sTrRzE64/T2-gTyXUkmI/AAAAAAAABfs/F-pxQNIM5tc/s320/2012-03-25+08.32.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...trail.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_qKyiN0YWy6txsYqYRljt-fUA4vytOnGlBViz4fgyN9dYJ_eG1cDxOXLq0yMwwilnW80l1IeTZ5Kz_cVfg2oLD5qg6HO2zR-H4OmoI-sTE5zVn8VDnIUzRbGUk0rkAMIXZvL8x9csFA/s1600/colotrailsegment1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_qKyiN0YWy6txsYqYRljt-fUA4vytOnGlBViz4fgyN9dYJ_eG1cDxOXLq0yMwwilnW80l1IeTZ5Kz_cVfg2oLD5qg6HO2zR-H4OmoI-sTE5zVn8VDnIUzRbGUk0rkAMIXZvL8x9csFA/s320/colotrailsegment1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Friday afternoon turned out to be a mini-adventure of its own. Armed with just a water bottle, I bit off a bit more than I could chew on my way up and down Mt. Rosa. I ended up doing quite a bit of postholing - some of it hip-deep - through Frosty Park and down the back side of Rosa. I can't wait to get up that way once it melts out, though. I continue to be astounded by the options we have here in the Springs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LQ4eIn_6HOJYG7LAorQxHQbXt59KM0j9mSWnbr5IQf9PirmFDA5-qwrKKa5w8J_zXU8aF_abMz6C7lSzWiznXTupO_grGrLBjEcJDjrmERnU_Sh6UmvbWNicdCCssYAqYnlL8jsNoic/s1600/rosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LQ4eIn_6HOJYG7LAorQxHQbXt59KM0j9mSWnbr5IQf9PirmFDA5-qwrKKa5w8J_zXU8aF_abMz6C7lSzWiznXTupO_grGrLBjEcJDjrmERnU_Sh6UmvbWNicdCCssYAqYnlL8jsNoic/s320/rosa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High point of 10,999'</td></tr>
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Another 70ish mile week in the books, a little over 12k of climbing thanks to the Friday and Sunday runs. <a href="http://www.badgermountainchallenge.com/" target="_blank">Badger Mountain</a> is on Saturday. The <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/entrants_event.aspx?did=14799" target="_blank">entrant list</a> is filling in nicely. Sharmin is sick fast. Yates finished 10 minutes back of Michael Wolfe in a 50k last fall. A couple other guys look to make it a pretty fun day. I'd love to have a strong performance, but there will be no backing off this week. Collegiate Peaks is just over a month away, so I plan to keep hitting it hard for another couple of weeks.<br />
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This year YTD<br />
Mileage - 749 mi (last year 636 mi)<br />
Elevation - 99,000' (last year 50,000')<br />
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If this video isn't badass, I don't know what is.<br />
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<br />Sean O'Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738750736518438251noreply@blogger.com5