A couple of weekends ago Christy and I climbed Casco Peak and French Mountain, 13,904 feet and 13,940 feet respectively, and in doing so put Christy just five peaks shy of reaching the summit of the 100 tallest peaks in Colorado. Located behind(west) Mount Elbert, we started from a camp in Halfmoon Creek. This tour has an easy approach, lots of time up high and is a fun day of...
Hitting the trail for a quick jaunt up towards Buckskin Pass on Saturday was our first visit to the area since ski season. Some useful route beta for the Maroon Bells area was learned. Here's the report: Buckskin Pass and the Four Pass Loop The only news from down low is that as you pass the wilderness boundary sign there are four new trail washouts from the recent rain. Higher...
Christy and I have run the San Juan Solstice 50 two times now and decided we wanted to try something new. So in place of the Lake City, Colorado race, with it's huge vertical gains and high elevations, we ventured to a different 50 miler we had long heard of, in northern Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains. The Bighorn Wild & Scenic race weekend offers up a 30K, 50K, 50 mile and...
At least it was hard last Monday. More so than when Richard Betts, an avid trail running friend, sommelier and producer of killer wine and fine mezcal (if there is such a thing it's called Sombra), and I have completed this trail linkup in years past. This time was different though. With all of the recent cold temperatures, cloudy weather and rain (and snow up high-- see last weeks TGIF...
Well at least that's my strategy when Christy and I line up at the start for the Steamboat Marathon this Sunday. I don't have a choice. After a great spring almost entirely dedicated to skiing, and with the approaching calendar stacked with some pretty tough running races-- the Bighorn 50 is in two weeks and Hardrock is a few weeks later just to name two-- I need to get some...
The ten second countdown to the start of a 100 mile race is a crash course in coping. I often feel a bit sick to my stomach and while standing there I can't help but think about what is happening, what kind of mistake I've made. How did I get in this situation? Why would anyone voluntarily sign up for this, let alone pay money to participate? Will I really watch the sun rise twice while...
Wasatch Front 100 miler starts tomorrow(Sat.) at 5am! We're here. With drop bags handed off and race t-shirts in hand, we're weighed in, registered and anxiously waiting the start. Jen and Kathy Fry will help crew/pace Christy towards the finish line of her first 100 miler. Estimated finish time- 32 hours (1pm Sunday). I'd like to improve on the 28:17 I logged here two years ago. Veteran crew leader/pacer Tim Mutrie and his...
This connection of trails that circumnavigates the Maroon Bells crests four passes greater than 12,000 feet and resides entirely within the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness. It's one of those reminders as to why we live here. Completed in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, its reported distance and elevation gain varies a bit depending on who you ask and where you start but definitely qualifies as a must-do. Outings can commence from...
Here's a good one. When faced with the worst weather forecast in months, why not go charge up and down a 14,000 foot peak, covering a marathon distance as fast as possible and with the absolute minimum in gear. Sunday's Pikes Peak Marathon was just that. Minutes before the 7 AM start they made an announcement. There were several inches of new snow up high, the temperature at the summit was...
More specifically, Conundrum Creek trail up to Triangle Pass, down to Copper Lake, up to East Maroon Pass and down East Maroon Creek. The route can actually be completed in either direction, in our case Todd Clark, Christy and I began the day at the Conundrum Creek Trailhead (8800 ft.) and ran most of the popular trail up 8 miles or so to the famous hot springs (11,200 ft.) that bear the trails name. FYI, the lowest...
We met in Aspen in 2000 and have been happily stuck in the rockies ever since, getting out in the mountains every day we can, in every season and by all means possible. Read More
Recent Comments