tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261976357546540842024-03-13T10:56:51.167-04:00Vertical PlayExploring God's country via mountains and trails. Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.comBlogger506125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-51721429160824214152021-02-20T20:33:00.003-05:002021-02-20T20:34:31.965-05:00Santa Fe Trail to Palmer Lake<p>Rode 27 miles via the Santa Fe trail from the house to Palmer Lake. The way out, north, is all up hill climbing 900ft to 7,306ft at the lake. The way back, south, is fun downhill. Trails were muddy and icy, glad I put on the mud guard before the ride. It's been rarely above freezing the last few weeks. Today was nice break as it was sunny and in mid 40s.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2lYretyJLQA/YDG244vDG1I/AAAAAAAAVBk/9j65xbsKrrUpAceQqzFfm6FAxoVM4NrGQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2lYretyJLQA/YDG244vDG1I/AAAAAAAAVBk/9j65xbsKrrUpAceQqzFfm6FAxoVM4NrGQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><span><div style="text-align: center;"> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> A rare dry section of the Santa Fe Trail.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NUhugxS69eQ/YDG3BRzuIJI/AAAAAAAAVB0/1at8d1_AGaEdVNimbAs--GiGiNBCnTzewCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NUhugxS69eQ/YDG3BRzuIJI/AAAAAAAAVB0/1at8d1_AGaEdVNimbAs--GiGiNBCnTzewCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Had a gel and water while in the middle of frozen Palmer Lake.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sfPoxUZbMD4/YDG27j-f7oI/AAAAAAAAVBs/lAtAWNjRVBMrPRnVaVDDoirj5sLciS7LwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sfPoxUZbMD4/YDG27j-f7oI/AAAAAAAAVBs/lAtAWNjRVBMrPRnVaVDDoirj5sLciS7LwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pdE32VPVocE/YDG27Ld5SMI/AAAAAAAAVBo/OQeiYH67V4kiC1AGL5mmPAnJ4ESQ9lahwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pdE32VPVocE/YDG27Ld5SMI/AAAAAAAAVBo/OQeiYH67V4kiC1AGL5mmPAnJ4ESQ9lahwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-32529938417427617802020-06-06T13:01:00.003-04:002021-02-22T13:13:17.431-05:00Birthday Run to Cub Lake<p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--RFxDzscoD8/YDPyTlFV0WI/AAAAAAAAckw/Zh3CPK5D1GIzRL2Wi8Km_sIGTyKMHgvvgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_1927.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--RFxDzscoD8/YDPyTlFV0WI/AAAAAAAAckw/Zh3CPK5D1GIzRL2Wi8Km_sIGTyKMHgvvgCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_1927.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y_FxxAD6tV0/YDPyTuNI4vI/AAAAAAAAckw/OANpOmaw6YY22yd0UKGk3sRQ3z7cXTe0wCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_2025.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y_FxxAD6tV0/YDPyTuNI4vI/AAAAAAAAckw/OANpOmaw6YY22yd0UKGk3sRQ3z7cXTe0wCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_2025.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Cub Lake Trail, Colorado 80517, USA40.3498262 -105.635603212.039592363821157 -140.7918532 68.660060036178848 -70.4793532tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-90348037321542220632020-05-25T17:49:00.011-04:002021-02-22T17:52:31.359-05:00Compassion International Trails with Ellie<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8IiNTavURQ/YDQ1UOmnqLI/AAAAAAAAcmQ/w298Ug1u5wEtuEYGoTKLimNz74o8k6e8QCPcBGAsYHg/s1784/IMG_1850.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1784" data-original-width="1379" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8IiNTavURQ/YDQ1UOmnqLI/AAAAAAAAcmQ/w298Ug1u5wEtuEYGoTKLimNz74o8k6e8QCPcBGAsYHg/w494-h640/IMG_1850.HEIC" width="494" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDi009BK_CE/YDQ1UNpQEfI/AAAAAAAAcmQ/1owNm1wH5ugQrXeKktWqXMddfFk_xaFLgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_1845.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDi009BK_CE/YDQ1UNpQEfI/AAAAAAAAcmQ/1owNm1wH5ugQrXeKktWqXMddfFk_xaFLgCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_1845.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com012290 Voyager Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80921, USA39.0090267 -104.807798-11.903511132725839 -175.120298 89.921564532725839 -34.49529800000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-18806516343211199782020-05-10T18:41:00.005-04:002021-02-22T18:58:20.432-05:00Rambling up Rampart Range Road<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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Drove up to Granby, Colorado to explore the mountains and trails. Ran the 1/2 marathon in 1:26. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YMRVOJ7bEGs/YDKs3AhU4TI/AAAAAAAAcXE/xRu-1Ap2CXorHxbKMXItyAX7BgMsqw26gCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/20190922_115032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YMRVOJ7bEGs/YDKs3AhU4TI/AAAAAAAAcXE/xRu-1Ap2CXorHxbKMXItyAX7BgMsqw26gCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/20190922_115032.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdwAe_nckkM/YDKs3Fn3vFI/AAAAAAAAcXE/dNXrDm3Req81t3gbTypgUkFJ1Zw55r-IACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/20190922_110630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdwAe_nckkM/YDKs3Fn3vFI/AAAAAAAAcXE/dNXrDm3Req81t3gbTypgUkFJ1Zw55r-IACPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/20190922_110630.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Granby, CO 80446, USA40.086097 -105.939459711.775863163821157 -141.0957097 68.396330836178848 -70.7832097tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-38055787532410821292019-09-19T17:39:00.003-04:002021-02-22T17:52:56.201-05:00Garden of God & the Serpent<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rGIclqIlqRA/YDQysaTq6UI/AAAAAAAAcl0/EGJ9jCHtz1Me8HNVM51PymhAP5LSYdadwCPcBGAsYHg/s3986/20190909_133443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="3986" height="304" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rGIclqIlqRA/YDQysaTq6UI/AAAAAAAAcl0/EGJ9jCHtz1Me8HNVM51PymhAP5LSYdadwCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h304/20190909_133443.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40h_fu9j1Mg/YDQysWpcaEI/AAAAAAAAcl0/POSAQYDngP4a7ZloK0vC_TLqIATCJd6awCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/20190909_131102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40h_fu9j1Mg/YDQysWpcaEI/AAAAAAAAcl0/POSAQYDngP4a7ZloK0vC_TLqIATCJd6awCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/20190909_131102.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, 1805 N 30th St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, USA38.8783536 -104.869755610.568119763821151 -140.02600560000002 67.188587436178835 -69.7135056tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-21367476068016714812018-07-31T17:53:00.002-04:002021-02-22T18:03:21.015-05:00Running in Hawaiian Volcanoes - Haleakala <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iYQzwKJf2Rw/YDQ2M_wzmnI/AAAAAAAAcmY/k5Sj9wLlRWUht2haJeWIgZxpvdnIxZp0wCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h426/Haleakala%2BCrater-32.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTBwkOO3Brg/YDQ2M6WJu0I/AAAAAAAAcmY/bEvCRswJv1QkWu1TmCSGq2ailo_yTQYyQCPcBGAsYHg/s4501/Haleakala%2BCrater-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3001" data-original-width="4501" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTBwkOO3Brg/YDQ2M6WJu0I/AAAAAAAAcmY/bEvCRswJv1QkWu1TmCSGq2ailo_yTQYyQCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h426/Haleakala%2BCrater-31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Trn2rDjIVj8/YDQ2M-ShIhI/AAAAAAAAcmY/zZi4XRLvpjA6ZOQiGwDQ6QBD9L6jwPKrACPcBGAsYHg/s5472/Haleakala%2BCrater-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Trn2rDjIVj8/YDQ2M-ShIhI/AAAAAAAAcmY/zZi4XRLvpjA6ZOQiGwDQ6QBD9L6jwPKrACPcBGAsYHg/w640-h426/Haleakala%2BCrater-30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Haleakalā, Hawaii 96790, USA20.7096921 -156.2535147-7.6005417361788439 168.5902353 49.019925936178851 -121.09726470000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-45128464124644435272018-04-18T14:05:00.017-04:002021-02-21T14:08:54.100-05:00Date Night on Mount Baldy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8_DggowBCc/YDKvOUZ2fVI/AAAAAAAAcX0/me9554ugAiIQlXrx4jgTFXqEduegNTo9QCPcBGAsYHg/s5472/Mount%2BBaldy%2BDate%2BNight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8_DggowBCc/YDKvOUZ2fVI/AAAAAAAAcX0/me9554ugAiIQlXrx4jgTFXqEduegNTo9QCPcBGAsYHg/w426-h640/Mount%2BBaldy%2BDate%2BNight.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Gxmk-ZAiM0/YDKwAvoUBCI/AAAAAAAAcX8/EJMqTbXtU8wIrpSPxvAuArOLL1A_b3mQQCPcBGAsYHg/s2048/Waiho%2BSpring%2BTrail-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Gxmk-ZAiM0/YDKwAvoUBCI/AAAAAAAAcX8/EJMqTbXtU8wIrpSPxvAuArOLL1A_b3mQQCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h426/Waiho%2BSpring%2BTrail-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Waihou Spring Trail, 2463 Olinda Rd, Makawao, HI 96768, USA20.806206 -156.2800831-7.5040278361788459 168.5636669 49.116439836178841 -121.12383310000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-71687022332238539922017-10-29T20:16:00.000-04:002021-02-20T22:03:28.380-05:00Black Mountain Half MarathonLast weekend I began the awkward and daunting task of coming off a multi year injury. For a long time I've been struggling with a hip injury that just won't go away. Recently it has been so bad that my IT band would just tighten up and my knee would lock up a few miles into the run and then I would just walk home in pain. Finally I had enough, went to a doctor, starting icing, changed my shoes, took hip supplements, stretched and prayer a lot. Slowly but surely my hip, IT band and knee are starting to get better After two weeks of training I decided to jump in the Black Mountain half marathon in San Diego.<br />
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I haven't run 13 miles in a long time but thought it would be a good chance to see new trails, get some time on my feet and to show God I am committed to running. The race started around 8am and was a small group.<br />
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Unsure of what I would be able to do, I just went after it from the start. The course started on a hill and funneled into soft sand dirt road that eventually led to tight single track. Unfortunately one of the first turns was not marked and I went left instead of right. After a while I realized I wasn't running towards Black Mountain so I turned around and found myself in second place due to the mistake.<br />
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The first few miles took us up to the summit of Black Mountain at 1,616 ft. <br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-65456557201000910302017-10-14T14:00:00.012-04:002021-02-21T14:05:05.706-05:00Welcome to The San Juan Trail<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n97yX0_LX-A/YDKuQXAu9vI/AAAAAAAAcXo/xXUSebZVeOgHKI8UwNGbKdR7wOcurlPKACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/San%2BJuan%2BTrail-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2093" data-original-width="4032" height="332" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n97yX0_LX-A/YDKuQXAu9vI/AAAAAAAAcXo/xXUSebZVeOgHKI8UwNGbKdR7wOcurlPKACPcBGAsYHg/w640-h332/San%2BJuan%2BTrail-9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uk7zVlvWF_w/YDKuQfEhKRI/AAAAAAAAcXo/TETzK25Q5hMEq_GWdgh8ogtENVixEAzSQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/San%2BJuan%2BTrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XdpfhzsXNLk/YDKuQQbW-QI/AAAAAAAAcXo/6IXIWz8W8EsF_ELhkLswH3EXyNTTdi2QgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/San%2BJuan%2BTrail-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XdpfhzsXNLk/YDKuQQbW-QI/AAAAAAAAcXo/6IXIWz8W8EsF_ELhkLswH3EXyNTTdi2QgCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/San%2BJuan%2BTrail-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-89481744626119162092017-07-28T17:43:00.002-04:002021-02-22T17:49:20.840-05:00Big Bear Bachelor Party<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZ4i8zGyz88/YDQz_c1c36I/AAAAAAAAcmA/WPlkAg5OR7AsKJFcwXNKdW_Yn3TGlZPzgCPcBGAsYHg/s5472/DSC04171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqUVOKYBGmY/YDQz_TxGecI/AAAAAAAAcmA/U_HyohGAxEo6Jgwzoh-v1myMWVO6SSngwCPcBGAsYHg/s5472/DSC04175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqUVOKYBGmY/YDQz_TxGecI/AAAAAAAAcmA/U_HyohGAxEo6Jgwzoh-v1myMWVO6SSngwCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h426/DSC04175.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Big Bear Lake, CA, USA34.2438963 -116.9114215-19.08275397628833 172.77607849999998 87.570546576288336 -46.5989215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-86203087730965340442014-12-27T12:39:00.004-05:002014-12-27T12:44:14.967-05:00Bolted off Black Mountain Summit<div>
Back in May I was interviewing for jobs outside of Montana. I knew there was a good chance I would find one and the possibility of moving seemed eminent. So I decided to head out to the hard-to-get-to peaks around Missoula that had been evading me. First up was Black Mountain. Black Mountain is a 5,863 foot peak located West of the valley in Lolo National Forest. It is one of the prominent peaks that surrounds the Missoula valley but is relatively unknown and untraveled. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14137431568" title="DSC01922 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01922" height="426" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2907/14137431568_f1d3c9a12b.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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May in Montana is still early early Spring but fortunately I picked a really nice sunny day to head back into the isolated western Missoula forests, or so it seemed! The rivers were still very high and despite the sun we could still get hammered by snow at any time. Getting to the trailhead is confusing and requires driving way back into Lolo National Forest. You have to take the old O'Brien Creek Road which was beautiful! This is an area most Missoulians never see and they should. The road is laced with beautiful, old farms and forests. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14137468250" title="DSC01879 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01879" height="472" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/14137468250_c3358a63ff.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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The trailhead only has a few parking spots but I bet it never really fills up. There are a few signs at the trailhead but none mention Black Mountain and for good reason. I grabbed some water, gels and my bear spray and headed North on the trail.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14324099775" title="DSC01918 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01918" height="426" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/14324099775_67dacdef8f.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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With only a few weeks of sunlight this year, the wildflowers were starting to bloom in the mountains. If you don't take into account the sudden drops in temperature, this time of year is the beginning of the short window where Montana's beauty is unparalleled. After eagerly waiting through winter for this, I quickly shot up the switchbacks cutting my way through the overgrown flowers and vegetation. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14137579757" title="DSC01886 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01886" height="426" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5116/14137579757_03fc549148.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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This is the point where I tell you that there is no trail to Black Mountain. Sure there are a few single track trails that weave through the hills in no particular direction and sure there are countless forest roads that cut into the mountain sides but none of them really lead anywhere. Most of them, as I would find out, would just disappear into the vegetation. This O'Brien Creek area was logged by Owens & Hurst logging company in the early 90s and hosts winter elk migrations. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14137467089" title="DSC01885 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01885" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5315/14137467089_f22558dabf.jpg" width="426" /></a><br />
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I literally had no idea where I was going so I just kept heading North and West. Everyone once in a while I would see Black Mountain off in the distance. At one point the trail dropped down to a deep, fast moving creek. There was no way I was going to make it across and I thought the day was done. So I went off trail and hiked straight up to see if I could find where else I could go.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14323412564" title="DSC01887 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01887" height="426" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2914/14323412564_dbcee30940.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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As luck would have it, I found another forest road that went above the creek. I took off down the trail and made my way once again in the direction of Black Mountain. The forest roads never seemed to climb up any particular peak but rather followed along the contours. The only way to get up was to go off trail and climb to the next forest road, if there even was one!!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14320769131" title="DSC01903 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01903" height="144" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14320769131_43196ee9d4.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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After climbing up some random peak I just stopped and took along around. You could see Mt Jumbo and Mt Sentinel to the East, Blue Mountain rising to the South and Black Mountain off the West. You couldn't see the Rattlesnake or anything North of O'Brien Creek. The view facing Missoula was incredible though. This place is so beautiful.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14322319462" title="DSC01912 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01912" height="426" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/14322319462_cff3127bf3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Finally I found myself at the base of Black Mountain. You can see forest roads near the top but there was no forest road or trail that took you to them which is odd. So I cut through the trees and waist high vegetation, making my way up to the forest roads. I saw a lot and I mean a lot of bear scat. It was everywhere. Luckily I never ran into one. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14137458819" title="DSC01897 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01897" height="426" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2916/14137458819_e7ff64d7b4.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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While I was climbing the final forest road up to the summit I heard thunder and saw a huge flash of lightning. Up to this point it had been sunny and beautiful but I had been bushwalking in the forest for the last 30 min or so and a storm had crept up on me. I looked South towards Blue Mountain and watched lightning strike after lightning strike flash near the summit. The worst part was that the storm was coming from the South and was headed right for me. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14137457049" title="DSC01900 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01900" height="426" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5075/14137457049_a919d6a2d8.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Unfortunately I had to call it and I'm glad I did because the storm quickly surrounded me. I was hauling it back to the Jeep with lighting and thunder all around me. There was no where to hide back there! I was so close to the summit of Black Mountain but it looks like it will have to wait until another time, another year or another part of my life. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14323429414" title="DSC01917 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01917" height="426" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5039/14323429414_190fd4a9b7.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Pretty much every prominent peak in the Missoula valley is easily accessed by forest roads and trails. Black Mountain is the rare peak that has no direct access which makes it intriguing for me. I didn't see anyone else out there the entire time I was running. I found no trail maps online just one account of a person who hiked up there with his dog a few years ago. For those people who like to get out in the middle of nowhere and route find this hike/run is really fun and challenging. <br />
<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Black Mountain, Lolo National Forest, Montana 59823, USA47.0474306 -113.6753701000000121.5253961 -154.9839641 72.5694651 -72.36677610000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-75775970406273957082014-12-14T11:44:00.001-05:002014-12-15T12:13:41.416-05:00The Not-So-Welcome Creek Wilderness <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14274037132" title="IMG_0514 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0514" height="432" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2936/14274037132_deaa99b8d6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Back on May 24th, my friend Jimmy Grant and I headed up to the well known Rock Creek drainage. Our goal for the day was to start at the Welcome Creek trailhead and run up to the top of Mt. Cleveland. To do that we had to enter the Welcome Creek Wilderness area, a heavily timbered 28,000 acre area with steep, rocky slopes. Welcome creek cuts through the northern Sapphire mountain range just south of Missoula. Unfortunately Jimmy's sister needed his car, so we were stuck with her open top Jeep Wrangler. May in Montana is not like May in the rest of the country. It historically involves freezing rain, clouds and snow melt from higher elevations which cause the rivers to 'blow out'. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14089453069" title="IMG_0531 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0531" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3761/14089453069_c336c6d9e5_z.jpg" /></a><br />
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The ride from Missoula to the Welcome Creek trail was horrific. It wasn't that cold outside, for Montana standards, but the wind and rain with the open top Jeep was bone chilling. I had a blanket draped over me and I still couldn't feel any part of my body. By the time we made it to the trail head we both had to do push ups and jumping jacks just to get blood flowing to our extremities again!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14272775551" title="IMG_0520 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0520" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3785/14272775551_c2de7c0376_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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The run started off with a really cool suspension bridge over Rock Creek. Why is there always a group of kids jumping up and down in the middle of the bridge trying to break it? Once we made it past the madness we hit a nice section of dirt single track. This seemed to be a good start to our day..<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14272773981" title="IMG_0542 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0542" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2900/14272773981_1de9787ef4_z.jpg" /></a><br />
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After the first section of beautiful single track, the trail cut into the side slope of the mountains. The trail consisted of uneven, wet and icy rocks. On one side you had a large boulder field and the other was overgrown with pricker bushes hanging over the creek. The trail closely shadowed the meandering creek and at several points the trail literally was the creek!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14089490860" title="IMG_0551 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0551" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3733/14089490860_fbddbf31d7_z.jpg" /></a><br />
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This is where things to a turn for the worse. We had run only a mile or so and then we crossed the creek via a nicely crafted log bridge but then all of a sudden the trail disappeared. After shredding ourselves with pricker bush after pricker bush we finally just stopped and looked around. All we could find were old rusted machine parts and beer cans. We couldn't tell if the trail was covered by the rising creek or if we were just lost. Jimmy hopped the creek and found a trail on the other side. We were never supposed to cross the creek. Oh well, so we continued along the rocky trail until we came up on this really old cabin. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14089462639" title="IMG_0566 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0566" height="375" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/14089462639_95cc2ab8aa_z.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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The Welcome Creek Wilderness area was once well known for mining. In 1888 the largest gold nugget (1.5 pounds) in Montana's history was found in the Welcome Creek Wilderness. It later became a hideout for outlaws who took residence in the old abandoned mining cabins. There are only two cabins left that are still in decent condition. We came upon the Carron cabin the Cinnabar creek drainage converges with the Welcome creek drainage. This cabin was way out in the middle of nowhere. It was interesting to learn that this isolated and unforgiving place had such history. After we inspected the cabin we continued on what looked to be the trail. Who ever had lived here must have created several trails to set traps, gather wood and collect water from the creek. We went down every trail and none of them went further than a hundred yards. At one point we ended up bottoming out at the creek and found several bear prints in the snow. There was no where else to go so we just climbed straight up the mountain. We stopped in a clearing somewhere near the top of this unnamed mountain with the cold Montana landscape stretching for miles in front of our eyes. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14089500809" title="IMG_0591 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0591" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3822/14089500809_c8e47ca40b_z.jpg" /></a><br />
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Jimmy and I took some time to eat a few gels and enjoy the solitude one can only find in the Montana wilderness! Then we trudged back down the loose mountain slope and found our way back to the cabin. The way back didn't take us that long. We had only made it a few miles into the wilderness area even though it took us a few hours to get there! <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14089535809" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="IMG_0623 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0623" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3801/14089535809_988650ab2b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Many of my friends fish on the infamous Rock Creek drainage and they always recommended I check out the trails. The trip was eventful and the running wasn't that great but this area was beautiful. In Montana we are spoiled with beautiful backcountry areas and its hard to keep that appreciation year after year. I'm happy that I went out and explored the Welcome Creek wilderness because it reminded me just how amazing this place is. If you head out here make sure you do it in late summer or early fall when the creek is low. Maybe one day I'll find the trail past Carron Cabin up to Mt Cleveland!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/14296359593" title="IMG_0646 by Chris Kollar, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0646" height="534" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5157/14296359593_b1b6eb2f97.jpg" width="640" /></a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Welcome Creek Wilderness, Lolo National Forest, Drummond, MT 59825, USA46.6049249 -113.7203716999999921.0828904 -155.0289657 72.1269594 -72.411777699999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-15660973290180977892014-11-15T18:03:00.002-05:002021-02-22T18:36:14.584-05:00Mt. Whitney In A Day<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BB4WkdqfQ9A/YDQ_UsbP3xI/AAAAAAAAcrs/PUjwASBb-xk6ZK2u956mjckC-HZOOHr6QCPcBGAsYHg/s3264/IMG_0235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BB4WkdqfQ9A/YDQ_UsbP3xI/AAAAAAAAcrs/PUjwASBb-xk6ZK2u956mjckC-HZOOHr6QCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_0235.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txH7kEiKsss/YDQ_Utn1XkI/AAAAAAAAcrs/ZT6giVqfWHErfUsaZOt-hHHgqz2VCw9cwCPcBGAsYHg/s5472/DSC02555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txH7kEiKsss/YDQ_Utn1XkI/AAAAAAAAcrs/ZT6giVqfWHErfUsaZOt-hHHgqz2VCw9cwCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h426/DSC02555.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Mt. Whitney, California, USA36.578499099999988 -118.292268.2682652638211422 -153.44851 64.888732936178826 -83.13601tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-34508575084497132082014-07-03T16:46:00.003-04:002014-07-04T14:32:37.245-04:00The Other 'El Capitan'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can't stress how much the Bitterroots are under appreciated. There are so many great trails, alpine lakes and peaks that it is often hard to choose where to go. Most people are put off by the 30 - 60 min drive down highway 93. Having lived on the east coast for most of my life, I haven't had the luxury of mountains out my backdoor, so I am used to driving several hours to get back into the mountains for a single run. After a full week of running in the Sapphires and Rattlesnake mountains, I want to venture out to new trails and mountains. Almost a year ago now I set off with friend, ultrarunner and bouldering phenom Justin Yates to a very remote peak in the Bitterroot mountains - El Capitan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9986337913/" title="Screen Shot 2013-09-28 at 1.17.35 PM by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-09-28 at 1.17.35 PM" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/9986337913_238e61c037_z.jpg" height="310" width="640" /></a></div>
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Out and Back Route for El Capitan Summit</div>
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No, not the El Capitan but the Montanan's El Capitan. Every state with mountains has an El Capitan peak. I've hiked several over the last few years. None are quite as impressive as Yosemite Valley's El Cap but climbing a peak with that name usually involves a long day of climbing with ample opportunities to scramble and bushwhack. Justin and I set off before dawn to give ourselves plenty of time to make the summit and be home for dinner. *Side note - Every foray into the mountains is carefully planned as to how long you can be out in the back country before you have several missed calls and voice mails from your significant other. You know what I am talking about...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958569753/" title="DSC01054 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01054" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5544/9958569753_c800216af4_z.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
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Western end of Lake Como from Little Rock Creek Trail Head</div>
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On Saturday morning we hopped in the Jeep and headed about 60 miles south on highway 93 and hooked west into the Lake Como recreation area. Once you get past the artificial Lake Como beach resort you follow a slightly maintained jeep road for a few bumpy miles up to the Little Rock Creek trail head. The sun was rising and just starting to illuminate the tips of the surrounding peaks. I love early summer mornings in the mountains... the air is so cool and crisp and everything is dead quiet. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958474044/" title="DSC01060 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01060" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2845/9958474044_7bb98d02ff_z.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
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Eastern end of Little Rock Creek Lake</div>
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The first section of Little Rock Trail is mostly single track that meanders alongside Little Rock Creek. Every once and a while the trail dead ends into very sharp and awkwardly placed boulders. Each bouldering session would last for 5-10 min and then the trail would pick up again. Eventually the trail spits you out on to a mountain of driftwood signifying the start of Little Rock Creek lake. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958497754/" title="DSC01069 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01069" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/9958497754_0fb7d1b744_z.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
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Justin taking in our first clear view of El Capitan Peak</div>
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Shortly after Little Rock Creek lake the trail just fades away into a creek. Justin and I ended up pushing south along the lake shore and then bushwhacking along a creek up to base of El Capitan. This section was pretty rough and annoying so I would recommend skirting north around the lake instead (which we did on the way back). <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958602064/" title="DSC01075 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01075" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/9958602064_b398894778_c.jpg" height="366" width="800" /></a></div>
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El Capitan reflection in an unnamed lake 2000+ ft below</div>
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Eventually you come up on three unnamed lakes at the base of the mountain. The water is crystal clear and provides great reflections of the beautiful scenery surrounding you. Once you take in the beauty of the remote lakes you can start to plan how you are going to approach the summit. There are several colouirs to pick from and none of them are particularly pleasant. Though we did find one that was easier than the rest...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958570945/" title="DSC01078 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01078" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3779/9958570945_9cafc75eda_z.jpg" height="640" width="427" /></a></div>
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Justin leading up the colouir </div>
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We had already been hiking for a few hours when we hit this massive colouir. The first 100 yards were fun then we hit the shadow of the mountain... Really steep pitches with loose rock, mud, snow and ice. It wasn't a particularly long stretch by any means but it took the longest for us (me) to get through. Justin quickly bounded up the scree while I was slipping/struggling behind in my Hokas. Don't ever where Hokas on technical or wet terrain. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958548286/" title="DSC01086 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01086" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/9958548286_daf7b65a39_z.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
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The wet, snowy, muddy top of the colouir</div>
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Once you get past the top of the colouir the rest was easy. Immediately you are rewarded with views of what is referred to as the cathedral consisting of several surrounding peaks in close proximity including El Capitan, Lonesome Bachelor, the Como Peaks and a few others. We weren't even at the summit and the views were already incredible.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958631513/" title="DSC01091 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01091" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2861/9958631513_1f82c9037a_c.jpg" height="181" width="800" /></a></div>
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The Cathedral</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958615486/" title="DSC01096 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01096" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/9958615486_19f547c36b_c.jpg" height="640" width="427" /></a></div>
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The Final Approach/Slog to the Summit</div>
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The last few pitches up to the summit look pretty steep but they aren't bad at all. The rocks are really unstable near the top though and you never know when your tired legs are going to crash through some loose boulders. You can also start to feel the altitude as you make your way up to nearly 10,000 feet. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958538624/" title="DSC01100 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01100" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2882/9958538624_5f9ba1163c_z.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
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Justin peering into Idaho from Montana on the summit of El Capitan</div>
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This hike saves the best for last. To get to the actual summit you have to pull yourself up 20 feet of loose crumbling rock. It requires a good amount of upper body strength and some nerves. The drop down either side is a few thousand feet so if you have trouble with heights or vertigo you might now want to climb the last 20 feet. It felt really unstable and uneven up there. Have to wonder how long that loose rock will stay up like that!<br />
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Video I shot from the summit</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958649213/" title="DSC01109 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01109" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5512/9958649213_fbc13a1879_c.jpg" height="181" width="800" /></a></div>
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Looking north at the Bitterroot range </div>
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To the north you have wave after wave of 9-10,000ft mountains running east to west with creeks and valleys separating them. To the east you can see the famous Bitterroot valley, the Sapphire range and you can even see the Anaconda-Pintler range off on the horizon. Fall is fire season in mountain so the views are a little hazy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958687563/" title="DSC01115 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01115" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/9958687563_aa81dc2c90_c.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a></div>
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Looking east toward the Sapphire and Anaconda-Pintler Mountains</div>
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After 15-20 min on the windy cold summit we descended back down to the colouir. Except that when we hiked back all of the colouirs looked the same! We went back and forth between 3 or 4 different colouirs until we just went with one. It wasn't the one we went up and ended up being pretty dicey but we made it down ok.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9958617413/" title="DSC01080 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01080" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2877/9958617413_3b663d2e26_c.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
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Descending the colouir towards the three unnamed lakes</div>
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We took a short break at the lakes and plotted our next move. The vegetation/creek bushwhack was a slow slog so we decided to go north around the lake. Moving along the north side of the valley was so much easier. There were beautiful, open meadows with fire red wild flowers. So much better than the way out.<br />
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Beautiful wild flowers of the Bitterroot mountains</div>
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I really liked the western end of Little Rock Creek lake. The thick grassy meadows with virgin pine trees were so beautiful. The temperature was starting to drop as the sun was starting to retreat which made the hike back much cooler. As expected the hike back to the car always seems to take longer than the way out. With the excitement of summiting El Capitan hours behind us all we had now were achy muscles and hunger! The section from Little Rock Creek Lake to the trail head seemed to go on forever. Eventually we made it to the Jeep, grabbed some food and headed home.<br />
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El Capitan is a pretty remote peak but it is doable as a day hike. We had plenty of sunlight to spare even with making a few mistakes along the way. The views from the top were simply stunning and a little different than some of the northern peaks in the Bitterroots. Definitely one of my favorite hikes in Montana. I definitely underestimated the effort required for this summit. Justin and I were in pretty good running shape going into this and we were both feeling tired at the end. About 6,500 feet of climbing on the day. Nothing a few gas station chocolate bars and gatorades couldn't fix though!<br />
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Elevation profile for our El Capitan hike about 6,500 of climbing</div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Idaho, USA46.010942902645489 -114.3955987003906245.922725902645489 -114.55696020039062 46.099159902645489 -114.23423720039062tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-1897055055325461152014-03-02T17:57:00.001-05:002014-07-04T14:35:52.944-04:00Searching for Ch-Paa-Qn Peak<div style="text-align: center;">
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</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been in Missoula for almost 2 years now and have run / climbed almost every major peak in the Missoula area: Sentinel, Jumbo, Sheep, Blue Point, University, Radio Towers, Dean Stone, Blue Mountain, Lolo, Point Six, Stuart, Murphy... etc. The one last major peak (Black Mountain is still on my list) I had not climbed was Ch-paa-qn or "Squaw" peak. Ch-paa-qn is Salish for gray, treeless mountain.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ch-paa-qn is roughly 25 miles west of Missoula. A quick drive down I-90 to the nine mile drainage and then about an hour drive up a rough, old forest road via Edith Peak Rd and you are at the edith peak trail head. Since I am injured I decided to ride my bike up instead of driving. I didn't see anyone on the way up until I hit the trail head. There was a couple inside a car who looked at me like I was in idiot for riding my bike up there. Pretty standard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The trail leading to the peak is around 3 miles and heads west the entire way to the base of the peak. The first 2 miles of trail are heavily vegetated and not regularly maintained. It was a bit nervy during the first 30 min because the vegetation was over my head and I was hiking alone. My expired bear spray was locked and loaded and fortunately never called for action. The bear spray was in the front of pack because I've heard that two male grizzlies live somewhere on this mountain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After swimming through a sea of vegetation for the first two miles I was happy to exit into the first clearing. The grassy meadows were so peaceful with only the birds occasionally interrupting my well earned silence. I did sneak up on a few sage grouse but instead of surprising me with their deafening flutter, they turned to stone and let me pass in silence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then out of nowhere long rock chutes appear from the North. From this point on it's your choice as to when you want to head up to the summit. I chose to walk for a while on the trail before bouldering to the summit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The initial part of the climb weaves through small pockets of forest. About half way up you clear the tree line and enter shrub country. However, there are a few old, dead trees swaying and creaking with the summit winds. I would be lying if I didn't say it was a bit ominous.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After 9 miles of biking and 3+ miles of hiking I finally reached the summit at 7,798 ft. I hadn't seen anyone since the couple in the parking lot - who were debating whether or not they should hike or just go home. Only 5 minutes on the summit and I could already hear people approaching from the south. They had taken the alternate route via the Reservation Divide Trail (3.5 miles 1,800 ft ascent) which they claimed had quite a bit of traffic. That validated my decision to take the less traveled and more climbing option via the Sleeping Woman Trail (3 miles 2300ft ascent).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ch-paa-qn can be seen from almost anywhere in the Missoula Valley. The nearly 8,000 ft peak prominently towers over the nine mile drainage with no other peaks challenging it. Needless to say the views from Ch-paa-qn are incredible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The best views included the Bitterroots and the Missions. This particular summit provides a really unique perspective of the Mission Range.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After chatting with the guys on the summit and a quick snack I headed back down to the trail. I took a different route back and was rewarded with beautiful meadows full of bright red shrubs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ironically, I passed no fewer than 5 groups on the way back to the trailhead. Thought it was kind of strange since I was late getting to the summit myself and these folks had a ways to go. Hiking this trail at night would be fun with a group but the vegetation and rock slides would make it interesting!</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I took one final glance back at the summit while cruising back down Edith Peak Rd on my bike. My last major summit in the Missoula area did not disappoint. If you are willing to make the drive from Missoula this is very easy hike, if not the easiest hike I've done, for the area. This trip would be amazing on skis during the winter. For those who want to break away from the Rattlesnake, Sentinel and Blue Mountain crowds this is a great day hike option that provides unique views of the Missoula and Mission Valleys. If you bring binoculars you can just see the South end of Flathead Lake! </span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com3Ch-paa-qn Peak, Lolo National Forest, Montana 59846, USA47.1577031 -114.35595224.904427599999998 -155.664546 69.410978599999993 -73.047358tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-74987797040716551232013-11-03T17:42:00.003-05:002013-11-03T17:56:38.444-05:00A Step by Step Guide to the Mt Sentinel Hill Climb<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Mt Sentinel towering over the University of Montana.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After reading our previous post you know all about the history behind the race and who will be toeing the starting line. Now lets talk about the actual course. There are only a handful of trail races that let you decide which route you want to take and lucky for you the Mt. Sentinel Hill Climb is one them! Ok, let's keep that excitement bottled for a minute while we take a deeper look into your options for Sunday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">GPS Routes and Mile Markers for both Options (Blue = Northern Route & Red = Southern Route)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Before we get into your personal preference of pain and trail surface, lets take a look at the facts. Above is a GPS layout of the course with both options mapped out for you (i.e., the North "Ridge" route in blue and the South Route in red). Below are the elevation profiles for each route. If you elect to take the <span style="color: blue;">Northern Route</span> you are looking at a total distance of 1.6 miles, 1,934 ft of elevation gain, an average slope of +23% and a max slope of 51%! If the <span style="color: red;">Southern Route </span>is more to your liking, you will be facing 2.4 miles with 2,135 ft of elevation, an average slope of 18% and a max slope of 37%. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Elevation Profile for the <span style="color: blue;">Northern "Ridge" Route </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Elevation Profile for the <span style="color: red;">Southern Route </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So now that you've got the numbers, what should you do on race day? Well that depends on your preferences for trail surface, scenery and pain! For those of you who enjoy a solid, compact trail surface, like to keep the legs ticking over and don't mind the extra distance and elevation gain then the <span style="color: red;">Southern Route</span> is for you. If you live for challenge, don't mind loose dirt and rock in your shoes and aren't afraid to hike or walk when you hit that 51% slope then keep left after the "M" and try your luck on the <span style="color: blue;">Northern "Ridge" Route</span>! No matter which way you choose to go on race day, your journey begins in the same place.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Section 1: The "M" Trail </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(0.75 miles and 680ft elevation gain)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's imagine it is Sunday and race day is here. You woke up your in own bed (nice), ate a light breakfast, put on your lucky race day gear, rode your bike to the start (awesome) and RD Mike Foote, who hates Sentinel repeats, is barking instructions at you. You look back at your family one last time, who are supporting you but quietly thinking "glad its not me running up that thing", as you prepare mentally for the oncoming roller coaster of excitement and struggle. Everyone nervously tucks into the long line that is now pointing upward towards the summit. You're running through your strategy, checking your shoe laces and all of a sudden we're off... Immediately your nerves calm and you start to think about this course preview... wait where was the North "Ridge" turnoff again?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">First Climb of the Day on the Gentle but Rocky Switchbacks of the "M" Trail</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now you're steadily ascending the easier slopes of the "M" trail, you find that perfect gear and you settle in with what seems like a good group. Several runners have tore off the front, they must be crazy, while others are quietly humming along behind you. You're focusing on foot placement because this section has many sharp, awkwardly angled rocks that can catch even the most hardened </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">trail</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> runner (see image above). On the turns you enter wide and then cut back sharp but not too sharp because those metal poles are unforgiving! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Just like that, your past the half mile mark and you're starting to feel the climb in your legs as you sneak views of the runners zig zagging behind you. You've reached the point now where we all start searching for that metal sign post that sits right in front of the "M" but its still several switch backs up. So you put your head down and keep climbing, you'll be there soon enough.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/10469599055/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="DSC01287 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01287" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/10469599055_d64e180ace_c.jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Really Comfortable Benches with Great Views of Missoula Strategically Placed to Keep You from the Summit</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The newly built benches seem like a great idea but you avoid them because you want to make it the entire way without stopping. Smart decision! Why make this any longer than it has to be, right?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The Final Switchback before the "M". The Metal Sign Post is Actually a Map Donated by the 2012 UM Senior Class.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, you catch a glimpse of that metal sign post! You swing left at the last switchback and come face to face with the first and last stretch of flat trail on your way to the summit. Nice work! Enjoy the short reprieve, take in the well-deserved view of the Rattlesnake Mountains to the North and get ready to make the most important decision of the day...</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Section 2: Glacial Lake Missoula Rock</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(0.5 Miles and 695ft of Elevation Gain)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/10469721546/" title="DSC01182 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01182" height="534" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7358/10469721546_7de4fa4fd0_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"M" Trail Sign Pointing to the Sentinel Fire Road Just above the "M"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This next section is critical to your race experience so pay attention. You've now climbed up over the "M" and you notice something odd. The other racers in front of you are going in different directions. Despite the growing inward fear that you are lost, you think back to this post and remember that this is the critical trail junction where you must choose between the Northern and Southern routes. The beautiful weather coupled by your eight hours of sleep and 2 shots of espresso encourage you to go for the Ridge. Gutsy, I like your style! Now it's time to focus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/10469711776/" title="DSC01184 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01184" height="427" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2865/10469711776_85818b3a27_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So you've committed yourself to the shorter but steeper route, nice, there's no turning back now. You're focused and looking at the rocky, narrow trail about 3 feet in front of you, scanning for rocks and turns. Yes, there are some gnarly climbs just ahead but you're not worried about them right now. Keep reminding yourself that this is what trail running is all about. This definitely hurts but its kind of fun!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Junction of the Sentinel Fire Road and Ridge Trail</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now you've made it over the first of a series of unbelievably steep climbs and your confidence is up. The trail is technical but you've got it today. Even with your new found confidence, you are still cautious because there is still 3/4 of a mile to go and there is a rather steep drop off to the Clark Fork on your left! Steady.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/10469594126/" title="DSC01267 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01267" height="391" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/10469594126_7952b6159d_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The race has really spread out now. You just passed a few of the runners who gambled on the all out sprint to the summit strategy and of course there's that guy who has been right behind you since the start. Even your best surges just can't seem to shake him. Don't worry about him, focus on finding the Glacial Lake Missoula rock to your left. No reason why you can't take in a little history on your way to the summit. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The Glacial Lake Missoula Rock Resting at 4200ft Just before the 1 Mile Mark</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Section 2 is rapidly coming to a close now. Sure you've had ups and downs, sprints and walks but you made it over that nasty 51% slope and you're now preparing for the very runnable section to the finish. Don't be confused by the runners to your right snaking in and out the trees. They chose the Southern Route.. do not, I repeat, do not follow them into the trees no matter how tempting that beautiful, soft single track looks as it gently cuts into the canopy. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">A Junction from the Ridge Trail Leading into the Woods and the Gentler Southern Route to the Summit</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Section 3: Paraglider Wind Sock</span></b><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"> </span><b> </b>(0.37 Miles and 490ft of Elevation Gain)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Looking West from the Ridge Trail to Mt Jumbo and The Rattlesnake Mountains</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Less than a half mile to go! Mt Jumbo looks so small from up here, God I love this place. You've earned this view so certainly take it in but don't linger. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember, the last section is where you are going to pull back that group in front of you and finally break free from that stubborn guy who is breathing heavy behind you. Yeah, he stills there!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">First View of the Mt Sentinel Summit </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The trail now looks more like a jeep road than single track. You have been patiently waiting for this semi-flat section to begin your final push to the summit. If you squint you can just make out the inflatable finish line arch that someone from the Runner's Edge drove all the way up to the summit...nice touch guys!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/10469634224/" title="DSC01225 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01225" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7373/10469634224_dda6f271c6_c.jpg" width="427" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, that little push paid off. You passed an entire group of runners and you're still holding that last gear for the final pitch to the summit. Remember to watch out for the water bars on this last steep section. Also, don't forget to enjoy the narrow single track here because this is the last of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/10469622014/" title="DSC01229 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC01229" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/10469622014_df64382002_c.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ah yes, the final turn to the home stretch. There is a beautiful view just off to your right, of the jagged Bitterroots, the snow capped Lolo Peak and the distant peak of Cha-Pa-Qnn but you don't look, instead you climb hard to the left. So close!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The Infamous Paraglider Wind Sock - A Beacon of Trust for All Sentinel Recreationists</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, the Wind Sock, finally! You now have undeniable proof that the summit is just a hundred yards or so away. The trail really expands here and the overlapping braids can be a bit awkward. Pick a straight line and stick to it. You swear you can hear voices up ahead but you still can't see the finish yet. Time to throw caution to the wind and explode into that that last gear you've been saving. Don't be fooled or discouraged by the false summit here, there is a little dip and then just a short climb to the finish! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The Summit of Mt Sentinel. You Can See Mt Dean Stone and the Bitterroot Mountains off in the Distance.</td></tr>
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A group of runners are excitedly cheering for you as your approach the now swaying, inflatable finish line arch. You catch a quick glimpse of the finish line clock as you hit the summit and hunch over to collect your thoughts and breath.<br />
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Congrats, you just finished the 2013 Mt. Sentinel Hill Climb! A sense of achievement sweeps over you as you snag a water and banana and gaze back down to the valley floor. You gather with friends on the summit, share that all too familiar story about how you almost face planted off the side of the ridge and then come to the inevitable conclusion of this race which is "how do I get down now?" Personally, I recommend the Smokejumpers trail as it will be covered in ice soon until next June and the grade is just gentle enough for a nice cool down back to the Kim Williams and the awards ceremony.<br />
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Just think, most Missoulians are still sleeping on this cool, crisp Sunday morning but not you. You chose to climb nearly 2000ft up Mount Sentinel to support the UM Tri-Team! Even though you are tired, hungry and in desperate need of a jacket you can't think of a better way to spend a beautiful Sunday morning in Missoula, Montana!<br />
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See you guys on Sunday!<br />
<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-78086056698568620862013-09-26T23:34:00.001-04:002013-09-30T15:30:05.187-04:00Lost in the Swans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(The GPS of our route - affectionately named <b>Tyson's Holland Peak Loop</b>)</div>
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It is strange how forays into the backcountry begin. They usually start as an idea thrown out when we are all sitting around together.... or browsing summitpost.com. This particular trip began when my coworker Chris Dundon started emailing Justin Angle and I pictures of Holland Peak. Justin was immediately in and so was I. Despite living in Montana for two years, I had never ventured into the Swans. Then the night before left - plans changed. Justin was now out but Chris and I were still in. So I was a little surprised to see Justin waiting inside the Eurovan as I crept through the early morning shadows of the Ace Hardware parking lot. Through a series of events during the night, Chris was now out but Justin was in. The scenic 90 minute car ride north on 200 and 83, past Seeley Lake to the Rumble Creek trailhead, flew by. As each mile passed by, I patiently waited for the smoke from the Idaho forest fires to lift and allow us to see the towering Mission mountain range to our West. The smoke never did clear. We rumbled into the Rumble Creek trailhead parking lot, just after 7am, where we met Tyson, Dan and Dan's brother from Tennessee.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9702968387/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" title="DSC00097 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00097" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/9702968387_4afabb8531_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Rumble Creek Trailhead) </div>
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Another small group hit the trail a few minutes before us. They were heading up to Holland Peak as well. So we set out towards the summit with the confidence that Tyson had hiked this trail twice before and we had a group in front of us to lead the way. What could possible go wrong? Easy out and back, tons of trail experience between us, we got this.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9702878409/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="9606568785_57844923c2_o by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="9606568785_57844923c2_o" height="428" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2826/9702878409_09bb756db3_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Tyson staring at Dan's iPhone in disbelief!) <span style="font-size: x-small;">*Photo by Justin Angle</span></div>
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Tyson was 100% certain that we shouldn't cross the South Fork Rumble Creek drainage. He recited how he and Mike Foote ran past the trail and had to retreat back north of the drainage to hit the correct trail. So walked up to the bridge over the drainage and turned around. <i>Justin and I would later find that we were no more than 50 feet from the correct trail when we turned around. </i><br />
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So we back tracked, found a "climbers trail", with two logs laid a-crossed it (<i>first warning</i>), and up we went. This particular stretch of trail was very steep and we started to string out across the mountain. Then in mid sentence - the trail disappeared. I was leading at this point and stopped. We debated whether we should go up the mountain or continue on alongside the mountain. Tyson was still convinced we were on the correct side of the drainage, so we headed straight up the mountain. At this point we all knew were were lost but we continued on anyway. Who likes to admit they made a mistake and turn around? Tyson, in a last ditch attempt to find a.. I mean.. any trail, tore off up the mountain. From this point we mostly followed game trails and wandered aimlessly through the back- country of the Swans. Our movements were now being dictated by Dan's iPhone and cellular data plan. What had happened to that group in front of us? <i>We joked that they were probably across the drainage and nearing the base of Holland Peak at this point!</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9706200904/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="DSC00100 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00100" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/9706200904_367133d02a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Looking South towards the South Fork Rumble Creek drainage and the Holland Peak trail)</div>
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Dan and Google Earth lead us to a clearing where we scrambled across rocky, side slopes while ingesting some much needed calories. It was amazing how our attitudes had changed, for the better, since we had left the forest canopy and entered the open grassy meadows. The views looking back into the valley were incredible, even with the thick gray smoke still blocking any view of the Missions. At this point we were all concerned that we'd hit a ridge and be forced to return on that horrible route we had taken up the mountain... Dan's iPhone indicated that a small alpine lake was not too far north from where we were cutting across the mountain. There was still slight hope that we'd gain access to Holland Peak.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9702902393/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="DSC00107 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00107" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5479/9702902393_047c50e5cb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Tyson disappearing into the shrubs and grasses near North Rumble Creek Lake)</div>
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We eventually ran into a dried-up creek bed and followed it up to North Rumble Creek Lake. The jagged rocks surrounding the lake were incredible! Tyson dove into the chilly, clear water as Dan and his brother caught up to us. Spirits were high again as we climbed up another creek bed towards Upper Rumble Creek Lake and the base of Holland Peak. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9706184818/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="DSC00129 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00129" height="427" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/9706184818_93b5c4c203_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Dan and Tyson climbing up from the north Rumble Creek Lake)</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9702876657/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="9606571553_71194bf51f_o by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="9606571553_71194bf51f_o" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7339/9702876657_d9bcbc14bb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Me scouting a route to the base of Holland Peak) <span style="font-size: x-small;">*Photo by Justin Angle</span></div>
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The creek bed abruptly ended and spit us out into a beautiful meadow full of wild flowers. Out of sheer luck we had managed to hit the base of Holland Peak. While skirting South along the lake, we could hear that other group making their way up to the summit. Every few minutes we would hear loose rock crashing down the ridge towards us and the lake. <br />
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Before I could get my pack off, Dan and Tyson were already fishing. We could see several trout swimming lazily near shore. Watching Dan and Tyson cast into this beautiful, blue alpine lake was surreal. Minutes later Dan and Tyson had caught their dinner and were projecting the glow of kids on Christmas morning. At this point none of us were interested in summiting. The intoxicating atmosphere created by Holland Peak and Upper Rumble Creek Lake was reward enough for our early efforts. <br />
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(Dan posing with his freshly caught cutthroat trout at Upper Rumble Creek Lake)</div>
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After absorbing the beauty of Holland Peak and Upper Rumble Creek Lake, Justin and I decided to head back down via the actual Holland Peak trail. It is always difficult to leave such beautiful places. Fortunately, Montana has so many!<br />
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(Holland Peak - 9,356 ft)</div>
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Justin and I quickly down climbed the steep, rocky trail towards yet another rumble creek lake. By this point, the clouds had slid north leaving us to bake in the afternoon summer sun. The temperature had to be hovering around the mid 90s. <br />
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(Lower Rumble Creek Lake with Holland Peak towering in the background)</div>
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Alas, we finally stumbled upon our first wildlife of the trip. A family of mountain goats had congregated on some rocks just off the north shore of Lower Rumble Creek lake. It was strange that we didn't see any wildlife while off trail for two and a half hours but only during our short stint on trail. </div>
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Looking back I find it comical that we turned this simple out and back into a loop but I guess that is what makes being out in the wilderness so much fun. Montana's backcountry is unpredictable, unrelenting and exciting. This particular trail is moderately difficult with some steep early climbing and exposure near the summit. Our route ended up being around 8 miles long with 4,500 ft of climbing. Holland Peak makes for a great day hike for those who start early. My first experience in the Swans really impressed me. The Swans have a different feel than other mountain ranges near Missoula. I look forward to spending more time exploring them.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com1Holland Peak, Flathead National Forest, Montana 59826, USA47.534937799999987 -113.5823063000000322.012903299999987 -154.89090030000003 73.056972299999984 -72.273712300000028tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-16200057869015271102013-09-13T00:59:00.003-04:002013-09-13T00:59:44.008-04:00Glacier from 9,553 Feet<br />
After my scenic bike ride up to Logan Pass, I locked up the bike and took off on foot. Bikes aren't allowed anywhere off road in U.S. National Parks. The hiking was a good change up after being in the saddle for two-plus hours. From Logan Pass I headed North, along the garden wall, on the highline trail.<br />
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The highline trail follows the continental divide all the way into Canada and Waterton National Park. Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks combine to form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a biosphere reserve and world heritage site. Translation - they are biologically diverse, protected and jaw dropping. <br />
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Late Spring/early summer is a great time to be in Glacier, no crowds and full blooms! (check out the bear grass above) I had never been to Glacier during this time of year and it was completely different than my winter and late fall experiences. Glacier has a way of making you feel like you have never been there before!<br />
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A few miles into the highline trail you begin to see the Bishop's Cap (9,127ft) towering to the west and Haystack Butte rising subtly from the east. I had the perfectly cut single-track all to myself - no animals or people. I really have trouble leaving this place.<br />
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After about 45 min I made it to Haystack Butte and took a hard right. From there I could see the mountain that I wanted to climb. Mt. Gould stands at an impressive 9,553 feet, smack dab in the middle of Glacier National Park. The climb up gains more than 2000ft!<br />
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Climbing Gould was tricky. After a steep, steep climb up past the initial border field, things only got worse. The section everyone warns you about is the diorite sill which is the scientific name for wet, slippery, eroding cliffs. You literally have to climb up a slot that running water has carved out to gain access to the upper pitches of the mountain. My heavy backpack, from the bike ride up, swinging side to side really didn't help. Neither did the 1600 million year old rocks sliding out from under my feet. My bike helmet was put to the test on this eroding mountainside. Thankfully I was the only person on the mountain.<br />
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Rock cairns are great for finding your way up mountains that you've never been on. The only problem is that people build rock cairns just to stack rocks really high and not necessarily to guide curious climbers up the correct path to the summit. I chased cairns up the mountain and had to turn around at several steep and sketchy dead ends - very funny.... What is it about cairns that you make you feel so confident and relaxed that you are going the right way?!<br />
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With tired limbs and ripped up hands I criss-crossed my way up and up. A few hundred feet from the top I turned a corner and came face to face with a large male mountain goat. The goat was shedding its wooly white coat; it was literally dragging behind it as turned and ran away from me. Then I started to notice just how high up I had climbed. Haystack butte looked so small and defined now. You could trace the windy park road all the way back through the valley and to the west side of the park. The higher elevations were still desperately holding on to the last of their winter snow drifts.<br />
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After two hours of mindless switchbacks and feeling lost, my eyes finally rose over the peak. The reward was incredible. Looking south towards Many Glacier Lake you can see almost 5,000 ft of vertical relief! Not a good spot for people who don't like exposure... good thing I love it! It was amazing to see all the little alpine lakes tucked away amongst the higher peaks. Most visitors would never even know they are there.<br />
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One of the reason I chose to climb Mt Gould was to get an aerial view of Grinnell Glacier. I had gotten a glimpse of it before with my brother Dave a few years back but we didn't get this close! It was nice to see one of the few remaining glaciers in the park and the inspiration for the parks name. The sun glistened on the teal blue proglacial water which itself stood out against the white snow and crumbling sedimentary rock shelves. I spent 45 min just taking in the most beautiful views you could imagine. The only thing that kept me from staying up there was my body's unrelenting requirement of calories, water and rest. I still had to down climb, hike the highline trail back, bike to the St Mary entrance and drive 4 hrs home... worth it!<br />
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On the way down I met some people playing in the boulder fields below the diorite sill. Even from a few hundred feet above I could see them contemplating the effort it would take to reach the summit. These were the first people I saw all day so I stopped to enjoy my peanut butter sandwich and encouraged the two guys from Canada to just go for it. They were headed up when I left so I hope they made it. It was almost 2pm at that point and last call for safely getting up and down in day light.<br />
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It was now mid-afternoon and the highline trail was buzzing with people and goats... everywhere. I passed multiple sets of female goats with offspring. The adult goats would walk nonchalant right past you but the younger goats would panic and dive off the side of the trail. I'm always amazed at their ability to stand upright on those steep slopes. Towards the end of the trail, an adult female passed by me on a very narrow section of the trail. I literally climbed up off the trail onto a rock to get out of its way. The goat walked up to me, turned its head and just stared for a minute and then just kept on going. By then, the whole wait for the goats to pass routine was getting old but it was nice in a way. While out in the backcountry your movement or travel is affected by the wildness of the area and not your stop watch or sense of immediacy to get home. Sometimes it is just nice to slow down!<br />
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On Tuesday, I'm heading back home to see my family in Cleveland so I spent the weekend in Glacier to take in as much of Montana as I could. While stuck in traffic around the strip malls of midwest suburbia I will be dreaming of the stillness and openness of my new home - Montana!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101397853@N05/9696626330/" title="IMG_1554 by northandwest4, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1554" height="220" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/9696626330_6661803238_b.jpg" width="1150" /></a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Mount Gould, Glacier National Park, Montana 59417, USA48.7427538 -113.7145593999999823.220719300000003 -155.02315339999998 74.2647883 -72.405965399999985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-81733895968080572872013-09-08T17:54:00.002-04:002013-09-08T17:56:53.174-04:00Going to the Sun Road via Mountain Bike<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With all this new free time, I decided to make the drive up to Glacier for the weekend. Last year it was pretty smoky so I was worried about visibility. This time it was perfect! No smoke just a few puffy clouds strolling across the sky. </span><br />
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I left Friday after work with my tent and my mountain bike. The sun was just setting as I pulled in to my campsite. It has been a few years since I've been to the East side of Glacier. The major access is on the West side of the park and a trip over there usually involves the normal tourist hysteria of major national parks. </span><br />
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On the east side of the park there was very few people at all. Nice and quiet! I cooked up some freeze dried beef macaroni and fell a sleep to the buzz of the forest instead of the city! Tomorrow was going to be a long, long day.</span><br />
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I woke up early, had some coffee and pressed on to the Saint Mary entrance. A few other bikers were prepping their expensive road bikes while I hopped on my trek mountain bike. Going to the Sun road is absolutely amazing. The scenery is breathtaking and the chances of seeing wild animals is better than other national parks. </span><br />
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The morning son casted reflections of the granite mountains in to the lake for me. On bike I was much slower than I normally would traveling through the park. It gave me time to appreciate every view for longer periods of time. Traveling by bicycle was a completely different and new way to experience the park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Wild Goose Island on Saint Mary Lake)</span><br />
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The morning temperature was really cool and climbing wasn't as tough as I had hoped. I wasn't moving fast and was passed by a few road cyclists who were pumped that I was riding a mountain bike. Slow was the best speed to enjoy the mountains and scenery. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Citadel Mountain - 9,030ft)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Heavy Runner Mountain 8,762ft)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Looking West towards Clements Mountain 8,760ft)</span><br />
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The entire route to Logan Pass, which was about 15.5 miles with 2,400 ft of climbing, only took me an hour and half. It felt much longer though! </span><br />
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The atmosphere up at Logan Pass was completely different than my first few hours in the park. I had seen a few cyclists and cars but for most of the time I was isolated. After a while you get used to the quiet and it is a big change to see the hustle and bustle of humanity. I am reminded of that concept every time I venture outside of Missoula and through major cities. The change of pace, noise and surroundings makes me uncomfortable. I get migraines and become disorientated. In the end I accumulate to city life but learn to respect and appreciate my ability to disconnect on a daily basis! </span><br />
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Check out thetime lapse of my ride below and enjoy Glacier National Park in under 90 seconds!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5wtS6s4OJgs" width="640"></iframe></span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Glacier National Park, Montana 59936, USA48.7596128 -113.7870225000000347.4159418 -116.36880950000004 50.1032838 -111.20523550000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-16336342198133517612013-08-31T11:18:00.001-04:002021-02-22T18:37:17.178-05:00Biking Around Crater Lake National Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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If you cannot run then jog, if you cannot jog then walk, if you cannot walk then bike! After 2+ years or running however long I wanted it was hard to completely stop running, jogging and walking. At the end of August '13 I was still dealing with a possible stress fracture that was causing my right hip to seize up. Instead of my usual trail running excursion I decided that biking would be the next best thing. Lisa, Chloe and I were headed for some beach time on the California and Oregon coasts but I made sure we routed through Crater Lake!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="427" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/U6yWqC-44FI" width="640"></iframe>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Crater Lake National Park, Crater Lake, OR 97604, USA42.8684411 -122.1684784999999942.496391599999995 -122.8139255 43.2404906 -121.52303149999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-17597295646164840652013-08-23T23:02:00.001-04:002013-09-08T02:46:51.028-04:00Going to the Sun Road Time Lapse<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Biking from Saint Mary's entrance to Logan Pass on Going to the Sun Road.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5wtS6s4OJgs?list=UUErYD3OmcdSvDhK8Vj2Fm6w" width="640"></iframe>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0Glacier National Park, Montana 59936, USA48.7596128 -113.7870225000000347.4159418 -116.36880950000004 50.1032838 -111.20523550000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-64198602513461705512013-08-23T21:35:00.006-04:002013-09-08T02:46:02.362-04:00Trail Runner ≠ Mountain Biker<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">While I wait for my hip and groin to loosen up, I've been keeping busy (distracted) outside on my mountain bike. As a kid I used to bike a ton and I still bike everyday so several miles around Lake Como should be easy, right? NOPE. In order to avoid the parking fee I parked a mile from the trailhead, hopped on my green Trek and opted for the clockwise loop around the lake. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lake Como sits a few miles west of Darby, Montana. The beach was packed with people pretending they were sitting on the ocean. The sand and clear water made me believe the illusion as well. Como Peaks or the "Three Sisters" sit between 9,400 and 9,600 feet and tower over the lake. Montana is so beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trail and views were incredible. Choosing the clockwise route was not so incredible. The first four miles were on extremely rooty, rocky and narrow game trail. I fell countless times, smashing my body and bike into rocks and trees. Stopping to take a picture meant a swarm of curious bees around my bright green mountain bike. Curious always escalated into angry when I tried to get back on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The water crossings had a natural touch to them with bridges made of sanded down, narrow logs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of horrible riding, I made it to the west side of the lake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A nice raspberry I earned bouncing off a tree and over the handlebars. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the west side of the lake were a series of rocky waterfalls. Each sent water hurdling towards the lake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The towering mountains make the powerboats looks so tiny! I need to climb up these soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being injured isn't so bad when you have scenery like this to explore! Would love to run these trails soon.</span><br />
<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526197635754654084.post-44636045178377752442013-07-30T10:44:00.001-04:002013-07-30T10:45:37.395-04:00Patiently Waiting<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2526197635754654084" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2526197635754654084" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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So far 2013 has been consistent - consistently off. A year that started with such promise and potential has turned into disappointment and missed opportunity. Three races over five months have resulted in a DNS; for me that is unimaginable. Last Thursday I flew from Missoula to Cleveland for the Burning River 100. A race I had been looking forward to since I started racing ultras. The Cleveland Metroparks are where I learned to run and where I grew up. To race a hundred miles through my favorite trails with my family close by seemed like a dream. In the end that was all it was. I was out of the race well before my plane took off in Montana last week. <br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2526197635754654084" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2526197635754654084" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Throughout my running history I have been fortunate with few injuries. The only injury I have ever had is the same one that has plagued me since college - femur stress fracture. My first stress fracture came as a lowly, unsuspecting freshman at NCSU. One day while trying to keep up with the upperclassmen I felt a tightness in my hip and groin. Several frustrating months later I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in the head of my right femur. That exact injury would resurface twice more before I graduated. It absolutely killed my chances of being successful in college and is now threatening my trail running goals. I've tried strengthening my leg, calcium supplements, shoes, softer surfaces, cross training etc. and I'm right back in the awkward and painfully long stress fracture dance again. At least this time I stopped at stress reaction instead of the full blown boot, crutches and couch routine. At least I can say I learned something from an injury that repeats itself in the exact same area despite my holding back and being overly cautious. Even after reading the most recent medical research - stress fractures are still a mystery. We know they are becoming more and more common and the diagnoses are more accurate but we are still guessing at causes and prevention. <br />
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Despite the lost time, money, fitness and planning, injuries do provide benefits. Most are mental. For the last year and a half I have been training like crazy. Running the mountain trails of Montana everyday is a privilege that i take full advantage of! BUT it does limit your ability to travel around, bike, hike, camp, float etc. because you need to recover and get ready for the next long run or mountain repeats or race. Injuries allow you to break the training routine/cycle and enjoy other activities. It does no good to dwell on the missed training, good weather or races you paid for. <span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> Instead I choose to detach; </span>to drive out to remote areas and explore lakes, peaks and bike new trails. Remarkably I didn't miss the routine, the workouts, the races and quite enjoyed the sweet freedom to do what ever the hell I wanted when I wanted and without thinking about tomorrow or next week. Injuries allow you to be in the moment; you can choose to wallow in the misery or embrace the freedom. <br />
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That being said, I still feel that passion burning inside to compete, train and challenge myself. <span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Each time I'm held back, that passion only burns hotter. </span> I will be patient for now but I will not hold back anymore. My future training and racing will be different. I've been relaxed and cautious in my training and racing to avoid being where I am right now. It is time to make a few changes and be more aggressive with my racing schedule and strategy. I'm looking forward to being healthy and unleashing later this year. Until then I will be exploring the country on two wheels and embracing the freedom of being young in one of the most beautiful and wild places our country has to offer!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13841925385162548474noreply@blogger.com0