HOMEWARD BOUND!

      WELL IT SEEMS THAT FRIDAY ILL BE HEADED BACK TO A FEW BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA. THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT THING IS A VERY SPECIAL GIRL THAT I CARE FOR DEARLY AND HAVE BEEN MISSING FOR AN INCREDIBLY LONG TIME NOW! THE SECOND BEING THE MOUNTAINS, THAT ARE COMPLETLY BLANKETED WITH AN ARRAY OF TREE SPECIES.
     
      I HAVE BEEN MISSING THIS PARTICULAR GIRL SINCE THE DAY THAT I DROVE OFF INTO THE SUNSET. I WAS HEADING WEST, JUST LIKE THE PIONEERS OF THE 1800'S. I WAS IN SEARCH OF A BETTER LIFE, AN OPPURTUNITY TO BUILD MY FUTURE OR FORGE MY OWN PATH THROUGH THIS CRAZY MAZE CALLED LIFE. AFTER AN INITIAL SURVEYING, I WAS QUITE PLEASED WITH THE MOUNTAINS AND LIFESTYLE. I HAD MADE THE DESICION THAT THIS GIRL WAS NOT ONLY AN AMAZING PERSON, WITH OUTSTANDING CHARECTER BUT I WANTED HER TO BE MINE. I FEEL EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT SHE FEELS THE SAME WAY TOWARDS ME! I VERY SERIOUSLY THANK WHOEVER IS WATCHING OVER US EVERDAY THAT SHE IS WHO SHE IS AND THAT SHE IS MINE! I HAVE NEVER FELT LIKE THIS TOWARDS ANYONE BEFORE, AND SO I HAVE BEEN MISSING HER TERRIBLY. AFTER SEVERAL SHORT VISITS AND ENDLESS HOURS OF APPLYING FOR JOBS SHE WAS STILL NO CLOSER TO BEING WITH ME. AT TIMES THIS MADE ME FRUSTRATED WITH THE ECONOMY OR THE GOVERNMENT. AS IT APPEARS NOW I FEEL LIKE THIS WAS SIGN DIRECTING US TO WHAT WAS RIGHT. I NOW HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT SEVERAL VERY IMPORTANT ASPECTS (AT LEAST TO ME) ARE MISSING FROM THE LIFESTYLE THAT IS GENERALLY LIVED IN THE AREA. ILL SPARE THOSE DETAILS OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT FOR NOW,I FEEL A THOUGH MY HOME IS NESTLED IN A VALLEY, SURROUNDED BY TREES, UPSTREAM FROM THE OLD MOONSHINE STILL IN THE SHADOWS OF THE MYSTERIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL BLUE RIDGE MOUNTIANS.

        REGRET? I DO NOT REGRET THE MOVE OUT HERE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT HAS LED ME TO WHERE I AM AND HOW I FEEL TODAY. AFTER ALL LIFE IS A MAZE AND EVERYONE IS BOUND TO TURN THE WRONG WAY FROM TIME TO TIME. I FEEL THAT BEING STRONG AND LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST IS DEFINED BY THE WRONG MOVES WE MAKE, BY ADMITING THIS WAS THE WRONG WAY AND HEADING CONFIDENTLY DOWN THE PATH WE THEN PERCIEVE AS THE RIGHT ONE,IS IN MY OPINION THE VERY EPITIMY OF ENJOYING AND GETTING THE MOST OUT OF OUR SHORT TIME ON THE EARTH.

        SO TO SUMMARIZE, I MISS HOME AND THE WAY LIFE IS LIVED THERE, I MISS MY GIRL WHICH I SIMPLY CAN'T BEAR  BEING APART FROM ANY LONGER, I FEEL LIKE I AM MAKING A GREAT CHOICE!!   
                                                                           MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

GETTING CARRIED AWAY?

     I FEEL LIKE I MIGHT BE GOING OVERBOARD ON MY NUMBER OF POST'S, BUT I FEEL LIKE I HAVE PICTURES OR VIDEO CLIPS THAT ARE FACSINATING. SO AT THE RISK OF TO MANY PICTURES HERE ARE SOME MORE!

A BIG MULE DEER BUCK NEAR THE SUMMIT

                                            LOOKING WEST TOWARDS HORSETOOTH ROCK

                                          VERY COOL FOG ON THE LAKE

                                           ARTHURS ROCK WITH EARLY SEASON SNOW

SOME COLORFUL NEW KICKS

FIRST SNOW AT THE HOUSE

WHAT A DIFFERENCE 24 HOURS CAN MAKE, 50-18 DEGREES, BARE GROUND-3 INCHES OF WHITE STUFF,NO WIND-20MPH, THE SAME OLD SCENERY-A BEAUTIFUL WONDERLAND!

                                          SOME MULE DEER ON THE SUMMIT SPUR TRAIL

                                         FEELING GOOD ON MY 2ND SUMMIT OF THE MORNING
  
     I RECKON I'LL NEED TO GET SOME MICRO-SPIKES SOON, COMING UP AND DESCENDING HUGHES PASS WAS VERY SLIPPERY AND I IMAGINE IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.

REMNANTS OF THE STORM

     SOME PICTURES OF THIS MORNINGS OUTING:

RIDERS ON THE STORM "BA BOOM BABOOM BOOM BOOM" (THE DOORS)

     TODAY, DESPITE THE FORCAST CALLING FOR SNOW AND RAIN I AWOKE TO BLUE SKIES. I GATHERED MY THINGS AND HEADED FOR THE T.H.. AS I STARTED OFF IN THE LOWER VALLEY I COULD SEE SOME RATHER DARK AND SOMEWHAT THREATING CLOUDS BLOWING EASTWARD. AS I CRESTED HUGHES PASS I REALIZED THAT IT WAS ALREADY RAINING AT THE NORTH END OF THE LAKE. I QUICKEND MY PACE AND DID MY NORMAL ROUTE, FOOTHILLS OVER HUGHES PASS, LEFT ON THE A SUMMIT TRAIL TO THE SUMMIT, THEN SOME "ILLEGAL" TRAILS DOWN TO THE RIDGE ROAD TO THE DAY USE AREA,(THE PLACE LAZY PEOPLE DRIVE TO) THEN PLUMMETING DOWN THE WESTERN SLOPE TO THE LOWER FOOTHILLS, THEN CLIMBING BACK TO THE RIDGE AT SUNRISE T.H. THEN THE QUESTIONABLY LEGAL UPPER VALLEY TRAIL BACK TO HUGHES PASS. NORMALY I WOULD JUST HEAD OFF THE PASS AND BACK TO THE B52 BUT TODAY I DECIDED TO CLIMB THE A SUMMIT TRAIL AGAIN MAINLY TO JUST GAIN A BETTER VIEW OF THE IMPENDING STORM. I REACHED THE TOP AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE SNOW/ RAIN LINE HAD NOW REACHED THE DAY USE AREA! I HAD TWO OPTIONS, THE FIRST BEING TO HEAD DOWN THE SUMMIT SPUR RIGHT INTO THE INEVITABLY COLD PERCIPITATION (I NOW REALIZED I WAS RATHER UNDERDRESSED WITH JUST A T-SHIRT AND RUNNING SHORTS,OOPS). MY SECOND AND MORE APPEALING OPTION WAS TO HEAD OFF THE FRONT SIDE OF THE MAXWELL MTN, I HAD CONSIDERED THIS ROUTE MANY TIMES AS THERE ARE WHAT LOOKS LIKE RUNABLE TRAILS FROM THE BOTTOM ALL OVER THE MOUNTAIN. I THOUGHT IT WAS SMARTER TO STAY DRY AND HEAD OFF DOWN THE STEEP SLOPE. THE TRAIL I WAS FOLLOWING ALMOST IMMEDIATLY FIZZLED OUT AND I WAS LEFT TO BUSHWACK MY WAY DOWN TO THE "TRAILS" I THOUGHT I SAW FROM THE BOTTOM. AFTER NEARLY 20 MINS OF TRAILESS MAYHEM I FINALLY REACHED THE CLIFF. ALONG THE TOP WAS A VERY RUNNABLE TRAIL HEADING NORTH. I FOLLOWED THIS UNTILL I SPOTTED FLAT SPOT TRAIL, I TURNED AND HEADED DOWN THIS VERY WASHED-OUT AND EXTREMLY OVERGROWN RIBBON OF TRAIL DOWN TO THE ABRUPT END AT THE THE SIGN THAT WAS RATHER THREATING, TALKING ABOUT TRESPASSING AND TICKETS AND JAIL! FROM HERE I CONTINUED MY CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL DOWN TOTHE AQUADUCT ROAD AND THEN CUT ACROSS THE LOWER VALLEY BACK TO THE FOOTHILLS TRAIL. AS I REACHED THE B52 THE RAIN BEGAN HITING ME. ALL IN ALL A GREAT MORNING RUN WITH THE ELEVATION GAIN I HAD BEEN LOOKING TO ACHIEVE DAILY, SOME EXPLORATION OF THE SOUTHEASTERN FACE OF MAXWELL MTN., AND BEATING THE RAIN BACK TO THE TRUCK!
     ONE OTHER THOUGHT, I FEEL AS THOUGH A HAVE REACHED A PLANE OF FITNESS THAT WILL ALLOW FOR A QUICK AND EFFICIENT BUILDUP FOR RACES. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE A LEVEL OF CONSISTENCEY WITH THE LAST 5 WEEKS YEILDING 50MPW OR MORE. I AM HAPPY WITH MY RUNNING.

DAILY RUN

THIS MORNING I WENT ON MY USUAL 7 MILE JAUNT IN THE FOOTHILLS JUST WEST OF TOWN. IT WAS THE BEST WEATHER I HAVE SEEN IN QUITE A WHILE, IN REGARDS TO SUN EXPOSURE, TEMPURATURE, AND LACK OF PERCIPITATION. HERE ARE SOME PICTURES FROM TODAYS OUTING:

LOOKING NORTH THROUGH THE UPPER VALLEY

                                          THE VIEW TO THE WEST FROM A SUMMIT

                                          SOUTHWEST FROM A SUMMIT

                                                    DIRECTLY SOUTH HIGHLIGHTING THE LENGTH OF THE LAKE

                                         DIXION LAKE AND THE LOWER VALLEY, CONTAINING THE TIMBER TRAIL

                                         NORTH EAST FROM THE SUMMIT SHOWING COLLEGE LAKE AND NORTH FORT COLLINS

                                          LOWER FOOTHILLS TRAIL ON THE WESTERN SLOPE

                                                   STILL SOME TREES HOLD THIER FALL BEAUTY, THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED AGAINST THE BLUE I LIKE VERY MUCH

KINDA COOL, THE TREE WITH THE SUN, AND THE DARK SHADOW OF ME    

AN INTERESTING RUN

     FALL IS A STRANGE TIME, THE CHANGING OF THE SEASONS OFTEN SEEMS TO BRING STRANGE AND UNUSUAL WEATHER. THE PAST 6 DAYS HAVE IN MY OPINION BEEN A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS, RAIN, CLOUDS, WIND, SNOW, MORE RAIN AND THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF THE SUN. TODAY I AWOKE BEFORE THE SUN ROSE INTO VIEW BUT WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE CLEAR SKIES ABOUND! I GOT READY FOR MY NORMAL DAILY RUN IN THE FOOTHILLS JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN. AS I WAS GETTING MY THINGS GATHERED UP I REALIZED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE GLORIOUS SUN WAS OUT THE WINDS HAD NOT GONE. AS I ARRIVED AT THE TRAILHEAD IT BECAME IMMEDIATLY EVIDENT THAT I WAS REALLY WINDY NO WORRIES I THOUGHT, I JUST HUNKERED DOWN IN MY 3oz WIND JACKET AND HEADED FOR THE HILLS. HEADING ACROSS THE LOWER VALLEY THE WIND WOULD GUST AND AT TIMES COMPLETLEY STOP ME IN MY TRACKS! I WAS LAUGHING OUT LOUD BECAUSE IT WAS SO DIFFERENT. AS I REACHED THE TOP OF STADIUM PASS IT FELT LIKE I WAS HIT WITH A BRICK WALL. I TURNED NORTH AND STARTED MAKING MY WAY THROUGH THE UPPER VALLEY TRAIL, IT WAS VERY WINDY WITH WHAT SEEMED LIKE RIDICULOUSLY HIGH SUSTAINED WINDS WITH GUSTS THAT WERE DOWNRIGHT VIOLENT. I WAS ACTUALLY FORCED TO WALK THE UPPER THIRD OF THE VALLEY TRAIL BECAUSE THE WIND WOULD SIMPLY NOT ALLOW A RUNNING GAIT. WHEN I REACHED THE INTERSECTION OF LOWER FOOTHILLS OR THE RIDGE TRAIL I PAUSED AND QUICKLY DECIDED THAT WITH THE CURRENT CONDITIONS(SUSTAINED WINDS 55-70MPH WITH GUSTS EXCEEDING 100MPH, I DISCOVERED LATER) THAT I WOULD NOT VENTURE DOWN THE WESTERN SLOPE WERE THE WINDS WERE BOUND TO BE STRONGER. SO I WAS LEFT TO DECIDE WHETHER TO TURN AROUND OR TAKE THE RIDGE TRAIL BACK, I CHOSE THE RIDGE TRAIL SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFERENT, I ALMOST IMMEDIATLY REGRETED THIS DECISION! REALLY, THE RIDGE TRAIL, REALLY. WHAT WAS I THINKING. IN WINDY CONDITIONS YOU USUALLY CANNOT FIND ANYWHERE WINDIER THAN THE HIGHEST RIDGE! AS I WAS STRUGGLING ALONG, I BECAME A LITTLE CONCERNED. I WAS CURRENTLY PERCHED ON A RATHER PERCIPITOUS RIDGE NO WIDER THAN MAYBE 3 FEET. LOOKING OFF THE WESTERN SIDE, IF YOU WERE TO TAKE A TUMBLE IT IS LIKLEY/POSSIBLE THAT ONE WOULD FALL ALL THE WAY TO THE LAKE SOME 500 VERTICAL FEET BELOW. LOOKING TO THE EAST, THERE ARE SECTIONS WITH A VERTICAL CLIFF NO LESS THAN 50 FEET HIGH. SO AS I WAS CREEPING ALONG A GUST OF WIND CAME UP (REMEMBER A GUST IS MORE THAN 55-70MPH) AND ABSOLUTLY BLEW ME OFF THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE TRAIL! LUCKY FOR ME THERE WAS NO CLIFF WERE I ENDED UP. I SAT THERE FOR A MOMENT TO COLLECT MY THOUGHTS, AND DECIDED THAT I WOULD BAIL OUT ASAP. I LITERALLY CRAWLED ALONG THE RIDGE TRAIL UNTILL I DROPPED DOWN THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN (CROSS COUNTRY) TO THE ROAD. RUNNING ALONG THE ROAD I SWEAR I WAS  LEANING INTO THE WIND WITH A 30 DEGREE BODY ANGLE. I MADE MY WAY BACK TO THE UPPER TRAILHEAD AND HEADED DOWN STADIUM PASS. MY USUAL CHARGE DOWN THE 500 FT DESCENT WAS HELD TO VERY CAUTIOUS JOG. I FINALLY ARRIVED BACK AT THE B52 AND QUICKLY PULLED ON SOME JEANS AND A JACKET . ALL IN ALL QUITE AN INTERESTING RUN!

RAIN??

     THIS HAS BEEN THE LONGEST RAINY STRETCH I HAVE SEEN SINCE MOVING. IT HAS BEEN COLD,DAMP AND RAINY FOR 3 SOLID DAYS. IM PERSONALLY NOT A BIG FAN OF THE RAIN SIMPLY BECAUSE IT MAKES MY PREFERED OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES MORE COMPLICATED AND IN EXTREME CASES DOWNRIGHT MISERABLE. SO THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE BEEN WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR THE SEEMINLY EVERPRESENT SUN TO RETURN.
     TODAY IS THE DAY THAT I TRADITIONALY DO MY LONG RUN, USUALLY IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS. THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THIS WEEKLY EXCURSION, MAINLY INCLUDING THE PRIMAL FEELINGS THAT ABOUND WHILE RUNNING ABOVE TREELINE WITH NOTHING BUT RUNNING SHOES AND A PAIR OF SHORTS. THERE ARE OTHER LESS COMPELLING BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT REASONS. THE FIRST BEING THAT TRAINING AT ALTITUDES RANGING FROM 9,000 TO 12,500FT IS BENEFICIAL TO ONES ABILITY TO PROCESS OXYGEN WHICH, AS EVERYONE KNOWS IS KEY TO RACING. THE SECOND BEING THAT RUNNING ON UNEVEN, STEEP, ROCKY AND SOMETIMES SNOWPACKED TRAILS WILL IMPROVE YOUR FOOTWORK AND INEVITABLY MAKE RUNNING RACES ON THESE TYPE TRAILS MUCH EASIER AND FAMILIAR. THE LAST REASON THAT I WILL MENTION IS THE MENTAL ISSUE, I FIND THAT IT IS VERY EASY TO DRAG MYSELF OUT OF BED EARLY ON A SATURDAY MORNING TO GO SEE AND EXPERIENCE WHAT THE MOUNTAINS HAVE TO OFFER ME ON THAT DAY.
     SO TODAY I WAS THINKING OF DOING TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT HIGH MOUNTAIN RUNS, BUT ULTIMATLY DIDNT. I THINK IN A WAY I WAS INTIMADATED BY THE EVER WORSENING WEATHER OF THE HIGH COUNTRY. IN ANOTHER WAY I FEEL AS THOUGH I MAY HAVE MISSED ONE OF MY LAST OPPURTUNITYS TO RUN UP THERE WITHOUT SNOWSHOES. ANYWAY I CHOSE TO DO A LOOP THAT WAS RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF TOWN, IT IS QUITE SCENIC AND OFFERS REALITIVE SOLITUDE FOR BEING AT THE EDGE OF A CITY WHERE 100,000+ LIVE.
     AS I STARTED RUNNING THE RAIN BEGAN FALLING, I HAD RUN EXACTLY 29 SECONDS WHEN THE SKIES OPENED UP.  I WAS PREPARED AND DECIDED TO FINISH WHAT I STARTED. I RAN A LOOP THAT ENCOMPASSED MANY OF THE FOOTHILLS TRAILS, WHICH WERE VERY MUDDY AS I HAD TO STOP AND SCRAP THE BOTTOM OF MY SHOES OFF EVERY 5 TO 10 MINUTES. THE RAIN FINALLY TAPERED OFF AFTER I HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR NEARLY 1 HOUR AND 30 MIN. THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF TODAYS RUN WAS GOOD I SOMEHOW ACTUALLY ENJOYED THE RAIN FEELING VERY AT PEACE HIGH ABOVE THE RECKLESS HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE CITY.
     HERE ARE THE ELEVATION PROFILE AND MAP OF TODAYS MUDDY OUTING:

     HOPEFULLY I CAN GET INTO THE MOUNTAINS EARLY NEXT WEEK BEFORE OLD MAN WINTER DECIDES IT IS TIME TO MOVE IN UNTIL SPRING. ALSO MAY BE BACKPACKING FOR A FEW DAYS WHILE THE TEMPURATURES ARE STILL MANAGABLE. LASTLY, HEADED TO LEADVILLE AFTER ELIZABETHS ARRIVAL ON WEDNESDAY FOR SOME HIGH COUNTRY RELAXATION, GONNA BE ALOT OF FUN!

BEAR LAKE LOOP

     THIS MORNING WAS A GLORIOUS NEW DAY IN WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE EVER SUNNY ROCKY MOUNTAINS. TODAY  I WAS TREATED WITH SOME UNCARECTERISTICLY WARM TEMPURATURES THAT WERE TO SAY THE LEAST, A DELIGHT. THIS RUN STARTED AT THE EVER POPULAR BEAR LAKE TRAILHEAD WHERE I WOULD COMPLETE A LOOP I HAD BEEN EYEING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. I STARTED WITH 4 GU'S AND TWO BOTTLES OF WATER, I WOULD ULTIMATLY CONSUME ALL OF THIS WITH THE TIMING OF A SURGEON. I HEADED OUT AND WAS IMMEDIATLY MEET WITH THE 1,311 FT CLIMB TO LAKE HELENE, I CRUISED UP THIS WITH LITTLE EFFORT AND WAS RUNNING NEAR TREELINE. UP HERE THE TRAILS WERE LARGLY SNOWPACKED AND OFTENTIMES VERY SLIPPERY. I HIT MY FIRST GEL AT THE LAKE AND STARTED THE NEAR 2,500 FOOT PLUMET TO THE POOL. SOME WHERE ON THIS I SUCKED DOWN MY SECOND GEL AND WAS FEELING ALRIGHT. WHEN I REACHED THE POOL MY QUADS WERE FEELING THAT DROP. THE WHOLE WAY DOWN HAD INTERMITNENT SNOW AND ICE AND THE FIRST 1,000 FT OR SO WAS ON MORAINE! ANYWAY I STARTED THE CLIMB TO CUB LAKE FEELING OK, AND THEN I HIT THE TRAIL TO MILL CREEK BASIN. THIS IS A SECONDARY USE TRAIL, WHICH MEANS IT GETS NO WORK AND IS EXTREMELY STEEP AND ROUGH. I GRUNTED UP THIS BAD BOY AND WHEN I REACHED THE TOP I PAUSED TO ADMIRE THE VALLEY BELOW AND EAT ANOTHER GEL. I DROPPED OFF THIS RIDGE FEELING QUITE ROUGH AND THEN WAS TREATED TO A SPECTACULAR BASIN WITH BRILLIANTLY COLORED ASPENS OF YELLOW AND RED. AFTER CROSSING THE CREEK I HIT MY LAST GEL AND WAS ON THE FINAL 932 FT CLIMB TO THE FINISH. AS I REACHED THE POINT WHERE THE TRAIL HEADED BACK DOWN, ALL MY WATER WAS GONE, PERFECT TIMING! I CRUISED THE REMAINING .6 MILES BACK TO THE B52 AND PROMPLTY HEADED TO NEAREST FOOD SUPPLY!
     ALSO, NEW SOFTWARE TO PLAY WITH, AND A FEW PHOTOS:

                                          MAP OF THE ROUTE

                                          ELEVATION PROFILE

                                         ALL THESE ARE FROM LOW TRAILHEAD BUT SHOW GENERAL DIRECTION OF TODAYS RUN (COULD NOT TAKE CAMERA BECAUSE OF 2 WATER BOTTLES)

SNOW?

     THIS MORNING I PLANNED YET ANOTHER HIGH ALTITUDE RUN IN A BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN CIRQUE JUST WEST OF TOWN. I AM CONSIOUSLY TRYING TO GET IN AS MUCH RUNNING IN THE FRAGILE YET HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE THE HANDS OF OLD MAN WINTER TIGHTLY CLENCH THE MOUNTAINS. TODAY WAS THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO GET A HOLD OF THE HIGH ROCKY PEAKS, AS I WAS EMPTIED OUT THE TOP OF THE BIG THOMPSON CANYON I WAS GREETED WITH A CONTROVERSAL SIGHT. THE MOUNTAINS WERE COVERED IN SNOW! IT HAD FALLEN WELL BELOW TREELINE SO I KNEW I WOULD BE RUNNING IN IT THIS FINE FALL DAY. ON ONE HAND I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THE SNOW, IT IS VERY PRETTY AND ALMOST ENCHANTING IN SOME WAY.ON THE OTHER HAND IT WAS THE FIRST SIGN THAT MY MOUNTAIN PARADISE WAS CHANGING IN A WAY THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL AND TRAINING UP HERE HARSHER AND CERTIANLY MUCH MORE COMPLICATED.
     TODAYS RUN WAS PLANED TO PASS BY TWO WATERFALLS AND THREE LAKES ENDING AT ABOUT 12,076 FT. BECAUSE OF THE SNOW AND THE ATTRACTION IT DRAWS THE TRAILHEAD I WISHED TO START FROM WAS FULL AND MY SECOND CHOICE WAS A NO-GO BECAUSE THE SNOW HAD CLOSED THE ROAD! AFTER SOME LAST MINUTE ROUTE FINDING I CHOSE A VERY POPULAR YET EQUALLY LARGE TRAILHEAD. I WAS TO RUN BY FIVE LAKES IN TOTAL. I STARTED OFF WITH TWO GELS AND ONE BOTTLE OF WATER. IMMEDIATLY I WAS IN A CROWD THAT STRETCHED FOR THE FIRST TWO MILES! AFTER AN UNGODLY AMOUNT OF EXCUSE ME'S I REACHED THE SPUR TRAIL TO A FAR LESS TRAVELED TRAIL. I MADE QUICK WORK OF THAT CLIMB, ALTHOUGH I WAS STRUGGLING TO FIND MY BREATHE, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE FOR THE FIRST REALLY COLD RUN OF THE YEAR. I REACHED MY DESTINATION AND COULD HARDLY SEE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE. THE WIND WAS BLOWING AT 35 MPH AND I KNOW IT WASNT 30 DEGREES. ALL THIS COUPLED WITH ALMOST ZERO VISIBILITY FROM THE RAPIDLY FALLING SNOW CAUSED ME TO NOT QUICKLY TAKE IN THE VIEW(WHAT THERE WAS OF ONE) AND CHARGE BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
     I DECIDED TO TAKE ANOTHER SPUR UP TO A LAKE I HAD PREVIOUSLY VISITED BUT ENJOYED QUITE COMPLETELY. IT WAS A QUICK STEEP CLIMB AND I WAS THERE. I DIDNT WASTE MUCH TIME AS IT WAS VERY CROWDED. I JUST TURNED AND HEADED BACK TO THE B52. ON THE WAY DOWN I HEARD MORE COMMENTS LIKE, "WOW YOUR TOUGH" , "WAY TO MAKE US FEEL BAD", "THIS ISNT YOUR FIRST TIME", OR MY FAVORITE, "THATS REALLY IMPRESSSIVE". I COULDNT HELLP BUT THINK, ITS NOT THAT IMPRESSIVE, IT WAS MY FIRST TIME ON MOST OF THOSE TRAILS AND IM NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES ONE TO BE TOUGH. ANYWAY AFTER A TON OF EXCUSE ME'S AND TWO SMALL COLLISIONS I WAS FINALLY BACK TO THE B52.
     ALL IN ALL A GOOD TRAINING RUN, CANT SAY MUCH FOR THE EXPERIENCE HOWEVER. IM FEELING A LITTLE APREHENSIVE ABOUT WELCOMING WINTER SO SOON. I GUESS IT WILL COME WHEN IT WILL COME AND I WILL THEN STRAP ON SOME SNOWSHOES AND START RUNNING. HERE ARE A FEW PICS :
    

    

MISSING THE MOUNTAINS

     A MERE 24 HOURS WITHOUT THE HIGH ROCKY PEAKS OF NORTHERN COLORADO AND IM FINDING MYSELF IN NEED OF THEM. I ENJOY MY TIME UP THERE SO MUCH ITS QUITE MINDBOGGLING! I HAD A GREAT 13 MILE JAUNT IN THE COMMANCHE PEAK WILDERNESS YESTERDAY AND CANT WAIT TO RETURN. SO IT GOES IM STUCK IN THE LOW COUNTRY WITH THE FRUSTRATIONS OF THE WORLD ON MY MIND. ILL SPARE THE DETAILS OTHER THAN TO SAY IN THE MOUNTAINS LIFE IS REAL AND SIMPLE.

TO THE MOUNTAINS!

\

     THIS MORNING I AWOKE BEFORE THE SUN AND WAS QUICK TO RISE. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE JUST ENOUGH GAS TO AFFORD ME A QUICK TRIP TO THE HIGH CRAGGY MOUNTAINS JUST TO THE WEST. I HAD PACKED MY THINGS LAST NIGHT, SO OTHER THAN TO GRAB A LARABAR AND A FEW PRETZELS FOR BREAKFAST I WAS IMMEDIATLY OUT THE DOOR. I DROVE INTO THE TRAILHEAD AND WAS GREETED BY ONLY THE FROST ON THE GRASS. A QUICKLY STRIPPED DOWN TO JUST MY RUNNING SHORTS, AND A SINGLET ALONG WITH A FRESH PAIR OF NB MT100'S. I FILLED MY BOTTLE GRABBED A GEL AND WAS OFF RUNNNING DOWN THE GRAVEL ROAD TO THE TRAILHEAD. I PAUSED MOMENTARILY TO CHECK OUT THE MAP AND WAS MAKING MY WAY UP THE CUB LAKE TRAIL. IT WAS VERY CHILLY AS I RAN ACROSS THE UPPER REACHES OF MARAINE PARK. THE SCENE WAS TOTALLY DOMINATED WITH ELK, I SAW NO LESS THAN 7 BIG BULLS. THE AIR WAS CRISP AND EVERY 10 SECONDS OR SO I WAS AWARDED WITH THE SOULFUL CRY OF A BUGLING BULL! AS I NEARED THE CUB CREEK CAMPGROUND I PULLED OUT MY GEL AND PROMPTLY DISCOVERED THAT MY HANDS WERE FAR TO STIFF AND COLD TO OPEN IT. I DROPPED INTO A POWER HIKE AND WARMED MY HANDS UNTILL I RIPPED IT OPEN AND ENJOYED THE LIBERAL CHOCOLATE FLAVOR OF MY APTLY NAMED CHOCOLATE OUTRAGE GU. I CONTINUED ON IN THE SHADOWS ALONG THE LOWER THIRD OF STEEP MOUNTAIN. I SOON CRESTED THE TOP OF WHAT WAS TO BE TODAYS HIGHPOINT ( 10,261FT) AND HEADED DOWN. THE TRAIL IS NOT STEEP OR OVERLY TECHNICAL BUT IT IS VERY ENGAGING. I REACHED THE POOL AN INSPIRED 49:36 AND PAUSED BRIEFLY TO ADMIRE THE ICE THAT HAS ALREADY FORMED IN THE EDDYS OF THE RIVER. I TOOK OFF BOUND FOR THE EVER POPULAR  FERN LAKE TRAILHEADAND WAS ALMOST IMMEDIATLY BOMBARDED WITH THE HOARDS OF DAY HIKERS. I MOVED PAST THEM AND MADE MY WAY TO THE TRAILHEAD THEN  CONTINUED ON DOWN THE SPUR ROAD BACK TO THE TRAILHEAD WERE I HAD BEGUN. THE ENTIRE OUTING TOOK A MERE 1:13.04 WITH 1019 FT OF VERTICAL.
     ON THE WAY HOME I STOPPED IN ESTES FOR A TRIP THROUGH THE ANNUAL ELK FESTIVAL. GREAT FOOD, BEAUTIFUL ART, AND INTERESTING PEOPLE WERE ABOUND. I CARRIED A CAMERA TODAY AND TOOK A FEW PICTURES, THEY MAY DOCUMENT THE JOURNEY BUT THEY ARE NO WORK OF ART SO I THOUGHT I WOULD INCLUDE SOME OF ELIZABETHS PICTURES TO SATISFY THE CREATIVE SIDE IN ALL OF US!!

                                                                                               

                                                              

        



      NOW THE PICTURES OF TODAYS RUNNING ADVENTURE.

                                                    UPPER REACHES OF MORAINE PARK

                                                    SMALL PARK AT THE BASE OF STEEP MOUNTAIN

                                                    THE TRAIL IS ABOUT TO SUBMERGE YOU INTO A GORGEOUS ASPEN GROVE

                                          INSIDE!

                                          JUST A TRAIL PICTURE

                                          DIRECTLY ABOVE CUB LAKE

                                          LOWER PORTION OF FOREST CANYON, STONES PEAK IN THE BACKGROUND

                                          ESTES PARK, THE ELK FESTIVAL

MY PURCHASES, FRESH SMOKED SALMON ON CIBATTA BREAD, AUSTRIAN POTATO SALAD AND A PICKLE AND A PICTURE OF THE MAJESTIC NORHTERN LIGHTS

                                                    SOME FLOWERS