TO THE MOUNTAINS!

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     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