Kendall

Pacer at Bryce 100, miles 74 to 100 [101.56], last 26 miles...27.56 miles.

Brought my runner (Matt Pulsipher) in at 30:47--first 100 finish!

Crewed all day, all night on Friday-Saturday (am). Jumped in at 4am the last 26 [27] miles of the race. Great times crewing and pacing. Such a scenic course. Good to see many of the FRB'ers (Matt, Craig, Josh, Scott, Davy).

Josh, Scott, Matt, Craig

Fun escape, enjoyed helping out at aid stations and even little running.

Grove Creek 1:06:37--PR!

45:29 up / 21:08 down 

2,300 elevation gain.

Wasatch Trail Run Series

My second race (third of season) up in Corner Canyon with the Wasatch Trail Run Series races. Fun little race--I'm enjoying these more than I thought I would. Today's race was 3 laps of the shorter "5K" course with about 475 ft in elevation on each loop for a total of 7.66 miles and 1,424 total elevation gain.

RD "Mitt" mixed up the course again this week: 3 short loops with some elevation. From the start, pulled back on the up hill (about as fast as I can go anyway) pushing the downhill to around the 6:30 mm. Passed a few guys at about the 1 mile mark who went out too fast and then just held my spot, passing maybe 2 other guys on the last lap but no one passed me. Felt like I was running alone for until passing some of the slower "5K" group coming down on my second lap. Held steady pace most of the race--legs a bit tired from Monday's PR in Grove Creek where I really slammed the downhill section. Came close to catching two more guys at the finish but couldn't close the gap. Love these corner canyon single track trails.

Results not posted yet and really don't care that much. Just having some fun[post-date: 7th].

$15 fee includes a nice little raffle at the end where I picked up a nice Salomon t-shirt.

PS...wore my Brooks road shoe "Launch" on the smooth trails. Really liked the minimal, light feel of this shoe. May have to try some minimalist trail shoe--loving the feel of a lighter shoe.

Grove Creek - Battle Creek (2,400 ft elevation)

Parked at Battle Creek ran on the BST (?) to Grove Creek up to the Meadow and down Battle. Lackluster run but good to get out out--tired legs, tired body, tired boy. Highlight was the shave ice after the run.

6 fast(ish) miles on the treadmill. Was actually a nice break and good to get the legs turning over. Been really tired putting in some tough miles. 

PFEIFFERHORN (9.96 miles, 4,137 elevation gain)

Started my day at Wasatch Running with a new pair of Brooks minimalist(ish) shoe Pure Grit II. For the last week or so I've been running with my roadies, Brooks Launch on the trail and have loved the lighter feel. Tried a few pair before settling with Pure Grit. A bit about the shoe first. Love the feel and light weight BUT not a great shoe on the rock/snow. Not the shoe's fault, I'm assuming that's not what their made for. Great summer trail shoe but I'll have to go back to the Cascadia's for a more solid, grippy, snow, mud, rock shoe. I really didn't know what I was in for today but hiking in the snow was somewhat challenged by this shoe.

I asked the boys at Wasatch about the Pfeiffer and if they knew anyone who'd been up this season. I received a unanimous "don't do it-too much snow." So of course I did it anyway.

Been anxious to get up there--love this hike/run. Started at Red Pine trailhead. smooth sailing for first couple of miles, surprisingly hitting first snow at only the 7,700 ft level. At 8,000+ (2.5 mi) after bridge to Maybird the snow got deeper and after 1/2 mile it was all snow.

Heading up to Red Pine Lake

 Red Pine Lake, still partially frozen.

Still not sure what to expect heading up to the ridge and whether I'd be able to get up on Pfeifferhorn. In some respects it was easier going up the snow rather than the usual rock hopping. Lots of run-off and water everywhere.

Heading up the ridge. 

Once to the ridge and on to the other side, the snow wasn't as deep. The knife ridge leading to the Pfeiffer wasn't too bad at all and mostly exposed rock.

Traveling up to the Pfeiffer was able to stay off snow and on dirt all the way to the top. Perfect day--warm, peaceful and nobody around. 2:15 to the top. Stayed for half an hour and headed back down (1:35 down).

Tempo run

1.5 warm up, 3 mi at 6:40, 1 mi at 6:20, 1.5 gearing down.

Took the day off. Feeling a little pull behind my left knee, working up the back of my thigh. Last two runs at a much faster pace may have tweaked something. Get back to it tomorrow.

GOBBLER'S KNOB (9.15 miles / 4,585 ft. elevation gain)

With the intention of heading up to do a Desolation-Dog Lake loop, I forgot that the gate doesn't open until July 1. Instead I lucked out by finding the Terraces Elbow Fork trailhead and did Gobbler's Knob (first time on this section of trail).

Nice 1 mile run along the creek until the trail begins to climb. At the split in trail I took to right fork heading up to Baker's Pass. Passed a few hikers coming down as the wind kicked up and storm clouds were rolling in. Once to the pass, I wasn't sure if Gobbler's Knob was to the left (west) or up to the right (east). (I know now that the summit on the right is Mount Raymond--5 feet less elevation than Gobbler's Knob--which from the saddle, looks like it's lower in elevation than Mount Raymond.)

After 3 false summits, finally got to the real summit of Gobbler's Knob. Super windy and dark clouds rolling in.

Crazy looking twisted stumps on the way to the summit.

 Summit looking into SL Valley with sun rays shooting through the clouds

 Oh crap!

Instead of going down the way I came up, I cut straight down the ridge and snowfields to the main trail taking about 1 mile off. Took a spectacular wipe-out sliding down on one of the snowfields--got the whole thing on video.

Wiped the snow and mud off and continued down trail. Storm clouds blew over and turned out to be a perfect evening. One of those evenings where something about the sunlight creates an almost neon green hue to everything. Stopped to check out a small buck in the aspen's and snapped some shots.

Made good time getting back to the trailhead on perfect trail conditions. Great little trek.

 I have this little problem with collecting things on my runs. I kind of over-did it on this one...heart rocks, cool shapes, the one on the left looks like a fish--even has a mouth.

Bowman trail to Bakers pass, no summit today--2nd day on trail. 3,500 vert.

TIMPANOGOS (Timpooneke Trailhead) PR*!

3:24 Total (2:10 up / 1:14 down), 4,377 ft elevation gain. 

First summit of Timp this year (19th lifetime). Very surprised with a PR today--with an asterisks. * I cut nearly a mile off (usually around 14.1-2) cutting up through snowfields where the trail was covered and cut the trail in a few places glissading down. Didn't think I was saving any time on the way up but ended up only 3 min off my best time ascent. I may have saved a little time on the way down but wasn't really pushing it, in fact, I moved along but stopped to talk to hikers along the way. With about 2 miles to go I noticed I was making pretty good time and hit the jets taking 11 min off my best total time, and beating my best descent by 2 min. Enough about that.

Not much snow for mid-June but still quite a bit on the trail in the usual spots. No dangerous snow-bridges or really sketchy areas but certainly sections with snow. Perfect day to be up in the mountains. Cold up top as usual. Quite a few day hikers on the trail, only a handful going to the summit. 

 I"m always shocked with the bugs I see at altitude. Snow everywhere you look and then there's a grasshopper or box elder bug or spider and today 1,000's of lady bugs just of the summit (11,700 ft).

A few flowers pushing through the snow in the big meadow.

Worked late. Went to the gym very unmotivated. Jumped on treadmill for 30 seconds and just couldn't do it--it's rare I 'quit' a workout but just couldn't do it. 1 hour weights instead. Agh.

BATTLE CREEK -> GROVE CREEK LOOP

Parked at Grove Creek. Frontage road/trail to Battle. Up Battle and down Grove Creek. Able to maintain a run up battle creek today (much steeper than Grove Creek)--although I probably could have walked sections at an even or faster pace. Grove Creek is so much more runable that I prefer to hike the rockier-steeper Battle Creek and cruise down Grove Creek. Been a couple of weeks since I've been up there. Crazy how fast the grasses/plants grow. A month ago they were just coming up, now they're 4-5 ft tall. Stinging Nettle in full-bloom, sections lining the trail 4 ft tall on both side and unavoidable--not a big deal but keeps me alert!

WASATCH TRAIL RUN SERIES  (Race: 5.81, 2.5 mile warm-up.)

3rd Race (for me--4th of the series) up in Corner Canyon. I measured a bit short (5.81) from the posted 6.1 course, 1,001 ft elevation gain. Not as many runners today putting me higher than I've previously finished. Course 2-Laps of the shorter 5K course. Some good elevation followed by some fast downhill running. 

At the start, let the fast guys go as well as those just going out too fast. Trail heads up after .25 miles and a gradual climb for the next two miles. Nice fast downhill for just over a mile then right back up and doing it again.

Passed a few runners at about the .5 then 1 mile mark then settled in and held my spot for the remainder of the race. As in week's past, there's few couple of guys way out front, a few to several minute gap, then me. Got in the middle of a high school mountain bike club cruising down the single track on the last lap. I was weaving in and out of them, they'd pass me, I'd pass one or two of them back. It was pretty amusing. Certainly any other day I'd just let them by but hey this was a race. I held my spot and battled for position.

 Pushed a hard downhill on the final lap and came in 4th--I think.

Splits/Avg Pace:

Mile 1: 8.47

Mile 2:  8.38

Mile 3: 6.19

Mile 4: 9.09

Mile 5: 7.10

Mile 6: 6.27 

Found a great heart rock mile 4.3 

LAKE BLANCHE--SUNDIAL PEAK (almost) 8.9 miles / 4,285 ft elevation gain

Going to get into Big Cottonwood for the next little bit. I finally wrapped my head around this whole Mill B, Mill D business, realizing that the "Mill's" aren't in Millcreek but Big Cottonwood. I didn't jump on to one of the "Mill" trails today but decided to do the iconic Lake Blanche trail. Somewhat of a late start going directly from work. Headed up canyon, a bit steep and rocky for running. Met a nice couple from Georgia heading down asking how far the lake was. I mentioned that if they were looking for the lake they were going the wrong way...realizing they had just turned around for fear that it would get dark before they could make it. I convinced them to turn back around, as they were already half way, and that they'd make it there and back before dark. (Saw them later at the lake and they were blown-away and thankful for the gentle persuasion.)

Decided to push-on to Sundial Peak scrambling up the scree slope heading south and west. Found a reasonable way up (not sure if it's the right way up--need to research) which required some rock climbing/scrambling. I promise myself as well as others that when I'm running alone that I won't do anything stupid (too stupid). The climb up to the peak was getting a bit dicey, it was after 8 pm and I thought better and with only perhaps 300 ft to go I turned around and headed down--another day with a bit more time I'll get it done.

 As close as I would get today

Beautiful lake, large moon coming over the ridge. BEWARE...the mosquitos are out!! Quick run down, getting dark. Saw a small bull moose half way down. Great run/hike.

8 on the JRPT. Nice change of pace. Bit of a head-wind, legs a bit heavy.

TIMPANOGOS (Timpooneke Trailhead)

Late start leaving the trailhead at 6:30. A good amount of snow has melted since last week. I wouldn't be surprised to have no snow under-foot by next week. Got a bit cool as the sun starting setting behind the mountain. Saw a few people coming down and nobody after the big meadow. Thought I might see some making the hike with the nearly full-moon but had the whole mountain to myself.

Up: 2:08 not a bad pace but sub 2 is very doable for me at some future point when I decide to push it. Beautiful (nearly?) full-moon coming up over the peak. Pictures just can't do it justice.

Got dark pretty quick. Threw on my headlamp and headed down. Saw a couple of small buck in the meadow before dropping down.

I was reminded that I don't like coming down Timp in the dark (or at least trying to run in the dark). The trail is a dusty grey color with little variation. The light seems to reflect off-of it making depth perception difficult. Tripped up several times coming down. Often easier to turn the light off and try to navigate down (at the lower elevation the moon wasn't quite up), Had to pull way back making it down in a slow 1:49. Just under 4 hours round-trip.

Grand Canyon Caverns. 8  mile run after 10 hour drive. Tomorrow morning hike into Havasupai.

11.35 hike into Supai Village and Havasu falls with backpack (counting hiking miles this week).

Hike to Mooney falls and a little bit down river.

Hike from campground to Beaver Falls and back. Incredible!

En Route to Beaver Falls

Hike out from campground to upper parking lot.