Best week of the year

     Well, it's here. Momentarily I'll be packing up the truck and heading North to Silverton so I can relax for a few days before the big run. I had hoped for one more foray onto the course last week, but time constraints kept me a bit closer to home. That's alright, because Jamil's videos did an awesome job of showing course conditions, so I feel that everyone is well informed on that front.
     I'm very excited for this years run. Not only because of the high level talent, which is inspiring, but also there is energy to the whole experience that is so positive. It is very easy for me to be distracted by all the sorrow in the world. Something, maybe all the self-imposed suffering, makes me notice and appreciate all the positive emotions that surround Hardrock.  Whether I'm fast, slow, or completely destroyed, I'm sure I'll learn something this year!
     Well, it's time to shut down the computer, turn off the phone, and go to my happy place. A happy Hardrock weekend to all.

Hardrock Course June 24-25

Looking from American Basin to American/Grouse pass

American Basin from Handies summit

Starting towards Grizzly Gulch from Handies summit ridge

Descent tracks down into Grizzly Gulch

Looking back up into Grizzly Gulch

Looking down Grizzly

Saddle between Putnam and Porcupine

Dropping into Swamp Canyon

Looking back at Swamp Canyon from Oscars Pass

The classic: Island Lake

     The snow has receded considerably in the last week. Silverton to Oscars Pass was pretty straight forward with patches of snow that were mostly firm. There was some snot slick mud descending into Porcupine Gulch. The steep descent from Grant/Swamp pass is dry. That was on Wednesday 25th. The day before in American Basin was a bit different. A few good patches of firm snow, but also some decent stretches of knee deep slush with a couple holes where I fell to my waist. From the summit of Handies there was one fun glissade to Grizzly Gulch, which had a bit of mud, but nothing too bad. Looks like things will be just about perfect for race day!

Hardrock course June 17-19

Looking across the saddle between Bear and Porcupine Creeks

Looking North from the saddle into Cataract Creek and South Mineral

Maggie Gulch

Things get strange in Pole Creek

Heading up Cataract Gulch

One of the few big drifts left in Pole Creek

Descending into Pole Creek from Pole/Cataract Pass

Beautiful singletrack heading towards the confluence with the Middle Fork of Pole Creek

Pole Creek = Elk Heaven

Dives-Little Giant Pass. What a difference a week makes.

A whole lot of snow melted in the last week. I predict a fairly dry race, but not nearly as dry as the last two years.
     I received a wonderful reminder of how quickly things change in the San Juans as I huddled in some trees near the location of the Pole Creek aid station with my dogs on Wednesday. It was blowing snow and groupel with intense thunder coming from Maggie-Pole Pass (where I was headed.)  We waited and shivered for about fifteen minutes and then it was sunny and warm as we ascended to the Pass. The day before I had struggled to stay upright in fifty mile an hour winds along the ridge above Putnam Basin. I love the mountains!

Hardrock course conditions June 10-11

Basin near Green Mtn looking towards Cunningham

Looking down into Maggie Gulch

Dives-Little Giant Pass

From Grant-Swamp Pass looking North

From Kamm's Traverse looking Southwest

Looking Northwest into Ice Lakes drainage on KT

There is still a lot of snow on North facing slopes in the trees and at higher elevations. The dust is really accelerating the melt, and things are changing quickly. Lots of fun post holing for now!

Global Weirding

     Skiers are funny. Well, it's people in general that are funny, but skiers are the ones that cause me to bring up this topic. You see, we're having  a long dry spell down here in Southwest Colorado. It's been warm too.  Not so good for ski conditions, or the businesses that make money from skiers.  I hear it so many times a day; "We need more snow." "When is it going to snow?"  People bring up the Farmer's Almanac, and what some Old Timer out in Mancos said about the weather patterns way back when. Almost no one seems to bring up that the past is no longer very relevant to weather patterns. That the very lifestyle we lead is screwing up the the lifestyle we want to lead. That coal fired power plant that produces electricity to power the chair lift? The car I drove for an hour each way to go skiing in the back country? All the things we bought that are produced with petrol chemicals, and then shipped from the other side of the world powered by more petrol? It has caused an amazing shift in the climate, and it isn't going away any time soon. Bitching about the weather is kind of like a smoker complaining about air pollution. We are not innocent victims of Mother Nature's wrath. We are spoiled brat children of the Earth that cannot learn to share.
     What to do about it? I don't know, I think we're screwed for the most part. However, I've heard it said that the first step toward recovery is admitting you have a problem. What I'm advocating is that we all start admitting we have a problem with consumption that is changing the world on a very large scale. If skiing is your thing, perhaps consider a move to Montana or Canada.  Mountain biking on dry trails in January might just be the new "norm".  Or, we can stay in denial like any good addict.

The Sleeping Ute

     Enough for the Soapbox. In my little world things are good. The trails are amazing for running right now. I'm heading down to Southern Arizona this weekend to crew and pace for a friend in a hundred miler. This is something I wish I could do more of; go to Ultras and volunteer. I love the atmosphere and community at these events, and I love to witness those mental breakthroughs.

California Dreamin'

     I spent a week in the Bay Area for Christmas. There are a lot of freakin' people there. I'm glad they like it. I got to run in shorts in some fantastic weather. I spent most of my mornings sipping coffee on the deck with the hum of the freeway traffic in the background. I imagined what a paradise the place must have been before the modern era. Before the endless suburbs it must have been such a bountiful place for the Native inhabitants. I caught a few glimpses of why it is so popular. Then, although I enjoyed the time there, I happily returned to the boring quiet of Southwest Colorado.
    

MK running in the Marin Headlands

Mt. Diablo and the Devils' smog

Pirate's Cove, Marin Headlands

San Francisco

If you live in California (or anywhere for that matter) and you are curious about  Southwest Colorado, I'd say you probably wouldn't like it. It snows and gets cold. There is no culture. We don't have a Trader Joe's.  It pretty much consist of rednecks in big trucks, lazy stoners, and dogs. There are a lot of dangerous wild animals and deadly avalanches. The place is only fit for vultures and coyotes.

Happy New Year!  

Daylight

Sleepy little town

"I hear something, you hear something?"

La Plata skintrack

Powder hound!

     We've been enjoying some decent snow here in the San Juans. I'm having more fun on skis than I have in a number of years. I'm treating skiing more like running, and not worrying about the downhill as much. I just like getting into the high country and hiking up some steep hills. The cross training for mountain running is great, and it's fun to boot. Which is good, because I'm already plotting my season for another Hardrock this July. I had the amazing luck to get into the race a third time, and the third time's the charm, right? I'll be forty years old when that race rolls around, so I figure that I should prove that I'm only getting better with age... at least at hundred milers. I've got plenty of weaknesses I can work on, therefor I believe I still have potential to go faster. Of course, with a race like Hardrock, there is also potential for massive blowups. I suppose that is why I'm still so intrigued by that course. I just don't know what will happen, but the scenery will be good no matter what.
     I hope everyone out there is getting through the "dark times" of early winter. We're almost over the hump to more sunshine. Bring on the Solstice!