Once August and Hike-a-Thon ended, my life, as usual, became a whirlwind of work and coaching. I can't believe that it's nearly the end of 2011! I guess it's about time I update this thing with the highlights of the last few months.
First, an update on Hike-a-Thon! Despite everything that got in the way of my mileage goal, I still ended up with my second-highest monthly mileage, and it was good enough for a repeat performance for highest H-A-T mileage (full discloser: one of the WTA board members did well over 300 miles, but as a board member she doesn't qualify to win the category). My H-A-T mileage got me into good enough shape that I was able to run some decent times in a few 5ks during the cross season.
Speaking of the cross season, it was fabulous this year! The girls set some lofty goals for themselves. They fell short on getting the whole varsity team to the regional meet, but they did qualify five individuals (and I could have a separate blog post on the unfairness of having five athletes in a race but not being able to score as a team). Three of the five qualified to state! It was the first time since I became head coach that we had anyone at state, so to have three was fantastic. It has also made EVERYONE even more determined to get there as a team next year. Four team members went on to compete in the Footlocker race in California, so the cross country season extended all the way into December this year!
Even though the girls were still training, I had my weekends back starting in early November. I haven't been able to get out of town quite as often as I would like, but I have managed a couple of overnight trips to the Colville National Forest, including one December backpack trip to 13-mile. That one made me realize that I had lost all of the conditioning from Hike-a-Thon--I had a 45-50 pound pack and we only went in about four miles, but I was dying!
The ski season has also gotten off to a good start, although snow totals have been disappointing. I haven't been out on my AT skis or my new skate skis yet because I'm afraid there are still too many exposed rocks, but I have been on my older skate and Nordic skis quite a few times and that has been great. Blaze has been out skijoring with me twice, and I have done one snowshoe hike to the summit of Mount Spokane. I have also been doing quite a few trail runs--mainly up Antoine Peak, but a couple at Iller Creek as well.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
August 31, 2011--Where did my August go? Somewhere over the rainbow!
I had lots of big plans for today--too many plans, really. And mother nature had a few plans of her own!
What I did manage to do was hold today's cross country practice at Iller Creek. I have turned the majority of the team into dedicated trail runners. When I said we were going to the top, the girls cheered! That's a tough run, so I'm thrilled that they love it so much. In fact, several of the girls who were just introduced to the trail in the past year through cross country practice have told me that they have returned with their families in order to share it with them, too. One girl told me that when she took her mom, her mom couldn't believe that Iller Creek was public property (and so close to home!).
After the run I had a few errands to take care of, and then I intended to either go to Coeur d'Alene or Mount Spokane for another hike. In fact, I already had my day pack stocked with lunch, snacks and water and it was in the back of the car, ready for anything. Then I came out of a store to a downpour. There seemed to be a break in it, but I decided to hang out in the garden for awhile just in case. I got distracted by my veggies and spent a couple hours harvesting things (until I had about 50 pounds-worth in the wheelbarrow!). By then the storm clouds were moving in and it looked like a thunder storm was on the way. I decided that perhaps my knees had had enough. I started hike-a-thon by camping in the biggest thunderstorm ever in the Wallowas, and I ended hike-a-thon by watching a relatively tame thunderstorm from the comfort of home. Mother nature even rewarded me with a gorgeous double rainbow in my front yard:
So I fell a little short on my mileage goals...okay, a lot short. But hey, rainbows are there to remind us that things will be better in the future, right? Next year I'll hike more (and avoid illness and hopefully funerals!). Besides, Hike-a-Thon is really about the fundraising, and that has gone better than I could have possibly imagined! Donations are still coming in, and I have far surpassed my original goal! I'm calling this H-A-T a huge success!
Total mileage = 5.5
Hike-a-Thon 2011 grand total = 252.8!!!
What I did manage to do was hold today's cross country practice at Iller Creek. I have turned the majority of the team into dedicated trail runners. When I said we were going to the top, the girls cheered! That's a tough run, so I'm thrilled that they love it so much. In fact, several of the girls who were just introduced to the trail in the past year through cross country practice have told me that they have returned with their families in order to share it with them, too. One girl told me that when she took her mom, her mom couldn't believe that Iller Creek was public property (and so close to home!).
After the run I had a few errands to take care of, and then I intended to either go to Coeur d'Alene or Mount Spokane for another hike. In fact, I already had my day pack stocked with lunch, snacks and water and it was in the back of the car, ready for anything. Then I came out of a store to a downpour. There seemed to be a break in it, but I decided to hang out in the garden for awhile just in case. I got distracted by my veggies and spent a couple hours harvesting things (until I had about 50 pounds-worth in the wheelbarrow!). By then the storm clouds were moving in and it looked like a thunder storm was on the way. I decided that perhaps my knees had had enough. I started hike-a-thon by camping in the biggest thunderstorm ever in the Wallowas, and I ended hike-a-thon by watching a relatively tame thunderstorm from the comfort of home. Mother nature even rewarded me with a gorgeous double rainbow in my front yard:
Total mileage = 5.5
Hike-a-Thon 2011 grand total = 252.8!!!
August 30, 2011--getting back to work
I had an all-day meeting with the 10th grade GVC team in my district today, and cross country practice was scheduled to begin as soon as the meeting ended. Since the cross country team had a hard workout at the school, I knew that my only chance to get in some miles would be during our lunch break at the meeting. The meeting was at district office and the Centennial Trail is nearby, so I drove to the Barker Road trailhead and ran 4 miles out-and-back, and then returned with just enough time to scarf down my lunch before we got back to work. I wish I had hour-long lunch breaks during the school year!
Total Mileage = 4
River visited = Spokane River (3rd visit for H-A-T)
Total Mileage = 4
River visited = Spokane River (3rd visit for H-A-T)
Friday, September 2, 2011
August 29, 2011--back to civilization
Today I hiked back out, adding huckleberries to my water bottle as I went. I was a little disappointed that I didn't see a bear along the way; I'm pretty sure yesterday's large animal was a bear, but I haven't actually seen one at all this summer. By this time last year I'd seen several.
I returned to the car and drove down to Mill Pond and hiked a short section of the Mill Pond Interpretive Loop. I didn't hike the whole thing this time; instead I tried to fish a little. I didn't have any luck.
After that I made a stop at Sweet Creek and hiked the trail there--and saw the funniest trail sign ever:
It was, of course, a perfectly manicured trail. It was paved up to that point, and when it changed to gravel it became dangerous. I wonder what the sign makers would have said about the Shedroof Divide?
Mileage = 8.5
I returned to the car and drove down to Mill Pond and hiked a short section of the Mill Pond Interpretive Loop. I didn't hike the whole thing this time; instead I tried to fish a little. I didn't have any luck.
After that I made a stop at Sweet Creek and hiked the trail there--and saw the funniest trail sign ever:
It was, of course, a perfectly manicured trail. It was paved up to that point, and when it changed to gravel it became dangerous. I wonder what the sign makers would have said about the Shedroof Divide?
Mileage = 8.5
August 28, 2011--Salmo Priest Wilderness and solo backpacking!
I left home super early to return to the Salmo Priest and hike the Shedroof Divide. I had an ambitious plan to hike in about 17 miles, spend the night, and then hike out the next day. The problem was, I was tired. Really, really tired. So tired I wanted to take a nap alongside the trail when I stopped for lunch. Well, I'm used to modified plans at this point--so that's what I did.
I hiked as far as the intersection with the Thunder Creek Trail and scouted a campsite near that intersection and the intersection with the Jackson Creek Trail. I set up the tent, stashed all of my overnight gear, and set off to hike the Jackson Mountain Trail--according to the sign it was only 3.5 miles to the Jackson Mountain Lookout. Unfortunately, it was only .25 miles until the trail completely disappeared in the underbrush. I returned to my campsite and took the Jackson Creek Trail instead. This trail had been cleared recently--within the last week, I'd guess. However, it was fairly evident that whoever cleared it used a chainsaw. Even the small logs that had been cut had sawdust only on one side of the cut and 2-3' back from the log. Crosscuts and bow-saws just don't cut like that.
So it was nice that the trail had been cleared, but I was angry that whoever did it wasn't following wilderness rules. The Jackson Creek Trail is really nice, though. It passed through some great huckleberry patches (I ate so many berries I'm surprised I wasn't sick!) and then slowly descended into a gorgeous cedar forest. It was overgrown with thimbleberries on the upper portion, and there were a few wet areas with drainage problems, but otherwise it was a great trail. I'm not sure if I hiked far enough to cross into Idaho or not (I haven't had any luck finding trail info online or in guide books), but I know that the trail ends at Hughes Meadows in Idaho; I found an old USGS survey marker that dated to 1912 but it didn't have state names on it.
Based on hiking time, I estimate I turned around after five miles. When I passed the good huckleberry patches on the way back up I decided to fill my empty water bottle instead of just eating them on the spot. As I got to the best patch I could hear a very large animal that was concealed in the thick bushes. I talked to it and talked to it, and it continued to rustle the bushes and not pay any attention to me...until suddenly it became aware of my presence and ran off. I'm pretty sure it was a bear, but there's no way to know for sure. At any rate, I decided I'd better skip that huckleberry patch and get back to my tent. I made sure I cooked my dinner and hung my bag of food a long way from my tent as the good huckleberry patch was actually pretty close to where I was camping.
Mileage = 17.1
I hiked as far as the intersection with the Thunder Creek Trail and scouted a campsite near that intersection and the intersection with the Jackson Creek Trail. I set up the tent, stashed all of my overnight gear, and set off to hike the Jackson Mountain Trail--according to the sign it was only 3.5 miles to the Jackson Mountain Lookout. Unfortunately, it was only .25 miles until the trail completely disappeared in the underbrush. I returned to my campsite and took the Jackson Creek Trail instead. This trail had been cleared recently--within the last week, I'd guess. However, it was fairly evident that whoever cleared it used a chainsaw. Even the small logs that had been cut had sawdust only on one side of the cut and 2-3' back from the log. Crosscuts and bow-saws just don't cut like that.
So it was nice that the trail had been cleared, but I was angry that whoever did it wasn't following wilderness rules. The Jackson Creek Trail is really nice, though. It passed through some great huckleberry patches (I ate so many berries I'm surprised I wasn't sick!) and then slowly descended into a gorgeous cedar forest. It was overgrown with thimbleberries on the upper portion, and there were a few wet areas with drainage problems, but otherwise it was a great trail. I'm not sure if I hiked far enough to cross into Idaho or not (I haven't had any luck finding trail info online or in guide books), but I know that the trail ends at Hughes Meadows in Idaho; I found an old USGS survey marker that dated to 1912 but it didn't have state names on it.
Based on hiking time, I estimate I turned around after five miles. When I passed the good huckleberry patches on the way back up I decided to fill my empty water bottle instead of just eating them on the spot. As I got to the best patch I could hear a very large animal that was concealed in the thick bushes. I talked to it and talked to it, and it continued to rustle the bushes and not pay any attention to me...until suddenly it became aware of my presence and ran off. I'm pretty sure it was a bear, but there's no way to know for sure. At any rate, I decided I'd better skip that huckleberry patch and get back to my tent. I made sure I cooked my dinner and hung my bag of food a long way from my tent as the good huckleberry patch was actually pretty close to where I was camping.
Mileage = 17.1
Saturday, August 27, 2011
You Knothead!
Instead of Cutthroat, a funeral. I still had time for a morning run, however. It's no spectacular 11-mile trail race, but the Little Spokane River Natural Area is still a nice place for a run. I started at Indian Painted Rocks, where the trail parallels the Little Spokane River for 1.7 miles. From there, it crosses a paved road or driveway (I'm not sure which), and then it's 5.7 miles back to the trailhead on the Knothead Trail. Before today I did not know that was the name of the trail, but somehow it seems fitting for me! (Just ask my mom. She'd second that.) It has been a long time since I have done this loop, and I've never done it in this direction. It was very nice! I also saw the Shadle CC team at the trailhead--none of the girls ever caught me, so they must have been doing an out-and-back on the lower trail.
Today's mileage = 7.4
River visited = Little Spokane River
Today's mileage = 7.4
River visited = Little Spokane River
Friday, August 26, 2011
Eat & Run!
I only did a half mile with the team before their workout in the Dishman Hills this morning. I should have done more after the girls were done, but we had potluck snacks after practice today and I ate too much! We had soooo much food!
I had to plan an afternoon run instead, plus I had to do some work in my poor neglected garden. I picked so much fruit and so many veggies this afternoon that I had to get the wheelbarrow to bring it up from the garden! Once I got it into the house I got ready for my run on Mount Spokane--I started at the bottom of 110 just inside the park enterance and ran up to trail 100, took that all the way across to the old 115 intersection, and then returned via the same route. It was 5.6 miles total. I was running slow today, though--I could actually hear my knees creaking while I ran. Needless to say, I'm spending some quality time with the ice packs tonight!
Total mileage = 6.1
I had to plan an afternoon run instead, plus I had to do some work in my poor neglected garden. I picked so much fruit and so many veggies this afternoon that I had to get the wheelbarrow to bring it up from the garden! Once I got it into the house I got ready for my run on Mount Spokane--I started at the bottom of 110 just inside the park enterance and ran up to trail 100, took that all the way across to the old 115 intersection, and then returned via the same route. It was 5.6 miles total. I was running slow today, though--I could actually hear my knees creaking while I ran. Needless to say, I'm spending some quality time with the ice packs tonight!
Total mileage = 6.1
Thursday, August 25, 2011
I got in my first trail mile of the day after cross country practice this morning. The team has a hard workout at Camp Caro tomorrow, and I went to measure part of the route today. I took both the Main Trail and the East/West Pond Trail as I wheeled out our route for a total distance of one mile, all in my sandals.
The afternoon was better, but it was also so hot! I had to be at the GSL coaches meeting at 5:30, so I timed my errands so that I could run at 4pm, be done by 5pm, and still make the meeting on time. I went out to Bowl & Pitcher in Riverside State Park and did an out-and-back on trail 25. I wanted to do my favorite loop, but I feared that it was too hot on the exposed bluff and that I wouldn't have enough time to finish it without being late to the meeting. The lower trail stays fairly close to the river, so it was nice and cool except out on the burned portion (in some places I think there must be underground streams entering the river--there were spots along the trail that were downright chilly). The run was 5 miles.
Total mileage = 6 miles
The afternoon was better, but it was also so hot! I had to be at the GSL coaches meeting at 5:30, so I timed my errands so that I could run at 4pm, be done by 5pm, and still make the meeting on time. I went out to Bowl & Pitcher in Riverside State Park and did an out-and-back on trail 25. I wanted to do my favorite loop, but I feared that it was too hot on the exposed bluff and that I wouldn't have enough time to finish it without being late to the meeting. The lower trail stays fairly close to the river, so it was nice and cool except out on the burned portion (in some places I think there must be underground streams entering the river--there were spots along the trail that were downright chilly). The run was 5 miles.
Total mileage = 6 miles
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Liberty Creek Falls Loop with the team
Every year the team finishes our campout with a trailrun to Liberty Creek Falls. Some of the girls turn back there for a 10k run, but the varsity continues all the way up to the boy scout cabin and then completes the loop by running down the Edith Hanson Bridal Trail on the other side. The girls ran great today! Many of them absolutely love trails now, and they are getting to be so tough on the hills that I can't keep up with several of them anymore! In fact, we realized that of our three sophomores running with the front pack today, only one of them made it as far as the waterfall last year; the other two turned back at the cedar grove. This year, all three beat me back after completing the entire loop!
Mileage = 7.5
Mileage = 7.5
Tuesday, August 23, 2011: Campout with the CC team!
Today we went on the annual team campout at Liberty Lake County Park. My morning mileage with the team was not on named trails, but for our afternoon run we did an out and back on the Edith Hansen Bridal Trail.
Mileage = 3.5
Lake visited = Liberty Lake
Mileage = 3.5
Lake visited = Liberty Lake
Monday, August 22, 2011: Cross country starts and finding time to hike gets tough
Day one for the 2011 cross country season! We had practice at 8am and we had to shop for the team campout immediately after practice. I didn't make it home until nearly 3pm, and I'd only had a couple of energy bars and a granola bar for lunch. I ate some peanut butter and took off for Mount Spokane to get in a short run--I'm still determined to avoid a zero-mileage day! I started at the park entrance and ran up trail 110 and did the short trail 100 loop before returning to the car.
I also found out that the funeral is set for Saturday. No Cutthroat Classic for me after all. I was feeling ready, too! Next year...
Mileage = 4.2
I also found out that the funeral is set for Saturday. No Cutthroat Classic for me after all. I was feeling ready, too! Next year...
Mileage = 4.2
Sunday, August 21, 2011--running & huckleberries
Today I returned to the mountain for a morning trailrun and to get the huckleberries I spotted yesterday. For the run I started at the hairpin turn and took trail 100 up and then out to Smith Gap, and then followed the Mount Kit Carson Loop back to the car. After that I returned to the snowmobile snopark lot and hiked up trail 130 and followed it out to the alpine area to get huckleberries. I got about a gallon today.
In the evening I got some bad news, however. My grandmother passed away today.
Mileage = 3.5 for the run & 3.7 for the hike; 7.2 total
In the evening I got some bad news, however. My grandmother passed away today.
Mileage = 3.5 for the run & 3.7 for the hike; 7.2 total
Saturday, August 20, 2011: Around the Mountain
I returned to Mount Spokane for the "Around the Mountain" loop today. My favorite way to approach this is to start at the snowmobile SnoPark lot and take 130 up to B-29 trail, out to Bald Knob, out past the CCC cabin, and then down the hill on the Kit Carson Loop Trail. I take that until I reach the next 130 intersection (also known as the chair four road) and take that all the around the mountain--past chair four in the Alpine ski area and around to chair three. This time I took the cat track back to chair one and then just hiked back out along the road--it was a hot day and I was tired, so I decided to just walk the last part. I took two water bottles and drained them both today! I was also scouting for huckleberries--and I found them!
Mileage = 11.3
Mileage = 11.3
Friday, August 19, 2011
Mill Butte run & Frater Lake hike
Today I decided to explore the Little Pend Oreille Lakes area. As usual, I started out a little later than I intended and made quite a few stops along the way. I bought some more books even though I swore I wouldn't (I can't help myself!). I also saw a crosscut saw that I didn't buy, but I'm considering going back and getting it...on the one hand, I don't need another one, but on the other hand, it's hard to find one that isn't all rusty or has broken teeth. This one looked good...so.
For the run I went to Mill Butte. I think this trail was built by the WTA, and I wanted to check it out. It's a very nice loop run and the trail is in great shape, although it obviously doesn't get a lot of use. Most trails in this area are motorized, and most people in this area don't seem too inclined to go on foot on the few trails that aren't open to motorized use. There were a few places where I could see footprints, but there are also a lot of plants coming up on the trail tread. I ran the trail counter-clockwise and towards the end I discovered the Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge Rubbish Heap. It looked like it was mostly old trash, and a lot of it would be recyclable--there were a lot of glass bottles and old metal. I can't believe that they have never cleaned it up!
After that I continued east and tried to find more trails that were closed to motorized traffic. They proved hard to come by. I did the short stop at Crystal Falls State Park (on the Little Pend Oreille River), and then I finally ended up on the Nordic trails by Frater Lake and did a loop around the lake. Afterwards I went fishing! I purchased a fishing license in late June or early July, and today was the first time I actually used it! Not that I caught anything, of course. The fish were jumping, too, but I forgot to make sure I had bait in my tackle box and there weren't any grasshoppers near where I was casting.
Mileage = 4.5 for the run & the short hike to the falls; 3 for the hike--grand total of 7.6 miles
River visited: Little Pend Oreille River
Lake visited: Frater Lake
For the run I went to Mill Butte. I think this trail was built by the WTA, and I wanted to check it out. It's a very nice loop run and the trail is in great shape, although it obviously doesn't get a lot of use. Most trails in this area are motorized, and most people in this area don't seem too inclined to go on foot on the few trails that aren't open to motorized use. There were a few places where I could see footprints, but there are also a lot of plants coming up on the trail tread. I ran the trail counter-clockwise and towards the end I discovered the Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge Rubbish Heap. It looked like it was mostly old trash, and a lot of it would be recyclable--there were a lot of glass bottles and old metal. I can't believe that they have never cleaned it up!
After that I continued east and tried to find more trails that were closed to motorized traffic. They proved hard to come by. I did the short stop at Crystal Falls State Park (on the Little Pend Oreille River), and then I finally ended up on the Nordic trails by Frater Lake and did a loop around the lake. Afterwards I went fishing! I purchased a fishing license in late June or early July, and today was the first time I actually used it! Not that I caught anything, of course. The fish were jumping, too, but I forgot to make sure I had bait in my tackle box and there weren't any grasshoppers near where I was casting.
Mileage = 4.5 for the run & the short hike to the falls; 3 for the hike--grand total of 7.6 miles
River visited: Little Pend Oreille River
Lake visited: Frater Lake
Thursday, August 18, 2011
All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds?
That's right, I spent a good part of the day tending to my garden. Tending to my yard isn't going to be quite as much fun anymore, however; I discovered that someone has stolen my cool old wooden reel mower. :( My uncle fixed it up and gave it to me so that I could save gas, save the environment, and get a workout while mowing (I loved to push it while running back and forth across my little strip of grass). Now it's gone.
And someone broke into my basement, too. I discovered that when I turned out the lights to go to bed last night--there was a sliver of light on my back lawn. I investigated and found the basement door ajar and the light on. The door was still locked, but open. Freaky.
And then two nights ago I found the strange vehicle parked near my house, the woman inside claiming she "lived just down the road" and was "just hanging out, is that okay?" I replied that it made me nervous when people "just hang out" by my house at 10:30pm and I'd rather she went elsewhere. She complied; perhaps it was innocent and unrelated, but now I wonder. I'm getting photos of all strange vehicles in the future (I went out to get the license plate number, not realizing there was anyone inside; when she got out, I didn't get the number. Next time, photo.).
At any rate, after all of that stress and my shattered sense of neighborhood safety, I needed a good run tonight. I returned to Mount Spokane, parked at the switchback lot, and ran up 110 to the Mt. Kit Carson Loop and took that all the way back to the trailhead. It felt pretty good until the last 1/2 mile when I got a bit of a twinge in my left calf. I decided I'd better play it safe and walk the rest of the way back.
Mileage = 7.6
And someone broke into my basement, too. I discovered that when I turned out the lights to go to bed last night--there was a sliver of light on my back lawn. I investigated and found the basement door ajar and the light on. The door was still locked, but open. Freaky.
And then two nights ago I found the strange vehicle parked near my house, the woman inside claiming she "lived just down the road" and was "just hanging out, is that okay?" I replied that it made me nervous when people "just hang out" by my house at 10:30pm and I'd rather she went elsewhere. She complied; perhaps it was innocent and unrelated, but now I wonder. I'm getting photos of all strange vehicles in the future (I went out to get the license plate number, not realizing there was anyone inside; when she got out, I didn't get the number. Next time, photo.).
At any rate, after all of that stress and my shattered sense of neighborhood safety, I needed a good run tonight. I returned to Mount Spokane, parked at the switchback lot, and ran up 110 to the Mt. Kit Carson Loop and took that all the way back to the trailhead. It felt pretty good until the last 1/2 mile when I got a bit of a twinge in my left calf. I decided I'd better play it safe and walk the rest of the way back.
Mileage = 7.6
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Purple palms!
I had every good intention of getting up early, going for a trail run, and then going for huckleberries. Really I did. It's just that I was sooooo sore when I woke up! Instead, I enjoyed the sunrise over Spirit Lake (gorgeous!) and then went back to sleep. When I finally got up (nearly 7am; the sun was up and I was roasting in the sleeping bag and bivy sack) I opted for the coffee rather than the run, and then I hiked out on the Nordic trails to find the good huckleberries. I didn't return to the chalet until nearly 3pm, and I now have somewhere around a gallon of fresh huckleberries. Time to get out the pancake mix!
Trails hiked = Mountain View, Alpine, Lodgepole, Shady Way, Twin Lakes, Buckland; return via Twin Lakes, Raven Glide, Hemlock, Sam's Swoop, & Bear Grass.
Hint = the best huckleberries were on Twin Lakes and Buckland :)
Mileage = 6.3
Trails hiked = Mountain View, Alpine, Lodgepole, Shady Way, Twin Lakes, Buckland; return via Twin Lakes, Raven Glide, Hemlock, Sam's Swoop, & Bear Grass.
Hint = the best huckleberries were on Twin Lakes and Buckland :)
Mileage = 6.3
August 17, 2011: Trail run + huckleberry hike
Today I decided to go to the chalet for a trailrun followed by a huckleberry hunt followed by stargazing from the deck. For the run I left the chalet and ran up 130 past Bald Knob, out to the CCC cabin, & then down to the big intersection with 110, 135, 140 & 170. I took a run intermission to check out the huckleberry crop on 110 and 135 (1/2 mile of walking but the berries were all still green). Then I continued the run up 170 to the summit of Mt. Kit Carson, took 130 across to the saddle between Kit Carson and Day, and then returned via 130.
When I got back to the chalet I ate dinner and then headed over to the Nordic area to find some huckleberries. I picked about a quart from Brian's Hill and Bear Grass before I returned to the chalet.
The stargazing wasn't so great tonight--it was a little hazy. It was pretty cool when the moon rose, however--it was bright orange. I didn't see any meteors this time.
Mileage = 9.6
When I got back to the chalet I ate dinner and then headed over to the Nordic area to find some huckleberries. I picked about a quart from Brian's Hill and Bear Grass before I returned to the chalet.
The stargazing wasn't so great tonight--it was a little hazy. It was pretty cool when the moon rose, however--it was bright orange. I didn't see any meteors this time.
Mileage = 9.6
Monday, August 15, 2011
Paying the price for my weekend
Yesterday wasn't bad, but today my knees hurt. I iced in the morning, and I'd better go ice again as soon as I finish this post.
I decided that I really needed to go for a trailrun tonight. For one thing, I spent most of my day catching up on my garden so I was short on time in the afternoon, and running my miles takes significantly less time than walking them. For another thing, I have Cutthroat to worry about. I have learned that no matter how much I hike, hiking does not make me a faster runner. At least running makes me a faster hiker!
At any rate, I knew I needed the flattest trails I could find; Centennial Trail's pavement would only make my knees worse, so that left the Nordic area. I ran out on Brian's Hill, Sam's Swoop, Lodgepole, and Quartz Mountain, and then returned via Twin Lakes, Shady Way, Silver, Blue Jay, and Valley View. While I was out there I found a good patch of ripe huckleberries; guess where I'm hiking tomorrow?
Today's mileage: 7.9
I decided that I really needed to go for a trailrun tonight. For one thing, I spent most of my day catching up on my garden so I was short on time in the afternoon, and running my miles takes significantly less time than walking them. For another thing, I have Cutthroat to worry about. I have learned that no matter how much I hike, hiking does not make me a faster runner. At least running makes me a faster hiker!
At any rate, I knew I needed the flattest trails I could find; Centennial Trail's pavement would only make my knees worse, so that left the Nordic area. I ran out on Brian's Hill, Sam's Swoop, Lodgepole, and Quartz Mountain, and then returned via Twin Lakes, Shady Way, Silver, Blue Jay, and Valley View. While I was out there I found a good patch of ripe huckleberries; guess where I'm hiking tomorrow?
Today's mileage: 7.9
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Lake Ethel
Originally we had picked out an 18-mile loop hike for today, but we were both feeling a little sore after yesterday's hike. We decided to pick something with less mileage, and settled on the Lake Ethel trail. According to an old map I had, I was expecting it to be 3.5 miles to the lake, but when we got to the trailhead the sign said that it was 4.5 miles. We hadn't allowed enough time for an extra two miles, so we knew that we'd have to turn back before we got to the lake.
What we hadn't expected was a giant clearcut at three miles in. The guidebook mentioned that the trail crossed some private property and that we'd see some clearcuts, but I hadn't expected a clearcut right across the trail. It was a pretty trail until that point, and it was so sad to see a giant slash pile right next to it.
Mileage = 6
What we hadn't expected was a giant clearcut at three miles in. The guidebook mentioned that the trail crossed some private property and that we'd see some clearcuts, but I hadn't expected a clearcut right across the trail. It was a pretty trail until that point, and it was so sad to see a giant slash pile right next to it.
Mileage = 6
Saturday, August 13, 2011: I can finally hike Aasgard faster than I can run a half-marathon!
Since we were camped at the trailhead, it was easy to do a 6:30am start for the hike. Several other groups actually got started before we did! I like to get up early in the morning, but hiking so early is hard for me. I generally prefer a leisurely morning with copious amounts of coffee. Instead, I barely had two sips of my coffee (still too hot!) before we bolted up the trail. We maintained a steady pace to Colchuck, overtaking one of the groups that got an earlier start than we did. We had second breakfast at the lake, and then we tackled Aasgard Pass.
The last time I hiked Aasgard Pass I timed it, and it took an hour and thirty-five minutes. It's only nine-tenths of a mile. My half-marathon PR is an hour and thirty-two minutes. Embarrassing. I was determined to be faster today. I timed it, and from the base to the top it took an hour, twenty-one minutes and fifty-five seconds! A PR! We distance runners are nutty about PRs (okay, maybe it's just me...I'm constantly looking for signs that I'm not just old and out of shape now).
Once we got to the Upper Enchantments we slowed down quite a bit. Jeff H. had never been there before, and I had never seen so many mountain goats all at once before. I'm not quite as awed by them as I once was (after all, what can compare to having three different goats lick me on two different trips up Scotchman Peak?), but the goats were everywhere today! We twice counted at least ten goats in a group. We had one goat approach us and seemingly pose for pictures below Little Anapurna. She was willing us to pee on a rock, but still, it was cool. We did the side hike up to Prusik Pass for lunch and watched two sets of nannies with kids lounging in the snow. Plus, there were all of the lakes! Pace became secondary to photography.
Then we had to descend to Snow Lakes. Pace became secondary to safety. That trail is steep--far steeper than I remember. I can't believe that the last time I went down that trail I had a fifty-pound pack on my back. It was tough enough today with just a day-pack.
We stopped again for a snack break between Upper and Lower Snow Lakes, and we realized that we were going to be a little later than we intended. At least the trail was super easy from there back to the parking lot. Just before we arrived, we spotted two more goats! I had no idea that they ventured so far down, but there was another nanny and kid standing on a rock just a mile from the Snow Lake trailhead!
Mileage = 21.4
Lakes visited = Colchuck Lake, Tranquil Lake, Isolation Lake, Inspiration Lake, Perfection Lake, Sprite Lake, Leprechaun Lake, Lake Viviane, Upper Snow Lake, Lower Snow Lake, Nada Lake
The last time I hiked Aasgard Pass I timed it, and it took an hour and thirty-five minutes. It's only nine-tenths of a mile. My half-marathon PR is an hour and thirty-two minutes. Embarrassing. I was determined to be faster today. I timed it, and from the base to the top it took an hour, twenty-one minutes and fifty-five seconds! A PR! We distance runners are nutty about PRs (okay, maybe it's just me...I'm constantly looking for signs that I'm not just old and out of shape now).
Once we got to the Upper Enchantments we slowed down quite a bit. Jeff H. had never been there before, and I had never seen so many mountain goats all at once before. I'm not quite as awed by them as I once was (after all, what can compare to having three different goats lick me on two different trips up Scotchman Peak?), but the goats were everywhere today! We twice counted at least ten goats in a group. We had one goat approach us and seemingly pose for pictures below Little Anapurna. She was willing us to pee on a rock, but still, it was cool. We did the side hike up to Prusik Pass for lunch and watched two sets of nannies with kids lounging in the snow. Plus, there were all of the lakes! Pace became secondary to photography.
Then we had to descend to Snow Lakes. Pace became secondary to safety. That trail is steep--far steeper than I remember. I can't believe that the last time I went down that trail I had a fifty-pound pack on my back. It was tough enough today with just a day-pack.
We stopped again for a snack break between Upper and Lower Snow Lakes, and we realized that we were going to be a little later than we intended. At least the trail was super easy from there back to the parking lot. Just before we arrived, we spotted two more goats! I had no idea that they ventured so far down, but there was another nanny and kid standing on a rock just a mile from the Snow Lake trailhead!
Mileage = 21.4
Lakes visited = Colchuck Lake, Tranquil Lake, Isolation Lake, Inspiration Lake, Perfection Lake, Sprite Lake, Leprechaun Lake, Lake Viviane, Upper Snow Lake, Lower Snow Lake, Nada Lake
Friday, August 12, 2011: Eightmile Lakes
Today I drove to Leavenworth for the Alpine Lakes Wilderness dayhikes with Deb and Jeff. It was supposed to be a Mountaineers' event, but only one person signed up and then she got injured and canceled. Deb was still injured, too, so it was just going to be Jeff and me hiking; Deb brought a bike.
My job was to get there early and find a campsite, but I failed miserably! I left Spokane a little later than I intended, and arrived at Eightmile Campground at 4pm. The sign said there were still spaces available, but there weren't. I went to the next campground and found it was already full, too. I then drove up to the trailhead for Eightmile Lakes and did a quick out-and-back to the upper lake--it was an easy trail, and I should have just run it! It took about 2 hours to hike it. Then I went to leave a note for Jeff and Deb that we'd be stuck camping at the trailhead. We weren't the only ones, either--as I cooked my dinner in the parking lot several other people drove in, and we all ended up converting the back of our cars into our beds for the night. Actually, it was pretty comfortable, and it allowed us a very early start for Saturday's big hike.
Mileage = 6.6
Lakes visited = Little Eightmile Lake and Eightmile Lake
My job was to get there early and find a campsite, but I failed miserably! I left Spokane a little later than I intended, and arrived at Eightmile Campground at 4pm. The sign said there were still spaces available, but there weren't. I went to the next campground and found it was already full, too. I then drove up to the trailhead for Eightmile Lakes and did a quick out-and-back to the upper lake--it was an easy trail, and I should have just run it! It took about 2 hours to hike it. Then I went to leave a note for Jeff and Deb that we'd be stuck camping at the trailhead. We weren't the only ones, either--as I cooked my dinner in the parking lot several other people drove in, and we all ended up converting the back of our cars into our beds for the night. Actually, it was pretty comfortable, and it allowed us a very early start for Saturday's big hike.
Mileage = 6.6
Lakes visited = Little Eightmile Lake and Eightmile Lake
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Centennial Trail run
Tonight I had to go to Costco, so I decided to run on Centennial Trail before I went shopping. I like to combine trips, even if it does mean going to the store in my running clothes. It's not my favorite running route, but it works. There were so many people out this afternoon!
Today's mileage = 6
Elapsed time = 48:51 (slow!)
River = Spokane River
Today's mileage = 6
Elapsed time = 48:51 (slow!)
River = Spokane River
August 10, 2011: Sullivan Lake hikes
After the Salmo Loop I drove to Gypsy Meadows to spend the night. That place brings back good memories of trailwork parties with Conservation Northwest, the Mountaineers, the Backcountry Horsemen, and the North Idaho Saddle Mule Club. Doing trailwork with the BCH and NISMC is the best! It's not just that they pack the trail tools in for the hikers--it's that those guys know how to cook! Every time we did trailwork with that crew I actually gained weight despite the tough work.
This time there were no horse or mule people camping in the meadow; it seemed pretty sad to see a jeep near the creek and the high-lead lines empty. I climbed in the tent soon after it got dark and the next thing I knew it was morning! I couldn't believe how soundly I slept!
I had a leisurely breakfast and then headed down to Sullivan Lake to hike the lakeshore trail. I started at Noisy Creek, hiked to the far end, followed the Sullivan Lake Interpretive Trail Loop, and then returned on the lakeshore trail.
Today's mileage: 9 miles
Lakes visited: Sullivan Lake
This time there were no horse or mule people camping in the meadow; it seemed pretty sad to see a jeep near the creek and the high-lead lines empty. I climbed in the tent soon after it got dark and the next thing I knew it was morning! I couldn't believe how soundly I slept!
I had a leisurely breakfast and then headed down to Sullivan Lake to hike the lakeshore trail. I started at Noisy Creek, hiked to the far end, followed the Sullivan Lake Interpretive Trail Loop, and then returned on the lakeshore trail.
Today's mileage: 9 miles
Lakes visited: Sullivan Lake
August 9, 2011: Salmo Loop!
The Salmo Loop is a hike-a-thon favorite; I do it every year, and last year I did it twice! There aren't too many loops like this one: an inland temperate rain forest with huge old growth trees; a river to follow for miles; a ridge with views of Canada, Washington, Idaho, and Montana; wildflowers everywhere; and a chance to see wildlife, including rare wildlife (still no sign of the elusive caribou, however).
Jeff J. was the brave soul who joined me for this year's loop in a day. He had never hiked it before, and said that this was only his second trip into the Salmo Priest Wilderness.
We hiked down 506 first so that we wouldn't have that steep three mile section at the end of the day. The river crossing was really tame this time, and we spent a long time admiring rocks after we crossed the river. I wish I could remember more from that geology class I took in college; the rocks up there are so pretty! We went to the Salmo Cabin, spooked a moose (well, we think it was a moose--we only heard something BIG run off into the woods and saw its obvious bed next to the trail).
Once we made it to the ridge we went up to the Little Snowy Top Lookout, where I saw the strangest juxtaposition of reading material ever assembled: a copy of Playboy next to a copy of the New Testament. Nearby were some dice. Also a compass: not a moral compass! Somebody had a sense of humor.
The wildflowers on the Shedroof Divide were spectacular. The lupine were just starting; the tiger lilies, larkspur, and columbine were in full bloom; and there were a lot of flowers that I couldn't even identify.
Today's mileage: 21.5 miles
Rivers visited: Salmo River
Jeff J. was the brave soul who joined me for this year's loop in a day. He had never hiked it before, and said that this was only his second trip into the Salmo Priest Wilderness.
We hiked down 506 first so that we wouldn't have that steep three mile section at the end of the day. The river crossing was really tame this time, and we spent a long time admiring rocks after we crossed the river. I wish I could remember more from that geology class I took in college; the rocks up there are so pretty! We went to the Salmo Cabin, spooked a moose (well, we think it was a moose--we only heard something BIG run off into the woods and saw its obvious bed next to the trail).
Once we made it to the ridge we went up to the Little Snowy Top Lookout, where I saw the strangest juxtaposition of reading material ever assembled: a copy of Playboy next to a copy of the New Testament. Nearby were some dice. Also a compass: not a moral compass! Somebody had a sense of humor.
The wildflowers on the Shedroof Divide were spectacular. The lupine were just starting; the tiger lilies, larkspur, and columbine were in full bloom; and there were a lot of flowers that I couldn't even identify.
Today's mileage: 21.5 miles
Rivers visited: Salmo River
August 8, 2011: Trail run on Mount Spokane
Today I ran the 110-140 loop on Mount Spokane. I can't believe that I haven't ran this since last fall (there was snow on it then!). 140 is obviously quite popular with the mountain bikers...in other words, it's super dusty. I didn't see anyone else today, though. I also didn't see many ripe huckleberries. Hopefully by next week they'll be ready!
Today's mileage = 6
Today's mileage = 6
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Good things come to those who get lost
I also wanted to get in some lake hikes this weekend. I decided to head back toward Republic before going home in order to see what hiking trails I could find near some of the lakes on the Ferry County side.
The first lake on my list was Curlew Lake at Curlew Lake State Park; I figured that a State Park was bound to have some hiking trails. Well, Curlew Lake is definitely developed more for the RV camping and fishing enthusiasts, but it did have a short interpretive loop hike. I estimate that it was about 1 mile.
After that I headed south of Republic--Aaron had told me awhile back that Swan Lake had some hiking trails. At first I was really disappointed--a kiosk at the lake said that the Swan Lake Loop trail was only 1.5 miles. I put on my running shoes and decided that I'd better run it both directions to get in at least 3 miles, but I wasn't really looking forward to it. Then I got about a mile in and saw a side trail that was labeled Ferry/Swan Lakes Loop! That looked a lot more promising--a loop! and two lakes instead of just one!
Things went well at first. I was afraid I'd lost the trail a few times, but then I'd find another directional marker (and once I was charged by an angry mother grouse!). It was obviously not a heavily used trail. After 40 minutes of running (and feeling pretty good for a change) I arrived at Ferry Lake. Then I couldn't find any more markers. I saw someone at the boat launch, so I decided to ask if he knew where the trail went from there. He was standing in the lake looking at some ripples several feet farther out in the lake--and then a loon popped up from under the surface! I have never seen a loon except in pictures!
The guy didn't know where the trail went, however. He said he did it years ago, and that he, too, lost the route. I went down what looked like the correct trail, but it was quickly too overgrown to follow. I had no choice but to retrace my steps. I never intended to go for a 10 mile run today, but seeing the loon made it all worthwhile.
After I made it back to Swan Lake (which included a run-in with the local bovine population plus my first lake swimming experience of this chilly summer) I drove back to Ferry Lake, hoping to get a picture of the loon. I never did see it again, but I could hear it calling from the end of the lake--they are the coolest-sounding birds!
Today's mileage: 11
Lakes visited: Curlew Lake, Swan Lake, Ferry Lake
The first lake on my list was Curlew Lake at Curlew Lake State Park; I figured that a State Park was bound to have some hiking trails. Well, Curlew Lake is definitely developed more for the RV camping and fishing enthusiasts, but it did have a short interpretive loop hike. I estimate that it was about 1 mile.
After that I headed south of Republic--Aaron had told me awhile back that Swan Lake had some hiking trails. At first I was really disappointed--a kiosk at the lake said that the Swan Lake Loop trail was only 1.5 miles. I put on my running shoes and decided that I'd better run it both directions to get in at least 3 miles, but I wasn't really looking forward to it. Then I got about a mile in and saw a side trail that was labeled Ferry/Swan Lakes Loop! That looked a lot more promising--a loop! and two lakes instead of just one!
Things went well at first. I was afraid I'd lost the trail a few times, but then I'd find another directional marker (and once I was charged by an angry mother grouse!). It was obviously not a heavily used trail. After 40 minutes of running (and feeling pretty good for a change) I arrived at Ferry Lake. Then I couldn't find any more markers. I saw someone at the boat launch, so I decided to ask if he knew where the trail went from there. He was standing in the lake looking at some ripples several feet farther out in the lake--and then a loon popped up from under the surface! I have never seen a loon except in pictures!
The guy didn't know where the trail went, however. He said he did it years ago, and that he, too, lost the route. I went down what looked like the correct trail, but it was quickly too overgrown to follow. I had no choice but to retrace my steps. I never intended to go for a 10 mile run today, but seeing the loon made it all worthwhile.
After I made it back to Swan Lake (which included a run-in with the local bovine population plus my first lake swimming experience of this chilly summer) I drove back to Ferry Lake, hoping to get a picture of the loon. I never did see it again, but I could hear it calling from the end of the lake--they are the coolest-sounding birds!
Today's mileage: 11
Lakes visited: Curlew Lake, Swan Lake, Ferry Lake
Saturday, August 6, 2011: This ain't no cake walk!
Ah, cake walk: the name given to the experience of hiking the entire Kettle Crest in a day. Months ago we picked August 6th as the date of this year's cake walk. At one point I think there were 8 or 10 of us planning to do it. Derrick said we'd better cap it at that so it didn't go too big; it's 43 unsupported miles, after all. Then the attrition started.
Derrick had a meeting, Deb became injured, Aaron and his siblings bowed out, I got sick, and I don't even know what happened to the others. In the end, it was down to just Jeff H.; Deb and I were the shuttle, and I would get in what mileage I could along the way.
Jeff got started at 5am; I was going to join him as far as White Mountain, but I slept through my alarm and decided I'd better just join him for a later section, instead. Deb and I got to sleep in, then we packed up and drove to Sherman Pass to wait for Jeff. I joined him from there as far as the Columbia Mountain Trail, and then I did the loop and went up to the summit to check out the rebuilt lookout cabin. My morning mileage was 8.
After that Deb and I drove to Republic for lunch and to check out town, and then we continued up to Boulder/Deer Creek Summit to set up camp and wait for Jeff to arrive. I felt pretty good on the morning hike, so I decided to try an afternoon trailrun. At first I was just going to do an out-and-back on the Kettle Crest trail, but on the kiosk near the trailhead I found a sign describing the Deer Creek Summit Loop--South, 7.1 miles, and I decided to run that instead. Well, it was really more like wogging--at first I just walked all steep uphills plus whenever I had a coughing fit, but after awhile I was just taking periodic walking breaks. I was a little tired!
When I got back Deb had gotten the campfire started, and we spent the evening roasting sausage for dinner, having s'mores for dessert, and watching the stars and meteor showers (no light pollution!). Jeff finished just after midnight with a very sore knee but no other problems.
Today's mileage = 15.1 (now that's more like it!)
Derrick had a meeting, Deb became injured, Aaron and his siblings bowed out, I got sick, and I don't even know what happened to the others. In the end, it was down to just Jeff H.; Deb and I were the shuttle, and I would get in what mileage I could along the way.
Jeff got started at 5am; I was going to join him as far as White Mountain, but I slept through my alarm and decided I'd better just join him for a later section, instead. Deb and I got to sleep in, then we packed up and drove to Sherman Pass to wait for Jeff. I joined him from there as far as the Columbia Mountain Trail, and then I did the loop and went up to the summit to check out the rebuilt lookout cabin. My morning mileage was 8.
After that Deb and I drove to Republic for lunch and to check out town, and then we continued up to Boulder/Deer Creek Summit to set up camp and wait for Jeff to arrive. I felt pretty good on the morning hike, so I decided to try an afternoon trailrun. At first I was just going to do an out-and-back on the Kettle Crest trail, but on the kiosk near the trailhead I found a sign describing the Deer Creek Summit Loop--South, 7.1 miles, and I decided to run that instead. Well, it was really more like wogging--at first I just walked all steep uphills plus whenever I had a coughing fit, but after awhile I was just taking periodic walking breaks. I was a little tired!
When I got back Deb had gotten the campfire started, and we spent the evening roasting sausage for dinner, having s'mores for dessert, and watching the stars and meteor showers (no light pollution!). Jeff finished just after midnight with a very sore knee but no other problems.
Today's mileage = 15.1 (now that's more like it!)
Friday, August 5, 2011: It was a bad sign
I left town in the early afternoon in order to make the drive up to the Kettle Crest--I was supposed to meet Deb and Jeff at the White Mountain TH in the evening. I took my time going north, stopping in several interesting shops along the way. In one, I found that the shop owner had fallen asleep in his chair at the front of the store; he had relaxing music turned WAY up, and he didn't even hear me enter. I felt a little like an intruder! I don't think he ever knew he had a customer; I didn't find anything to buy, so I exited quietly without waking him.
Once I crossed over the Columbia I started looking for places to hike. I was hoping I could find a trail on the Columbia itself, but nothing stood out on the map. I drove up to the Log Flume trail and ate a snack as I hiked the .5 mile interpretive loop.
After that I continued up the pass, and that's when I saw the bad sign--a huge sign that said "Sherman Creek Trail." I turned, hoping that I could get a few extra miles in. Immediately off the highway was another sign that said Canyon Creek Trail #93, a barrier free trail (paved) that was built by boy scout volunteers. I was sure that the Sherman Creek Trail would be longer than this trail, so I continued up the road. The map wasn't promising: there was no sign of any trail, and it showed that the road was a dead-end at a scenic overlook. However, the map also didn't show the Canyon Creek Trail, so I continued.
The mile markers went from three to four to five to...four!? It turned out the road wasn't a dead-end, it was a loop; there was no scenic overlook, and there also was no Sherman Creek Trail. At least not that I could see.
I went back to the Canyon Creek Trail and decided that it was my only option. I hiked it both directions--it turned out it returned to the Log Flume Trail when I went east, and it ended at the Canyon Creek Campground when I went west. Based on hiking time, I estimated that it was 2.5 miles.
Grand total for the day = 3 miles. I'm soooo far behind.
Once I crossed over the Columbia I started looking for places to hike. I was hoping I could find a trail on the Columbia itself, but nothing stood out on the map. I drove up to the Log Flume trail and ate a snack as I hiked the .5 mile interpretive loop.
After that I continued up the pass, and that's when I saw the bad sign--a huge sign that said "Sherman Creek Trail." I turned, hoping that I could get a few extra miles in. Immediately off the highway was another sign that said Canyon Creek Trail #93, a barrier free trail (paved) that was built by boy scout volunteers. I was sure that the Sherman Creek Trail would be longer than this trail, so I continued up the road. The map wasn't promising: there was no sign of any trail, and it showed that the road was a dead-end at a scenic overlook. However, the map also didn't show the Canyon Creek Trail, so I continued.
The mile markers went from three to four to five to...four!? It turned out the road wasn't a dead-end, it was a loop; there was no scenic overlook, and there also was no Sherman Creek Trail. At least not that I could see.
I went back to the Canyon Creek Trail and decided that it was my only option. I hiked it both directions--it turned out it returned to the Log Flume Trail when I went east, and it ended at the Canyon Creek Campground when I went west. Based on hiking time, I estimated that it was 2.5 miles.
Grand total for the day = 3 miles. I'm soooo far behind.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Still sick...
Julius Caesar, Act II, scene i:
Marcus Brutus: O, what a time you chose out, brave Caius, / To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick!
Caius Ligarius: [...]I here discard my sickness! [....] Now bid me run, / And I will strive with things impossible; / Yea, get the better of them.
If only I could discard my sickness! I tried to run, I tried to strive with things impossible, but they got the better of me instead. I returned to Mount Spokane this morning to attempt an easy trail run in the Nordic area. I was very quickly reduced to walking all but the downhill sections (and I even had to walk some of the downhills). My nailbeds turned bluish again, but at least my heart rate remained at 10-11 on a 6-second count (in the Wallowas I checked it one morning upon waking and it was at 15 on a 6-second count!). I'm going to have a lot of catching up to do once I'm over whatever this is. At least I still haven't needed a zero-mileage day.
Today's total: 3.9 miles
Marcus Brutus: O, what a time you chose out, brave Caius, / To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick!
Caius Ligarius: [...]I here discard my sickness! [....] Now bid me run, / And I will strive with things impossible; / Yea, get the better of them.
If only I could discard my sickness! I tried to run, I tried to strive with things impossible, but they got the better of me instead. I returned to Mount Spokane this morning to attempt an easy trail run in the Nordic area. I was very quickly reduced to walking all but the downhill sections (and I even had to walk some of the downhills). My nailbeds turned bluish again, but at least my heart rate remained at 10-11 on a 6-second count (in the Wallowas I checked it one morning upon waking and it was at 15 on a 6-second count!). I'm going to have a lot of catching up to do once I'm over whatever this is. At least I still haven't needed a zero-mileage day.
Today's total: 3.9 miles
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Easy hike and cool find
I am determined to avoid a zero-mileage day this hike-a-thon, but I was still not feeling very well today. I decided I'd better not try the Mountaineers' Wednesday night hike, but I still wanted to go to Mount Spokane. I figured out a great way to make the hike easier, too! It's practically cheating, but I took both Kari and Blaze with me. I got out their skijor two-dog leash and clipped it to my hip belt on my backpack, and they practically pulled me up the big hill on trail 120A! Then I hiked out 120 for a mile, turned around to come back, and returned via 120B. And the cool find? Not long after I turned around I was coming around a switchback on the trail and noticed something bright-white on the downhill side. I debated not checking it out, but I'm glad I did in the end--I found a cool buck skull, antlers still attached! It's a 2x3. I didn't have the camera with me, so I had to wait until I got home to have Kari and Blaze pose with it for posterity.
Daily total: 3.2 miles (at least it's not zero!)
Daily total: 3.2 miles (at least it's not zero!)
It's started...slowly
Last spring I planned the trip that would start my hike-a-thon: a Wallowas backpack trip that I would co-lead for the Spokane Mountaineers. But no one signed up for the trip, and then my co-leader got an injury that would keep her at home, too. So I scrambled to salvage at least a portion of the trip.
Instead of the 95-mile route Deb and I had originally planned, I moved the trip to the Lakes Basin. Jeff agreed to join me for the weekend, but he had to be back to work on Monday...so I decided to go solo for the rest of the trip.
Everything started out well: Jeff and I left town late Friday morning and drove to the trailhead, and then hiked in 2-3 miles and camped along the East Fork Lostine River that night. We hiked to the lakes basin Saturday morning, set up one tent at Mirror Lake in order to stash our excess gear, and then took day packs to hike up Eagle Cap (9572'). There is still a lot of snow up there, and the trail to Horton Pass was pretty much entirely snow-covered. We kicked steps up to the pass, but the ridge was mostly snow-free and we were able to pick up the trail to Eagle Cap's summit. Then we hiked (and glissaded!) back down and picked up our gear in order to move camp to Moccasin Lake. On Sunday Jeff packed up to leave and I hiked with him as far as Carper Pass (around 8500'), then returned to Moccasin Lake, packed up, and started hiking to Glacier Lake--I wanted to wake up to Glacier Lake for my hike-a-thon start!
Things went downhill from there. I was feeling really, really tired by the time I got to Glacier Lake. The trail over Glacier Pass was between 50-75% snow-covered, so I had a hard hike up with a full pack. The pass is at about 8400', and the lake is at 8166'. I didn't know it at the time, but it turned out I had overdone it. A lot.
That night there was a huge thunder storm--probably the biggest storm I've camped through. Of course I couldn't sleep while that was going on, and then even when it ended I couldn't sleep: I had developed a hacking cough that kept me awake all night long.
Monday morning and the start of hike-a-thon found me feeling fairly miserable after a completely sleepless night. I even skipped the usual morning coffee in favor of three cups of tea. I thought I had come down with a cold (now I'm not so sure). I was supposed to hike out via Frazier Lake and the Wallowa River trail and move camp to Ice Lake (I have wanted to see this lake for years!), but I felt so awful that I decided it might be a better idea to just return to the lakes basin to camp and do a day hike if I felt better in the afternoon. I didn't feel better. In fact, it took me about three hours to do the three miles back to the lakes basin. I set up camp in a different spot at Moccasin Lake and took a two-hour afternoon nap in the shade. I still didn't feel like hiking when I woke up, and I started to suspect that something worse than a cold was wrong with me. I started drinking Pedialyte and decided to go to bed early (influenced by another approaching thunderstorm!).
I had no more than gotten into the tent when a very, very large group came up the trail and decided to camp right next to me! I hadn't seen anyone else all day long, I don't think there was anyone else camping at the entire lake, and these guys camped so close I could have tossed a rock and hit their tents (and I'm not a very good shot when it comes to tossing rocks). I counted at least 12 of them, and group size in the lakes basin is 6. Nice. The joke was on them, though. I had the same hacking cough all night long, and I'm sure they enjoyed listening to me.
It was Monday night when I realized that this was something worse than a cold. I began to suspect HAPE, which is weird considering that it isn't exactly super high altitude up there, but I did go from my house at about 2400' to over 6000' the first night, then hiked to 9572' and slept at 7473' the second night, then hiked to 8500', down to 7473', back up to 8400', and slept at 8166' when I first started to feel symptoms (and I talked to Jeff about this yesterday and he said I started coughing Saturday night--I hadn't even noticed it then). At any rate, all of my ideas about dayhikes were out the window following my second sleepless night. I needed to get back down instead. I got up at first light on Tuesday (it's not like I was sleeping, anyway!), packed up and hiked out.
The farther down I got, the better I felt, but I still needed frequent rest breaks. I just couldn't draw a full breath, and I still had the terrible cough. I went to Enterprise to pick up some cough medicine and drove home. My hike-a-thon starting mileage is terrible! I need to get lots of sleep and drink lots of water and try to get caught up!
There was good news waiting for me at home, though: I was on the wait-list for the Cutthroat Classic, and I got in! Now there's some incentive to start running more!
Stats:
Monday mileage--3.5 miles (parts of trails 1806 (Glacier Pass) and 1810A. Lakes visited: Glacier Lake, Moccasin Lake.
Tuesday mileage--9.3 miles (parts of trail 1810A and 1810 plus 1662. Lakes visited: Mirror Lake, Upper Lake. River visited: East Fork Lostine River.
Instead of the 95-mile route Deb and I had originally planned, I moved the trip to the Lakes Basin. Jeff agreed to join me for the weekend, but he had to be back to work on Monday...so I decided to go solo for the rest of the trip.
Everything started out well: Jeff and I left town late Friday morning and drove to the trailhead, and then hiked in 2-3 miles and camped along the East Fork Lostine River that night. We hiked to the lakes basin Saturday morning, set up one tent at Mirror Lake in order to stash our excess gear, and then took day packs to hike up Eagle Cap (9572'). There is still a lot of snow up there, and the trail to Horton Pass was pretty much entirely snow-covered. We kicked steps up to the pass, but the ridge was mostly snow-free and we were able to pick up the trail to Eagle Cap's summit. Then we hiked (and glissaded!) back down and picked up our gear in order to move camp to Moccasin Lake. On Sunday Jeff packed up to leave and I hiked with him as far as Carper Pass (around 8500'), then returned to Moccasin Lake, packed up, and started hiking to Glacier Lake--I wanted to wake up to Glacier Lake for my hike-a-thon start!
Things went downhill from there. I was feeling really, really tired by the time I got to Glacier Lake. The trail over Glacier Pass was between 50-75% snow-covered, so I had a hard hike up with a full pack. The pass is at about 8400', and the lake is at 8166'. I didn't know it at the time, but it turned out I had overdone it. A lot.
That night there was a huge thunder storm--probably the biggest storm I've camped through. Of course I couldn't sleep while that was going on, and then even when it ended I couldn't sleep: I had developed a hacking cough that kept me awake all night long.
Monday morning and the start of hike-a-thon found me feeling fairly miserable after a completely sleepless night. I even skipped the usual morning coffee in favor of three cups of tea. I thought I had come down with a cold (now I'm not so sure). I was supposed to hike out via Frazier Lake and the Wallowa River trail and move camp to Ice Lake (I have wanted to see this lake for years!), but I felt so awful that I decided it might be a better idea to just return to the lakes basin to camp and do a day hike if I felt better in the afternoon. I didn't feel better. In fact, it took me about three hours to do the three miles back to the lakes basin. I set up camp in a different spot at Moccasin Lake and took a two-hour afternoon nap in the shade. I still didn't feel like hiking when I woke up, and I started to suspect that something worse than a cold was wrong with me. I started drinking Pedialyte and decided to go to bed early (influenced by another approaching thunderstorm!).
I had no more than gotten into the tent when a very, very large group came up the trail and decided to camp right next to me! I hadn't seen anyone else all day long, I don't think there was anyone else camping at the entire lake, and these guys camped so close I could have tossed a rock and hit their tents (and I'm not a very good shot when it comes to tossing rocks). I counted at least 12 of them, and group size in the lakes basin is 6. Nice. The joke was on them, though. I had the same hacking cough all night long, and I'm sure they enjoyed listening to me.
It was Monday night when I realized that this was something worse than a cold. I began to suspect HAPE, which is weird considering that it isn't exactly super high altitude up there, but I did go from my house at about 2400' to over 6000' the first night, then hiked to 9572' and slept at 7473' the second night, then hiked to 8500', down to 7473', back up to 8400', and slept at 8166' when I first started to feel symptoms (and I talked to Jeff about this yesterday and he said I started coughing Saturday night--I hadn't even noticed it then). At any rate, all of my ideas about dayhikes were out the window following my second sleepless night. I needed to get back down instead. I got up at first light on Tuesday (it's not like I was sleeping, anyway!), packed up and hiked out.
The farther down I got, the better I felt, but I still needed frequent rest breaks. I just couldn't draw a full breath, and I still had the terrible cough. I went to Enterprise to pick up some cough medicine and drove home. My hike-a-thon starting mileage is terrible! I need to get lots of sleep and drink lots of water and try to get caught up!
There was good news waiting for me at home, though: I was on the wait-list for the Cutthroat Classic, and I got in! Now there's some incentive to start running more!
Stats:
Monday mileage--3.5 miles (parts of trails 1806 (Glacier Pass) and 1810A. Lakes visited: Glacier Lake, Moccasin Lake.
Tuesday mileage--9.3 miles (parts of trail 1810A and 1810 plus 1662. Lakes visited: Mirror Lake, Upper Lake. River visited: East Fork Lostine River.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Less than a week!
The Wallowa backpack trip keeps getting shorter and shorter, but at least I'm hopeful that I won't have to cancel. The 95-mile route to see the Minam Lodge and better understand a little family history (my aunt and uncle used to own it) is now on-hold until next year. I think I can at least get to the lakes basin for a 40-50 mile route. I'll have to figure out a few more long day hikes later to make up for lost mileage. That shouldn't be too much of a problem, as I have a vast collection of guidebooks with multiple bookmarks for dream trips. Anybody want to explore?
I am realizing that I'm still out of shape, however. I did an easy 8-miler on the roads yesterday, and an easy 5-miler at Mount Spokane this morning, and I am so sore! I'll have to mix my trail running with hiking, at least at the beginning, if I am to survive the nearly 11-mile per day average I'll need to reach 325 miles for the month of August. Well, if I managed 306 last year while injured, I'm sure I can tackle this while merely sore. So long as I don't end up re-injured! Now I just need more sponsors! Pretty please follow the link at the top and give the WTA some money for me! :)
I am realizing that I'm still out of shape, however. I did an easy 8-miler on the roads yesterday, and an easy 5-miler at Mount Spokane this morning, and I am so sore! I'll have to mix my trail running with hiking, at least at the beginning, if I am to survive the nearly 11-mile per day average I'll need to reach 325 miles for the month of August. Well, if I managed 306 last year while injured, I'm sure I can tackle this while merely sore. So long as I don't end up re-injured! Now I just need more sponsors! Pretty please follow the link at the top and give the WTA some money for me! :)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
July 17-23, 2011
I'm back from Camp Eureka where Jace & I led eight middle school and high school students on a week-long backpack trip. The first night was rough as we were attacked by mosquitoes that were completely immune to every variety of bug spray, but after that everything went fairly smoothly. I can hardly believe that an entire week has gone by.
I came home to some disapointing news, however. Deb is injured and now I'm doubtful about the chances of the cool Wallowa trip actually happening. It's part of Hike-a-Thon, so I really don't want to cancel, but I'm not sure I can find anyone else who's willing to do it & I don't know that I should do it solo. We had a 95.8 mile route planned, and it's hard to sell that to most people. :(
I came home to some disapointing news, however. Deb is injured and now I'm doubtful about the chances of the cool Wallowa trip actually happening. It's part of Hike-a-Thon, so I really don't want to cancel, but I'm not sure I can find anyone else who's willing to do it & I don't know that I should do it solo. We had a 95.8 mile route planned, and it's hard to sell that to most people. :(
Saturday, July 9, 2011
4th of July Weekend in the Wilderness
The plan: a July 1-5 hike from Phelps Creek to Spider Meadows to Spider Gap to Lyman Lakes to Image Lake to Buck Creek Pass to Trinity (loop). It would have been the fourth time I'd done it, the third time I'd done it on the 4th of July weekend, and the first time I'd done it by the recommended route.
The problem: so much snow! Patches within 1/2 mile of the trailhead turned into total coverage by mile two, and we found it three or four feet deep in Spider Meadows! It was good in the sense that we practically had Spider Meadows to ourselves Friday night (the only other camper was a forest service ranger)--how many people can say they found Spider Meadows devoid of campers on a holiday weekend!? However, we couldn't make it through Spider Gap on Saturday morning. It just felt a little too risky with the deep snow, steep route, and heavy packs. We decided to hike back out and pick a different hike.
The next problem: dead battery back at the trailhead. We camped out in the parking lot Saturday night. It is kinda picturesque, but I had to pitch my tent in between two parked cars--not exactly my favorite camping location. Fortunately, someone with jumper cables drove up early Sunday morning and we were able to continue the adventure!
How to pick a hike: I'm calling it Hiker's Roulette. We looked on the map and we looked through a guide book and we couldn't reach any decisions about the most likely looking backpack. So we picked a road off Highway 2 at random, drove to the trailhead at the end of it, and started hiking. It turns out it was a good choice! It was the Whitepine River Trail, which intersected the Wildhorse River Trail and eventually climbed to Frosty Pass (all in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area). There was a lot of downfall on the lower sections of the trail, and the upper section was very brushy, but otherwise it was a very nice trail with excellent views. We also didn't encounter snow until we were about seven miles in. Our campsite Sunday night had a tiny patch of snow that melted by the time we left on Tuesday.
Sunday: hike to camp, cook dinner. Then I went to hang the food bag and discovered a faint trail that we followed to a ridge with excellent views.
Monday: day hike from camp toward Frosty Pass. We didn't make it all the way to the Pass--we could see the approximate vicinity of the Pass, but the trail was completely snow-covered at that point. I saw one section that looked particually risky where a waterfall turned into a stream and disappeared under the snowpack. It might have been a place where one could fall through while trying to cross (and I did fall through in a few non-dangerous areas--once only one leg broke through the snow and it was so deep I couldn't touch the bottom!) We tried a side hike up to Lake Grace, but that proved farther than we had time for in all of that snow. I was able to maintain a Fourth of July tradition--glissading and snow angels!
Tuesday: hike out and return home--tired and dirty and happy!
The problem: so much snow! Patches within 1/2 mile of the trailhead turned into total coverage by mile two, and we found it three or four feet deep in Spider Meadows! It was good in the sense that we practically had Spider Meadows to ourselves Friday night (the only other camper was a forest service ranger)--how many people can say they found Spider Meadows devoid of campers on a holiday weekend!? However, we couldn't make it through Spider Gap on Saturday morning. It just felt a little too risky with the deep snow, steep route, and heavy packs. We decided to hike back out and pick a different hike.
The next problem: dead battery back at the trailhead. We camped out in the parking lot Saturday night. It is kinda picturesque, but I had to pitch my tent in between two parked cars--not exactly my favorite camping location. Fortunately, someone with jumper cables drove up early Sunday morning and we were able to continue the adventure!
How to pick a hike: I'm calling it Hiker's Roulette. We looked on the map and we looked through a guide book and we couldn't reach any decisions about the most likely looking backpack. So we picked a road off Highway 2 at random, drove to the trailhead at the end of it, and started hiking. It turns out it was a good choice! It was the Whitepine River Trail, which intersected the Wildhorse River Trail and eventually climbed to Frosty Pass (all in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area). There was a lot of downfall on the lower sections of the trail, and the upper section was very brushy, but otherwise it was a very nice trail with excellent views. We also didn't encounter snow until we were about seven miles in. Our campsite Sunday night had a tiny patch of snow that melted by the time we left on Tuesday.
Sunday: hike to camp, cook dinner. Then I went to hang the food bag and discovered a faint trail that we followed to a ridge with excellent views.
Monday: day hike from camp toward Frosty Pass. We didn't make it all the way to the Pass--we could see the approximate vicinity of the Pass, but the trail was completely snow-covered at that point. I saw one section that looked particually risky where a waterfall turned into a stream and disappeared under the snowpack. It might have been a place where one could fall through while trying to cross (and I did fall through in a few non-dangerous areas--once only one leg broke through the snow and it was so deep I couldn't touch the bottom!) We tried a side hike up to Lake Grace, but that proved farther than we had time for in all of that snow. I was able to maintain a Fourth of July tradition--glissading and snow angels!
Tuesday: hike out and return home--tired and dirty and happy!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
It's Time!
Registration for Hike-a-Thon opened today! I'm all signed up! I also see I'm very far behind when it comes to updating this blog. That's what grading assignments for 152 students will do to a person's free time. Well, it's summer now, so I'm sure I'll have time to work on updates as soon as I'm back from my next backpacking trip. In the meantime, here's a mini-update:
- The past--I didn't have much time to hike during the school year, and the weather has been pretty lousy this spring. There is still a lot of snow in the high country. I did manage to find quite a few morels on my usual spring forays up in Stevens County. I estimate I found around 20 pounds this year--maybe more, because I gave quite a few to my relatives before I even came home. Things have been pretty since school got out, too, but I did manage to escape town last weekend for a Conservation Northwest hike on Saturday and a solo hike on Sunday. I co-led the Thirteen-Mile Trail hike to an awesome roadless area that's up for possible inclusion in a Columbia Highlands wilderness bill. I camped at Jungle Hill that night (the only person there on a Saturday night!) and hiked Emerald Lake from the Trout Lake TH on Sunday. It was the first time I'd done either trail (I've hiked Emerald Lake several times before, but always from the Deadman Creek side).
- The future--I have several upcoming trips to look forward to. I'm backing in the Glacier Peak Wilderness first, then I'm co-leading a week-long backpack trip for high school students in mid-July, and at the end of July I have a week-long backpack planned for the Wallowas. That trip will carry over into the start of August and Hike-a-Thon, so I'll be trying to get a lot of miles in. We are also planning a repeat of the Cake Walk (the entire Kettle Crest in a day). I also have trips planned to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and the Pasaytan, and I'm sure I'll revisit the Salmo Priest a few times during August. It should be a fantastic summer!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
March 16, 2011
Tonight was the public meeting for the proposed ski area expansion on Mount Spokane. The meeting was at SFCC, and I arrived early so that I could go running on one of my favorite loops out at the Falls. I went down nurses' hill and took the lower trail along the river all the way out to where it meets the rock trail and then back to campus. I found wild onions along the river, and on the rock trail the buttercups were blooming! These were the first wildflowers I have seen this spring! (As a side note, I shared my sighting with a couple of my classes the next day. My students didn't know what buttercups were. I was shocked (they are high school students,after all)! I said something about how they are one of the most common wildflowers in our area, and one student's response was "Well, they don't grow in my yard." Apparently these kids never get farther outside than their own backyards. Soooooooo sad. I wish I could teach a naturalist class complete with field trips to the Dishman Hills, Riverside, and Mount Spokane.)
The meeting was interesting. I'm still not sure how this whole thing is going to turn out. Apparently Pacific Biodiversity Institute found approximately 80 acres of old growth forest (trees aged 150+ years) within the 300 acre proposed expansion area. The maps show that the majority of it is at the base and along the side of the proposed new lift. The ski area is also quoted as saying that they believe the new lift will serve between 500-800 additional skiers. The parking lot and lodge can't really handle the current number of skiers on a busy weekend. I'm also frustrated by all of the misinformation that Mt. Spokane 2000 has been putting out in the news media. They claim the land was donated to parks specifically for a ski area. In fact, local conservationists raised $1500 during the Depression in order to protect the trees in that area (read this: http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7819). They also claim that they are merely replacing a chairlift that used to be in this same general location. There was never a chairlift there.
In yesterday's newspaper a letter to the editor called the expansion opposition "armchair elitists." It implied that we were a bunch of people who like the theory of preservation without the actuality of visiting the area. Ah, the stuff that guy doesn't realize. I alpine ski there, I Nordic ski there, I snowshoe there, I hike there, I run there (well, not so much off-trail running in the PASEA, but I run through on 135), and I pick huckleberries there. I wonder how many of the proponents have been back there. Chris pointed out that that's truly the difference between the advocates and the opponents--those in favor merely Alpine ski on the mountain. It's the year-round, multi-sport enthusiasts who are adamantly against development on the backside. Well, year-round, multi-sport enthusiasts plus the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (quote from the agency: "The native mature forest habitat on the northern aspect of Mt. Spokane is an extremely unique forest ecosystem with a high value for wildlife and species biodiversity. Considering its size, its un-fragmented condition along with its stage of forest succession and structure, a similar forest could not be found anywhere else in Spokane county nor replicated [....] WDFW is opposed to the Potential Alpine Ski Expansion Area (PASEA) proposal due to the unavoidable and extensive impacts to wildlife habitat and wildlife species[....]" (WDFW letter dated January 29, 2007). That should stand for something, too.
I think the State Parks' Mission Statement and Core Values makes if pretty clear what should happen. Let's hope the Parks Commission shares my of interpretation of "stewardship that transmits high quality park assets to future generations".
The meeting was interesting. I'm still not sure how this whole thing is going to turn out. Apparently Pacific Biodiversity Institute found approximately 80 acres of old growth forest (trees aged 150+ years) within the 300 acre proposed expansion area. The maps show that the majority of it is at the base and along the side of the proposed new lift. The ski area is also quoted as saying that they believe the new lift will serve between 500-800 additional skiers. The parking lot and lodge can't really handle the current number of skiers on a busy weekend. I'm also frustrated by all of the misinformation that Mt. Spokane 2000 has been putting out in the news media. They claim the land was donated to parks specifically for a ski area. In fact, local conservationists raised $1500 during the Depression in order to protect the trees in that area (read this: http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7819). They also claim that they are merely replacing a chairlift that used to be in this same general location. There was never a chairlift there.
In yesterday's newspaper a letter to the editor called the expansion opposition "armchair elitists." It implied that we were a bunch of people who like the theory of preservation without the actuality of visiting the area. Ah, the stuff that guy doesn't realize. I alpine ski there, I Nordic ski there, I snowshoe there, I hike there, I run there (well, not so much off-trail running in the PASEA, but I run through on 135), and I pick huckleberries there. I wonder how many of the proponents have been back there. Chris pointed out that that's truly the difference between the advocates and the opponents--those in favor merely Alpine ski on the mountain. It's the year-round, multi-sport enthusiasts who are adamantly against development on the backside. Well, year-round, multi-sport enthusiasts plus the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (quote from the agency: "The native mature forest habitat on the northern aspect of Mt. Spokane is an extremely unique forest ecosystem with a high value for wildlife and species biodiversity. Considering its size, its un-fragmented condition along with its stage of forest succession and structure, a similar forest could not be found anywhere else in Spokane county nor replicated [....] WDFW is opposed to the Potential Alpine Ski Expansion Area (PASEA) proposal due to the unavoidable and extensive impacts to wildlife habitat and wildlife species[....]" (WDFW letter dated January 29, 2007). That should stand for something, too.
I think the State Parks' Mission Statement and Core Values makes if pretty clear what should happen. Let's hope the Parks Commission shares my of interpretation of "stewardship that transmits high quality park assets to future generations".
March 13, 2011
Diana organized a skijor demo day at Mount Spokane today. I brought both Kari and Blaze, and met several non-skijor people who wanted to try the sport for the first time. The first two people were on classic skis. I let them each take a dog first, and even with only one dog apiece it was pretty tough to stay in front of them with the dogs. On the way back to the starting point they took turns with both dogs. I couldn't keep up! It was pretty funny. After that Blaze was pretty much done for the day. The poor dog is such a wimp. I don't think he liked the fact that I was letting strangers ski with him; he kept trying to climb into my arms as if he was a little puppy. Of course, he's not a little puppy, so now I'm covered in bruises. Kari seemed a little nervous, too, but she was still willing to get into her harness and pull, so I let the last lady take Kari while I worked with Blaze. It's so much fun to see a person who has never tried it before take off for the first time--everybody seemed very surprised at how fast the dogs are. I think we got a few converts to the sport today!
March 5, 2011
Today was the annual Paws and Poles race at 49 Degrees North's Nordic area. I took Kari and competed in the skijor race (they also have a snowshoe race--one of these years I should try it). Kari did great, despite being nine years old now. In fact, if she hadn't been attached to such a slow human, she would have won. As it was, we were just barely second place to Deb Bauer and her dog, and she happens to be about the fastest local skier I can think of. Not bad at all.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
February 27, 2011
Update time!
First, there was Langlauf (all the way back on February 13th). The snow, and more importantly, my waxing, was so much better this year! Last year was so miserable that I almost didn't want to ski woods anymore. However, the skis are too pretty to just have hanging out in the living room--they need to get out and see some snow. The bad news is that I felt faster than I actually was, which tells me that I'm getting too old, too fat, and too slow. I skied the 10k in 54:35.5--good enough for 1st female on wooden skis, 4th in my age group, and 32nd female overall.
Last weekend I led a Friday night snowshoe for the Mountaineers. I had poor attendance, but that didn't matter--it was a beautiful night! Full moon, scattered clouds, and best of all, no wind--not even on the summit!
I spent my Saturday pruning the apple orchard, which is a good workout by itself. Sunday I skied again--skate this time. I did The Wall for only the second time ever, and again felt very out of shape. I had to stop several times to catch my breath, but each time I pretended that I was just admiring the view (it was a beautiful day!).
Thursday was our first snow day of the year--I think the news said it was technically a blizzard. I was awakened just a little after 3:30am when the electricity went out. The wind was roaring outside, at one point I heard a tree crash back in the woods, and I could not fall back asleep. I finally got out of bed a little before 5am, and since the electricity was still out I had to find my walkie talkies so that I could get AM radio. That's how I heard that school was canceled for the day. The electricity came back on around 8am--I only have electric heat, so I was pretty happy that it came back on! It was frigid and windy all day long, but I still bundled up in the early afternoon for a three-mile run on the Foothills loop. It was so cold I nearly turned back after the first half mile.
Finally, there was today's outing. It was finally warm enough that I felt I could safely and comfortably venture outside (yesterday it was approximately -5 F when I woke up, so today's 20 F was a real improvement!). I did the 110/140 loop from the lower Mount Kit Carson trailhead. On the way up 110, I found a snowshoe. Just one. How does somebody lose a snowshoe and not realize it?! Someone else had actually found it first and hung it from a tree along the trail, but with another snowstorm on the way tonight I decided to take it down to the park office so that hopefully it can be reunited with its person. I had the only tracks on 140. This is the new trail that was just put in last summer. I helped work on the tread on portions of it, so it makes it especially sweet to snowshoe on it today!
First, there was Langlauf (all the way back on February 13th). The snow, and more importantly, my waxing, was so much better this year! Last year was so miserable that I almost didn't want to ski woods anymore. However, the skis are too pretty to just have hanging out in the living room--they need to get out and see some snow. The bad news is that I felt faster than I actually was, which tells me that I'm getting too old, too fat, and too slow. I skied the 10k in 54:35.5--good enough for 1st female on wooden skis, 4th in my age group, and 32nd female overall.
Last weekend I led a Friday night snowshoe for the Mountaineers. I had poor attendance, but that didn't matter--it was a beautiful night! Full moon, scattered clouds, and best of all, no wind--not even on the summit!
I spent my Saturday pruning the apple orchard, which is a good workout by itself. Sunday I skied again--skate this time. I did The Wall for only the second time ever, and again felt very out of shape. I had to stop several times to catch my breath, but each time I pretended that I was just admiring the view (it was a beautiful day!).
Thursday was our first snow day of the year--I think the news said it was technically a blizzard. I was awakened just a little after 3:30am when the electricity went out. The wind was roaring outside, at one point I heard a tree crash back in the woods, and I could not fall back asleep. I finally got out of bed a little before 5am, and since the electricity was still out I had to find my walkie talkies so that I could get AM radio. That's how I heard that school was canceled for the day. The electricity came back on around 8am--I only have electric heat, so I was pretty happy that it came back on! It was frigid and windy all day long, but I still bundled up in the early afternoon for a three-mile run on the Foothills loop. It was so cold I nearly turned back after the first half mile.
Finally, there was today's outing. It was finally warm enough that I felt I could safely and comfortably venture outside (yesterday it was approximately -5 F when I woke up, so today's 20 F was a real improvement!). I did the 110/140 loop from the lower Mount Kit Carson trailhead. On the way up 110, I found a snowshoe. Just one. How does somebody lose a snowshoe and not realize it?! Someone else had actually found it first and hung it from a tree along the trail, but with another snowstorm on the way tonight I decided to take it down to the park office so that hopefully it can be reunited with its person. I had the only tracks on 140. This is the new trail that was just put in last summer. I helped work on the tread on portions of it, so it makes it especially sweet to snowshoe on it today!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
February 9, 2011
I'm still behind. In fact, I can't even remember everything I have been up to since my last post two weeks ago. I know I have been out running a bit more here lately--I'm so sore I can barely walk. In fact, I got new trailrunners on Monday and tonight I broke them in properly on a three-mile loop in the Dishman Hills. I really need to be more consistent with my running!
I did run last Saturday, right after a thrift store outing to locate the perfect Langlauf costume for this coming Sunday. I found a good one for this year!
I did run last Saturday, right after a thrift store outing to locate the perfect Langlauf costume for this coming Sunday. I found a good one for this year!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
January 29-30, 2011
Last week was rough. I managed an easy 20 minute run after work one night, but I can't even remember which night now. All of the other nights I worked late.
That's why it was so nice to escape town for the weekend. Jeff suggested a winter camping adventure to Sullivan mountain. We didn't make it all the way to the lookout, but we skied in approximately three miles and enjoyed a little rain, a little snow, and then this morning, a little sun. I think this was my first January trip!
That's why it was so nice to escape town for the weekend. Jeff suggested a winter camping adventure to Sullivan mountain. We didn't make it all the way to the lookout, but we skied in approximately three miles and enjoyed a little rain, a little snow, and then this morning, a little sun. I think this was my first January trip!
January 22-23, 2011
I'm behind again with updates, and equally behind (perhaps more behind) with grading. The end of the semester is tough.
This weekend was a chalet open house. I was slow out of the house on Saturday morning, so I skipped the group snowshoe hike at 8am in favor of Nordic skiing later in the morning. I was at the chalet by noon and spent several hours in front of the fire grading essays.
On Sunday a group of us headed back to the Nordic area for some more xc skiing. We did classic today (I skated on Saturday). I took my woodies, and they did great despite the fact that they hadn't been waxed since last year. It was a very clear, beautiful day on the mountain.
This weekend was a chalet open house. I was slow out of the house on Saturday morning, so I skipped the group snowshoe hike at 8am in favor of Nordic skiing later in the morning. I was at the chalet by noon and spent several hours in front of the fire grading essays.
On Sunday a group of us headed back to the Nordic area for some more xc skiing. We did classic today (I skated on Saturday). I took my woodies, and they did great despite the fact that they hadn't been waxed since last year. It was a very clear, beautiful day on the mountain.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011: Full Moon Snowshoe
A nice mid-week snowshoe hike is always nice, even if it is the end of the semester and even if I am terribly far behind on nearly everything. The weather cooperated for this one--the moon was just cresting the tress as we started out, and it was crystal clear out. Seven people joined me for this Mountaineers' hike. It was a popular night for snowshoeing on the mountain--there were at least two other large groups hiking tonight, too.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Run
I spent the majority of my day either grading papers or procrastinating by cleaning something (everything really did need to be cleaned, so it's not such a terrible thing that I procrastinated, right?). There was a short little window of sunshine in the early afternoon, so I took advantage by doing my usual three-mile loop in the neighborhood. It was so warm that I wore shorts! This is the weirdest January on record.
Sunday, January 16: Run + skijor
Skijoring is so much fun, but it really isn't much of a workout when I take both Kari and Blaze. Today I went for a three mile run in the neighborhood before I loaded the car with skis and dogs for my afternoon skijor adventure.
The parking lot at Selkirk was uncharacteristically empty when I got there. The snow has been melting so fast that the parking lot is now down to bare gravel, and the ski conditions are very much like spring skiing right now. I don't mind the wet snow as much as I mind the debris on the trail.
Despite the fact that there were very few people skiing this afternoon, today I met the first anti-skijor person. It was a very strange conversation. First she stopped to tell me that dogs were not allowed on the ski trails. Her tone was a little confrontational, but I assumed that she just didn't realize that there were designated skijor days on the mountain. When I told her that we were allowed on certain trails on Wednesdays and Sundays after 2pm, her first response was to check her watch (it was 2:45). Then she asked if I was sure it was this trail. I assured her it was, pointing out the skijor trail sign that I happened to be standing near and letting her know about the other signs at the lodge. She examined the sign and said "But I thought it was just for skijoring." I wonder what she thought skijoring was? I assured her that skijoring was exactly what I was doing. At that she took off, but she still seemed a little angry that I wasn't doing something wrong. Of course, immediately after she left I got the more typical response--a couple of people skied up and wanted to pet the dogs and ask questions about skijoring.
The parking lot at Selkirk was uncharacteristically empty when I got there. The snow has been melting so fast that the parking lot is now down to bare gravel, and the ski conditions are very much like spring skiing right now. I don't mind the wet snow as much as I mind the debris on the trail.
Despite the fact that there were very few people skiing this afternoon, today I met the first anti-skijor person. It was a very strange conversation. First she stopped to tell me that dogs were not allowed on the ski trails. Her tone was a little confrontational, but I assumed that she just didn't realize that there were designated skijor days on the mountain. When I told her that we were allowed on certain trails on Wednesdays and Sundays after 2pm, her first response was to check her watch (it was 2:45). Then she asked if I was sure it was this trail. I assured her it was, pointing out the skijor trail sign that I happened to be standing near and letting her know about the other signs at the lodge. She examined the sign and said "But I thought it was just for skijoring." I wonder what she thought skijoring was? I assured her that skijoring was exactly what I was doing. At that she took off, but she still seemed a little angry that I wasn't doing something wrong. Of course, immediately after she left I got the more typical response--a couple of people skied up and wanted to pet the dogs and ask questions about skijoring.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Nordic + a little snowshoe
The weather around here is so weird right now! We got several inches of snow on Wednesday, but it immediately started melting and today the high was near 50 degrees. Everything is a wet, slushy mess.
I thought about hiking, but decided to skate ski instead. As it turns out, everything is melting on the mountain, too, so I would have been better of hiking. I did a short loop as some of the trails I wanted to take had not been groomed. After that I snowshoed from Selkirk lodge down to the chalet to check in on things. I think my daily combined mileage was probably around six.
I thought about hiking, but decided to skate ski instead. As it turns out, everything is melting on the mountain, too, so I would have been better of hiking. I did a short loop as some of the trails I wanted to take had not been groomed. After that I snowshoed from Selkirk lodge down to the chalet to check in on things. I think my daily combined mileage was probably around six.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Skijor
Today I was able to take both Kari and Blaze up to Mount Spokane for skijor day. This is great for them and not so great for me--I really didn't get a workout at all. Oh, well. Most people take their dogs for a walk; I let my dogs take me flying down the trail. I got my exercise through shivering!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Alpine
Today I finally picked up my pass at 49 North. The skiing was pretty good on the groomed stuff, but it was icy on the edges! It was also frigid. The only time I was warm all day was when we skinned up Angel Peak to check it out--skinning up was fun, but coming down was icy and tough. I can't wait to try it again when the conditions are better.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Finally back to running
Monday was the first day back to work, and it ended up being a tough one! The heat was off in my wing of the building. I was wearing a sweater, a soft-shell jacket, and my down jacket, plus my down mittens, and I was still shivering for most of the day. I think it was worse for the kids since a few of them didn't even have coats, but it was also pretty tough to be in the room all day (at least the kids had a few classes on the warm side of the building!). At any rate, I originally planned to run after school, but instead I felt too cold and miserable. I stayed in my classroom, sitting in front of the space heater the custodians brought in during 5th period, sipping tea while I worked on grades. I had to stay late, too, as I had an evening meeting.
By Tuesday our heating issues had been taken care of, so I don't have that excuse...I just ended up not running. In fact, I ended up napping after work! Oops.
Tonight I decided I needed to quit being such a sloth. It snowed most of the day and it was so pretty out this evening! I just did the easy three-mile loop we use for the Foothills Fun Run. It's actually quite boring, and I was quite slow. Oh, well, at least I'm doing something again!
By Tuesday our heating issues had been taken care of, so I don't have that excuse...I just ended up not running. In fact, I ended up napping after work! Oops.
Tonight I decided I needed to quit being such a sloth. It snowed most of the day and it was so pretty out this evening! I just did the easy three-mile loop we use for the Foothills Fun Run. It's actually quite boring, and I was quite slow. Oh, well, at least I'm doing something again!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Sunday is Skijor Day!
Every Wednesday and Sunday after 2pm, skijoring is allowed on certain Nordic trails at Mount Spokane. Diana and I had plans to go last Wednesday, but a major snowstorm foiled our plans that day. Instead we went today--Diana with Murungu, Diana's friend Shelly with Luna, and then I had Blaze. Unfortunately, Kari wasn't feeling well today and had to stay home.
This made Kari fairly upset, but it was very good for Blaze. Today was his first skijor trip of the winter without Kari, and I wasn't sure that he would remember how to pull without Kari's example. He was terrible whenever I tried to take him alone last year. Today he actually pulled! Plus, I had to work since I only had one dog, so I got a good workout, too. It really is too easy for me with two dogs, but it's also a ton of fun! I did the whole thing without poles, so I imagine my legs will be sore tomorrow. I'm not exactly sure of the distance, but I believe it's between five and six miles.
Tomorrow is back to work for me. I'm so sad that the break is over. I have been having so much fun! Now I'm back to schedules plus evening meetings; the seniors have culminating essays due tomorrow, and I'm still behind on sophomore essays. In fact, I'd better get back to my grading right now!
This made Kari fairly upset, but it was very good for Blaze. Today was his first skijor trip of the winter without Kari, and I wasn't sure that he would remember how to pull without Kari's example. He was terrible whenever I tried to take him alone last year. Today he actually pulled! Plus, I had to work since I only had one dog, so I got a good workout, too. It really is too easy for me with two dogs, but it's also a ton of fun! I did the whole thing without poles, so I imagine my legs will be sore tomorrow. I'm not exactly sure of the distance, but I believe it's between five and six miles.
Tomorrow is back to work for me. I'm so sad that the break is over. I have been having so much fun! Now I'm back to schedules plus evening meetings; the seniors have culminating essays due tomorrow, and I'm still behind on sophomore essays. In fact, I'd better get back to my grading right now!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Year's Resolution
Everybody needs a New Year's resolution, right? That's all the news people have been talking about lately, so I'm assuming it's true. I don't think I'll make a resolution to exercise more this year, since according to some health surveys I have taken, I exercise too much. Well, certainly not recently, but overall. Recently I have just been eating too many Christmas goodies. Nothing unique in that, I'm sure. I need to find a fun run that has a Clydesdale/Athena division because I'm back at my fighting weight after so much peanut butter fudge.
So instead of the typical exercise resolution, I'm making a resolution to update this thing more often with various exercise-related excursions. I see that I haven't posted anything since October, so I think this will be a good idea. A friend once told me that I should write accounts of trips I do, and I have been trying (and mainly failing) to keep a running log for years. It seems I only manage to keep track of things during Hike-a-Thon and the cross country season.
Here goes for January 1st: I woke up at the usual vacation time of 7:30am--believe me, that is really sleeping in. According to the news it was negative three degrees Fahrenheit at that time. I had to bundle up right away to go down to the basement (my scary basement) to turn up the heat as I did not have running cold water from the kitchen faucet this morning. I call it the scary basement because it has a dirt floor and a lot of bugs--I have killed several black widows down there in the past year. The access for the basement is outside and around the back of the house, hence the bundling up first. After that I worked on grading papers for awhile, but finally I couldn't take hanging out indoors any longer. I barely went out at all yesterday, so I was going a little crazy. I waxed my skis and bundled up and headed for Mount Spokane.
Skating in such cold temperatures is fairly slow going, especially since I don't really have wax that's good for such extreme cold. Everything was groomed, though, so I went for a long loop despite the cold day and the slow skis. I went out on Valley View, Blue Jay, and Lodgepole, and then I took Quartz Mountain (always fun for its downhill sections) out to the new trails, and then Buck Land and Mica Road to Linder Ridge Road, and finally back to the lodge on Mountain View. I don't know the distance for the Linder Ridge section (it's new to the Nordic system since Inland Paper closed snowmobile access this year), but the distance conversion for the rest was 7.378 miles. I'm guessing it's 8 miles with Linder Ridge.
So instead of the typical exercise resolution, I'm making a resolution to update this thing more often with various exercise-related excursions. I see that I haven't posted anything since October, so I think this will be a good idea. A friend once told me that I should write accounts of trips I do, and I have been trying (and mainly failing) to keep a running log for years. It seems I only manage to keep track of things during Hike-a-Thon and the cross country season.
Here goes for January 1st: I woke up at the usual vacation time of 7:30am--believe me, that is really sleeping in. According to the news it was negative three degrees Fahrenheit at that time. I had to bundle up right away to go down to the basement (my scary basement) to turn up the heat as I did not have running cold water from the kitchen faucet this morning. I call it the scary basement because it has a dirt floor and a lot of bugs--I have killed several black widows down there in the past year. The access for the basement is outside and around the back of the house, hence the bundling up first. After that I worked on grading papers for awhile, but finally I couldn't take hanging out indoors any longer. I barely went out at all yesterday, so I was going a little crazy. I waxed my skis and bundled up and headed for Mount Spokane.
Skating in such cold temperatures is fairly slow going, especially since I don't really have wax that's good for such extreme cold. Everything was groomed, though, so I went for a long loop despite the cold day and the slow skis. I went out on Valley View, Blue Jay, and Lodgepole, and then I took Quartz Mountain (always fun for its downhill sections) out to the new trails, and then Buck Land and Mica Road to Linder Ridge Road, and finally back to the lodge on Mountain View. I don't know the distance for the Linder Ridge section (it's new to the Nordic system since Inland Paper closed snowmobile access this year), but the distance conversion for the rest was 7.378 miles. I'm guessing it's 8 miles with Linder Ridge.
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