Beautiful Morning

In case you missed it, this morning's sky was pretty amazing. 

 (Looking West)

(Looking East)

Alone On A Sunday

(View From Top of Black Hills Loop)

I love running with people, and my trail running friends are awesome.  But sometimes it’s good for the mind and the soul to get out on the trails solo, without a care in the world.  Yesterday was one of those days for me.  The weather was perfect, the tunes were smokin’, and the trails were in great shape.  It marks the last weekend that the protected habitat trails at Government Canyon will be open until Fall, so I decided to hit as many of them as I could.  I found a new gem, albeit a short one.  After cruising my way up Black Hill Loop, I dropped down La Subida and headed up Sendero Traverso.  Boy am I glad I did.  This little stretch was perhaps my favorite of the day.  After 6 hours of running, my body was tired but my mind refreshed.  Days like yesterday are why I run.

The Guads 2013 - Part 1

(Hunter Peak)

It’s been 5 months since I was last running in “real” mountains, and I had the itch.  I knew I had to get into some thin mountain air.  It would be good for my body and my mind.  Something about the mountains makes me feel whole.  I had originally planned on going solo, but when my friend Dave said he could go, I rearranged my schedule and headed out Saturday afternoon.  I could ramble on and on about what we saw, but the short version goes like this.  We drove 7 hours (including one stop by the highway patrol) to sleep under the stars and run 21 miles of gnarly mountain trail, some of which took us through patches of snow.  We then hopped back in the car to drive 7 hours home.  Yes, we drove 14 hours to run 21 miles, and it was worth every second. 

 

(Beautiful Sunrise)

(Looking At El Capitan From Guad Peak)

 (Looking Up Bear Canyon)

 (Looking Down Bear Canyon From the Top)

 (On Top of Hunter Peak w/ Guad Peak Over My Shoulder)

 (So Much Fun)

(Luckily Just A Warning)