After a weekend off from marathoning, back on the trail – literally.
Friday a.m. flight to Reno, scenic hour-half drive to South Lake Tahoe. Running on 2 historic trail systems tomorrow – the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) & XP (Pony Express) trails in California’s Sierra Nevadas.
Easy laid-back drive, radio set to classic 70’s – never turned the dial, all weekend.
Hotel check-in, then a rural 45 minutes on US 50 West to Kyburz (bib pickup). Located tomorrow’s trail Start at Echo Summit (1968 US Olympic high-altitude training center). Quick hello/goodbye. Back in the morning California redwood, Ponderosa pine ❤
First year event – read & re-read the course description PLUS snapped a shot of the map itself (nothing left to chance). More concerned being lost in the high Sierras than any wildlife encounters (only bear I saw/stuffed at Strawberry Lodge).
RACE DAY, SATURDAY: Cool & overcast. Mix of HIGH CLOUDS & MASSIVE TREES. Super thankful, appreciated the cover.
Most of the day, focused/eyes alert for PINK ribbons. 13.8 miles in, started the climb UP. Two HUGE hikes, over 4000ft vertical gain. Lovers Leap Trail: let’s just say, I know why they leaped. Crazy difficult hike.
but…the Panorama? (like being) Wrapped inside an Ansel Adams photograph. Just WOW! Every north-facing tree blanketed in vibrant green moss. Yellow-green: closest colour match in my Crayola box. That’s the memory I’ll take home to Colorado.
Only negative? Course went long. I know, I know, it’s trail. Folks: this course went long. My watch (& Strava app) died somewhere after 30.5 miles – my first ultra finish of 2017. (I say first ‘cause I haven’t yet given up on running a 50-miler this year.)
#94 in the books. 2nd longest [amount of time] I’ve been on my feet (behind 2013’s Barr Trail hike UP Pike’s Peak).
TROY’S CALIFORNIA TRAIL RUNS
Echo Summit Trail Challenge – August 5, 2017
Trail Marathon Jude Archie M 06:40:28 1
Trail Marathon HAGA K R M 07:51:36 2
HIKE DAY tomorrow ‘round tourist-friendly paradiso, Lake Tahoe. Living well, lucky in life 🙂
road-trippin’: Reno to Tahoe
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