With my Everest climb cancelled (Nepal Earthquake Disaster), shortened summer vaca time (from a month to 5 days) & flew to Oregon – Plan B: Mt Hood, Crater Lake & another marathon (of course).
Briskly left my airport hotel at 5am (Studio 6 was a dive 🙁 ), quick stop at a 24-hour Walmart for lunch supplies & water – then an hour-half drive to Timberline Lodge in Gov’t Camp (trailhead to Oregon’s majestic Mount Hood).
Spent last week googling the multitude of reasons why not to hike Hood in August – but with a smile on my face & a pack overloaded for sub-Arctic conditions, took the PCT (right of the lodge), and started my day journey. Veered off the PCT no more than half-mile in & started UP. No ropes, no ice axe – 2 shirts, double socks, crampons & my bestest boots would have to do today.
Pro: ‘eye on the prize’ – No false summits, Hood is visible from Step 1.
Con: lack of switchbacks – In Colorado we’re spoiled with miles of trail to 14er summits. In Oregon, it’s a straight path UP – 35% grade, no boulders, over volcanic dirt which hasn’t absorbed moisture in years.
Tough hike start – UP 3,000ft+ past Silcox Hut, to the top of a local ski lift (8,600ft).
Two steps up, one step back – like hiking in sand with no rock to steady your step.
Dust – whole lotta dust. Like I imagine what hiking on Mars’ Mount Sharp would be like. This area is generally packed with snow – absorbed directly in the atmosphere before melting into the volcanic soil below. Effects of the California drought are visible up & down the Pacific West. Streams are down, trees brown, forest fires reported from Northern California, across Western Canada, northward to Alaska.
During my ascent, stuck too close to the lift & lost Hogsback, pushing up Zigzag Canyon – Hood’s climbing route. Slow going, dry hiking in August, no ropes – loose dirt & scree, strong smell of sulfur (fumaroles/volcanic vents).
Followed the fall line, hiked left of massive Palmer Glacier. Absolutely stunning!
UP a 1,000ft of Palmer before floor conditions self-frustrated enough to try short steps on the glacier edge itself. Super slick in August. I watched the 2002 accident clip before I left Colorado – one wrong step, fast glissade, then down a crevasse. Wore a bright orange cap this day – wanting to be identified, understanding the inherent danger. Slow and steady.
Nearing the top of Palmer, I could free-climb up & further east – hiking the saddle over to Hood. Is this possible? I could hug Palmer Glacier, reach its top, find a break, traverse the glacier, righting myself closer to Hogsback. Is this possible?
Lack of knowledge can kill ya. Ideal to be hiking with a local or on a weekend, when I could copycat/tag-along other climbers.
Chose the glacier route, saw the glacier break – but ended it there. Summit fail. Not today – lotta snow, lotta ice, no other peeps on the mountain & lack of knowledge/questioned my skills. Ate half a Walmart sub & took in some of the most amazing views.
Not a fan of the desolate hike landscape but Palmer Glacier & Mt Hood (only another 1,200ft UP) – hooked on that vision. I’ll be back.
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- first view — daybreak on Hood
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- the infamous PCT (Pacific Crest Trail, Mexico-Canada)
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- Mount St. Helens, 60 miles north of Hood
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- volcanic rock & dust
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- strong smell of sulfur (fumaroles/volcanic vents)
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- massive Palmer Glacier
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- nearing the top of Palmer – find a break & traverse over?
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- glacier break – mighty steep
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- one wrong step, quick glissade down, killer crevasse below
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- Summit fail — I’ll be back
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- beautiful day, amazing views – LOVED Palmer Glacier — & the best $5 sub ever (expended lotta energy)
Mount Hood’s Palmer Glacier
With recent life changes (& the onset of summer), haven’t stayed super consistent with marathon training. “You’ve done so many, your body is conditioned to run marathons.” Some truth to that, but I tell ya – getting up & randomly running 26 miles after throwing 6’s & an 8 over the past 2 weeks, is a struggle. Still coming to terms with dropping gym membership (eff July 1st). Started finding my groove again last Wednesday – tight timing for Sunday’s marathon (kinda late in the game) but mentally feel I’ve turned a corner & I’m back.
Up early Saturday, caught a flight to San Francisco – my 35th marathon, my 35th different state. Landed in dense fog, temps in the upper 50’s – San Francisco norm for July. Packed long-sleeves & a jacket – my kinda summer weather 🙂
No rental required in SF, great public transportation. Air train to BART to Embarcadero station – 0.7 miles from my hotel, half-mile from tomorrow’s marathon start/finish. At Embarcadero, located the free Marathon Expo shuttle – BAM, easy peasy.
Bib & shirt pickup. Check, done. Explored Fort Mason & caught my first views of SF’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge – the reason I chose this marathon for my California run. Truly stunning.
Early night – 5:30am marathon start tomorrow, one of my earliest.
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- marathon bib pick-up
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- Fort Mason (Golden Gate Park)
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- Golden Gate Bridge – will be up close & personal tomorrow 🙂
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- Alcatraz – all tours sold out thru Aug 22nd, who knew?
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- charmed life: Seattle’s Pike Market in June, San Fran’s Fishermans Wharf in July
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- hotel view: SF’s Transamerica Pyramid
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- “Rice-a-Roni…the San Francisco treat”
Quick shower, dressed in layers, running gloves & a hat – not your typical July attire. HA!
Arrived early, waited for my wave start – almost 15 minutes after the Elites. Lungs breathed water from the dense morning fog. Easy 5 mile, 8 minute-pace approaching Golden Gate Bridge. Yep, would be running OVER the Bridge to Marin County & back.
(bridge approach – one of the steepest hills I’ve marathoned. That said, better at mile 5, than mile 25 🙂 )
Got all nostalgic during the 3-mile Bridge out-n-back.
Have crossed the mighty Mississippi, run alongside both Atlantic & Pacific Oceans AND three Great Lakes (Michigan, Superior & Utah’s Great Salt Lake). Raced thru Nebraska & Iowa cornfields, Idaho potato farms, Louisiana bayou, Saguaro cactus in Arizona, down the Las Vegas strip at night, thru Kentucky’s Churchill Downs, viewed lighthouses in Maine, Wisconsin, Rhode Island & Michigan. 50 State Quest has been quite a life journey. Crazy proud of my country, our people & our national diversity.
Lotta hills in San Fran – I knew in advance, but still…a lotta hills in San Fran.
Fatigue set in early – lactic acid build-up near mile 12 (inconsistent training). 4-hour pace group passed soon after.
Haven’t run a large city race since Miami – enjoyed running with folks all 26 miles. While generally a HUGE fan of small-town America, latter miles can often be lonely. You wonder – does anyone know I’m out here?
A bit unorthodox but cell-phoned friends/family at miles 17, 19, 22 & 24. I would finish today. Last hill at mile 23, slogged in the remaining three miles. My 3rd 5-hour marathon – not particularly proud of that stat, guess it’s all part of the journey. Good days, bad days, sunshine/rain/snow/ice/heat/wind – and fog.
Pretty amazing day. Today I ran across the Golden Gate Bridge. Beautiful city San Fran — I’ll be back 🙂
San Francisco Marathon 2015
Bib: 30741
Name: K R Haga
Hometown: Louisville, CO
Finish: 5:07:45
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- marathoning over the Golden Gate Bridge
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- 5am block party in San Francisco
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- Bay Bridge pre-race selfie
Happy July 4th – Happy Birthday USA!
Woke early to chilly temps – not the summer norm for July but today’s 26.2 adventure started at 8800ft 🙂
Less than 100 runners lined up for the inaugural Angel Fire Adventure (full & half #s combined).
National Anthem, 3 wheelchair participants upfront – then we started running. No gun, no announcement, just running. 9 miles flat or downhill, surrounded by high peaks, alpine flowers & sage. Hard to imagine a prettier marathon start – breathtaking.
Outkicked by a runner near mile 13. I continued up the highway, he turned & finished the Half.
The number of runners now thinned considerably. Constant climb, miles 14 thru 18. Ran with two runners thru 18 – one picked up pace, one slipped behind – then I was on my own. 18 then 19, still climbing – zapped all energy.
Heat kicked up, became aware of sun blazing my neck & arms. Felt like a soft white marshmallow toasting in raging campfire. Car traffic increased along the highway; not sure the town was aware of this year’s inaugural event. Kept on the shoulder, no worries, but felt more isolated than I have in any previous race. Walked/jogged most of mile 23, then IT happened.
Older lady (70’s 80’s) pulled her truck directly in front of me on the highway shoulder. Heat delirious, lifted my head, looked her way.
“Have you been in any accident? Can I drive you into town?” (super nice I agree but…)
“I’m in a race.” Pointed to my race bib. All the time thinking: maybe I could hitch a ride to mile 25 & limp in from there. I wasn’t gonna win so who cares, right? Thankfully oxygen returned to my brain & I waved her away. How bad did I look? LOL>
My most embarrassing marathon moment.
Eventually I would finish – under 5 hours, but just barely. (Only a handful of finishers — heat & altitude bested most.) Grabbed an ice compress from the volunteer nurse; DJ still randomly pumping club music into the sparse high-altitude sky. Weird but true.
OVERALL PLACE OFFICIAL TIME BIB # NAME CITY STATE
13 4:58:35 104 K R HAGA Louisville CO
34th marathon Finish – post race celebration?
8am zip lining reservation (next day) with my friend Cliff. Had never previously zip lined. First pass was a head trip but after that – no worries. Super fun. Heck less scarier than skydiving, that’s for sure. HA!
Love New Mexico, love 3-day holiday weekends. Next up? Sis & family’s first Colorado vacation. When? 12 hours ago. Yikes!
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- 34th state, first high-altitude marathon, 8,800ft
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- wrapped in the American flag, running on the 4th — super proud moment!
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- zip lining at 12,000ft — SPECTACULAR views! LOVED LOVED LOVED it!
