glaciers

Franz Josef Glacier

Published March 10, 2017

Alarm set, pre-dawn start. Not just any morning run – Franz Josef Glacier.

Woke north of town, Alpine Glacier Motel off State Highway 6. Half-mile trek to Glacier Access Road – [Catholic] Lady of the Alps on the left, [Anglican] St. James on the right. Good omen 🙂

Quick left off Hwy 6, crossed the Waiho River via Bailey Bridge. Bounced over the wooden pedestrian plank, alongside this one-lane country bridge, to a dirt access road. 4 miles to Franz Josef trailhead.

Westland Tai Poutini Nat’l Park. Scary dark trail run thru giant ferns & tropical vegetation. [NOTE to self: BUY A FLASHLIGHT!] Darkness soon gave way to pale-pink sunrise. Trail-ran DOWN to a murky silt-choked river. Rock hopped across, spun ‘round & glacier gawked — Franz Josef straight ahead/high above. Popped over boulders, trekked UP, UP, UP. Snow-melt waterfalls littered the mountain’s jagged rock walls. UP, UP, UP. Nearing the glacier base, read a Park placard detailing the death of multiple adventurists, following an earthquake initiated rock slide. Ok, enough – but jeez, it’s beautiful here. When it’s my time, let it happen quick…somewhere high in elevation, surrounded by snow (my humble Alpinist prayer ❤).

Waterfall-played on the return trek to town. 5 hour drive ahead, heading East now. Tonite’s destination: Queenstown, NZ’s hippie-happy Boulder. Ski town built on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.

Close 30 minutes from Franz Josef, River Walk hiked. Bright morning sun poured over Fox Glacier (popular heli tours buzzed overhead). WOW, whatta view! Lunched an hour later in Haast, before travelling a narrow rocky stretch – ‘The Neck’ – between lakes Wanaka & Hāwea. Foothills of the surrounding Southern Alps mirrored off these glacier-fed waters. Stunning.

Apartment dwelling 3-nights in Queenstown. Tomorrow morning: touring Doubtful Sound – 2 buses, 2 boats. But first, burger & a pint in Queenstown Gardens. One week down, one week to go…vacations go so fast.

: mountain sunrise

: glacier gawking – WOW!

: fave New Zealand sign

: snow-melt spillway

: glaciers, boulders, waterfalls & altitude — fave NZ run, nothing better!

: return trek over Bailey Bridge

: Yikes!

: River Walk hike

: Southern Alps mirror off these glacier-fed waters

: Lake Wakatipu

: burger & a pint in Queenstown Gardens

…meanwhile, far far away — the Colorado Marathon…me [Captain America] in the upper right promo ad 🙂

Franz Josef Glacier

Posted in New Zealand | Tagged glaciers, hiking, rivers-lakes, road-signs, trail-running, waterfalls | Leave a comment

a hike, a soak & a DNF

Published October 9, 2016

Felt a bit chained to my work desk this week – month’s first week is always a busy one.

Needed to get in an outdoors fix…but couldn’t imagine another 4am alarm buzz. Settled on a nearby glacier hike – snow, thin air, just over an hour away…yep, that’d do.

Would be my 4th trip to St. Mary’s Glacier, 20 minutes off I-70: Idaho Springs exit 238. 10am start – still early enough to secure a spot in overflow parking. Warm, sunshiny day…MUCH better weather than the trek last summer with my Sis & family. Cold rain fell all week that July (rare summer precip in arid Colorado)…luck of the Grecos 🙁

Seven-tenths mile UP. UP boulders, ‘cross thin dirt trails thru evergreen cover, more boulders…then clear, pristine St. Mary’s Lake, edges iced – lake located just below the glacier, ringed by bristlecone pine & thick willow. Snapped Colorado landscape, then started the next trek UP…thru a long willow thicket, glacier loomed LARGE ahead. Scaled loose rock & scree ‘round the lip of St. Mary’s.

Hiked another half-mile, peered down at decades old ice, thinly covered by the previous day’s snowfall. Early season snowboarders skimmed the glacier’s rough surface.

Air breezed cool. Kicked back & lunch snacked. Napped 20 minutes..little piece of heaven.

Glissaded a short stretch & made snow angels on the hike return. FAAANNNTASTIC!

Short 15-minute drive away, mineral soaked in nearby Indian Hot Springs. Dated enclosure but the springs’ hot water muscle-soothes whatever ails ya. Great day end. Head back in the game, tomorrow a.m. marathoning local at the Rez.

: edges iced on St Mary’s Lake

: glacier snow angel #noregretlife

: chilly sip: glacier melt-off

: hot soak before tomorrow’s run

SUNDAY – early start…but the closest commute of my marathon journey to date. 20 short minutes away, running the Boulder Reservoir today (the Rez). 4 laps ‘round, home before noon.

Unfortunately wasn’t feeling it this day. Good first 10K, started puking between miles 11 & 12. Finished the first Half; took a prolonged sit-down in nearby port-a-john. Felt dizzy/unsteady, morning sun & nausea zapped. Walked, jogged, started lap 3. Struggled mentally, tough time. Called it a day before mile marker 15. DNF (did not finish). Returned my timing chip. Dejected, headed home.

Quick shower, hunkered down with Ro, slept the afternoon away. LOVE LOVE my pup. Would reset & regroup the ego tomorrow. Whole ton of excuses – but at the end of the day, I didn’t finish. Failing is a tough pill to swallow.

: all smiles Start

St Mary’s Glacier (melt-off sip)

Posted in Boulder County, Continental Divide, Marathons/Ultras | Tagged glaciers, hiking, mineral-springs | Leave a comment

October 14er: Grays Peak revisited

Published October 1, 2016

You’d think after last weekend’s super long trek to Russia, I’d be kicking back/lying low for a few weeks. Not true, blame Ash. Texted a high-altitude pic last week – snow, alpine lakes, Aspens popping yellow. Autumn in Colorado. Wanna/hafta/gotta 14er hike before the snow blows…usually that’s September, so this hiker’s on borrowed time.

430am start. Backpack, pup, treats – packed, all ready to go. 2 hours west on Colorado’s East-West highway (I-70). Bakerville exit, 8 miles shy of Eisenhower tunnel, east of the Divide. Mountain road weathered by the long summer hike season – 5 miles of dirt & massive potholes. Road wash-out 1.2 miles from the trailhead. Today’s 14er destination: Grays Peak 14,270ft.

My third trip to Grays – first summited September 2012, returned last August (2015). Good day for a hike. Summer lightning season’s passed, day’s seasonal snow squall not forecasted ‘til 3pm.

Chilly start; kept Ro leashed thru the first 2 miles of willow thicket. Easily distracted by ground critters.

Shed layers before the first switchback, crossing & climbing the open Colorado steppe. Glacier remnants on the peaks, blunted tundra colour, nipping wind, tree line disappears just before 12,000ft. Mountain heaven.

Left to Grays, slight right to Torreys. Stopped & took in the landscape.

Not a lotta down time today…Ro was a climbing machine. Stop, stare, wait for me – then hastily UP UP UP. Dog on a mission. Crampon-free day, not enough snow to warrant the trouble.

Summit SUCCESS! Wind stilled. Took advantage & soaked in the magic.

Peaks all 4 corners, expansive Lake Dillon to the west. Ash ice fished there 2 winters back. Appears I missed leaf peeping by at least 2 weeks. Would have to slow-lane the ride home to see any remaining Aspen colour (lower elevation along the highway).

Hike day did not disappoint. WOW. Just WOW! LOVE LOVE my Colorado life.

Ro update: car ride snooze, followed by his favourite spot on the bed – out ‘til morning. Heck yeah I’m jealous. HA!