tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532709464807333882024-03-17T19:06:34.722-07:00UltraPedestrianMoving through the natural world under my own power - Fully animal and fully human - In my natural habitat - Trail running - Ultrarunning - Backpacking - Fastpacking - Supported - Unsupported - Self-supported - All of the AboveRas (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-21583802836291335132017-11-24T10:46:00.001-08:002017-11-24T10:46:58.236-08:00<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Zero Limits State Of Mind #01</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCkv7-8VV1ktyOEBf2v5iB9kMsVilKb1W_5FTMDVyycIV4kAlrDV12YHYIJg3UL3DhlfhTG471XZzFTxGZ-k-jq28POHvdvih3Bk4ILb5HTI-nY3i0RDSWLbmijlfi4gM4FhHfqFlZw/s1600/6tag_110317-203256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCkv7-8VV1ktyOEBf2v5iB9kMsVilKb1W_5FTMDVyycIV4kAlrDV12YHYIJg3UL3DhlfhTG471XZzFTxGZ-k-jq28POHvdvih3Bk4ILb5HTI-nY3i0RDSWLbmijlfi4gM4FhHfqFlZw/s640/6tag_110317-203256.jpg" title="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Beauty Of The Fail</span></b></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>by Ras Vaughan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ninety-Eight Days All for Naught</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">n June 11th, 2017, Team UltraPedestrian achieved the biggest fail of our careers. After 98 days and 1300 miles on the trail pushing our minds, bodies, gear, finances, and relationship far past their limits, we were forced to admit that we would not be able to complete our goal of becoming the first people ever to yo-yo the Grand Enchantment Trail. (Yo-yoing a trail means traveling it from one end to the other and then back again, thus completing the trail twice in a single push, once in each direction, like a yo-yo running out to the end of its string then returning to your hand.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The GET runs east and west between Phoenix, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, for approximately 770 miles. But the GET isn’t an official trail: it’s a route that links together existing trail, unmaintained trail, two tracks, roads, bushwacks, and cross-country sections that traverse both vast deserts and vertiginous mountain ranges. It’s an incredibly difficult and indelibly rewarding route. Being in the heart of the American Southwest, the Grand Enchantment Trail presents a very limited window of opportunity in the spring and fall, between the freezing snows of winter and the blistering heat of summer. On our final day on the trail, when Kathy inadvertently left her sleeping pad in the direct sun and it melted we knew that our window of opportunity had slammed shut.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Our GET Yo-yo attempt was the second in a series of four desert trail yo-yos that we planned as part of our multi-year Desert Yo-yo Grand Slam project. This included the Arizona National Scenic Trail, which we had successfully yo-yo’d between September 18th and December 20th of 2015, the Grand Enchantment Trail, the Oregon Desert Trail, and the Hayduke Trail. Each of these trails is approximately 800 miles long in a single direction and traverses some of the most challenging and unforgiving terrain in North America. We were attempting them in order of ascending difficulty, and we were under no illusion that our success was a given. These are extremely challenging routes, and there’s good reason why no one had ever yo-yo’d any of them before.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not only did we aspire to being the first, but we planned to do it in “Feet On The Ground” style, not hitchhiking into resupply towns, not accepting rides of any kind, and not using public transportation or any other form of conveyance (we even avoided elevators in motels). Our goal was to cover every step of the way under our own power and on our own two feet. In or minds this would be the highest ethic we could attain, the best style, the fairest means, but it could also be summed up rather simply as, “cray cray is as cray cray does”. We had invested months evaluating the physical, mental and logistical challenges involved in the overall project and had concluded that it was Humanly possible. We wanted to find out if we were the Humans to do it. …</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Read the entire article on the </span><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.com/the-beauty-of-the-fail/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">UltraPedestrian.com</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf76mXGcYF_U6XHx2VUhxsMuoGVSCfmlLHeFTVtEo18QE_cmlkuq7_MmviuZLVYpjZTSHchxo1JOLB95BGgd8R-n2wLA1k-5sm7Q906GzP7IPajN1kYQzidqiPGQNTgF8VzqrdmUpChQ/s1600/6tag_040517-204327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf76mXGcYF_U6XHx2VUhxsMuoGVSCfmlLHeFTVtEo18QE_cmlkuq7_MmviuZLVYpjZTSHchxo1JOLB95BGgd8R-n2wLA1k-5sm7Q906GzP7IPajN1kYQzidqiPGQNTgF8VzqrdmUpChQ/s640/6tag_040517-204327.jpg" title="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-20194954137593515522017-02-28T02:03:00.000-08:002017-02-28T19:48:07.827-08:00Methow Winter Ski Retreat<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">Challenge, Ceremony, and Connection:</b><br />
<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Methow Winter Ski Retreat</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Kathy Vaughan</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNHhlpxCz8vq7xsmmjsycngbU93kuMCOv4NsnKEWPcoehGDFo44RUOnE0Nj7nCydUkJR15Re4eL76D6xWgf2eY-4RbKZVu5d81RZ4dooCXd28472NYrAQad2VpWtcp86lpkWb4JvXhDo/s1600/WP_20161228_12_34_35_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiU952Qrb80L_Cyx2vNzFZskRqPeABZcki6R1E2Ur5JYIlFmA-WmrNsP81uoECSUEwDFQZh4mWi9T3VD7j7ZzXaSTHIQ7VI6SXISTM2ADYt1hHLYKv9CXlIxfYLH9K26fs3bq_rs8-Q/s1600/IMG_20170108_132713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiU952Qrb80L_Cyx2vNzFZskRqPeABZcki6R1E2Ur5JYIlFmA-WmrNsP81uoECSUEwDFQZh4mWi9T3VD7j7ZzXaSTHIQ7VI6SXISTM2ADYt1hHLYKv9CXlIxfYLH9K26fs3bq_rs8-Q/s200/IMG_20170108_132713.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I had a full week off from my weeding job and the organized annual cross country ski trip in the Methow would begin on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, Lisa and I would begin tallying kilometers skied, towards accomplishing our 2nd Methow Trails 200k Challenge (skiing 200k of the Methow Trails in a single season). By Saturday night, allowing us five days and four nights, Lisa and I hoped to have this challenge conquered. I devised a plan to drive to the Okanogan Highlands to visit Lisa first, in the small town of Chesaw, on Saturday. This meant an eight hour drive over a mountain pass, and on mostly snowy roads after that, until I reached my friend Lisa’s home, almost at the Canadian border. Near Lisa’s place, Ras and I own a five acre piece of land with a creek and a cabin. Since I was driving over the mountains anyway, I wanted to check in on our place, do some skiing off of the groomed trails, enjoy some time with Lisa in her hand built sauna, and hopefully get in a long run on a snow-plowed country road. Lisa had offered to let me stay in her guest cabin on her garlic farm. She had it heated up and all ready for me, despite the bitter cold weather they had been having. This sounded like the perfect way to turn this whole pre-Rendezvous Huts time, into a winter retreat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Conditions of Steven’s Pass looked sketchy from reports, so I decided to take the longer but lower, and safer route. I drove off the north end of Whidbey Island and took I-5 south to I-90 and headed east. It would take longer, but it would allow me to take the lower in elevation pass through the Cascades, Snoqualmie. Stevens Pass was more direct but was requiring traction tires while Snoqualmie was bare and dry thanks to it being 1000 feet lower in elevation. Conditions were quite a bit better, although still wintery. I also decided to avoid Blewett Pass and eventually turned north up through Soap Lake and Ephrata. A long, solo drive like this in the winter, was a big mental challenge for me; one I was determined to overcome. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtyMSt_ZsvD2yeHRpqBF2J1NxAOEjkOjzMlyJd8JNj6aT38rR2I5U9Zx-af083DfU0gde3StcdT1cmiXU5YnFnMKECi_lETkdeXIPffYq6uvpt0S33iMb6oyd6C6fn6ldyUHPrjqcAbQ/s1600/IMG_20170108_093856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtyMSt_ZsvD2yeHRpqBF2J1NxAOEjkOjzMlyJd8JNj6aT38rR2I5U9Zx-af083DfU0gde3StcdT1cmiXU5YnFnMKECi_lETkdeXIPffYq6uvpt0S33iMb6oyd6C6fn6ldyUHPrjqcAbQ/s640/IMG_20170108_093856.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> When I finally pulled up at Lisa’s, I could see smoke coming from the sauna chimney. Her husband Jason had been getting the sauna heated up for us already. I stepped out of the car into the shockingly cold air and immediately realized how serious the goal of skiing 200k this coming week was. I reached back into my car and fumbled for gloves, my warmest hat and my down puffy. Any time outside looking for gear in my car was going to be a challenge. I was happy I was as organized as I was. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lisa led me back to the cabin that farm volunteers and guests use when visiting she and her husband Jason on their organic farm. They grow mostly garlic, but also enough fruit and veggies to preserve and keep them eating their farm food all year round. The small cabin was warm and cozy inside. I was going to enjoy having this space to myself for the next couple of days, and yet also being able to sauna and ski with my Adventure Bestie. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlknG9etljtLmJqqAVibtSrY2qr_RdqePVJ_BTMrCVdArWeJdNA9aol2qTUjCTiuD025rQWVDEbqeXnF7NigoOzFDr-RDe2WLQV5YKoVeRYIQSAPpHlZorNdSkwEkpjuThMQqhh4mKeMs/s1600/IMG_20170108_110507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlknG9etljtLmJqqAVibtSrY2qr_RdqePVJ_BTMrCVdArWeJdNA9aol2qTUjCTiuD025rQWVDEbqeXnF7NigoOzFDr-RDe2WLQV5YKoVeRYIQSAPpHlZorNdSkwEkpjuThMQqhh4mKeMs/s640/IMG_20170108_110507.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lisa, Jason, their dog Lucy and I all had a great backcountry ski the following day on the acreage around their home. We spent about four hours skiing through the growth of huge spruce, pine and aspen trees. We skied past a creek with a restoration project in progress. A small black bird called a Dipper was pecking at the frozen banks of the creek. The bird’s presence was a good sign of the habitat being hospitable and offering the nourishment that it needs. That made us all happy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOkhKhP6gAgIsKRP-DHGKRbeeSE0mbOWFBPZPH-k7SNjIeHnq6hwXUXy0ZiACu32L5b34eA8IxWkPL6w_MW9Fdm4zCmnkAbXv9EwpBduZGk-WM5kfjjrE2F11W402Jjm970Gmtjw5hik/s1600/IMG_20170108_133009_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOkhKhP6gAgIsKRP-DHGKRbeeSE0mbOWFBPZPH-k7SNjIeHnq6hwXUXy0ZiACu32L5b34eA8IxWkPL6w_MW9Fdm4zCmnkAbXv9EwpBduZGk-WM5kfjjrE2F11W402Jjm970Gmtjw5hik/s640/IMG_20170108_133009_1.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Back at Lisa and Jason’s, we enjoyed a dinner of Lisa’s homemade veggie curry. We took another sauna at the cord wood structure they built themselves down by the same creek we had skied past earlier in the day. The whole experience was just what my spirit needed. And this was just the beginning of the week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The following day, Lisa had to work at the small country store about three miles away. I had a hard time deciding whether to run or ski and so I decided to do a route that would incorporate both. I also wanted to visit Lisa at the store later in the day. Jason planned on making us vegan pesto pizza for dinner and I definitely wanted to work up a good appetite for that! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TbpE5Zkfzj6GX8o1nKXdW4YgPA1staYPQDzMqfNdIamwQFvwienaUvS3E2RIpa7mW4n0v6vAhLmGsg3VWja1i9sYRZMP5i6hKd5ohY4ds1KMbf-HQ6kgQb0zlAO2GZYY1XE84IyUJ70/s1600/IMG_20170109_141856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TbpE5Zkfzj6GX8o1nKXdW4YgPA1staYPQDzMqfNdIamwQFvwienaUvS3E2RIpa7mW4n0v6vAhLmGsg3VWja1i9sYRZMP5i6hKd5ohY4ds1KMbf-HQ6kgQb0zlAO2GZYY1XE84IyUJ70/s640/IMG_20170109_141856.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I drove to a pullout on a nearby country road. From here, I could ski and run a loop that would probably take about four hours in the deep snow. I got my Nathan VaporAiress pack loaded up with a few extra layers, some snacks and my Altra FKT’s I’d been wear-testing. The shoes are now on the market and called the King Mountain instead. They have the burliest tread on any shoe of Altras and I’m crushing on them hard right now. The deep snow made the skiing slow in my Fisher OutBounds. I skied through this Grouse Preserve for many winters, when Ras, Angela and I lived in our cabin. My plan today, was to ski through the preserve to the road, where I would cross over to our snowed-in driveway that leads back to the cabin, and change into my running shoes. I would have a couple of miles to run, on snowy country roads, before completing the loop back at my car. I was filled with gratitude that I had the opportunity to ski/run this loop, and was also filled with nostalgia and an appreciation for how far I’ve come with my adventuring. Skiing solo through this preserve land used to be a pretty big deal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I stopped by the small store to visit with Lisa on my way back to her place. It was fun to experience the rural culture. While Lisa is working, a worn table near the pellet stove becomes a center of Highlands discussions. Her coworker and two other local ladies, one whom I’d known for years, were at the table when I walked in. Geared up with my Zoned Heat jacket and tights, my King Mountain running shoes, and other pieces of warm gear I was still wearing post-loop adventure, I became a curiosity. I answered the questions about all the gear, while ideas of how to put together a shoe drive of some kind in this area danced through my head. I’m still working on this one.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sXV-aBBFx32mkfDAdgn5DtE6ITRMF52mteYrogMguabj92wmhQx2U56J27_i6Ld5hNph09k4FuMPodKbgxEwVeJlaX1A5My99YzdFUaOK4yKDdPO6-ySgWNvFIaIl3nb81wtgroIkT0/s1600/IMG_20170109_141945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sXV-aBBFx32mkfDAdgn5DtE6ITRMF52mteYrogMguabj92wmhQx2U56J27_i6Ld5hNph09k4FuMPodKbgxEwVeJlaX1A5My99YzdFUaOK4yKDdPO6-ySgWNvFIaIl3nb81wtgroIkT0/s640/IMG_20170109_141945.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> That night, Lisa and I did some baking together and finished packing for our two hour drive to the Methow the following day. It was time for the Rendezvous Ski Hut portion of my getaway to begin. I said good night to Lisa and headed back to the guest cabin for my final night there. I brought all of my gear bags inside to make final preparations and then fell soundly asleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The Following day Lisa and I skied up from the Cub Creek Parking Lot with a group of ladies. For many years, I had joined an eclectic group of Okanogan women on a Rendezvous Ski Hut Trip. River Jones had been the first to invite me along on one of these special winter outings. We normally stayed in either the Gardner Hut or the Grizzly Hut, and this year Grizzly it would be. There would be seven of us: Lisa, my adventure bestie from Chesaw, where Ras and I have a cabin on five acres; Melanie, a retired R.N., fun, fit and feisty, who has been on all of the hut trips I’ve been on over the years; Rise, also a retired R.N. who had worked with Mel for years, and brings her guitar to sing soft, soulful tunes in the background while lively lady chatting is going on; Dani, a spirited, young mom of two, a lovely, athletic lady and a good cook; Cassandra, a sweet, soulful mom of a teenage daughter, a grad student and an all- around beautiful & caring woman; and a new friend to me, Erin, a warm gentle healer, easy to be around with deep blue eyes. All of us have partners, so this lady time getaway was very special. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLbMAVKo3j81lIRMp1A0qrot2b-3CGJOB-4tjlE4ux42MS6FVyTma7KoqGdqN5UFofTKka2IDnrkC3Nn8_iSltdJPCLQhg2VkQM78VxZMVBf5GgPJvu9pN1VAC1CUDUudKX2mBZw1rkM/s1600/IMG_20170110_143412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLbMAVKo3j81lIRMp1A0qrot2b-3CGJOB-4tjlE4ux42MS6FVyTma7KoqGdqN5UFofTKka2IDnrkC3Nn8_iSltdJPCLQhg2VkQM78VxZMVBf5GgPJvu9pN1VAC1CUDUudKX2mBZw1rkM/s640/IMG_20170110_143412.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The group of us skied Cougar Bait to Cub Creek, 1.7k & 3k. We took Cow Creek to the Rendezvous Basin for 5.1k. Lisa and I had split off at this point and we continued down the Rendezvous Basin for 2.4k to Grizzly Way for 1.1k to the Grizzly Hut spur trail for .5k. We were staying at Grizzly Hut for three nights and would ski back to the parking lot on Friday. Later, after a wonderful Apple, Squash and Ginger Soup dinner by Dani, Lisa and I went back out into super cold temps, likely below zero, and very strong winds. We took the spur trail and Grizzly Way to Gunn Ranch Road where we skied an out n’ back to the Gunn Ranch parking lot for an additional 11k. We then returned to the hut for some sleep. Our day’s total was 27.7k.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I woke up hungry on the second day. Cassandra made a savory breakfast of polenta, fresh garlic and stewed tomatoes. It really hit the spot. Lisa and I hung out at the hut with the ladies, visiting and sipping coffee. We all left together to ski the Cassal Hut Loop by way of the Rendezvous Basin and then Cassal Creek Loop to Cassal Hut spur. We ate lunch there and then headed back out the spur trail, Cassal Creek Loop, in the opposite direction, the “Black” descent to Rendezvous Basin. Lisa and I said goodbye to the other ladies here and continued on our way to do the Cougar Mt. Loop. This loop offers lots of curvy, steep downhill stretches and I couldn’t wait to ski those. I was wearing my larger and heavier Fischer skis. Lisa was in her lightweight skis. We continued on Rendezvous Basin Trail for 3k to reach the basin where Cougar Mt. Loop turns off. We skied the 4.6k loop and connected to Cow Creek. Cow Creek took us back to the Rendezvous Basin and back to the Grizzly Hut for dinner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwS52kaDmpEmT37xDB74hu6gGtP8mID4arCxtpgPriPlPCwETX-7DLCLPxKEeY8y5HJjeHZRYsG6-PMi3CZVqf5tbN2f3Jb7BQaoo-lT6RwhplEjQ6rZob-01aSd7afV4V6ioYVnp2Uw/s1600/IMG_20170111_111521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwS52kaDmpEmT37xDB74hu6gGtP8mID4arCxtpgPriPlPCwETX-7DLCLPxKEeY8y5HJjeHZRYsG6-PMi3CZVqf5tbN2f3Jb7BQaoo-lT6RwhplEjQ6rZob-01aSd7afV4V6ioYVnp2Uw/s640/IMG_20170111_111521.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It was our turn to prepare the shared meal and we were making Pad Thai. Lisa led the cooking and I chopped, diced, made the salad and set the table. The ladies loved it and it was delish. It hit the spot. Lisa shared chocolate covered dried mango for dessert. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> After dinner, it was time for Lisa and I to head out for our night ski. The moon was bright enough to ski without headlamps as we had the night before. Some of the ladies joined us initially. Our plan was to ski the Grizzly Way Loop, 5.2k. I overdressed and got very sweaty underneath. This made me feel irritable and uncomfortable, not to mention nervous about being wet. It was super cold outside, single digits or colder. I got overwhelmed by our goal of skiing 200k in these temperatures. This was my first ski of the season and it was a huge goal I was undertaking. Hanging out in the warm cabin with the ladies sounded much nicer, and easier. I voiced some of my stresses to Lisa, verging on having a meltdown of sorts. I kept coming up with rationalizations as to why I was feeling pessimistic. She didn’t let me give up on the goal. She was assertive, yet kind. We went back to the hut with the ladies and I changed into dry clothing and made an attitude adjustment.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMZ8jB3V1GgKFaoMjO3y-vNDlYgj7aCPJd8FXBi61WWdmO65DpNALB13Uws3UbSM4psMtZn6DutcbTjwPcmK10udEqri4vMAfRTpH9P5LBaBsId1V9E79OdZycJod7IjmSmqi0jBHP6M/s1600/IMG_20170112_223525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMZ8jB3V1GgKFaoMjO3y-vNDlYgj7aCPJd8FXBi61WWdmO65DpNALB13Uws3UbSM4psMtZn6DutcbTjwPcmK10udEqri4vMAfRTpH9P5LBaBsId1V9E79OdZycJod7IjmSmqi0jBHP6M/s640/IMG_20170112_223525.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We went back out and skied the Cassal Hut loop again, in the opposite direction. We skied the Grizzly Way Loop a total of three more times too. This was instead of our initial plan to ski the Fawn Creek Trail down to Mazama and back. This had felt overwhelming to me. Lisa also encouraged me to change into my lighter weight skis. I needed to have faith in my skiing ability. The lighter weight skis give me only slightly less control. I can ski well in my Karhus and they allow me the ability to ski in the tracks, using less energy and going faster. This all worked well that night and we had a lovely ski. I never got wet, cold or uncomfortable again. I could go fast in the tracks and my feet felt so much better in my boots. It was awesome and a game changer. We had skied 34.4k that day and it was time for some sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> On our 3rd day, Lisa and I had coffee and a quick breakfast with the ladies before heading out to ski the Cassal Hut loop. We planned on connecting with the group somewhere during their ski trip to the Rendezvous Hut. We met the ladies as they were skiing down the spur trail from the hut. Ben, the owner of the Rendezvous Hut system had built a fire up there, but the hut had not quite warmed up. We skied back out to the bottom of the spur to touch base. They were all cold so we said a quick goodbye as they headed off towards the hut. We decided to ski up to the Rendezvous Hut to take advantage of the warm fire Ben had built. We figured the fire would be warm by the time we got up there, and it was. We both were very grateful for the warmth the stove provided, and that we were able to come inside and enjoy it. We pulled up a bench in front of the woodstove and ate our lunch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9SGMuhV0BzTtn1p2Abgd7zdX8TR68d-3YQnTJ7tjX7Giz8CbMdva5R4hZdy8CXkmqQBel4vCDS_lTmH99CDOOQ-TMMozbgYcZDpr3lgNQRrKCYCEM7qXCgV4BmjLWs1Y5aKyqAGicdc/s1600/IMG_20170112_124738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9SGMuhV0BzTtn1p2Abgd7zdX8TR68d-3YQnTJ7tjX7Giz8CbMdva5R4hZdy8CXkmqQBel4vCDS_lTmH99CDOOQ-TMMozbgYcZDpr3lgNQRrKCYCEM7qXCgV4BmjLWs1Y5aKyqAGicdc/s640/IMG_20170112_124738.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Our plan from here was to continue on to the Heiffer Hut and then get back to our own hut in time to have dinner with the ladies. This route is called the Cedar Creek Loop. It is unique in that it passes through a couple of creek drainages where cedars are growing. This is unusual to the forests of the Methow. I love the rich fragrance of the Cedar Creek drainage as the trail dips down into it, making a sharp curve through the dark, thick forest. A total accumulation of 14.7k would get us back to the bottom of the Rendezvous Hut spur trail again. We would then have the 2.4k descent to the Grizzly Way and 1.6k to the hut. The Cassal Hut loop was 12.4k. This would give us a total of 29.5k. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The home cooked soup made by Mel was a delicious cream of broccoli soup made with cashew milk. Rise put together a lovely veggie platter, complete with avocado slices. A big green salad was also served. The next plan was to head back out for a full moon ski with the ladies. We skied the 5.2k Grizzly Way Loop. Lisa and I planned on continuing on without the ladies,after heading back to the hut for boysenberry pie and a full moon ceremony. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Erin, Cassandra and Dani had organized a sweet little ceremony to honor the Full Moon and the New Year. We washed our hands in warm hibiscus water, made our own individual intentions and heard poetry from Cassandra. We stood together, in the moonlight, ski sisters so to speak. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Rise, Mel, Lisa and I really appreciated the younger ladies in our group, creating this fresh youthful energy. Our group represented the 30’s, 40’s 50’s and 60’s. When I first began joining the Rendezvous Ski Hut trips, I was the youngest, listening to stories of menopause and the wisdom of the ladies older than me. Now, I was the 3rd from the oldest. Menopause was behind me and I was sharing stories from the perspective of being the mother of a homeschooled 23 year old daughter, now serving in Madagascar in the Peace Corps. Our group ski was the Grizzly Way Loop for a total of 5.2k. Then Lisa and I headed out to do the Gunn Ranch Rd out-and-back again, a total of 14k and an awesome ski. The whole valley was lit up by the moon. It was stunning scenery as far as the eye could see. For the day, we got 44.9 kilometers.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs9jLB93A0auoISoGulpEy4wrpHjFzn92an3dCO19CuxA5jZOZ5gm914cOPsEtlFJYYMofSOCDfZauBy1qLIQCH0p8dsAePFSmO92sUWKKSu_zOzRceCAxbpxeaWT0fC5PEbuNtbh-Mc/s1600/IMG_20170112_124727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs9jLB93A0auoISoGulpEy4wrpHjFzn92an3dCO19CuxA5jZOZ5gm914cOPsEtlFJYYMofSOCDfZauBy1qLIQCH0p8dsAePFSmO92sUWKKSu_zOzRceCAxbpxeaWT0fC5PEbuNtbh-Mc/s640/IMG_20170112_124727.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The final morning in the hut had arrived. We cleaned up after ourselves, visited and had a pot luck breakfast. Then we all skied out together via Rendezvous Basin, Cougar Mt. Loop to Little Cub Creek to Cougar Bait, 15.4k. It was one of the best skis I’ve ever had downhill on cross country skis. Little Cub Creek is always a blast, but this time was pretty epic. I love this downhill trail with little curves and extended down; so, so fun!! I was super cold at the bottom and half way down started stressing out that I had left my car keys in the hut near where I had been sleeping. I grabbed my burlap bag, which had been overturned in the snowmobile ride, and frantically searched through it. My keys were buried in the bottom. “Yes!”, I cried out dramatically, thrusting my fists up into the air. I warmed up my car and changed into my Altra NeoShell Mids. I was just about ready to leave, when Cassandra walked over with my Fischer skis. I had totally forgotten to grab them from the pile of our gear Ben had snowmobiled down from the hut. They had even been right near my other gear, including my burlap bag. I had skied down on my Karhus and not even thought about my other skis. I thanked her and thought to myself that I had better focus a little better, considering the key thing and the rest of the ski challenge to pull off in a day and a half. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBTfeiS67uU48BMUqWiEIqwasc8JqRG8OeXQCVeOjADe6TNieIKnCsDbwKR9bSegqaWFuzDkHhdTCSI-UKpqGUKC9UWUmCOpHdy2Wk-rH7ofbUpNR2qVTXRngtuTouijto5DWd6SXzIs/s1600/IMG_20170113_102740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBTfeiS67uU48BMUqWiEIqwasc8JqRG8OeXQCVeOjADe6TNieIKnCsDbwKR9bSegqaWFuzDkHhdTCSI-UKpqGUKC9UWUmCOpHdy2Wk-rH7ofbUpNR2qVTXRngtuTouijto5DWd6SXzIs/s640/IMG_20170113_102740.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I followed Lisa into Winthrop. I left my car in the Barn parking lot and she drove us in her camper to Twisp, where she had some soaps to pick up from a business there. We then drove back to Winthrop to get my car and dropped her camper off at the Ice Skating Rink parking lot, where we would wind up at the end of our night ski. I drove us up to the Chickadee parking lot in the Sun Mountain trail system. This is where would do most of our night skiing. Our plan was to climb up Thompson Rd and ski down Meadowlark to join back up with Thompson Rd. We would then ski to my car, warm up, and have a few snacks. We would ski from there down the steep trail to the valley floor and into Winthrop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Once in the Chickadee Parking Lot, Lisa and I had a few organizational tasks to do before getting started for the night. It was very early evening, not yet dark. We could make some good progress up the Thompson Road climb before the sun set. The moon would light our way again later. But for now, we each settled into our own space, within our heads and on the road. There were two sets of tracks, one on either side of the wide corduroy trail. The conditions were good for the climb. We had 6.1k of persistent uphill to the pass at 3,650 feet in elevation. We started out at 2,620. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Layering properly was challenging, yet important for the entire time Lisa and I had been out skiing. The bitter, dry cold felt biting on descents. For uphill skiing though, it was surprising how few layers were needed. “Be Bold, Start Cold”, as the saying goes, was hard to implement in the single digit, and below, temperatures. Ras had lent me his puffy down jacket, as it is easier to stuff into a pack than my own heavier weight puffy. As it turned out, this was my layering savior. I was able to put it over the top of my Nathan VaporShadow pack. When I started heating up from the climbs, I could take it off easily and wrap it around my waist without having to stop for long. Each time Lisa and I stopped, we had to tend to each task quickly so as not to get cold. If we were stopped long enough, I could unwrap it from my waist and easily remove my pack, stashing it under the outside stretch cord, or stuff it into the open top. Ras’ jacket was ample enough on me that it fit down over my legs, helping to keep them warm too. The hood could stretch over my own big ear flap, furry hat and be pulled up over the top of my two merino wool buffs. Easily pulling hoods and buffs over your face while moving is an efficient layering technique in the cold, especially with wind as a factor as well. I use all of these face and head layers while trail running, fast packing and cross country skiing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I listened to some music while climbing Thompson Road. The distraction and beat of the music helped. I enjoy listening to Reggae Dancehall, as I’ve mentioned in other blogs. I had a few new tunes such as Elliphant and Major Lazor’s new tune “Too Original” and Elliphant’s single “Only Getting Younger”, featuring Skrillex. Before I knew it, I was catching up to Lisa at the pass and it was time for some downhill. We would still have some gentle contouring along the Meadowlark Trail and even a few short climbs, but for the most part, we were going to have downhill for the rest of the night’s ski.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Sometimes expectations of what kind of terrain lies ahead can interfere with my mental comfort level. There were some fun stretches of down mixed in with climbs and some gentle contouring for a long way. Lisa gained some distance on me and I skied along in the dark through dense trees, feeling alone in a mostly good way. I got glimpses of Lisa’s headlamp, as we did need them on this night for the first time during our ski challenge. Reaching the intersection with Thompson Road, Lisa and I connected with each other quickly, before beginning the 2.6k, 500 foot drop back down to the Chickadee Trailhead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lisa took off fast. Her light skis had no drag and she flew off before I could really even get going. I pushed and glided in the tracks to gain some speed and then skied out of them back onto the corduroy once I got momentum. I started skiing fast. It was exhilarating. Lisa was nowhere in sight and all around me was dark. I focused on the smooth trail ahead, trusting that I could open up on this well- groomed path. I was so relieved to have that climb done, to be getting back to the car. The ski into Winthrop would be all downhill and flat track skiing. I could do that any day. “Focus now, fly downhill, cover your face, wriggle your toes in your boots, wriggle your fingers in your gloves, you’ve got this.” These mantras floated through my head as I skied fast in the dark. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Then it was over. There was Lisa at the signed intersection, waiting for me so we could take the gentle trail back to the car. My eyes were watering from the fast skiing, the cold air, and for some reason, tears. I was flooded with emotion. I was happy to be getting closer to realizing our goal. I was full of adrenaline from that final downhill. I was stoked to be reunited with Lisa and so near the parking lot. We skied off together towards my car.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGe7hV5kbYAY6Qbz1JZPc7Bu3_SvNiDSrh8MI5Z7Owj8EjTXn5SIfuE_OVdRiti0OPMJNAG2WMqv5iF_DH4GmhsDSoYbVfRj2CLqACjcxHB9IL41yYvs-s7zS84YkjVfzlIVyUxjkc2Sg/s1600/IMG_20170114_102956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGe7hV5kbYAY6Qbz1JZPc7Bu3_SvNiDSrh8MI5Z7Owj8EjTXn5SIfuE_OVdRiti0OPMJNAG2WMqv5iF_DH4GmhsDSoYbVfRj2CLqACjcxHB9IL41yYvs-s7zS84YkjVfzlIVyUxjkc2Sg/s640/IMG_20170114_102956.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Once there, we took some time to get ready for the 8.8k ski down to Winthrop and Lisa’s camper awaiting us at the Town Trailhead and Rink. Now I was completely relaxed and ready for the rest of the night’s ski. I ate some food while in the car, putting on some dry layers at the same time. Lisa and I left the comfort of the warm car and headed towards the Patterson Lake cabins. The lake itself was blanketed in snow. The cabins were lit up and smoke was coming from their chimneys. It smelled good. We skied quietly past on the groomed trail and then took off our skies to cross the road. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We skied the Winthrop Trail with it’s fun S curves all the way down to the Methow Community Trail. We had 4k to ski through the fields, past a few homes, along the Methow River and into the skating rink parking area. Lisa and I turned off our headlamps once down the steep sections of trail. It was a beautiful night, skiing along peacefully, pleasantly. I got in the tracks and effortlessly cruised through my surroundings, at one with the cold winter scape. Throughout the many hours of skiing I had been doing, I had often been able to enter this “zone” and it is one of the reasons I am drawn to hard endurance efforts such as this. This is when I feel alive. This is when I am at my best and feel the healthiest. One more day, and Lisa and I would be completing the Methow Trails 200k Challenge for the 2nd time, doing it all in a single big push. I don't think anyone else has done this. It felt exhilerating. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I skied up to the waiting Palomino camper, and took off my skies. The empty lot and the starlit sky amplified the feeling I was having of limitless possibilities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lisa and I awoke at what felt like the spot where a winter wonderland turns into a pretty intense winter landscape; the final lot that one can drive to before Highway 20, or the North Cascades Highway, is closed to thru traffic for the season. The avalanche threat is too real for the Department of Transportation to keep this highway open during the winter. A post with a sign and a flashing light warns travelers to go no further. This is sad for me, because The Methow is only about four hours away from where I currently live, via this highway. Instead, I had to drive twice as far to access this magical paradise by way of I90 to get through the Cascade Mountain Range, and then miles and miles of snowy highway north, through central Washington. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The Subaru Lisa and I had seen the night before was still parked near us in the otherwise empty lot. There was a tarp laid out neatly beside the car with bins spread out on it. A mat was by one of the side car doors to step out onto without being directly on the snow. Whoever this was, they had camped in the snow before. They knew what they were doing. I got out of the camper to get into my own car at one point, and saw the guy who had been sleeping in the Subaru the night before. He was bundled up for the frigid temps and had on big down booties to walk around on the snow. He was casually eating breakfast at the folding table he had set up, the stove going with a pot of boiling water steaming on one of it’s burners. This was an impressive scene and Lisa and I discussed it. I assumed he might be catching one of the heli-ski rides we were hearing overhead. This area was known for it’s fabulous backcountry riding and it was possible this guy was hitting the slopes. He was gone before Lisa and I hit the trail.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Our first destination was Doe Canyon. It was quiet and bitter cold. We bundled up and headed for the gentle climb into the canyon. I was looking forward to the ski out, mostly downhill for about 2k. It felt good to be starting our final day on the Methow Trails 200k Challenge. We had worked diligently and persistently to get to this point. We knew we had it if we just stuck to our plan and kept on skiing. We would be done before it was even too late at night. But now, as we skied along peacefully in the morning surroundings, I was in a wonderful zone and felt as though I could ski forever. I was unfamiliar with the trails in this upper Mazama valley floor. Lisa and I had skied it in the night when we completed the Methow Challenge two winters prior. An old wooden sign read “Old Growth Grove”. This all felt new and kept me pushing and gliding forward, looking all around so as to not miss anything. I saw where trees had been broken off at nearly the same height, everywhere I looked. I thought that possibly an avalanche had caused this, or a strong windstorm. Either of these events were possible in this rugged, mountainous zone. I soon saw a large wooden sign that said “Cassal Avalanche 1997”. This explained it all. I skied on, looking at more trees, broken off, as far as the eye could see. It was impossible for me to imagine the enormity of what had occurred here 20 years ago. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Finally through the avalanche zone, we were in an open, sunny meadow. I felt so grateful to be amongst such pristine, winter scenery, in the sunshine, accomplishing a huge goal. Lisa knew there would be a bench up ahead and we planned on taking a short break there. We had not been able to stop outside for any length of time during our entire ski. We would now have a chance to sit down and soak in some sunshine while having a bite to eat. It was all that I had looked forward to as I skied the last section to the bench. I took off my skis and plopped down on the dry surface. It felt so good to have the rays of sunshine fall on my outstretched legs. This was a wonderful moment.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb9sp4O44pUgsnHtdz3I5DIcp9g5MErVtEKIgdmCHdvQNineKoA2hV-MToOm_xkB68fArcJgYYajtpYCq_DWu8sav1mEZX8QviUVQt7ZXj68LA9XO24uccAQaAQM7vSRF4bS8TKNfK1s/s1600/IMG_20170114_104924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Lisa Eversgerd/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb9sp4O44pUgsnHtdz3I5DIcp9g5MErVtEKIgdmCHdvQNineKoA2hV-MToOm_xkB68fArcJgYYajtpYCq_DWu8sav1mEZX8QviUVQt7ZXj68LA9XO24uccAQaAQM7vSRF4bS8TKNfK1s/s640/IMG_20170114_104924.jpg" title="photo by Lisa Eversgerd/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> A few more kilometers, and we would be at the Mazama Store. We wanted to fill our water bottles here and possibly get a hot drink or a snack. It was incredibly crowded and felt like the scene of a movie. Everyone was dressed just perfectly in cross country ski attire, LL Bean or Patagonia après ski wear, and anxious for something from the counter in the store. We used the restrooms and filled our waters then left for the solitude of the trails once again. The route was cruisy and pleasant as we skied the final four kilometers back to the parking lot. We saw a few other skiers, but for the most part, we made our way easily along the route. We had a short climb that rewarded us with a little bit of fun downhill. We skied through a tunnel underneath the Highway. Cold, hungry and happy, we got back to our vehicles. We began to warm them up as we took off skis and boots, changing into dry shoes for driving. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lisa would drop her camper off at the Mazama parking area. This is where we would complete our Methow Trails Challenge. I would drive us to the Gunn Ranch parking area where we would begin our night ski. We would ski the 5.5k on the Gunn Ranch Road, and then connect with the Rendezvous Basin Trail. But first, we wanted to be sure we were ready with everything we needed in our packs for night skiing. We were finishing our hot drinks and snacking in my car at the Gunn Ranch parking area, the car running so the heat was blasting and keeping us warm in the cold early evening air. Lisa and I both have a fondness for this road; it would be our third time skiing it in this challenge. It had been so intense and windy our first night out. Now, it seemed inviting and familiar. The gentle climb of the road would warm us up quickly once we left the comfort of the car for our final ski of the challenge. Our bellies were full and we were bundled up appropriately. Our headlamps were ready, although most nights out we had not had to use them as the moon had lit our way. I locked up the car and we headed up the trail, the clear view of the valley below us. We were quiet, our thoughts internal as we glided easily up the trail. All of the usual landmarks helped lead the way. I noticed the pond for the first time. Aspen lined its outer banks. I remembered the salamanders Lisa and I had seen here during another ski challenge at night. It had surprised us to see them on top of the snow. Now, seeing the pond, it made only slightly more sense.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We hit the intersection with the Rendezvous Basin Trail and took a left. Now it was time to gently cruise along, the main climb over with. We would have a 2k climb after some of the descent, a bit later on. We both figured that this would help to warm us up again after having gone downhill for a while. We skied along, nostalgia flowing through me as I remembered skiing all throughout here with the ladies earlier in the week. We had so much fun together. I saw the arch covered in snow that Dani had fallen in love with. I stopped to marvel at it once again and soak in the energy. It was so quiet. We were so alone out here. Everyone was tucked away in their warm huts or in ski lodges or personal residences down in the valley. It was even kind of crazy, but in a very magical and wonderfully intense way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The downhill finally came. Lisa took off ahead, flying on her lightweight skis. I lost sight of her headlamp. I kept a courageous spirit and skied along, alone in the dark, downhill. I flew fast at times, and at other times not as fast as I would have liked. Sometimes I could see Lisa’s light if there was a switchback in the trail. The descent was long, about 9k in total. I knew we would connect again, but for now, it was just me and the dark surroundings, my bright light leading the way. I loved the feel of the cold air, biting at my cheeks. I adjusted my wool buff around my face as needed, pulling it away if I wanted the air and covering my cheeks if it got too biting. Down, down I skied. Dropping lower and lower towards the valley floor, I could see the lights from homes down below. It looked so cozy and inviting. The lights were further away than they seemed. And now, suddenly, the climb was here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I struggled a bit mentally with this. I got too warm, but didn’t want to stop and adjust layers. I climbed as strongly as I could, but I could not catch up with Lisa. It was not a big deal; we were each in our zone. This was kind of the crux of it all, the final climb after so many previous ones. I glided along pretty easily, the skis taking to the conditions quite well. I wasn’t backsliding or having to put much effort into moving uphill. It was just a long climb, deep into this ski adventure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Finally at the top of this 900 foot climb, it was time to push and glide and work some speed into the take off. I wanted to fly fast down the final descent. I wanted to feel the speed and have some fun curves on the way. This was it. Once in the valley, there would be no more long downhills. Once in the valley, it was time to just get in the tracks and push mindlessly along. The challenge would be over, and likely my skiing for the season as well. It was bittersweet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The lights from the valley got closer and the cold bit harder into my face, my fingertips, my toes. I could see Lisa’s light far below me on the trail now, or was it a light from a cabin? Some lights looked close, like I was skiing right by a ski lodge. Others looked so far away, like I was not progressing downhill like I thought I was. And now another short, steep pitch to climb. The herringboning seemed like a technique long forgotten. What had I started doing with my skis? I hardly thought about it. Lisa had disappeared over the crest a while ago. I flew down the fun black diamond trail called Goat Creek Cut-off and saw Lisa checking out the sign at the intersection below. The descent was complete. We were back in the Mazama Valley.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I shivered and we cheered together. I told Lisa the easiest way back to the car from here was good for me. She led the way and we twisted and turned on easy trail for about 4k back to her Palomino in the lot in Mazama. Christmas lights lit up the small town, most homes lit only with these and some dim lamp light. It was just magical. I can’t stop thinking about it. I have to live there and ski all the trails all winter. Yeah, I would work a little. But I have to find a way to ski Methow Trails, more. For now, I will reminisce of another Methow Trails 200k Challenge, completed in thru-ski style. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lisa and I began the Methow Trails 200k Challenge on Tuesday, January 10th at 11:15 a.m. and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">completed it on Saturday, January 14th at 8:48 p.m.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We slept three nights in the Grizzly Hut in the Rendezvous Trail System and one night in the Palomino during the challenge.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdIAcI6ZlzIJ5LiByuHG6SsitHPVDzNcTd6tYzWQibeNk4BQUweOjDsUD7BpVMBvARrpBcfH2OGzs_LaOCSLL6Or2kKb_5HPLce9Dcbr6DC5IbyJSSnSw9Q2Up12EVf2S1hpLBAgyDMc/s1600/IMG_20170114_115827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdIAcI6ZlzIJ5LiByuHG6SsitHPVDzNcTd6tYzWQibeNk4BQUweOjDsUD7BpVMBvARrpBcfH2OGzs_LaOCSLL6Or2kKb_5HPLce9Dcbr6DC5IbyJSSnSw9Q2Up12EVf2S1hpLBAgyDMc/s640/IMG_20170114_115827.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span>Kathy Vaughanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16781079217933588340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-80018959198768560472017-02-15T13:56:00.000-08:002017-02-15T13:56:47.994-08:00Gearing UP for Ultraneering<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Gearing UP for Ultraneering</span></b></span></div>
</div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OEKoqza17zg39zhTpFyZZylAg-vWObAYJE_-0lo61A1KRkAdl6c1mw2G0S1JZxFBczFj1fEYVUWbWcmE9tWs_Cyy1R6dqcrZCYVJ53zDL9EconlVCjRKSM4tXCWhHttjcLagnbODOw/s1600/G0070450_Ras_Headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Gavin Woody / Ultraneering.com" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OEKoqza17zg39zhTpFyZZylAg-vWObAYJE_-0lo61A1KRkAdl6c1mw2G0S1JZxFBczFj1fEYVUWbWcmE9tWs_Cyy1R6dqcrZCYVJ53zDL9EconlVCjRKSM4tXCWhHttjcLagnbODOw/s200/G0070450_Ras_Headshot.jpg" title="photo by Gavin Woody / Ultraneering.com" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>by Ras Vaughan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Big Impossible Sounding Ideas</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">There’s a particular type of ill-advised, hare-brained scheme that resonates with me on a fundamental level. When an adventure of this sort first presents itself, whether via outside influence or internal genesis, I experience both a physical and mental response. The physical response includes the sound of blood rushing in my ears, chills up and down my spine, sharpening and narrowing of my vision, and racing heart. Mentally my response is along the lines of, “That sounds impossible. I have to give it a try.” I’ve come to think of projects of this sort as Big Impossible Sounding Ideas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">As intimidating as they may seem at first conception, I’ve learned over the years that Big Impossible Sounding Ideas can be deconstructed into smaller and smaller component parts. Those parts can then be evaluated and explicated until a way is found to make each of them possible. Then all of those little possibilities can be reassembled to make that Big Impossible Sounding Idea not only a possibility but a reality. This is a process which can take months or even years to run its course while my brain chews on the problem, evaluating information, formulating and reformulating plans, and passively letting possibilities bounce around my skull to see if any of them take root. And once I decide that something is humanly possible, the all-consuming question for me then becomes, “Am I the Human Being to do it?” That’s exactly how things played out when I first heard about Chad Kellogg’s idea for the Mount Rainier Infinity Loop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Cowlitz Connection and the Mount Rainier Infinity Loop</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">In 2015 Richard Kresser and I attempted a project I had dreamed up to combine the 93 mile Wonderland Trail around the base of Mount Rainier with a traverse of the summit. It’s not hyperbole to say that Mount Rainier is responsible for making me the man I am today, and I find myself continually drawn to it, persistently pursuing new ways to experience the mountain as completely as possible …</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Read the entire article on the </span><a href="http://altrarunning.com/blog/ambassadors/mt-rainier-infinity-loop" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Altra Running Blog</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahRLX2ckCikq5hNoS4dRx6-ZsdLy3Fpew8ygN2O96CRF5bt9u_eqWY8kN86NbUiztVHxvwrmqHJFnQW6qNMvEyjSrOJhm-IdtwF8TwaPSuT-jz8zQ_9pLdu7D8faVH15TPpuIm4nOhg/s1600/G0041418+neoshell+summit+%25283%2529+BEST.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahRLX2ckCikq5hNoS4dRx6-ZsdLy3Fpew8ygN2O96CRF5bt9u_eqWY8kN86NbUiztVHxvwrmqHJFnQW6qNMvEyjSrOJhm-IdtwF8TwaPSuT-jz8zQ_9pLdu7D8faVH15TPpuIm4nOhg/s640/G0041418+neoshell+summit+%25283%2529+BEST.JPG" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-89283032558684046382017-01-09T02:15:00.000-08:002017-01-09T02:15:06.307-08:00Run Like A Kid<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">Running Like A Kid</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Kathy Vaughan</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNHhlpxCz8vq7xsmmjsycngbU93kuMCOv4NsnKEWPcoehGDFo44RUOnE0Nj7nCydUkJR15Re4eL76D6xWgf2eY-4RbKZVu5d81RZ4dooCXd28472NYrAQad2VpWtcp86lpkWb4JvXhDo/s1600/WP_20161228_12_34_35_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNHhlpxCz8vq7xsmmjsycngbU93kuMCOv4NsnKEWPcoehGDFo44RUOnE0Nj7nCydUkJR15Re4eL76D6xWgf2eY-4RbKZVu5d81RZ4dooCXd28472NYrAQad2VpWtcp86lpkWb4JvXhDo/s200/WP_20161228_12_34_35_Pro.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> On Christmas day, Ras and I took the ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend to spend the day with my sister Julie, her husband Benoit, their two children and my parents. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We exchanged gifts and I was soon ushered upstairs by my niece Amelie to play a game away from all of the activity downstairs. I followed her lead. Her twelve-year-old brother Benji was already upstairs. They had been playing together pretty well on their own earlier, but it was time for a little adult guidance in their games. Let’s just say we bonded that afternoon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> One thing led to another and before I knew it we were making arrangements to spend a day with Amelie the following week, back home. This sounded like a blast. Amelie is seven, the age Angela was when Ras and I took her on that first thru-hike of the 93 mile Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier. We didn’t plan on attempting that with Amelie on this first outing together, but my mind did start to put together a day of trail adventure that would be appropriate for her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Amelie was spending the week in nearby Anacortes with my parents. The plan was for Ras and I to meet up with my mom to get Amelie for the day, and then return later in the evening. I had messaged my mom and told her to make sure Amelie wore the warmest clothes she had with her. We planned on spending some time outside. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> When she hopped in the car with us, she looked bundled up and adorable, Ugg boots on her feet and a fluffy turquoise scarf that matched her coat, clearly borrowed from my mom and smelling of her familiar musk cologne. Amelie was a shy at first with her aunt and uncle, but after about ten minutes, she listed off every layer she was wearing. She had a hint of pride and eagerness in her voice. I could tell she was up for an exciting day with Ras and I. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We had to head back to our house to get a few gear decisions finalized. The sweet little girl said “It seems to take longer to get ready than it must take for the adventure itself.” A very astute child, indeed. But soon, we were on our way to Ft. Ebey State Park, just a couple of miles from our home. There, we could spend some time on the beach, the bluff trails overlooking the water, and in the forest. Living near many beaches, I knew she had spent a lot of time playing along shorelines. I wanted to let her explore the singletrack trails in the forest. We parked at the beach. Ras strapped his Nathan Ice Storm waist belt around Amelie’s tiny middle so she could carry her own water and tuck stuff away as needed in the zippered pockets. We headed up the steep bluff trail that would lead into the forest. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw2tNJx6bzklI8r06J-Tk1b6VuuWjWkbfv-TVPxVIDVwkXahbEu0HTd7eht0RxsSKCpZdwPRuGaK-NZWc9dLjHyxdSr-3Lihf7xw-L1uT37LzonzSXVnwz9qP1SmqEteVHdIjxp7CgjU/s1600/WP_20161228_11_36_39_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw2tNJx6bzklI8r06J-Tk1b6VuuWjWkbfv-TVPxVIDVwkXahbEu0HTd7eht0RxsSKCpZdwPRuGaK-NZWc9dLjHyxdSr-3Lihf7xw-L1uT37LzonzSXVnwz9qP1SmqEteVHdIjxp7CgjU/s640/WP_20161228_11_36_39_Pro.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="360" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It was fun right away to feel the pace she was comfortable with and how the order would play out on the trail. I first took the lead with Ras in the back. We were both wearing our Altra Lone Peak 3.0 NeoShell Mids, and had great traction. Amelie hiked fast up the steep climbs and soon wanted to be in the lead. We had everything with us to enjoy a picnic in the woods. Ras had all kinds of gear in his larger backpack; the Jet Boil, coffee and hot chocolate packets, cookies and other snacks, a sleeping bag and pads to sit on, and our tarp tent. We could set this up under the trees and stay warm for the picnic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The day was gray and cloudy, cold but not raining. We moved at a brisk pace for almost a mile, before Amelie wondered about some of the little openings in the trees off of the main trail. We looked back into a couple of them, but encouraged her to go just a little further before we stopped. We pushed on a little bit before coming to a closed off campground. There were campground roads that would be easy to follow or wooded spots to set up our picnic. Amelie wanted to be back in the trees and we found a perfect spot to set up a mini-camp.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionK1UVtazJAKNNX5e_aWzz0a5PUtdhIo0masV5ppM7TAdu_ZZYKWqaqPGTtFe7VuqrqFRf4OM7-PEvr8dhqXXzBqPU7e4ZXSNy3B7y8uDu1Y1LwxkhlnNEvOF3j-ZIGXBfPzaaNGpIB4/s1600/WP_20161228_12_35_43_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionK1UVtazJAKNNX5e_aWzz0a5PUtdhIo0masV5ppM7TAdu_ZZYKWqaqPGTtFe7VuqrqFRf4OM7-PEvr8dhqXXzBqPU7e4ZXSNy3B7y8uDu1Y1LwxkhlnNEvOF3j-ZIGXBfPzaaNGpIB4/s640/WP_20161228_12_35_43_Pro.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We heated up water for hot chocolate, coffee and soup, and enjoyed hanging out in the quiet woods. Some trail runners went by and didn’t even see us. They looped around, passed us a second time, and still did not see us, amusing Amelie. We were in a good spot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The hot chocolate was ridiculously hot. In an attempt to cool it down, I watered it down too much. I was worried that I had and sure enough, when Amelie took her first sip, she said “That just tastes like hot water.” And thus the hot chocolate idea was a fail. I mixed it in with my coffee and had a faux mocha, or, as we call it, a Fauxcha, instead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Amelie wondered if we could start a fire accidentally by using our Jet Boil in the woods. I got a piece of cedar and took a lighter out of my trail supplies kit. I showed her how hard it was to light the damp cedar. She loved the fragrance of the smoke as the cedar smoldered. It is a spiritual experience, bringing in the scent of the ancient, most natural incense. She wanted to smell more of it. I taught her about wafting the smoke towards her, and using it in an intentional way. I told her she could send good thoughts to her best friend back home, or to her mom and dad. The teaching opportunity presented itself. Her unselfconscious joy in the cedar seemed to match the intent of the moment. I wanted her to fully experience any elements of nature as they appeared. I told Amelie how I had used the cedar smoke to repel mosquitoes on a backpacking trip once. The insects had been making it hard to even eat at the time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> But now that the picnic was out of the way, it was time to use our consumed food as energy to head back out on the trails. We had talked with Amelie a little bit about what we take on our three month thru-hikes. She was interested in what we ate and we talked with her about how much energy we now had from what we had just eaten. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> On the trail once again, Amelie stopped and turned back to look at me. Her huge blue eyes were trying to express something to me. I wished I knew what she wanted to convey. Was she still having fun? Had she gotten enough to eat? She hiked on and then again stopped and turned back to look at me with those eyes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL2CwWLduUeHJAdLgxPuvBXH2JhsNbFEfSTWpUB4gjuiUCGl_YTSmhUcXmmR1wF6bjuzrXNCiyhe_NuHv7Ujb22jMxdQlzX0du3vysUH9ULBLKs-eaXaGeGo1lkuuDa2m_neZh-PgYhw/s1600/WP_20161228_13_41_19_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL2CwWLduUeHJAdLgxPuvBXH2JhsNbFEfSTWpUB4gjuiUCGl_YTSmhUcXmmR1wF6bjuzrXNCiyhe_NuHv7Ujb22jMxdQlzX0du3vysUH9ULBLKs-eaXaGeGo1lkuuDa2m_neZh-PgYhw/s640/WP_20161228_13_41_19_Pro.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I said, “What’s up?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> She said “I want to run.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I said “Okay, let’s run!” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> She was shy about leading the pace and wanted to get behind her uncle. We said she could be in the middle of us, but not last in line. This was okay with her. I took off running and could hear her foot falls behind me. I thought of her running in her Uggs and that they might be getting a little muddy. I hoped my sister wouldn’t be too bummed, but I knew a sweet little girl was having a good time. She had on one of my cross -country ski hats with flowers on it. It was falling down over her eyes a bit. Her cheeks were flushed. She was getting warm and wanted to pull off the hat. We stopped and helped her get her jeans off, leaving her with just comfy leggings on for the run. I took off my warm down puffy pants, so I now had on just tights with my lightweight Altra Performance Skirt over the top. We were warmed up and ready to go.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> All three of us had a blast. We had downhill switchbacks to navigate and rooty, flat stretches to cruise. There were gray skies and muddy trails, a combo making it hard to differentiate what the surface was actually like underfoot. Amelie went around me and got out front. She flew down the hill. She hopped over roots and made the quick switchback turns with ease. Her coat flew open. Her cheeks got more flushed. She lifted her feet high and stretched out her legs. She turned around every so often to make sure we were still behind her. We were.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqac5GZ1Rh8UL_ZhhdUMZ95gCouNHtaN-MjAtSlAq48z5A3o8UU8JjPF-dlixFV6vJrqEbj73c5RG12w7XgvHgOsWpU0skwb7pxgfl1VyTybkXP8eai2-x8qcdtOBacjHbXSDE6Zq602k/s1600/WP_20161228_13_54_35_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqac5GZ1Rh8UL_ZhhdUMZ95gCouNHtaN-MjAtSlAq48z5A3o8UU8JjPF-dlixFV6vJrqEbj73c5RG12w7XgvHgOsWpU0skwb7pxgfl1VyTybkXP8eai2-x8qcdtOBacjHbXSDE6Zq602k/s640/WP_20161228_13_54_35_Pro.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I worked to keep up with her speedy kid energy. I focused on running like a girl. Yeah, I said it. I wanted to run like a girl. I let loose. I opened up. I leaped over roots and took turns fast. I laughed and even squealed. I glanced behind me once or twice to see Ras, just to smile at him. I knew he would know what I meant by my looks. We were both having fun. He had on a huge pack full of our picnic supplies. But he was running with youthful vigor too. His locks were flying and he was full of joy at playing a part in helping Amelie to have a blast in the woods. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I felt such love for this guy, going along with the plan for the day. He wasn’t just playing the willing partner, it had been his idea to pack up the tarp tent and all the gear to have our special camp scene. He and I really enjoy sitting down in cool spots when we are out on the trails. It is part of the overall trail life experience for us. We get joy from it and include it on all of our longer trail runs and hikes. Our endorphins are flowing in these times. We can talk about our dreams and goals while in these inspiring environments. All of the home life realities are put to rest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gD8bAvoatM55EH7iG_shZJ0JWPFlHSycyUtty0nbvUcNd94n-Sj2zQy_FPUb55Bk9WY2sLbRf32kU9vJJiq2I-u1Z3m3j0pV7d0IztwNRbmFvljiMpMLN1Z0Y7upgKoHX4qtTY9wPaQ/s1600/WP_20161228_13_45_19_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gD8bAvoatM55EH7iG_shZJ0JWPFlHSycyUtty0nbvUcNd94n-Sj2zQy_FPUb55Bk9WY2sLbRf32kU9vJJiq2I-u1Z3m3j0pV7d0IztwNRbmFvljiMpMLN1Z0Y7upgKoHX4qtTY9wPaQ/s640/WP_20161228_13_45_19_Pro.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It is important to me to stay fit and trained enough to run an ultra distance any day of the week. I am not a fast runner or at an elite level. I just enjoy trail running. In order to pull this off, I have to stay somewhat disciplined in my day to day life. I aim to run or hike a minimum of 40 miles a week, unless I am resting from a long adventure or an ultra race. I definitely allow myself rest after a big push, but I do stay focused on getting in the miles each week. I fill out my Nathan Training Log each night. Once I was able to complete my first ultra in 2011, I have never wanted to not be at least at that level of fitness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I think about what I eat, sticking mainly to low fat, plant based foods. I enjoy sweets and coffee and occasionally eating out, but I mostly eat healthy meals that either Ras or I have cooked. When I’m not out on the trails, or resting from long runs while doing a variety of low-key activities (stretching, hand-sewing trail totems, planning my next thru-hike on the Grand Enchantment Trail for Spring, reading, writing blogs, coloring in my new book, or cooking), then I’m doing hard physical work in yard care. I’ve also added in HIIT several days a week. I’m active and focused on building this life of full time adventuring daily.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> To spend the day with Amelie and Ras, not thinking about the time or the pace or the miles, was a blessing in every way. We all benefited from the time spent together in nature, breathing in the fresh earthy scents from the forest. The wind was blowing hard, gusting as we all hiked a section of trail that was close to the choppy water. It was thrilling and made us all smile as our cheeks got whipped with the wind. As we ran together, I felt like a kid. It was refreshing to be amongst such youthful joy and honesty. I enjoyed being playful. It was a good reminder to me. On the trails, set all the seriousness aside. Let out that inner kid and put some playfulness into it. Open up your pace and relax on the downhills. Leap around and over stuff with no thought. I found out I run better when I run like a little girl.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQ34X9LnyL9eTlvhLcJoR7EdpJe0dCVCwCiNVvdMEr1NmibfP3lGDS46kHnuQMQtOPY42C-W2AO9Ac4EU99SpWGBxzWPVK9Rt7Q-Yej3ar-O3myi1k3IfSwEdKL2KEzRZAl5FU5BRWzg/s1600/WP_20161228_13_55_17_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQ34X9LnyL9eTlvhLcJoR7EdpJe0dCVCwCiNVvdMEr1NmibfP3lGDS46kHnuQMQtOPY42C-W2AO9Ac4EU99SpWGBxzWPVK9Rt7Q-Yej3ar-O3myi1k3IfSwEdKL2KEzRZAl5FU5BRWzg/s640/WP_20161228_13_55_17_Pro.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Kathy Vaughanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16781079217933588340noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-89901778757354622702016-12-21T23:03:00.001-08:002016-12-22T18:24:20.186-08:00Twenty-Eight Miles To Go<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
</h2>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">Twenty-Eight Miles To Go Before I Finish</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Kathy Vaughan</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13312622_1021199751250223_2081437749811924770_n.jpg?oh=370794a7c0065cb50ed3435d1f137583&oe=58E5ACE8" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="200" src="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13312622_1021199751250223_2081437749811924770_n.jpg?oh=370794a7c0065cb50ed3435d1f137583&oe=58E5ACE8" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The rain began just as dusk started to set. It was Saturday, and I had been running around Lake Youngs since 6:00AM Thursday. I was starting to feel a little bit tired. I still had many miles to go, though, and I would continue to push on through this rain storm. I saw that underneath a huge cedar tree the ground was still dry. I tucked beneath it for just a minute to make a few adjustments before I continued. I put on my rain shell and pulled my hood up over my head. I turned on my headlamp and once again set out into the rainstorm. It came down in sheets, although the rainfall felt light against me. I leaned my head back so that the cool rain could hit my face. It felt good to have the moisture soak my skin and rejuvenate me. I ran the flats and downhills, pushing to get back to the dry shelter at the main aid station. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I wanted to rest during the storm if it was going to continue. I had completely forgotten that I had asked my friend Susie to join me for this last night of the race. She would be waiting for me when I got back to the aid station. I would only have time to change into some dry clothing and head back out onto the course. This would be my last night out there. I needed to move well and get some loops done as quickly as possible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Each Memorial Day Weekend for the last five years, ultrarunners have gathered at Lake Youngs Trailhead Park in Renton, Washington for the Pigtails Challenge. Van Phan, an accomplished local ultrarunner, began the race in 2011 so that she could take on the challenge of running 200 miles. She ran the race while directing it that year, and it has continued to blossom and grow. The 200 mile distance starts on Thursday morning at 6:00, the 150 mile runners begin on Friday morning, and Saturday 100 mile and 100k runners start. These distances must all be done by 2:00 on Sunday. A 50k is also held on Sunday, with the same cut-off time. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="710" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D1020541087982756%26set%3Da.890327444337455.1073741844.100000806225438%26type%3D3&width=500" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
The loop is 9.4 miles long with 900 feet of elevation gain on each loop. Runners reverse direction on the loop after completing each one, checking in at the main aid station first, by running a short lollipop stick trail to reach it. I was running the 200 mile race and began with a 2.6 mile out-and-back. I would then have to run 21 loops to complete the distance. Having completed both the 100 and 150 mile distances here on this course, I knew a little bit about what to expect. This time I would run 5 more loops than I had in the 150 distance. I felt pretty confident that I had it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I lined up with 8 guys at 6 a.m. The other female 200 mile racer had not arrived. I felt a sense of excitement. If I could finish this race, I would be the only female finisher. I even voiced this excitement to a few of the other runners and some volunteers. Terry Sentinella, the Race Director, counted down the Start, and off we went. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="472" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJahsonItes%2Fposts%2F1020992194604312&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Ras stayed with me for the out-and-back. We chatted happily, feeling a sense of relief that this race was finally underway. After months of training, philosophizing about and preparing for this race, it felt good to finally be on the course. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I planned on checking in at the Main Aid when I got done with the 2.6 mile out n' back, and then heading out again right away for my first loop. I wanted my turn-arounds at the main aid to be quick and efficient. I planned on handling the first 100k as if it were just that; a 100k race. I wanted to just keep going, without sitting down or taking any kind of significant rest until after I had that first 60 some miles completed.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Running/Pigtails-Challenge-May-2016/i-tNL2VcJ/0/XL/2016-05-26%20035-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Takao Suzuki/runners.photos" border="0" height="425" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Running/Pigtails-Challenge-May-2016/i-tNL2VcJ/0/XL/2016-05-26%20035-XL.jpg" title="photo by Takao Suzuki/runners.photos" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I knew that I would fall behind all of the guys pretty early on in the race. I reminded myself to “run my own race” and not let what everyone else was doing effect how I was feeling. Two hundred miles was a lot of ground to cover; there was no reason to rush this early. Patience with the process would help me to the Finish like it did last year when I completed the 150 mile distance on this same course.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> About a half hour into the race, I saw Amanda (I later learned she goes by Mandee), the other female 200 runner. She had arrived late and was now in the race. She looked strong and happy to be out on the course. She was also nearly 15 years younger than me. I now had a little competition. She seemed to be going out pretty fast, so early on in the race. While still running my first loop, Mandee came towards me again. It didn't make sense. She should have run the out n' back, checked in at the main aid and then headed out to do her first loop in the counter clockwise direction, like everyone else, even though she started late. I shouldn't be seeing her coming towards me; she might catch up to me and come up from behind, but not towards me. I stopped her just briefly to ask if she had taken the wrong direction after the out n' back and she just answered a short “ No”. I let it go and again reminded myself to run my own race. It did occur to me that she was having a rough start, and as far as competition goes, this was in my favor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="710" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJahsonItes%2Fposts%2F1021200937916771&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> By evening, some of the other runners had begun to slow down a little bit. Mandee was limping quite dramatically from what appeared to be a calf strain. She seemed pretty stressed out about it, but was still smiling on some of the loops. She was still going quite fast, sometimes power hiking, but we were staying pretty close in our loop finishes. Van Phan paced me for a loop. It was wonderful to have her company and we ran a pretty fast one. We visited about upcoming goals, how this year's race was going, compared to the past year's races, and about all kinds of other things. It meant a lot to me to have Van offer to run a loop with me when I had seen her at set-up first thing in the morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Van offered to bring Ras and I a pizza without cheese to have in our shelter, knowing we would be getting hungry as the night wore on. The volunteers at the aid stations were getting tuned into the special needs of all of the runners and the first night we were on our own for vegetarian fare. By the second day, there was black bean soup with avocado & corn chips; veggie burgers; veggie dogs; butternut squash soup; bean burritos and vegan pizza. It was pretty awesome having so much food to keep us all fueled. In addition, I had Honey Stinger Waffles, both Caramel and Lemon; Honey Stinger Energy Chews; Expedition Espresso Trail Butter pouches; Picky Bars in several different flavors including Smooth Caffeinator & Cookie Doughness; several cans of vegetarian soups; instant Starbuck's Via coffee pouches; and some Kickstart drinks made by Mountain Dew. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Kathleen and the Mann's, Jules & Mihaela, arrived at the same time to run a loop with me after Van said goodbye. I enjoyed having the evening company, but I told them from the beginning that I would enjoy hearing them visit, but they shouldn't expect me to chime in too often. I said they could lead the way when they wanted to. I was ready to settle into some more “in my head” kind of running. I wanted to run all the flats and downhills, and power hike the uphills. I set out on the loop with these three pacers with a cup of soup in hand, a Mrs. McDougall's Pad Thai with peanut powder sprinkled over the top. It tasted delicious and I sipped it as quickly as possible as I hiked. I didn't want the pacers to get cold or feel like the progress was going slowly. It was good for me to feel the slight bit of pressure. This was still only the first night. I was also beginning to visualize going out solo on the next loop and what I would need in order to do this. I already had my headlamp out on this loop and would be turning it on soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We got around the loop. By the end I felt done with having company and was ready to head out solo. I like everyone that was spending time with me on the trail, but I didn't want to engage in any conversation. I wanted to listen to my mp3 player and just move for some miles. When we got back to the shelter, Ras was there. He offered to join me for the next loop, and this was perfect for me. I felt safer having him with me, now that it was getting late at night. I was getting sleepy, but it was too early to sleep yet. We would get one more loop in together and then probably both lay down for a couple hour nap. We had some food at the aid station as we sat in chairs. It was fun to visit with some of our friends and other people in the trail running community, as we sat for a little bit. Maudie and Brandi, two young woman ultra runners working at the aid station, took my shoes off for me and fetched my Altra Lone Peaks from our shelter. I had developed a blister that I had successfully taken care of earlier. I now wanted the open mesh, foot shaped toe box of the Lone Peaks. I had been wearing the Altra Olympus 2.0 for the max cushion on the mostly packed gravel trail. Then I changed to the Paradigms, also with a comfy max cush. It was now time to change things up a bit, as I had planned. I also had 1 more pair of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Altra Running shoes in my arsenal: the Lone Peak 3.0's which I was wear testing and allowed to wear in a race format. I was wearing Injinji toe socks. My feet were holding out quite well, aside from the one blister which was now under control.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It felt good to have the girls massage my feet and get me all set up with the Lone Peaks and gaiters I could now wear again. The Paradigms don't have the Gaiter Trap, so my gaiters work better with the Lone Peaks. Maudie and Brandi set me up by the heater and fed me, and then sent Ras and I on our way when we were done with our night time adjustments. It was great having the crew help and I feel so appreciative of the supportive community that was around for the whole weekend. I was now ready to get a good night time loop in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Instead, I got out on the trail and felt slow and sluggish. It was fun to be out there with Ras, but I lost some motivation. I drudged on, feeling ashamed that I wasn't moving faster and showing Ras how well I had been doing. I had moved without sluggishness up until now. This was not good. We stopped several times to just sit, once on The Bench of Temptation and another time at the midway aid station. I knew this wasn't ideal, but it at least confirmed that it would be helpful to take a nap in our sleeping bags when we got back to the main aid. Our shelter was all set up for this nap time, complete with an alarm clock and instant coffee (to be made using our Jet Boil) at the ready. As soon as we got back, we checked in at the main aid and told them we were both napping. We asked if they could wake us up in two hours and they were happy to do so. I also set the alarm, put cozy, soft fleece socks on my feet and fell asleep before I knew it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="690" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJahsonItes%2Fposts%2F1021512991218899&width=500" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
I awoke to the sound of the 150 mile racers getting ready in the start area. They were full of excitement. I crawled out of my sleeping bag and made coffee. I wanted to get back out there right away. It was light out and time to be moving. It wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. I was soon out on the course and moving pretty well. I felt motivated again and was happy to think about the miles I had completed. Ras had told me Heather “Anish” Anderson would be showing up and wanted to join me for a loop or two. This was awesome news and I was very excited to be having Heather join me. Heather holds the speed record for thru-hiking, in a self-supported fashion, both the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail. [Note: in the intervening months since the 2016 Pigtails Challenge, Heather set the Fastest Known Time for the Arizona National Scenic Trail in self-supported, feet-on-the-ground style.] I got through the loop as fast as I could, expecting Heather to be there when I got back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="690" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D1021871434516388%26set%3Dp.1021871434516388%26type%3D3&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Sure enough, she was, and she was just the pacer I needed. I was getting deep enough into this now that I needed someone to help me with some numbers. I knew I just had to keep going, but I wanted to make sure I still had time to rest again that night, make the cut-off and take the time I needed between loops to be ready to head out for another 9.4 miles. She knows all about spending time on the trails going after huge goals. She knows what it takes to stay motivated and to be able to figure out splits, pacing and the importance of fueling properly to get it done. Not only did we have a blast chatting, we had a lot in common to talk about; but she was great at helping me feel confident that I would be able to get this mileage done within the allotted time.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="710" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D1022297197807145%26set%3Dp.1022297197807145%26type%3D3&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Heather stayed with me for 2 loops and then it was time for her to say goodbye. I made a quick turn around as she first helped me with everything I needed. We had discussed ahead of time what I would need to do before my next loop, and she set me up before saying goodbye. Then I was out there again, on my own. The rain began on this loop, only increasing in intensity as the evening wore on. I got around the loop, grabbed more coffee, hot food and rain protection, and then headed out again into the weather. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I got out there on that gravel path and made it around another loop. When I got back, it was time for another nap. It was Friday night and I was getting mileage done. I only had another day and a half of this race left. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Running/Pigtails-Challenge-May-2016/i-DnCz4zP/0/XL/2016-05-28%20007-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Takao Suzuki/runners.photos" border="0" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Running/Pigtails-Challenge-May-2016/i-DnCz4zP/0/XL/2016-05-28%20007-XL.jpg" title="photo by Takao Suzuki/runners.photos" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Race Director Terry Sentinella briefing the runners starting Saturday morning.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I awoke Saturday morning to the loud and enthusiastic 100 mile and 100k runners. The rain was still coming down. It was damp and a bit chilly outside, as I made my way to the outhouse and to see just what was going on in the start area. It was busy, that's for sure. I needed to feed off of this energy and get back out on the course. I made myself a cup of coffee in my shelter while I put on new layers and prepared for going out in the rain. I would wear my Gatewood Cape and take my hot coffee with me. I just needed to start getting around another loop. I needed to wake up. I felt so sleepy and slightly unmotivated. The busier trail would be a challenge for me, although I would be seeing some friends like Kathleen Leonard and Arya Farahani. I looked forward to this.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Running/Pigtails-Challenge-May-2016/i-L4TRQc7/0/XL/2016-05-28%20143-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Takao Suzuki/runners.photos" border="0" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Running/Pigtails-Challenge-May-2016/i-L4TRQc7/0/XL/2016-05-28%20143-XL.jpg" title="photo by Takao Suzuki/runners.photos" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I got out on a loop and felt almost like a zombie. The rain was really coming down. I had to get to the point where I was awake and actually running. This pace would not cut it. I drank my coffee as quickly as I could with this in mind. I would have to try taking off my cape at some point, as it was hindering my ability to move very efficiently. It was actually keeping me too cozy and making me feel as though I were inside of a warm tent. It wasn't until the midway aid station that the rain let up enough for me to take off the cape and get going again. I was at least making some progress though, and I did not let it discourage me. I was now awake and it was time to move faster. When I got back to the main aid, I took some other layers off and got back out on the course with food and music. I was motivated to get some miles done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I kept going all day, making progress and staying not too far behind the rest of the 200 milers. I felt good and ate well. I was happy to have food to eat each time I came through the main aid station. I had heard that Mandee had a rough night out on the course and Terry made the decision to pull her out of the race at 150 miles. He awarded her a buckle and she went home to sleep. She had given it her all, and then some. That girl has heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I got in one last loop solo, as the dark of night came on for the last night of the race. It felt good to be at this point, although I was beginning to feel quite drained, physically and mentally. Pushing myself to move with any speed was becoming very challenging. I knew it was getting to the point where I was getting close to the cut-off, even if Terry was allowing me to at least be on my last loop by the cut-off time. I had a pacer coming on, Susie. I hoped that this would help get my motivation level back up and help give me the push I needed to complete the mileage and earn the buckle I so desired, the buckle I had trained so hard to receive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Running/Pigtails-Challenge-May-2016/i-34k95Jc/0/XL/2016-05-28%20201-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Takao Suzuki/runners.photos" border="0" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Running/Pigtails-Challenge-May-2016/i-34k95Jc/0/XL/2016-05-28%20201-XL.jpg" title="photo by Takao Suzuki/runners.photos" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I had asked Susie ahead of time if she might like to pace me for a loop or two. We had met at Evergreen Trail Run's Echo Valley 50 Miler a couple of years ago. I enjoyed her energy and wanted to get to know her better. She had given Angela a tent when she needed one for an internship she did in the Sequoia National Forest one summer. She has a cute daughter named Addy and, both of us being moms, I figured we would have some things in common to talk about. She had invited me to join her for a Wonderland Trail challenge she had last summer. I was unable to make it work. This was a chance for us to finally spend some trail time together. I warned her, it may get ugly. “Dress warmly”, I said to her in a facebook message. “I could be doing more hiking than you might expect.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Susie had already been waiting at the aid station about an hour by the time I got back around the loop. She came into my shelter with me and we started talking about the strategy of getting back out there into the rain, into the dark, into the deep miles. She was game and would do whatever it would take to get me around some loops that would take less than 3 hours each. She had chatted with Ras, and he encouraged her to help get me moving a little bit faster. I was feeling so lazy. I didn't want to try to get in any “fast” loops. I didn't want to quit, I wanted to finish. But as Susie later confessed to me, I wasn't communicating that to her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We took off into the night. It was probably about 10:30 on Saturday night, the final nighttime hours of the race. Susie reminded me of this. This was the last night I had to be out in the dark, cold, tiring hours of the middle of the night. I would get so tired I was staggering around on the trail, like a drunk. I wanted to curl up anywhere and just take a nap. It was so hard to keep moving when my eyes were shutting and I was having little, short dreams. They were just flashes, but when I awoke for whatever reason from my sleephiking, I knew I had just had a little snippet of a dream. This was a part of pushing forward and using my endurance experience. This was not the first time I had gotten “the drowsies” on the trail, and it would not be the last. I had to keep going now. I could no longer afford to take a nap. I divided a 5-Hour Energy into two doses, taking one right when I realized with Susie that I had the drowsies, and then taking the second part of the dose when we got to the aid station. Sometimes these doses worked, sometimes they didn't. It was worth a try.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Susie and I stopped at the midway aid station, where Brad Hefta-Gaub was kind enough to share some of his coffee from his thermos with me. It tasted so good. I sat in the comfy camp chair, sipping the coffee and listening to he and Susie talk about different things. I just listened. It took too much energy to say much. I was just wanting to wake up and feel more motivated, but enjoying the chair. “Beware of the Chair”, they say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Susie and I got up and said good bye to Brad. He had been a big help out at the aid station in the middle of the night. It was good to share his company for a little while. We continued on around the loop and then struggled around for another. It would get light on this loop. We were both looking forward to it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Running/Pigtails-Challenge-May-2016/i-7mV8Pmx/0/XL/2016-05-29%20142-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Takao Suzuki/runners.photos" border="0" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Running/Pigtails-Challenge-May-2016/i-7mV8Pmx/0/XL/2016-05-29%20142-XL.jpg" title="photo by Takao Suzuki/runners.photos" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I know I was terrible company, all drowsie and whiney. Susie was a good sport for sure and tried to motivate in all the ways that made sense. She reminded me that if I dropped, I would really feel terrible about it afterwards. She let me know that I had enough time to finish, especially since Terry was being so supportive in giving me some extra time to do so. Of course, the cut-off had already been extended from previous years when others weren’t able to finish it. Seventy-two hours had been the previous cut-off; beginning this year, it was eighty hours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We made it around the loop. I felt a little more awake once the sun rose and the sky was light once again: the final day. Fewer runners were on the course. My feet hurt and I had some piercing pains in my calves, my knees and my feet. These shooting, piercing pains would come and go. I felt pretty beat up. Susie had to go when we returned from the loop. We said goodbye and off she went. I curled up in my sleeping bag for what I hoped would only be a few minutes. Ras came in from his loop and only had one more to go. I had three more to go. He offered to stay with me for a loop. I could get up right then, pull myself together and go out with him. I could still finish this thing off, but it might not be until 5 hours or more after the cut-off. I didn't have a pacer. I didn't know if I could stay awake or keep motivating myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Ras needed to get going again and so he did. I stayed in the sleeping bag; torn as to what to do, feeling defeated and needing to turn that corner in my mind. I had sheets of paper with motivational quotes and inspirations on them. I had a chart with splits and mileages remaining all written out by hand. I had done the work ahead of time, but here, in the moment, I was unwilling to do the work it took to finish. I was unwilling to have others wait for me as I pursued a goal. I had thus far not been able to keep a good enough pace to keep me in the game with the others. I was too far behind. I gave up and stayed crumpled in that sleeping bag, until finally I went out to the main aid and admitted my defeat. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="704" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJahsonItes%2Fposts%2F1022649507771914&width=500" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
It was up to Terry whether nor not to award me a 150 Mile Finisher's Buckle. He gave me the choice of whether or not I wanted to accept it. I did. I now have two of those. Next year I'll be back to earn my 200 Mile buckle. I know I can do it. There is something special about the Pigtails Challenge, Lake Youngs and all of those involved that keeps drawing us back, year after year. As I think of it now, Memorial Day Weekend 2017 can't come soon enough.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="422" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D1025463727535187%26set%3Da.1023779587703601.1073741914.100002147082485%26type%3D3&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></div>
</div>
<br />Kathy Vaughanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16781079217933588340noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-73429367511087213612016-12-16T00:51:00.003-08:002016-12-17T01:39:47.712-08:00Why I Don't Carry A First Aid Kit<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why I Don't Carry A First Aid Kit</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">&</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What I Carry Instead</span></b></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OEKoqza17zg39zhTpFyZZylAg-vWObAYJE_-0lo61A1KRkAdl6c1mw2G0S1JZxFBczFj1fEYVUWbWcmE9tWs_Cyy1R6dqcrZCYVJ53zDL9EconlVCjRKSM4tXCWhHttjcLagnbODOw/s1600/G0070450_Ras_Headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Gavin Woody / Ultraneering.com" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OEKoqza17zg39zhTpFyZZylAg-vWObAYJE_-0lo61A1KRkAdl6c1mw2G0S1JZxFBczFj1fEYVUWbWcmE9tWs_Cyy1R6dqcrZCYVJ53zDL9EconlVCjRKSM4tXCWhHttjcLagnbODOw/s200/G0070450_Ras_Headshot.jpg" title="photo by Gavin Woody / Ultraneering.com" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>by Ras Vaughan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I'll be the first to admit that I tend to be a bit of an iconoclast. I've spent much of my life questioning the conventional wisdom, and frequently finding it wanting. And this pattern of rejecting the accepted norms has been a key part of my approach to adventuring. Three years ago I published a what-I-would-consider-playful-but-others-might-consider-snarky piece about the <a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2013/10/psychopathy-of-minimalist-adventurer-or.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">10 Essentials and how few of them I generally carry</a>, which, while it accurately describes my mindset, would be wildly irresponsible to promote as an approach for the masses. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In light of <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2016/12/an-unfortunate-fall_6.html" target="_blank">Kathy's recent incident</a></b> it may seem surprising that I haven't reevaluated my minimalist approach. Admittedly, it put me in the position of having to carry her a short distance to a paved road, run more than a mile through the woods in the dark with no headlamp, drive the car around to the gate nearest her, and then run another mile + in the dark with no headlamp and an armful of extra layers for Kathy, and finally hike back out the aforementioned mile + with my beloved wife as she gingerly hobbled along on a freshly injured ankle. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>What One Carries In One's Head</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> However, none of this came as a surprise to me. I run through possible scenarios such as we faced at that moment all the time in my head. I don't mean to make it sound like I'm some sort of survivalist savant who perceives every possible outcome in a split second and can choose the right course of action in an instant. It's simply that I consider the possibilities ahead of time, so when I am faced with them in real life they are not new and intimidating ideas. They are, instead, situations I have faced before on a theoretical level, which leaves me better prepared to face them in actuality, should they occur.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Mental preparedness of this sort is the most valuable asset in an emergency/injury/survival situation. An old adage born of Prussian military strategy informs us thusly: "No battle plan survives contact with the enemy." While I don't consider the natural world to be my enemy, these sage words can be directly applied to adventuring, and even to life in general, and can be paraphrased variously as, "No plan survives initial contact with reality," or, "No plan survives implementation." Regardless of how you phrase it, it comes down to the fact that our hopes and expectations for how the future may play out are invariably inaccurate. Therefore, the need for an alphabet of contingencies, plans B through Z and beyond, is foreseeable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I use Murphy's Law ("Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong") as a predictive principle when running through scenarios in my mind, whether it be before, during, or after an adventure. But I temper the wide open possibilities it implies with Occam's Razor, in that the most common injuries are the most likely to occur. Numerous other aphorisms from everyday life resonate in the adventure realm, such as "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst." Yet it's vital that attempts to be prepared for an emergency don't form the groundwork of the emergency itself. A first aid kit is heavy, whereas ideas weigh nothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcEaljpyGMLyd_2wQaeIqXfjUsYRSY_DmY9pork0yJydKPMD9Nw5LbczIU6Q1-OiytNeZbu1JdXQ8m3z_SXZEZJ6Utb8wV4V-4p6vA7rj64ReVEsl7geCXudDDrKPa3ZPvnqYa4pCeg/s1600/ninja_attack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Matt Hagen/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcEaljpyGMLyd_2wQaeIqXfjUsYRSY_DmY9pork0yJydKPMD9Nw5LbczIU6Q1-OiytNeZbu1JdXQ8m3z_SXZEZJ6Utb8wV4V-4p6vA7rj64ReVEsl7geCXudDDrKPa3ZPvnqYa4pCeg/s640/ninja_attack.jpg" title="photo by Matt Hagen/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Burden Of The Unnecessary</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The Minimalist/Ultralight/Alpinist approach is predicated on the idea that faster and lighter is also safer. Any and all weight carried increases wear and tear on the body and mind, increasing the chances of suffering an injury. A first aid kit is foremost among those pieces of gear that are anathema to ultralight travel: something you hope never to use. I assert that a first aid kit is less a piece of gear and more a self-fulfilling prophecy. It's a fine thing to stick in the trunk of your car just in case, but not in your backpack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Ready Made Kits and the Illusion of Preparedness</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> W</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">hat injuries are you really going to need to treat on the trail? What first aid are you realistically going to perform in the wilds? Stitches? Sterilizing? Splints? Is there an ointment that will make the difference between escape and tragedy? Sure, we all like to think that we are going to grit our teeth and sew shut a gash on our arm Rambo style, but in reality superglue and duct tape are far more viable options for treating a laceration.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Staunching bloodflow is an immediate need. Staving off infection, less so. In an emergency/survival situation the number one goal is to remove yourself from the situation; to either get rescued or get yourself to help. Wounds can be flushed and sanitized after the fact. And in a genuine emergency/survival situation, urine can be used straight from the source. When it leaves the body urine is sterile, and it comes out in a lightly pressurized and focused stream, perfect for flushing out wounds. In fact, it makes for a useful litmus test: if the situation in which you find yourself is serious enough to warrant peeing into an open wound, you know you are in a genuine survival scenario.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In addition to the risks involved in carrying unnecessary weight comprised of items of questionable usefulness, there is a false sense of security that comes free with every pre-fab first aid kit purchased. Placing a red plastic clamshell or a nylon pouch emblazoned with a white cross into a backpack provides a sense of preparedness which is an illusion if you don't know what to do with the materials inside. And if you have the knowledge and skill to use the items in a first aid kit, odds are you would be able to perform the same ministrations without the kit or any of its' contents. To put it bluntly, <b>the most important emergency/survival/first aid supply is your brain, and the most fundamental skill in such situations is the ability to improvise</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It goes without saying, yet bears pointing out, that Human Beings are bipeds. Our upright bipedal movement is the very thing that makes us distinct from other mammals and imbues us with our distinctive ability to cover long distances sustainably. However, this unique balancing act that enables our extraordinary mobility is also the source of our greatest vulnerability: falling. Our very bipedalism puts the "fall" in fallibility. Injuries to the drive train (the ankle, foot, and knee) and injuries sustained from the resulting fall are the most likely to present an emergency situation on the trail. Gruesome injuries <b><a href="http://running.competitor.com/2015/05/news/boulder-trail-runner-survives-gruesome-mountain-accident_128624" target="_blank">such as that suffered by Dave Mackey</a></b> are the stuff of nightmares for runners, hikers, and climbers. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cell phones, satellite transponders, and emergency position indicating radio beacons can be invaluable in such situations, but are far beyond the scope of any first aid kit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>First Aid Kits Versus First Aid Supplies</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Commercially produced first aid kits invariably contain an assortment of bandages, gauze pads and ointments that are virtually useless in a genuine trail emergency, or, at best, unnecessarily specific. Band-aides, butterfly closures, and medical tape can be improvised from duct tape and toilet paper, both of which have numerous other uses. Gauze pads (4x4's, etc.), ACE bandages, and hemostatic dressings can be improvised from bandanas and clothing, and can be tied in place or held in place with duct tape. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> To my mind, the majority of supplies in a first aid kit are designed to address minor nuisance damage, not to treat the sort of serious injuries that bring an adventure to an end and put one in an emergency/survival situation. If I have to choose between carrying 1/2 pound of supplies that I hope never to use versus having a minor owie go untreated and saving the weight, I'll suffer the untreated owie. The owie may or may not occur, but that extra 1/2 pound is going to be loading on my muscles and impacting my joints approximately 66,000 times over a twenty-five mile day. I'll gladly risk the hypothetical owie over the guaranteed 33,000 cumulative pounds of daily wear and tear.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>What I Carry Instead of a First Aide Kit</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I see no need to carry specific single use items that can be improvised from existing materials. It's far better to carry items with multiple applications that can be made use of for first aid in an emergency, but don't add useless weight, and the added risk of injury or misadventure that comes with it. Everything from the clothes on your back to the straps on your pack to a stick laying by the side of the trail can be useful in an emergency. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> First and foremost, anytime I am traveling on anything other than non-technical terrain and for more than a few hours, I use trekking poles, around each of which I wrap six feet of duct tape. This puts a total of twelve feet of duct tape at my disposal, which is to say twelve feet of one of the most versatile materials known to humankind. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJh0v_iJn-rDtCUX0Se4_GnzBSdn-wxatySUQzTDcJ0oHhc-WKWZKbLu0X5gZbBAmQ5NXMTGKMSLgJ0r-Xq-gtlyt6OeKg9Eo_qB2JyO6Faxiahzsj348mmrc3KyWQQyjBVYs8s1DRHw/s1600/InstagramCapture_0aa6f44a-7fe2-4e49-8863-afc70a48e812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJh0v_iJn-rDtCUX0Se4_GnzBSdn-wxatySUQzTDcJ0oHhc-WKWZKbLu0X5gZbBAmQ5NXMTGKMSLgJ0r-Xq-gtlyt6OeKg9Eo_qB2JyO6Faxiahzsj348mmrc3KyWQQyjBVYs8s1DRHw/s640/InstagramCapture_0aa6f44a-7fe2-4e49-8863-afc70a48e812.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ras loading duct tape onto his trekking poles in preparation for the AZT Yo-yo with Kathy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> While working as a carpenter I have indeed used duct tape to, brace yourself, tape ducts. On the trail I have used it to repair shoes, mend tights, patch puffy down jackets and pants, repair trekking poles, bandage cuts (with a folded square of toilet paper), prevent blisters, protect cracked skin, mend packs, improvise grass-seed proof ankle gaiters, patch plastic baggies, and make a nose guard for my glacier glasses. And that's just a sample of the ways I've made use of duct tape on the trail; it's far from being an exhaustive list. And, of course, combined with the trekking poles on which I stow it, duct tape can be a key component of an improvised splint for a leg, arm, or neck.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn5chQ0Sv2sCFNcMaD_NTU0PlADGsZstztHokZLiALVe1zMqNgw_BAV2XynPkXHl3wNiDTrthaB7VMzYNOhiw0JVvbWMIzu_ifB4eCBYsMvcXc-aKmtk8EW77I3a_DJwfKjZDTNR03w/s1600/InstagramCapture_f943845e-547e-40d9-b0c4-f1f2d116fcdb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn5chQ0Sv2sCFNcMaD_NTU0PlADGsZstztHokZLiALVe1zMqNgw_BAV2XynPkXHl3wNiDTrthaB7VMzYNOhiw0JVvbWMIzu_ifB4eCBYsMvcXc-aKmtk8EW77I3a_DJwfKjZDTNR03w/s640/InstagramCapture_f943845e-547e-40d9-b0c4-f1f2d116fcdb.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ras protecting his socks from grass seed heads on the Arizona National Scenic Trail.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> On long self-supported or unsupported adventures, from a multiday fastpacking trip up to a 1000+ mile thru-hike, I carry what I call my <b>MacGyver Kit</b>. As I'm sure is obvious, I named it after the mid-1980's television character with a knack for creative problem solving making use of random materials found at hand. However, my MacGyver Kit is not an arbitrary assortment of random odds and ends that I toss into a ziplok before heading out into the wilds (although, admittedly, that might make an interesting premise for a reality teevee survival show). My MacGyver Kit contains a carefully thought out, yet minimal, agglomeration of tools and materials that not only have multiple individual uses, but that can also be used in conjunction with one another to expand their potential exponentially.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCRbbje_IeDTb3GGZmtBJlPvQVcOWd_q9u76MpfWF_nTG5tRYT4Ko1AzE-Dj2OKrMwpHk89ffWqYbCGi8VH8NrFb9Svf0GR2zM6dJK0E_jLNbXbUqOLy9X2p0JnK_wawZj_aPj-rg-w/s1600/InstagramCapture_2077d07c-b094-4171-87e6-e85a6abf5ed8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCRbbje_IeDTb3GGZmtBJlPvQVcOWd_q9u76MpfWF_nTG5tRYT4Ko1AzE-Dj2OKrMwpHk89ffWqYbCGi8VH8NrFb9Svf0GR2zM6dJK0E_jLNbXbUqOLy9X2p0JnK_wawZj_aPj-rg-w/s640/InstagramCapture_2077d07c-b094-4171-87e6-e85a6abf5ed8.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ras repairing a broken trekking pole wrist strap with fly fishing leader on the AZT.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>My MacGyver kit contains:</b> </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">approximately five feet of fly fishing leader line </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">one spool of upholstery thread</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">leather needles (3)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">one tube of Tenacious Tape</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">toenail clippers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">super glue</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">two doses of antihistamine (one of the only single application items I carry)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Useful First Aid/Survival/Multi-use Items Also Carried:</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">six feet of duct tape wrapped around each trekking pole = twelve feet</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">two trekking poles</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">disposable lighter (another thing around which duct tape may be wrapped)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">two large safety pins</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">bandana (probably the single most useful and versatile part of my kit)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>My Lethal Weapon's My Mind</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
In a real life first aid situation, it's not the quality, quantity, or type of supplies that make the difference; it's the brain that's putting them to use. I have received first aid and CPR training and certification numerous times. I have undergone Coast Guard first responder and open water survival training as a merchant marine. I've studied how-to manuals such as the Boy Scout's Handbook, Foxfire books, Back To Basics, and SAS Survival Handbook, among others. I've spend my entire life reading survival and adventure books. I'm constantly running scenarios in my mind and scoping out my surroundings for materials and opportunities. I lived off the grid with no power, phone, or running water for seven years. And I have worked a ridiculously random assortment of jobs from which I have gleaned a flawed but widely varied amalgamation of skills. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The specifics of my life story may make it seem like I am uniquely suited to minimalist adventuring, but that is a reflection of decisions and choices I've made. I grew up a nerdy suburban kid and a social misfit, and I barely have a high school education. But the ability to improvise and the drive to survive are universal Human traits. They can be nurtured and developed in even the most shy, soft, and introverted of individuals. Human beings have incredible reserves of hidden strength and ingenuity, and the ability to access those reserves is a skill that can be learned and developed. Assembling your own mental MacGyver kit of abilities, skills, drives, and experiences is the key to coming through to the other side of an emergency/survival situation, regardless of the materials one may or may not have on hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-48337642738459132902016-12-06T08:49:00.000-08:002016-12-06T09:22:15.900-08:00An Unfortunate Fall<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>An Unfortunate Fall</b></span></div>
</div>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Kathy Vaughan</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityiKEG4sx_z9yun27I7RKnAULIFBKJfITOe541EBdvjOgdcDL-YsEAfp0mA5c_3fMZCy-S48eQWlQwS2b-EtFAOZM335d3pZUmi6Futx1np-AxSA6BadC5z34jQx68stdG7765ZkyoQ/s1600/IMG_20161201_154705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityiKEG4sx_z9yun27I7RKnAULIFBKJfITOe541EBdvjOgdcDL-YsEAfp0mA5c_3fMZCy-S48eQWlQwS2b-EtFAOZM335d3pZUmi6Futx1np-AxSA6BadC5z34jQx68stdG7765ZkyoQ/s200/IMG_20161201_154705.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="150" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Ras and I haven’t been in a good place for a while. We relocated a year ago from a quiet, peaceful existence in the Okanogan Highlands of north central Washington, to the busy hustle and bustle of Whidbey Island. A few days after our arrival, we began working for a yard maintenance business. After a few months’ work, we took off for our record breaking yo-yo thru-hike of the 800 mile Arizona National Scenic Trail. We returned from the exhausting and fulfilling 1,600 mile thru-hike, and began working for the yard service again just a couple of days later. We have continued our weekend ultra adventuring, peak bagging, and trail exploring lifestyle. There are factors that have made our life in these circumstances challenging and frustrating. But through it all, we have stayed on each other’s team and tried to remain positive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Last week, we had to have our 15 year old Australian Shepherd put down. He had grown up with our 23 year old daughter Angela, keeping her safe and giving her lots of company as she grew up as an only child. It was heart wrenching to say goodbye to him. I had spent countless hours with him on the trails, cozied up at my feet by the woodstove or out in the yard, where he would lay nearby as I did chores. On Whidbey Island, he spent most of his time in the backyard with his sister Puzzle and our cats Dodger and Peabody, while Ras and I spent our days away pulling weeds. It had been so hard to leave him behind each day, especially as he got weaker and more elderly. Most days, Ras and I walked he and Puzzle ½ mile through the neighborhood after we got home from work. Then we would make a bed for him to come lie inside near us for the night. This change of having to be away from Jesse as he aged was very challenging for me. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="637" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkathy.vaughan.7%2Fposts%2F1328045300579362&width=500" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Ras and I were able to take the day off to take him to the vet to be put down. We snuggled with him and whispered sweet things to him as he died on the table in the clinic. We spent some time with him there, until finally covering him and then leaving the body behind. His soul will stay with us forever. We drove to the beach to sip lattes and process this sad time. We tried to make sense of how we’ve gotten to this point; this hard in-between space of heavy-heartedness, stifled creativity and dreams just out of reach. We talked about how we must keep making forward progress and create the reality for ourselves that we so desire. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> To celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and take advantage of a long Thanksgiving weekend, Ras and I intended on getting out for an adventure. The weather was not cooperating though, and so we settled on a 25 miler on our nearby state park trails. We ran quietly together all day long, enjoying being out but having so much to process. My mother has fallen ill this fall too, having been diagnosed with bone marrow disease. She is on a chemo therapy regimen. Our daughter is away in Madagascar, serving two years in the Peace Corps. I am so proud of her. I do miss her though, and it will be many months before I see her again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTz7A1OkPQhdmiTdiP9EA17-vgF3z_CvkwpF66DYWimUPg1FqXBBvvJ-CVLGSHuD7-A8s-tkXDImO1kWY98BLNgEJwwqQL6Wd55_7iDynOA9auIasvN75mUXf5IVEeNw8GOfMTbnOQA/s1600/IMG_20161128_164401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTz7A1OkPQhdmiTdiP9EA17-vgF3z_CvkwpF66DYWimUPg1FqXBBvvJ-CVLGSHuD7-A8s-tkXDImO1kWY98BLNgEJwwqQL6Wd55_7iDynOA9auIasvN75mUXf5IVEeNw8GOfMTbnOQA/s640/IMG_20161128_164401.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And just when I thought I could shake off these challenging, yet universal life woes, I was surprised by an unfortunate fall during a most wonderful night time run. The pain came suddenly, taking over my ankle as I made contact with the tree root. I crumpled to the ground. It was wet, but soft and I writhed around a bit, trying to understand what had just happened. I was concerned I had really injured my ankle, but Ras was there, comforting me and convincing me that there was no need to panic. I could not see immediate swelling happening. I was hesitant to put any weight on it by standing up. I tried to figure out a way to sit up comfortably for a couple of minutes, evaluating the damage and what to do next. Ras stood behind me so I could lean against his legs. He told me to take as much time as I needed. The pain was tolerable, nothing like the intense pain of acute pancreatitis, which I have from time to time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="742" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkathy.vaughan.7%2Fposts%2F1347204751996750&width=500" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Finally, I felt as if I could try to stand. Ras helped me to my feet. I again felt hesitant to put any weight on my left foot. I did not want to create any more damage. I wanted to run again, and soon! I tried to walk with his help. This was too difficult. He squatted down and I climbed on his back for a piggy back ride. He carried me this way up a short climb until the trail intersected with a paved park road, closed down for the season. He knew he could run back and get the car and drive it to the gate that closes off the road. He could then come down and help me up to the car. He got me settled into a somewhat dry spot underneath a large fir tree. Then he took off for the car. I looked at my watch. Ras said it would probably take him about a half an hour. I would try not to look at my watch again. I wanted to get myself settled into this spot the best I could as I waited patiently for his return.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I took off my Nathan VaporAiress running pack and reached inside, hoping to find a pack of chemical handwarmers. Yes! I had left a package in there. I pulled out an extra Altra buff that was in my pack as well and double wrapped it around my ankle to give it some compression. This felt good right away. I wrapped Ras’ Altra ¾ zip jacket around my legs, put my handwarmers inside my gloves and then put them on while nestling down to wait. The night was quiet. There were stars out and it was not raining. I did not want to catch a chill, so I rocked back and forth, keeping myself moving just enough to stay warm. Ras had hollered back at me as he ran off, “Do crunches if you get cold!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It was probably about 49 degrees out. It really wasn’t that cold. A half hour wasn’t that long. I was relaxed and unconcerned about how long it would take him. I trusted that he was doing everything he could to get back to me as efficiently as possible. I looked at my watch and it had been 23 minutes. He would be back before I knew it. And then I heard his hoot. Living on our own acreage for many years, we had a hoot we would do across the property to catch one another’s attention, or to call out to Angela. I heard this familiar call and I answered back. Soon, I saw his headlamp coming back towards me. He had brought a couple of extra layers, which I put on right away. He helped me to my feet. It was time to get out to the gate now, and the awaiting car, about a mile away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Ras asked if I wanted to try to walk out with his help, or wanted him to carry me out, then said those weren't the only options. He continued, "I could bring you some more layers from the car, then I could drive home real quick and get some trekking poles for you to hike out with, or a wheelbarrow to haul you out in, or I could grab the bolt cutters and pop the lock off the gate and drive in and pick you up." These were apparently plans A through E. Ras never mentioned trying to contact a park ranger or any other authority. I assumed this course of action was further down his list, around plan Z or so. I told him I wanted to try </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">putting some weight on my ankle and see how it went.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQF660s_irg62uT6Knd0AIyQxfo43Wp1Cyn1Jz8TmZ0l7K470BFes2HkDJfKxkf_fLWLeYFCaGR2PwAA4Wgv6j3i3fMlMPdiOHGu4-Ko8l16C8ePRSL6smGUufzBOLhgySmol7xw6q5w/s1600/IMG_20161128_204927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQF660s_irg62uT6Knd0AIyQxfo43Wp1Cyn1Jz8TmZ0l7K470BFes2HkDJfKxkf_fLWLeYFCaGR2PwAA4Wgv6j3i3fMlMPdiOHGu4-Ko8l16C8ePRSL6smGUufzBOLhgySmol7xw6q5w/s640/IMG_20161128_204927.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I played around with the best way to make forward progress, either holding Ras’ arm, or hand, or neither. I moved carefully and soon got into a careful limping rhythm that worked. I held Ras’ hand, the heat from my handwarmers helping to keep his hand warm too. We had been through here a couple of nights ago, when we were out doing our 25 miler. We were each listening to our own mp3 players and just getting through mileage. Now, walking slowly, hand in hand, the experience was much different. I was thankful for this quiet, careful walk, but also filled with gratitude that I had been able to have a long run very recently. It might now be a while.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlR7GkvnjdESQ3CKEYqf7cwNQ7ekCFftTaGCMr2aBUi5kYT7535J_9TDniiT1KnfXHgGMMGDIwZPn-W9Pmtzh0kWfxSfChzmCwajbHWcx7AdAeCyxnsbEuXRTr1ACr5_LxtSZdbvo1nA/s1600/IMG_20161128_211458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlR7GkvnjdESQ3CKEYqf7cwNQ7ekCFftTaGCMr2aBUi5kYT7535J_9TDniiT1KnfXHgGMMGDIwZPn-W9Pmtzh0kWfxSfChzmCwajbHWcx7AdAeCyxnsbEuXRTr1ACr5_LxtSZdbvo1nA/s640/IMG_20161128_211458.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Up until the moment of the fall, I had been running quite well. I was moving fast, for me, and loving it. Ras was behind me and also enjoying his run. It had only been dark for about 15 minutes or so. The transition from the fading light of sunset to now, when it was quite dark in the trees, was gradual and evocative. When I was a backpacker and in my earlier days of trail running, I would get anxious as the light began to fade towards the end of the day. I felt nervous about being on the trail past dark. I would want to make camp if hiking, or if trail running, I would want to stay as close to my partners as possible. I wanted to be in the middle of those I was running with and turned around constantly if I was in the back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> With practice and a growth in confidence, I have begun to savor and love the night time miles. I enjoy the night sounds in the forest. I love focusing only on what is right in front of me on the trail, whatever it is that my headlamp is catching in its’ beam. I can let go of all of the rest. The focus becomes easier to attain and with some self-talk, I am usually able to open up and run free and less self-consciously.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I had been in this zone when my left foot landed on a big root, turning my ankle. My headlamp was in need of fresh batteries and therefore, the beam was not very bright. I could not differentiate this root from the other trail surface and it caught me completely off guard while running fast. It hurt and it took me down. But it won’t keep me down. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will see how much time I need to take off from running. I hope I can get back on the trails soon. Running trails is my therapy. The longer the mileage and the amount of time spent on the trails, the better. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95GNkpFkgNTEoU5ISDwB44GR1Mg8Ki1e4N5rdwCExKb3UZ4Gcb_Bo42lrRphtUBHy0FBQq4XZO7G_77QUHdF3APrLgTqI7jQKbtfLCtTek-OLUy-uCMOXaGAGTXZ5DEYoN5oSQlpF4Q/s1600/IMG_20161201_154651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95GNkpFkgNTEoU5ISDwB44GR1Mg8Ki1e4N5rdwCExKb3UZ4Gcb_Bo42lrRphtUBHy0FBQq4XZO7G_77QUHdF3APrLgTqI7jQKbtfLCtTek-OLUy-uCMOXaGAGTXZ5DEYoN5oSQlpF4Q/s640/IMG_20161201_154651.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>UPDATE as of 12/05/2016: The Road (and Trail) to Recovery</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Days 1-3: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Day 2: Evening walk on crutches around the 1/2 mile neighborhood loop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Day 3: Half mile evening walk without crutches, very easy pace and careful foot placement. The swelling on Kathy's ankle diminishes noticeably and the bruising begins to improve.<br /><br />Day 4: Return to physically demanding yard service work. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Day 5: Two and a half hour walk/easy jog on asphalt and smooth, non-technical trail.<br /><br />Day 6: One hour easy jog on smooth, non-technical trail and some asphalt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Overall, Kathy's ankle is fairly stable, the majority of the swelling has subsided, and she can walk and run easily on it without pain. It's still tender, however, and it will still require time and attention for it to strengthen and heal completely. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Kathy Vaughanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16781079217933588340noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-19367541456693560552016-11-27T23:52:00.007-08:002016-11-27T23:52:43.278-08:00Olympic Coast Getaway<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>An Olympic Coast Getaway</b></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">By Kathy Vaughan</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11aB8caOxFACDDyHcx2am4_M3ExGkAAioxTI6bFDZTVxtBgLZZmLqeusAzbqoFJDeoUbTjmUZGD_bghkIfnYgdq0fAIMPzUAoPcc7JVrIQtpRgL0Z7Z1sRU_lcTBWDevmi5HAU_3WKws/s1600/AdvBestSelfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11aB8caOxFACDDyHcx2am4_M3ExGkAAioxTI6bFDZTVxtBgLZZmLqeusAzbqoFJDeoUbTjmUZGD_bghkIfnYgdq0fAIMPzUAoPcc7JVrIQtpRgL0Z7Z1sRU_lcTBWDevmi5HAU_3WKws/s200/AdvBestSelfie.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I ran along the gentle singletrack trail.
Some sections were long stretches of boardwalk. I cruised along easily, Lisa
and her husband Jason were behind me. I could hear the ocean as we got closer.
The forest was thick with underbrush and packed with trees, a temperate
rainforest along the upper Washington Coast, in the Olympic National Park.
Salal, sword ferns, evergreen huckleberries, small hemlocks and other
vegetation grew thick alongside the trail. There was a light drizzle. The air
was pungent with the smells of the ocean and its shore. The temperature was just about perfect for
running in short sleeves and tights. The breeze off the sea was not too cold,
as we approached it now, about mid-day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAvdZ80nMtQKUFptIzh8-OjubOvrQ6sFP8b4F-smmDKnnRt1ttruvhCQF7ryXEK7Ln0Hg14Mnxzd676Ki6_Gld83TPdTlY4vXbo0s6AnpkS1HWkmmDa5YZAHTcfI05aknG1wxbiKM1tc/s1600/IMG_20161112_120906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAvdZ80nMtQKUFptIzh8-OjubOvrQ6sFP8b4F-smmDKnnRt1ttruvhCQF7ryXEK7Ln0Hg14Mnxzd676Ki6_Gld83TPdTlY4vXbo0s6AnpkS1HWkmmDa5YZAHTcfI05aknG1wxbiKM1tc/s640/IMG_20161112_120906.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I had gotten off
work about 3:30 on Friday afternoon and headed straight for the Coupeville
ferry that crosses over to Pt. Townsend. From there, it would take about 3 ½
hours to reach Ozette Lake, the 3<sup>rd</sup> largest natural lake in
Washington. This is where Lisa and I would begin our Coastal Adventure. We had
initially planned on running the UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge Coastal
Route, designed by Heather “Anish” Anderson for the 2014 UPWC. As we both
researched the route, it became clear that November was not a good time to try
it, especially since the Super Moon was creating extra high tides and Stormageddon
in October had washed out roads throughout the park. Long stretches of muddy
trail, high water levels for river and creek crossings, and the times for low
tide (4:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.) also made for dicey planning. We decided to
meet at Lake Ozette instead, and approach the coast from there. There are two
trails that lead to the ocean from Lake Ozette, each of them three miles in
length. At low tide, a triangle loop of nine miles can be formed by running to
the ocean via either the Cape Alava Trail or the trail to Sandy Point, and then
connecting the two of them by running three miles along the beach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbOtHXl5Nvxm_LgiyHZvrCowCAanXzleAAcsuXwY9Nx8YCCXYxIVagp6tYWvwR5BS-Y3BpxxA-k4rUN4vhz-_ixo18jKKxN2gIpBXI_RJqYJQQB8wlMnMwlxd3AnQiRbIhmdO76kN_kk/s1600/IMG_20161112_120940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbOtHXl5Nvxm_LgiyHZvrCowCAanXzleAAcsuXwY9Nx8YCCXYxIVagp6tYWvwR5BS-Y3BpxxA-k4rUN4vhz-_ixo18jKKxN2gIpBXI_RJqYJQQB8wlMnMwlxd3AnQiRbIhmdO76kN_kk/s640/IMG_20161112_120940.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I arrived at Lake
Ozette at nearly 11:00 p.m. It was pouring down rain as I pulled up to the
campground and parked in the camping space behind Lisa and Jason in their Palomino
camper. I would make a spot to sleep in the back of my Suzuki in order to stay
warm and dry from the rain. But first, Lisa and I took her dog Lucy on a long
midnight walk under umbrellas along the lonely road that runs beside Lake
Ozette. It felt so good after a long drive to get out in the rain for a nice
walk. The air smelled so fresh. At times, wind gusts came up so strongly that
we had to put away the umbrellas. We made our plans for the next day as we
hiked along, excited about spending a long day on the trails together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJq4ZD-ujr3-6QjipbbeLNDOh3VtVxlsv3RC27c6PxJELRSyL8pjHwTGJP942Bslwn0ChEsssorz8cqGeX9_q_T0cAiqnXRttgB7n0_G2sF2MvD-USXmffHfCtErexAZG-U_6fCSzOg/s1600/IMG_20161112_102906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJq4ZD-ujr3-6QjipbbeLNDOh3VtVxlsv3RC27c6PxJELRSyL8pjHwTGJP942Bslwn0ChEsssorz8cqGeX9_q_T0cAiqnXRttgB7n0_G2sF2MvD-USXmffHfCtErexAZG-U_6fCSzOg/s640/IMG_20161112_102906.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSVBslCcLFmmqBn0olu0Q7LJ7WSfmjC4q1Yf0qeZs0kOxmMwkcWaKXj8UuWJT-HSstes6MJ4x9nlfOADjByZGju1P62kWv5jZkldMaHMKRWbx88ThNMNDhHDtXM0fjAYDnyukk-luKgo/s1600/IMG_20161112_130923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSVBslCcLFmmqBn0olu0Q7LJ7WSfmjC4q1Yf0qeZs0kOxmMwkcWaKXj8UuWJT-HSstes6MJ4x9nlfOADjByZGju1P62kWv5jZkldMaHMKRWbx88ThNMNDhHDtXM0fjAYDnyukk-luKgo/s640/IMG_20161112_130923.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I slept soundly,
then awoke and shared coffee with Lisa and Jason. He would join us for the
first part of our run and then spend the rest of the time with Lucy at their
camper. Lucy was not allowed on the trails since it was a national park. We
decided to first run down to the ocean on the Sandy Point Trail. Lisa and I generally run and ski in the
mountains together. This would be our first adventure at the ocean. Lisa and
Jason live in the Okanogan Highlands of north central Washington and were
spending a two week vacation on the Olympic Peninsula. During the summer, we
had planned on running the Coastal Route while they were in this neck of the
woods on their vacation. Now, together in the enchanting rainforest, our
earlier plans were coming to fruition.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTi2gME6qClXPc0nNtlRgPwEhV4Puzlo49XeolbOeWukdsO4KcZ-Af0aHv7wjv7Jjac52WEUoUMa27cyaxVUo-Bumn5KJFmUoYzZZELUgm9zr28KYwkXOKXFhk-nsEvFF5cvO2k2em3UE/s1600/IMG_20161112_120825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTi2gME6qClXPc0nNtlRgPwEhV4Puzlo49XeolbOeWukdsO4KcZ-Af0aHv7wjv7Jjac52WEUoUMa27cyaxVUo-Bumn5KJFmUoYzZZELUgm9zr28KYwkXOKXFhk-nsEvFF5cvO2k2em3UE/s640/IMG_20161112_120825.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 8.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The trail was relaxingly gentle. I had
anticipated the boardwalk stretches to be slippery and the going slow, and at
first it was. But as I ran peacefully along the smooth singletrack, I
transitioned onto the<span style="color: #90949c; text-transform: uppercase;">
</span>boardwalk stretches with the same gait, using just a bit more caution.
It was a lot of fun and the miles cruised by easily. Running at sea level has its advantages. It is
much easier to keep a gentle breathing pattern compared to running trails in
the higher elevations of the mountainous terrain. I was definitely enjoying
this coastal run.<span style="color: #90949c; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 8.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz6J1bcjnxThAp_Bs1Dg2ejj_55nYBaDom82JiVyis8KFUf0OpLNw711qbgkoXDM1Ndf-qjL_OERUUClxWBMt2NNVP7dOWfsq1Dpahd23AoSXtPJWSOh2fuQ_2eWrIe1BVYmZN4uPCig/s1600/IMG_20161112_123330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz6J1bcjnxThAp_Bs1Dg2ejj_55nYBaDom82JiVyis8KFUf0OpLNw711qbgkoXDM1Ndf-qjL_OERUUClxWBMt2NNVP7dOWfsq1Dpahd23AoSXtPJWSOh2fuQ_2eWrIe1BVYmZN4uPCig/s640/IMG_20161112_123330.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We snacked on
evergreen huckleberries that were loaded on bushes alongside the trail and
boardwalk. They were delicious and their flavored had a hint of ocean
flavoring, almost like seaweed. I had never had this wild berry and it was fun
to discover another one of nature’s gifts. I imagined the Makah Indians
gathering these berries, one of the mainstays of their diet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1Errd04vEFfIMuJOhqRW3ZBK2RtQ5khoH3year8U4xtk_M2B6Qy9LetoS_Yax9Aqimo2efIoUt38bLj3x85lGpAyq5c8m-K6_g116XXnek8QevBns3ihmUmzbvlEOKMCAGZ5IqD4CQI/s1600/IMG_20161112_102844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1Errd04vEFfIMuJOhqRW3ZBK2RtQ5khoH3year8U4xtk_M2B6Qy9LetoS_Yax9Aqimo2efIoUt38bLj3x85lGpAyq5c8m-K6_g116XXnek8QevBns3ihmUmzbvlEOKMCAGZ5IqD4CQI/s640/IMG_20161112_102844.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And now, on that
singletrack approach to the coast, I felt a tinge of excitement as the sounds
of the waves grew louder and the smells of the ocean grew stronger. Before I
knew it, I could see sea stacks looming out of the ocean waters. The forested
camp that sits just off the shore was a place we could stand for shelter from
the wind while Jason, Lisa and I each took in the view. I was brought to tears
by what I was seeing and feeling from the power of the ocean. A bright red buoy
hung from a broken branch of a fir tree. The wet drizzle shimmered off the
bright green, tall sentinels of the shoreline, the coastline heavily forested
and rugged. I loved being here, in this moment and I was so thankful that I had
all day and into the night to explore as much of this area as I could. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk3cox4kHEJxgJ7CkPZuuOhRu74Bk3T_TXrFRPPT4fOXgoXKzodPwrR5ID-oiFTFkG5gv_7YuNr4bQ5XP30QSsy2DkqDqOeptxf2ZryoYcI-zH2mI0psI9JFJBSOA0zHL-zZ7pajYFio/s1600/IMG_20161112_112552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk3cox4kHEJxgJ7CkPZuuOhRu74Bk3T_TXrFRPPT4fOXgoXKzodPwrR5ID-oiFTFkG5gv_7YuNr4bQ5XP30QSsy2DkqDqOeptxf2ZryoYcI-zH2mI0psI9JFJBSOA0zHL-zZ7pajYFio/s640/IMG_20161112_112552.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmx5jegEaiH9SKElRNDhiM50Yhi8AI7nghvtjfWhSRrtnRMaWi-24xk-lSsZKnZSGvTIsydn_km1frPXgGy9vxW3HquooYpiBNUl578W3Zz7_FfTrCSpCviAcfuwpP-soKYuoI73xH2c/s1600/IMG_20161112_120837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmx5jegEaiH9SKElRNDhiM50Yhi8AI7nghvtjfWhSRrtnRMaWi-24xk-lSsZKnZSGvTIsydn_km1frPXgGy9vxW3HquooYpiBNUl578W3Zz7_FfTrCSpCviAcfuwpP-soKYuoI73xH2c/s640/IMG_20161112_120837.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The piled up
driftwood had hidden treasures, both natural and man-made. The tide was in and
so we would have to wait to run the shoreline. We decided to do a short out and
back section that would take us to another spot down the coast and then return
to Lake Ozette while the tide receded. We would take the Cape Alava trail to
get back to the ocean after eating some Thai Peanut Rice Soup I had made to
share, back at our camp at the lake. Jason would stay behind with Lucy while
Lisa and I continued our run. The Super Moon would be shining on us past dark
and would help light our way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-CqPXunMWtZdNwu0RutA5X87u_lIiw7KvOixpEiVDKMy3Gbltu1JdAL9tQST603BXfQGynk-8ZvIobGVAVHfkoz035UF_j0OIJ-tvibVtJb32Z2E3ZxG9Dsu3ZFcadnbTML3CUGLqEs/s1600/IMG_20161112_120855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-CqPXunMWtZdNwu0RutA5X87u_lIiw7KvOixpEiVDKMy3Gbltu1JdAL9tQST603BXfQGynk-8ZvIobGVAVHfkoz035UF_j0OIJ-tvibVtJb32Z2E3ZxG9Dsu3ZFcadnbTML3CUGLqEs/s640/IMG_20161112_120855.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lisa and I set
out again, this time taking the fork in the trail that led to Cape Alava, north
of where we had hit the shore on our earlier outing. The Pacific Northwest
Trail ends at Cape Alava. There are nice campsites set back in the forest
slightly, all along the shore. During
the warm summer months, these campsites are very popular. But now, in mid-November,
there was almost no one else around. As Lisa and I made our way along the
boardwalk trail out to the coast for the second time that day, we saw a couple
of parties of backpackers hiking back to their cars. It was quiet and serene,
once we got to the beach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXk2t0hjBeuXU5gxNo-4V1UQfs89PcjbXZIR9iM1LXrtDluxDr8ctjC4J3OLmUXqSIGGgGeUjBX78zv6TJw5c2UAqOvrpiRnHjPnt62rMD1e3KNDZtMgfL9PKyNn8Lc8Bos6zrf68smk/s1600/IMG_20161112_112516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXk2t0hjBeuXU5gxNo-4V1UQfs89PcjbXZIR9iM1LXrtDluxDr8ctjC4J3OLmUXqSIGGgGeUjBX78zv6TJw5c2UAqOvrpiRnHjPnt62rMD1e3KNDZtMgfL9PKyNn8Lc8Bos6zrf68smk/s640/IMG_20161112_112516.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0GaGUBpT3K-FUm7sHnY6COATW7FiWo86OYjcPKUvAT4nI_JRP5WfbSfbgJVOxvk0siBU_zDUPPLfaR7FJVbBNsvzK-SF8ebnib-bS1y6ZuwPUIcAti_td1yehjnK2oWN8F2lsEbQ_zg/s1600/IMG_20161112_153334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0GaGUBpT3K-FUm7sHnY6COATW7FiWo86OYjcPKUvAT4nI_JRP5WfbSfbgJVOxvk0siBU_zDUPPLfaR7FJVbBNsvzK-SF8ebnib-bS1y6ZuwPUIcAti_td1yehjnK2oWN8F2lsEbQ_zg/s640/IMG_20161112_153334.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The tide was out
and we were able to hike and run along the shore. It was getting later in the
day and the sun would soon start to set. We had to watch for the sign hanging
from a tree that would indicate the spot where we took the trail back to Lake
Ozette from Sandy Point. It was about three miles from Cape Alava. The scenery
was spectacular in every direction. I enjoyed beachcombing, and picked up some
pretty sea glass, shells and agates. The receding tide left tidal pools with
all kinds of sea life in its wake. I wandered through the huge sea stack
formations known as Wedding Rock, and saw the ancient Native American
petroglyphs known to be there. As the
sun set, Lisa and I took a break on a piece of driftwood. We wanted to savor
the moment, looking out to the west where the sun dropped below the horizon,
and where the ocean sprawled as far as the eye could see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSCz7uRV8a3d-ke8cb1NRedry8FU4oPRBpRWNXwoVpJNnKKrieSkYASpvHPO3aSiy54wyKpG7z_lMkEktjKHz4kEAszeclrc1-fK7yxshZ8OYdygnz6dp4vSdnANuv40o1s3RfwWTsMI/s1600/IMG_20161112_160244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSCz7uRV8a3d-ke8cb1NRedry8FU4oPRBpRWNXwoVpJNnKKrieSkYASpvHPO3aSiy54wyKpG7z_lMkEktjKHz4kEAszeclrc1-fK7yxshZ8OYdygnz6dp4vSdnANuv40o1s3RfwWTsMI/s640/IMG_20161112_160244.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSG53wELIN9q3Q_tmHqrbwwPiPtZhSlnMSD6twyEa7eHrHbiHANj6fi4r3fl07jPMdgUeEMDjwJAQkpYG6CMF1-wFD2QdLI48GpWQv6ul-YUcPpfyZCzg5FHtBLIPPWOdm_CBErIpnkR0/s1600/IMG_20161112_160304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSG53wELIN9q3Q_tmHqrbwwPiPtZhSlnMSD6twyEa7eHrHbiHANj6fi4r3fl07jPMdgUeEMDjwJAQkpYG6CMF1-wFD2QdLI48GpWQv6ul-YUcPpfyZCzg5FHtBLIPPWOdm_CBErIpnkR0/s640/IMG_20161112_160304.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtokoD98lTNsKMo0f88ejS9y04rv1qGxPKpHtKbx8qZOoQ72O6y6K6cZKqv-mmIvnjABA7EVd_dzFlTTfEmBJIaroXYLK6lj5zvBNYvjc8C5o3qbw4-B-Z8msrR1rr0FQXi1tGezlhqg/s1600/IMG_20161112_153107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Lisa Eversgerd/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtokoD98lTNsKMo0f88ejS9y04rv1qGxPKpHtKbx8qZOoQ72O6y6K6cZKqv-mmIvnjABA7EVd_dzFlTTfEmBJIaroXYLK6lj5zvBNYvjc8C5o3qbw4-B-Z8msrR1rr0FQXi1tGezlhqg/s640/IMG_20161112_153107.jpg" title="photo by Lisa Eversgerd/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We got to the
sign indicating the overland route that begins at Sandy Point. We got on the
trail here and headed for a primitive four mile out and back trail to a remote
spot on Ozette Lake. Once we got to that trail, we could see how primitive and
unmaintained it actually was. Lisa and I headed up it for a short distance,
realizing that our almost magical time on the beach was much preferred. We
turned around and headed back to the coast. We continued south along the
shoreline, knowing that the tide would come back in at 10:30 p.m. We would have
to watch our time and the incoming tide, and get turned around in time. We needed
to be back to that overland trail to Ozette Lake before the high tide was upon
us, with it’s dangerous rolling logs and incoming waves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKsrxVzt59H1QYglOcnm9xZAZPK9cYBXJF4WfWXZAeMCwQKyFXaq6D0YXAYvQ2G16WuDN3pWoIuuMOPtTPya-v4blO1P4QuDoxnW2wMoeOPp95Q-86F83cv9FVFy_0VvVWQNyiE9s4oM/s1600/IMG_20161112_160316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKsrxVzt59H1QYglOcnm9xZAZPK9cYBXJF4WfWXZAeMCwQKyFXaq6D0YXAYvQ2G16WuDN3pWoIuuMOPtTPya-v4blO1P4QuDoxnW2wMoeOPp95Q-86F83cv9FVFy_0VvVWQNyiE9s4oM/s640/IMG_20161112_160316.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Paying attention
to tides, the boardwalk trails, the evergreen huckleberries and mystical rainforest;
there was so much uniqueness to this run. I highly recommend a trip to these
coastal trails and time spent on the coastal route itself to all hikers and
trail runners. Remaining flexible and being okay with some night time hours on
the trail will help make a long day of it possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcs9pvTA0SMDTyGnSWjcMJvKnY0rJKfqIET7eL6ovJ4AW4mWRMXXXgZyqk1D24xiasD-3BTF3TTZOkoACbiMcW0zbnfrRDEfzUpQ60w8v_RGA4pilvYz_liz9CBcHmRL5XnOYFLhr_OXA/s1600/IMG_20161112_164319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcs9pvTA0SMDTyGnSWjcMJvKnY0rJKfqIET7eL6ovJ4AW4mWRMXXXgZyqk1D24xiasD-3BTF3TTZOkoACbiMcW0zbnfrRDEfzUpQ60w8v_RGA4pilvYz_liz9CBcHmRL5XnOYFLhr_OXA/s640/IMG_20161112_164319.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lisa and I made
it back to the trail with time to spare. I did not feel spent like I did after
long days on mountain trails. I didn’t even want it to end, although I was
ready for some more of that soup and Lisa’s apple bread. It felt almost as if I
were floating along as I ran back through the rainforest. I trusted my footing
on the boardwalk stretches. I breathed in the fresh, drizzly air. Lisa was
behind me as we ran easily along the twisting and turning trail. We pieced
together twenty miles of sweet trails and coastline. It had been a blast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87p21VXbYhRBhOlbUcrIx9XpWKBNQFql3RE-PYfL8Xf-B1BMIbbbF4viq8_A9oDSz8JpppHuue2IFoFPWC_DopVQc3IukV9SsAIYv5hHrHN1q84vXOWZzENXgksfCYrtskDne7paSkaw/s1600/IMG_20161112_164507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Lisa Eversgerd/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87p21VXbYhRBhOlbUcrIx9XpWKBNQFql3RE-PYfL8Xf-B1BMIbbbF4viq8_A9oDSz8JpppHuue2IFoFPWC_DopVQc3IukV9SsAIYv5hHrHN1q84vXOWZzENXgksfCYrtskDne7paSkaw/s640/IMG_20161112_164507.jpg" title="photo by Lisa Eversgerd/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Back at our camp,
we set up chairs outside and ate our hot soup in the misty rain. The
temperature was perfect for sitting outside in the dark, feeling good after a
long day of fun exploring. The camp was quiet, most folks tucked away in their
tents or camper vans for the night. The moss draping from the birch trees along
the lake’s shore created a mystical back drop to our camp meal scene. Lisa
fixed us hot tea to sip on while the moon gave us all the light we needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYs6xAIAK2n4JGUlG0NLXWNqEm35Kvbz9-MF-DDIwuq-0R_ikepd_npqbjtZ0IcVt58CtGxpU01jTBcEovqhvTVRFbvXfEZ9_06ZbjlX6fQgExnjgo6v5TPmAZa-eHFJvk0-sHV4E6qJc/s1600/IMG_20161112_164849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYs6xAIAK2n4JGUlG0NLXWNqEm35Kvbz9-MF-DDIwuq-0R_ikepd_npqbjtZ0IcVt58CtGxpU01jTBcEovqhvTVRFbvXfEZ9_06ZbjlX6fQgExnjgo6v5TPmAZa-eHFJvk0-sHV4E6qJc/s640/IMG_20161112_164849.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
I’m grateful for
all of the gear I have to keep me comfortable, moving sustainably and eating
well. But in particular, my favorite gear and those I endorse through brand
ambassadorships are: Altra Running – I wore the Lone Peak NeoShell Mid trail
shoe and found them perfect for the wet, slippery conditions. I also wore the
Heat Zone Jacket and wore the nice little Altra gaiters in pink. I love how
these gaiters have a Velcro tab in front and back to keep them secure on the
back of the shoe. Altra trail running shoes are equipped with a tab of Velcro
on the back where gaiters can be attached; Nathan – I used the super functional
and well- designed ultrarunning pack, The VaporShadow. I had easy access to my
camera and snacks in pockets up front and on the sides. There was enough room
for my rain layers and head lamp, with extra room remaining, in back pockets. I
am impressed with its durable construction and fabrics; Trail Butter – I
snacked on the Expedition Espresso Trail Butter for breakfast, giving me my fat
quota for before the run. I love the bits of espresso bean and chocolate mixed
in with the rich nut butter. It’s hard to find me not wearing my favorite royal
blue Be Trail Ready trucker cap, but the wind was so strong I had to have my
warm ear flap hat on instead. Honey
Stinger Waffles – Vanilla, Caramel and Lemon filled Waffles are my favorite
flavors of these delicious, dairy-free trail treats. These waffles are always easy
to pull out of my pack and eat on the go, but I also like having them with
coffee when I am out long enough to bring along the Jet Boil. I love these on
long thru hikes. An evening break on the trail with a coffee and a Honey
Stinger Waffle; Ras and I both enjoy this perfect combination.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3z3xJDiP_OkB-olwgJKKyfjFVtP_exj6pkiVkXGNV7zR-aIEjtMhvcLsGYcnLOpdMmlFeNoR9jeFdQGWXMggdWyLkQMcaqFf5yGtZGt70SuxRvtYBAZ0j7Y7e7SNYvJJ9hdjO52GuQc/s1600/IMG_20161112_112710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3z3xJDiP_OkB-olwgJKKyfjFVtP_exj6pkiVkXGNV7zR-aIEjtMhvcLsGYcnLOpdMmlFeNoR9jeFdQGWXMggdWyLkQMcaqFf5yGtZGt70SuxRvtYBAZ0j7Y7e7SNYvJJ9hdjO52GuQc/s640/IMG_20161112_112710.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />Kathy Vaughanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16781079217933588340noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-25915086892285338552016-10-12T00:56:00.000-07:002016-10-12T01:46:13.041-07:00Eight Times Around Rainier<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Eight Times Around Rainier:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Wandering the Wonderland in Ceaseless Wonder</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB7x6RtKjoIIs-to-CO5f_cBEvIMgOWYfE91bB2IR2oBpeVqZAlyKiUoTQIzf_y-p6AxP9P6IYGpz6I4j05Uf6ZX8wtftnKcwhM9jr5y54HzLAGzPze7eGT9LgN6ZtAlJYv5y6bI4eQ/s1600/WP_20160905_14_33_25_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB7x6RtKjoIIs-to-CO5f_cBEvIMgOWYfE91bB2IR2oBpeVqZAlyKiUoTQIzf_y-p6AxP9P6IYGpz6I4j05Uf6ZX8wtftnKcwhM9jr5y54HzLAGzPze7eGT9LgN6ZtAlJYv5y6bI4eQ/s200/WP_20160905_14_33_25_Pro.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="200" /></a><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">By Kathy Vaughan</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> We awoke in the middle of the trail, the cold pre-dawn chilling us until we stirred fitfully. We were on the descent to the South Mowich River from Golden Lakes. We had hiked through the high alpine meadows and the area around the old patrol cabin in the middle of the night, frost on the boardwalks and puncheon bridges crunching underfoot. The silvered and burned snags stood tall in the distance as we moved towards them, knowing that we would soon be descending towards the Mowich, the wooded switchback trails ahead giving us an opportunity to catch a couple hour nap. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Ras and I were on a nighttime stretch during our 94 mile Wonderland Trail run around Mt. Rainer. We had a long weekend open up in the midst of our busy schedule working as weeders for a yard care service on Whidbey Island. Each weekend all summer long, Ras and I had been getting out on adventure runs, either with each other or with other partners. This was an opportunity for us to do something long together. It would be a challenge and I didn’t know if all of my unsupported trail excursions would benefit me on the 20,000+ feet of elevation gain involved in this circumambulation of Rainier, or hinder me because of my sore knees and tight IT bands. I had set out in an attempt to run the Wonderland on the weekend of my 50th birthday, with my friend Lisa. It was quite hot on the trails around the mountain that weekend, and we altered our route to the 40 mile Owyhigh Lakes loop instead. I was crawling along slowly on the climbs in the heat, and may have even been suffering from some heat illness. The Wonderland wasn’t going to work for me that weekend, but this weekend, with the first of the autumn temperatures on the mountain scape, it was seeming more likely.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaY5xV5RxxxmDvs7ZpTVBZP0TgH8EpODARWaK7nLlSGB6sV6VCOfMtyRWB3VI8hKs45vUhNJYTT82vDSkb_MkLcwfuB3lDVTlZEEB9UNwp4EdXquMnLojISbwI5vSMAIQQ7__mRDj7mA/s1600/LongmirePrep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaY5xV5RxxxmDvs7ZpTVBZP0TgH8EpODARWaK7nLlSGB6sV6VCOfMtyRWB3VI8hKs45vUhNJYTT82vDSkb_MkLcwfuB3lDVTlZEEB9UNwp4EdXquMnLojISbwI5vSMAIQQ7__mRDj7mA/s640/LongmirePrep.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Ras and I set out from Longmire at 10:33 in the morning on Saturday the 6th of September. We headed out clockwise to tackle the 10,000 feet of elevation gain we would encounter on the more secluded west side of Rainier. We started by climbing towards Rampart Ridge, crossing the glacial waters of Kautz Creek and then onwards towards Pyramid Creek. The going in here was smooth and encouraging. I enjoyed the cooler weather and was prepared with enough layers to take on colder temperatures as they were likely to occur when the sun dropped. I love the fall and spending time in the forest on cool days is an all sensory experience. The damp earth emits a woodsy fragrance that brings me calm and evokes feelings of peace from past trail times. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Ras and I each settled into our own thoughts and quietly pushed the climb towards Devil’s Dream Camp and Indian Henry’s Hunting ground beyond. The patrol cabin there was occupied with other people out enjoying the trail, so Ras and I continued on before taking our first sit down break. We had brought along our leftovers from Pizza Pi all vegan pizzeria in the U district of Seattle. We used to take our daughter Angela there when she attended the University of Washington. We purposely got enough so that we would have some for the trail, a special way to take in some calories and good memories at the same time. My favorite is Presto Pesto and I shared some slices with Ras, as we sat alongside the trail where it first descends from the high meadows of Indian Henry’s Hunting grounds towards the suspension bridge that spans Tahoma Creek, far below. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> We got chilled pretty fast and this forced us to get moving on our technical descent to the bridge. The trail was steep and rocky, but also scenic and fun. We got moving and reached the bridge in no time. It was fun to cross and think about my first time, crossing it together with Angela as she was only 7 and needed accompaniment. Ras shot some video on our crossings and we continued on our way, climbing towards Emerald Ridge. Nothing about the Wonderland is easy. There are challenges all along the way. Each seemingly insurmountable challenge I’ve ever experienced on that route has taught me a valuable lesson; has been achievable; has been worth every minute of it. All moments in the raw wild of nature are what is real about life. It’s the moments indoors, eating processed food and being warmed by unnatural heating that are artificial. I thrive in the outdoors. I spend time indoors and even time working in the outdoors, longing for the freedom of the trails. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cSy8OtnJZxdaKwtZW5PxeK0jq0WOuKO0venbYqQ_YtbjMAnGOrn5JuIg3DvMcPDJE_ZrBsBkMQ-_KrOk8_TcybHg9a9dy4QSmplkA37sdBYaGszPYXU4BTNwtkzOOr7Ic1xdmNaeEw/s1600/WP_20160903_16_52_16_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cSy8OtnJZxdaKwtZW5PxeK0jq0WOuKO0venbYqQ_YtbjMAnGOrn5JuIg3DvMcPDJE_ZrBsBkMQ-_KrOk8_TcybHg9a9dy4QSmplkA37sdBYaGszPYXU4BTNwtkzOOr7Ic1xdmNaeEw/s640/WP_20160903_16_52_16_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Being on the Wonderland and having 94 miles to cover, I was in my element. Any struggles aside, I was in a zone out of which I could not be snapped until I returned to my car, on foot. I had set out to complete this once already a few weeks back. This time I would cover all the miles, see all the sights, feel all the feels of completing this iconic route in one straight through push.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Mist rising off of the wet downed old growth created a mystical feel to the surroundings as Ras and I were waking up. We had to get across a couple of separate channels of the braided Mowich Rivers coming off of the glacier on this facing of the mountain. The river was wild and tumultuous; the color of chocolate milk. Ras had tried to build a rock crossing here in the middle of his Rainier Infinity Loop in July. He finally spotted a log crossing with his partner Gavin Woody and got safely across. We didn’t know what to expect this time because of the experience he had earlier in the season. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_5_U2lphKErqS-uGcwyb10t2GFgD-U0yQSVYelqqFcp7lMRu2C9E1JkOJzihCb-QlBrtxpAz8cIy8g75toMzUdreE9OuF7bwssF7sd_TH7n7al4rsmo9pIpu7yCz_1WHPH2hocIOHg/s1600/WP_20160904_08_33_36_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_5_U2lphKErqS-uGcwyb10t2GFgD-U0yQSVYelqqFcp7lMRu2C9E1JkOJzihCb-QlBrtxpAz8cIy8g75toMzUdreE9OuF7bwssF7sd_TH7n7al4rsmo9pIpu7yCz_1WHPH2hocIOHg/s640/WP_20160904_08_33_36_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Instead, there had been a new bridge built and easy to follow cairns marking the way through the rocky river bed. We got across without issue and soon saw a young couple, also doing the Wonderland in ultrarunner style. They were coming downhill, moving well, and looked like they had been working hard. They may have even looked “too fresh”, and Ras and I surmised their run may have been supported. They might have camped up at Mowich Lake the night before. They may have just been younger, stronger, more fit and rocking it in better style than Ras and I too. Either way, they were friendly. We went on our way, climbing up from the Mowich crossings toward the eponymous lake.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61i8hJMwk0wy1WYpkZ9nneHs_qRz244b3d6Sf1-fvOtVqaperxBaxu2pMe9_IPZrXMEQoUnnfEFmaNa3Av1wkNZDTdSEXI_UhIkcnibVwwBi1RTEYEyUDdtG-5FAeu8D7luZQf-DHjA/s1600/selfies+Ipsut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61i8hJMwk0wy1WYpkZ9nneHs_qRz244b3d6Sf1-fvOtVqaperxBaxu2pMe9_IPZrXMEQoUnnfEFmaNa3Av1wkNZDTdSEXI_UhIkcnibVwwBi1RTEYEyUDdtG-5FAeu8D7luZQf-DHjA/s640/selfies+Ipsut.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> I have done this climb so many times and in a different mode each time. On this occasion I felt pretty strong, although it does always feel relentless. It’s a 3.7 mile climb with a 1,000 foot gain per mile. That’s stiff. I listened to some good music on my mp3 player to distract me. I settled into the switchbacks. Ras and I paused for a few minutes and had a snack. We continued on contouring at first and then climbing gently towards some creek crossings. Onwards, upwards towards Mowich Lake where Ras planned on checking the thru hiker box at the ranger cabin. I had hoped he would find some hand warmers there, or any kind of vegan friendly snack food. We were “thruing” the Wonderland, after all, and it was legit to see what the hiker box might behold. We’ve contributed to these things before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> I sat at a picnic table, cleaning out and reorganizing my pack, as I watched the comings and goings of the camp area. I felt drowsy and low energy, but looked forward to the 2ish mile climb to Ipsut Pass. Once there, we had a long descent to the confluence of Ipsut Creek and the Carbon River. This was a magically scenic section of trail through thick old growth forest with babbling brooks, gigantic ferns and soft carpets of differing mosses. We could make some good time in here and relax into the day. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OBIvtRtdcnL8-MLPMAkkjvbxwVaVdlQazqljWDnAs5EDmFoUf892QfNE296K6Uc44L9AJSb2mzCu8llhPDIdw0F3ICVmGbOyfBNEU1pPtDQ7We8A9ptIinuOn-EduGhv7WTjsfZhwQ/s1600/Ipsut+Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OBIvtRtdcnL8-MLPMAkkjvbxwVaVdlQazqljWDnAs5EDmFoUf892QfNE296K6Uc44L9AJSb2mzCu8llhPDIdw0F3ICVmGbOyfBNEU1pPtDQ7We8A9ptIinuOn-EduGhv7WTjsfZhwQ/s640/Ipsut+Pass.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Ras returned with a small baggie of Starbursts, which we divided up evenly. I ate mine right there and threw the little wrappers away while we had access to garbage cans. We got ready and hit the trail once again. The trail left the lakeshore and made its way to the pass where several other parties arrived at the exact same time that we did. We let two guys go ahead of us on the down climb and then we left the scenic over look to descend into the Ipsut Creek drainage. It is one of the most beautiful spots on earth and I love being there. I watched my footing while still taking in the views. There were also berries to eat and Ras dropped behind to graze. I was enjoying trotting along on the steep switchbacks, knowing that the evening’s mileage included climbing the rocky trail along the Carbon Glacier, past Dick Creek Camp, through Moraine Park to the high ridge above Mystic Lake.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJgwJEwRN09NTp6jXVqCh8lJZXLb9dHr_OfrA9K93lZXSEVYIjSEfYp3RCStqmMpln1YbDIZow7GVouPJ5EqwKkCTWxvs4qSe1StC4TMQPsjbc-43j6QDGC0yDHdiK27qbfmaMgQCMQ/s1600/filtering+Ipsut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJgwJEwRN09NTp6jXVqCh8lJZXLb9dHr_OfrA9K93lZXSEVYIjSEfYp3RCStqmMpln1YbDIZow7GVouPJ5EqwKkCTWxvs4qSe1StC4TMQPsjbc-43j6QDGC0yDHdiK27qbfmaMgQCMQ/s640/filtering+Ipsut.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> The mountain reappeared as the enchanted, wooded meadow of Moraine Park opened into a valley dotted with large erratics. Marmots whistled in the distance. My goal was to reach that ridge above Mystic Lake before the sun sunk and we lost our light. I climbed in earnest, my eyes searching for the ridge after each steep, short switchback. Leading the climb, with Ras just behind me, I got to the sign pointing to the lake .7 miles away, at the high point I’d had in my sights. It felt good to have reached that little goal. I called out in triumph to Ras, but kept on going, trying to run some of this downhill, my headlamp leading the way now. It was an eroded and steep trail for a little way, but then it ended in a sweet little flat meadow leading up to the lake. It then ran alongside the lake. Being here in the dark was absolutely perfect.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-C8iczGBf2l30wq-5ywiCC7H9NzspnDBadqIoxRJA8ALjMX-ZcUbxdz_8rz8JeFClRpKD59xTr0SL2K5AS29n_CRXtIAodWH8DxXCp-a6AndAmaNIcjtDbfO6PbX6mS7O4m60nnH6g/s1600/WP_20160904_20_18_32_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-C8iczGBf2l30wq-5ywiCC7H9NzspnDBadqIoxRJA8ALjMX-ZcUbxdz_8rz8JeFClRpKD59xTr0SL2K5AS29n_CRXtIAodWH8DxXCp-a6AndAmaNIcjtDbfO6PbX6mS7O4m60nnH6g/s640/WP_20160904_20_18_32_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> After running around a portion of the lake, the trail took us off towards the camp. We stopped so I could get some little rocks out of my shoes and Ras got a couple of pictures from this spot at the alpine lake in the quiet of the night. We got through the camp unnoticed and went on our way to cross White River, another of the glacial river crossings. This one was as smooth as the others had been, a good log crossing in place. Now the trail was cruisy as we meandered along with only gentle climbs, leading to the moraine field section. Going through this exposed section at night felt good, cold drifts of air coming up from the openings between the huge rocks in this glacial wasteland. There is no shade in here if traveling in the heat of the day during the summer months. Ras and I made good time through this section and then we had another river to cross.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLjavHpHYdtcnGbdnqioxesmZY0Nn4E00-q7CYdY19stxte_qf9Uah-x_dzIJB44hgKqhgIfH-a2GYdjLEdvJKv4p9nX4tx3fH1cx7bJ_Sk-CV1lghEsk10yjHE31JSxwennjcFlD-w/s1600/WP_20160904_20_20_41_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLjavHpHYdtcnGbdnqioxesmZY0Nn4E00-q7CYdY19stxte_qf9Uah-x_dzIJB44hgKqhgIfH-a2GYdjLEdvJKv4p9nX4tx3fH1cx7bJ_Sk-CV1lghEsk10yjHE31JSxwennjcFlD-w/s640/WP_20160904_20_20_41_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Winthrop Creek at 4,900 feet originates from the second largest glacier on the mountain and is named after Theodore Winthrop, a nineteenth century author. In 1853 he saw the Winthrop Glacier and writes about it in his book “The Canoe and The Saddle”. We crossed the creek via a sturdy log. On the other side, we began a steep climb. We passed a spot where Garda Falls once attracted hikers for camping. It then closed to camping and was a water stop for my family many times. But late one night while running the Mother Mountain Loop with my friends Vivian Doorn and Lisa Eversgerd, we got to this spot, and it no longer existed. I had told them we could stop here and get water before the climb, but it had been obliterated in a land slide. A large tree jam had changed the terrain and it was no longer a parked-out rest stop. It was uninviting, sharp branches poking out and piled up on each other. We had moved on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Ras and I did not speak of this as we passed through this time around. It had gotten dark again, another night coming to pass. We were focused on getting to the White River Campground where we planned on taking a nap at the thru-hikers’ camp site. We had some miles to cover before then, but we knew how to get it done. We both had our mp3 players going, giving us something to enjoy listening to as we traveled along the trail through the dark of the night. We were moving towards Granite Creek Camp at 5,730 feet. This was another favorite spot along the trail, because the creek itself is so clean and pure, such a classic example of a mountain stream. My family took a rest day at the group site here when we first took on this trail with Angela at age seven, a big eyed innocent young hiker. She loved meeting other hikers and she got to interact with some at the camp during that hike. We hung out in camp all day, playing at the stream some and washing our clothes in a large ziplock bag.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> But this time, Ras and I crossed the small log foot bridge and moved through yet another of the Wonderland camps stealthily under the night sky. We now had some gentle switchbacks for a couple of miles until reaching the high open landscape of Packtrain Ridge. I had been struggling internally with the effort we were putting out. I was disoriented and slightly out of it when we first got up onto the ridge. There was thick mist in the air and it was hard to see very far in front of us. Ras had taken the lead, feeling good and moving well. I struggled behind him with these feelings of not quite vertigo, but something taking over my whole being, my state of mind and my ability to move very efficiently this late in the night. I really did know this area of the trail quite well. But right now, I could not figure out where we were. We finally reached the intersection where the trail to Skyscraper Peak stretches off towards the sky. Ras said, “Okay, are you ready?” I was in disbelief. I didn’t know if I could even pull off the rest of the mileage to complete the Wonderland, let alone add on this side trip to climb Skyscraper. He said we had decided even just a short while ago that we would climb it. I had no recollection of that and was really surprised that he had planned on doing it. It was midnight, cold, and we were already pressed for enough time to finish and get back to work by nine o’clock Tuesday morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Unfortunately, this ended up being a turning point for me. I knew I had disappointed Ras by turning down the side trip up Skyscraper. I like the climb too. I too was enjoying making summits each weekend throughout the summer. At this moment though, I felt like adding it onto our 94 mile adventure that was stretching out, was over the top. I also felt pulled to do it and was bummed out I had reacted so strongly to the idea. It did not feel good that we were now moving on, down the trail, in the thick mist, away from the opportunity to pull off that summit. I got teary and even more weary. We dropped down towards Sunrise Camp in the cold basin below us. Ras stayed in the lead. We tried stopping in the lee of an outbuilding at the camp, but the strong wind gusts were still too cold for us to stop for long. We moved on, now on the final three mile stretch towards White River Camp and our nap.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Finally, we got to the wooded camp. There were restrooms and spigots with running water. We put down one of our Six Moon Designs Gatewood Capes and used the other for a cover. We bundled up in every layer we had with down puffy suits as the top layer. I took off my Altra Lone Peak 3.0 NeoShell Mids, and Ras kept his Lone Peaks on his feet for warmth. I had a blister and wanted to stretch out my feet. It felt good to be out of shoes for a little while. It was 4:30 in the morning. We both fell fast asleep, surrounded by other thru-hikers, unaware of our presence in camp right near them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> We wanted to wake up and exit the area to begin our final 30 miles, by about 7:30, allowing us three hours of sleep. I woke up first and wondered off to the rest rooms, filling my water bottles on the way back. Ras was still asleep, so I cuddled up beside him and rested just a little longer. We didn’t discuss our plan for the day. I really didn’t know yet what it was. I encouraged him to wake up and move out to the picnic area where we could find a sunny spot to warm up and regroup. We finally moved out there, but were both so tired we would drop off to sleep in the sunshine before making any progress with our trip planning. Could I continue? Did we have enough time? Should we hitchhike back to Longmire from here? Should we pull ourselves together and just get back out on the trail? Would we make it to work on time if we continued? Could we even contact our boss, Mary, from here via our cell phones? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> After moving from sunny spot to sunny spot for a couple of hours, taking in mouthfuls of my Expedition Espresso Trail Butter pouch to energize myself, we finally argued ourselves into getting started again. Neither of us wanted to give up and we knew we could finish off the mileage. We just didn’t know if we could pick up the pace like we needed to, this deep in. I had a couple of blisters I needed to tend to before getting started and I’d have to push myself to run more than hike in order to get this thing done. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNifnimQtYr9-423WNmivzA6bwFelTbJlxOBnwvaK9vBVI50XhxJwEpU_aqvPEZvAYWcB3PWhoJhGOKTpw-7_AicBhbQgTEI4KXaPJMHjRUj9e5bl7JChaqae4jrdWws5hvfJZO3uM_Q/s1600/WP_20160905_13_57_59_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNifnimQtYr9-423WNmivzA6bwFelTbJlxOBnwvaK9vBVI50XhxJwEpU_aqvPEZvAYWcB3PWhoJhGOKTpw-7_AicBhbQgTEI4KXaPJMHjRUj9e5bl7JChaqae4jrdWws5hvfJZO3uM_Q/s640/WP_20160905_13_57_59_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> We hit the trail leading out of the White River Campground, crossed the White River and ran the rolling trail for several miles before it began the climb along Frying Pan Creek. We moved together quietly. I knew that each time I pushed myself harder than I felt like I could, harder than I wanted to, it would make a difference. This was it. These were the final miles of the Wonderland Trail. Before I knew it, we had reached the high meadows of Summerland and began our trek up the steps towards Panhandle Gap. We were at one of the final cruxes of the route. This climb through snowfields in the cold mist and wind was hard. We couldn’t stop as it was just too cold. We were low on food, stretching out carefully what we had left to last into the night miles. The views were not far reaching. The clouds and thick mists shielded the views from us as we looked out into the distance. We both pushed forward, strong and determined. At the Ohanepecosh River we would take a break and fill our water bottles. Right now we just wanted to move, one foot in front of the other, through this mountainous terrain. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAizv6K92MzOSHFotVdbueHnIYF5aj6TnDCU14zjeJU11txac6njxS7CXE7q9qlwX1Pap6R_cVRgWxnHvzj8Zfi5IxbPnSsv7JhksVFhAK98LRG2fBHRqNS7mXLINKIKDqpgNj-Qk0TA/s1600/Indian+Bar+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAizv6K92MzOSHFotVdbueHnIYF5aj6TnDCU14zjeJU11txac6njxS7CXE7q9qlwX1Pap6R_cVRgWxnHvzj8Zfi5IxbPnSsv7JhksVFhAK98LRG2fBHRqNS7mXLINKIKDqpgNj-Qk0TA/s640/Indian+Bar+Sign.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> A few other backpackers meandered through the camp at Indian Bar. They were filtering water, or getting settled into camp, or just relaxing after a day on the trail. We were filtering water and then moving on, an additional 18 miles to go before finishing our weekend route. Nothing is as scenic as Indian Bar. The Ohanepecosh River meanders down from an inactive hanging glacier and babbles through the valley. A stone shelter presides just above the river and the hidden backcountry camp turns off the trail just before it. Ras and I settled into a spot were a side creek splits off from the main river and it’s easy to get nice clear water here. We shared Honey Stinger Energy Chews and drank ice cold water. We knew we had it now. The Cowlitz Divide lay ahead. This would be challenging, steep little climbs and descents over eight miles or so. Then, before we knew it, we would be running the gentle downhill trail towards Nickle Creek. I was looking forward to passing the intersection of trail where Lisa and I decided to run the Owyhigh Lakes Loop instead of the Wonderland for my 50th, back in August. It was a hard decision and we sat at that spot for a good half hour. I knew it would feel pretty awesome to run through it, on my way to completing the Wonderland this summer after all. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AkCMUwQvF7hsVXM7NojXrBvzx7rGJaJEhhQQXbjbC-dKG_ffTJcwiWX4wxDafFJL6lMH7i3_o-onJuKqv_bWH7yRXyefTmBVosLlPlYDbnjo2sPKVddUE7wiPemUdqvv2pW50E35Hg/s1600/Cowlitz+Divide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AkCMUwQvF7hsVXM7NojXrBvzx7rGJaJEhhQQXbjbC-dKG_ffTJcwiWX4wxDafFJL6lMH7i3_o-onJuKqv_bWH7yRXyefTmBVosLlPlYDbnjo2sPKVddUE7wiPemUdqvv2pW50E35Hg/s640/Cowlitz+Divide.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Ras and I felt great moving through the Cowlitz Divide. We took a couple of short breaks on scenic overlooks, but for the most part, got some quick miles in. We climbed well and had those little summits behind us before we knew it. I recognized the point where the trail begins to descend towards Nickle Creek. I opened up and let loose. I ran well and the miles glided by. We got to the intersection where Olallie Camp cuts off, where Lisa and I had turned. We ran by it and it did feel good. On and on we went at a good pace, running towards Nickle Creek, Box Canyon and then Maple Creek. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Somewhere around Maple Creek it all took a turn. Rain began to fall, at first as a drizzle which wasn’t much of an issue for us. It then came on stronger, and finally began pouring with an intensity that grew more mighty with each foot of elevation we gained. The night wore on and on, rain soaking us and only the end in sight pulling us like a magnet ever forward along the dark trail. We both wore our Gatewood Capes and they kept us warm and dry enough, if we kept moving. We could completely tuck underneath it if we needed to make an adjustment with our mp3 players, headlamps or wrappers on our snacks. Ras knew I was running a little low on my food supply, so he had saved a Caramel Honey Stinger Waffle for me. It tasted so good, in this nighttime rain storm, almost 90 miles into the Wonderland.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Ras shared stories with me about what it was like for he and Gavin at this point in their Rainier Infinity Loop. They finished it at Paradise and thus had to climb an additional 3,000 feet in three miles off of the Wonderland route. They had already summited Rainier twice at this same point we were tackling in the night. Stevens Canyon was wet, slick, steep, but well maintained. A trail crew had been through and cut back all of the thick brush that tends to cover the trail in here. It had been that way when Ras and Gavin came through here. The workers had also repaired a slide in a section prone to giving way, and so we had a safe passage through here as well. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc2CQxaL6JcsTQQVSGbPhUhzO1emrmRnFSbrBsECKkHjXomgVLLf1IkxSSgkEsuElMBEApaRQCtZhrN9ILTlQlST98he9zdtEd7Fk6__8CBweuJXlz1CUiDTmUqHP8GGakEvEasHJBQ/s1600/Cowlitz+Ras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc2CQxaL6JcsTQQVSGbPhUhzO1emrmRnFSbrBsECKkHjXomgVLLf1IkxSSgkEsuElMBEApaRQCtZhrN9ILTlQlST98he9zdtEd7Fk6__8CBweuJXlz1CUiDTmUqHP8GGakEvEasHJBQ/s640/Cowlitz+Ras.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> The climb ended at Reflection Lakes. The trail crosses the Stevens Canyon Highway at a couple of different points, circles the outer edge of Lake Louise and climbs again to reach Reflection Lakes. Then finally, the descent to Longmire begins. Ras and I had a couple of hours to go before our circle around the mountain was complete. We were able to run, albeit slowly, along the Paradise River. The trail had roots and rocks to navigate. They were wet from the deluge, but Ras took the lead here and we were each able to skip through at our own comfortable pace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> I could hear the roar of the Nisqually River, the final glacial river crossing. Nicely built log crossings with rails were in place, so getting across all of the channels was easy enough, even in the dark. It seemed now like most of our glacial river crossings had been in the dark. I reflected on how far I had come with these crossings. I once felt so nervous, sometimes crying or jittering with fear as I heard the loud rushing of the silty waters. Now, it was just not a big deal and my body did not send me these same signals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> From the Nisqually, Cougar Rock Campground is just a short distance away. Car campers can drive up to this campground and hikers can also reserve spots to utilize it during a thru hike of the Wonderland. We quietly ran past the spur trail leading to the campground and continued down the wide path lined in huge firs, cedars and hemlocks. We could see the remains of old wooden water pipes that were once used to transport water in this area. We knew we were getting closer, but we still had just shy of two miles to go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> The bright lights of Longmire let us know we were there. I picked up the pace, running the easy final stretch of trail into the well-lit parking lot. It was 3:30 a.m. Ras and I had taken 65 hours to run and hike the Wonderland Trail, unsupported, with autumn temperatures and daylight guiding our way. We got to our old Subaru wagon and took off our Nathan packs. I climbed into the front seat and reached for my bag of dry clothes I’d been visualizing changing into for many wet hours. Although wet, my feet had been well protected and warm inside my Altra Lone Peak 3.0 NeoShell Mids. My gear was dry inside my Nathan running vest. I felt good inside, having stuck to an ethic of Zero Limits and completed my eighth and fastest circumambulation of Mount Rainier. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLnLhjEh2AdkN-ZbbyeY9dFLebi_vvgfnYdUUweK5U2dSTCjo_7tRU0sXFT8MVzB9_3sKQdFZLMu5Jbh1S5ANY5SaBbsCzxX-3fUi5mXdaeucc-fPa2Y7ott10t-dBRua8UfF-jJ-kA/s1600/WP_20160905_14_34_12_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLnLhjEh2AdkN-ZbbyeY9dFLebi_vvgfnYdUUweK5U2dSTCjo_7tRU0sXFT8MVzB9_3sKQdFZLMu5Jbh1S5ANY5SaBbsCzxX-3fUi5mXdaeucc-fPa2Y7ott10t-dBRua8UfF-jJ-kA/s640/WP_20160905_14_34_12_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>KATHY’S GEAR LIST</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nathan VaporShadow (I used the male version belonging to Ras, waiting for the arrival of my female version, the VaporAiress. I have since received two Nathan Ultrarunning packs, designed specifically for women, and used the VaporAiress for a supported 50k. I fell in love with this pack, finding it perfectly designed. It was so comfortable and had all the right pockets in all the right places. It was easy to reach the side zip pouches while still moving. I hardly noticed it for the eight hours I wore it, fresh off the shelf. Ras and I are now new, Nathan brand ambassadors.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Altra Lone Peak 3.0 NeoShell Mids </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Injinji Trail Socks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Altra Performance Skirt </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Altra tech short sleeve shirt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Smartwool mid weight hooded sweater, arm sleeves, knee high ski socks, calf sleeves and neck gaiter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dirty Girl Gaiters</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mammut Down Puffy Jacket 850 Fill</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mont Bell Down Puffy & synthetic blend pants</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">11.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3 packets of chemical handwarmers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">12.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ziplock baggie of pancreatic enzymes, antacids, ibuprofen, caffeine pills, and ginger chews</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">13.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ziplock baggie of toilet paper and a moist towlette</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">14.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4 Honey Stinger Waffles, 1 packet of Honey Stinger Energy Chews, 2 avacado wraps in whole wheat tortillas, a baggie of roasted and salted seaweed snacks, 2 Expedition Expresso Trail Butter pouches, 4 Picky Bars, 4 slices of leftover vegan Presto Pesto pizza from Pizza Pi in Seattle, 1 homemade apricot fruit roll-up, a few peppermint hard candies, 1 package of Mushroom & Herb cous cous, rehydrated with cold water in a plastic ziplock container, a small serving of Ras’ dehydrated rice and beans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">15.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Skins brand compression capris</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">16.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The North Face brand heavy winter running tights</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">17.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mp3 player loaded with lots of Raggae Dancehall mixed tapes, The Martian and Dharma Bums</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">18.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black Diamond Icon Mountaineering headlamp with extra set of batteries</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">19.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Smartphone, mainly for use as a camera</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">20.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Swix brand cross country ski gloves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">21.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fleece and synthetic fur lined ear flap hat </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">*Ras carried 2 small chargers for recharging our electronic devices</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVu4CdkPY4oKfAUvcN24ILVyxwm0OW8LCfOmCRhOlGxPoFH3dXSGe6YdiAVeblkGDxSP541AY2AK3KtTRja741kfsT9kfAQHdJWaGxNqsw0SGHmhbm5FjTXZ_ny9lSDj1GU3uulwYVw/s1600/Faerie+Forest+Falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVu4CdkPY4oKfAUvcN24ILVyxwm0OW8LCfOmCRhOlGxPoFH3dXSGe6YdiAVeblkGDxSP541AY2AK3KtTRja741kfsT9kfAQHdJWaGxNqsw0SGHmhbm5FjTXZ_ny9lSDj1GU3uulwYVw/s640/Faerie+Forest+Falls.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-19058188732387100472016-10-11T01:56:00.001-07:002016-10-11T01:56:47.818-07:00MAIL Caloric Burn vs Intake<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Mount Adams Infinity Loop</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFjzUu9hfCZMpimkFSFMAtOaBQpZVK9PBVdYbkEMFgzN8nqy7RDe5GyovMrSDB9lat3HbyH8rVfinaHqBmWuyDj-LPxta6RW0JlSdcd3mO1qYNrJEPf1K4TfL4zY_PZ74zEfZxeBB1w/s1600/WP_20161011_00_42_59_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFjzUu9hfCZMpimkFSFMAtOaBQpZVK9PBVdYbkEMFgzN8nqy7RDe5GyovMrSDB9lat3HbyH8rVfinaHqBmWuyDj-LPxta6RW0JlSdcd3mO1qYNrJEPf1K4TfL4zY_PZ74zEfZxeBB1w/s400/WP_20161011_00_42_59_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Complete Caloric Burn Versus Intake</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>by Ras Vaughan</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">I have been fueling based on both dietary fat and stored body fat for almost five years now, since I began training for the inaugural Pigtails Challenge 200 miler early in 2012. (Here's my <a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2012/06/pigtails-challenge-200-mile-endurance_05.html" target="_blank"><b>nutrition and fueling report</b></a> from Pigtails, May 2012.) I find that fat based fueling helps me achieve a more consistent and sustainable level of performance. In addition, having my body habituated to prioritizing fat metabolization means that I can rely on fueling in part from my body's fat stores, which in turn means that I can carry and eat less food than the math would, at face value, imply. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />I assiduously saved all the wrappers, baggies, and packaging from my various fuels throughout the Mount Adams Infinity Loop. I did this in keeping with my Unsupported ethic of carrying all my supplies and gear from beginning to end, which, to my mind, includes carrying all of my trash until the finish. This also made it easy for me to reconstruct the fuel I consumed during a project by counting up the wrappers and portions of the foods I ingested. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below is an accounting of my total calorie intake, as well an estimate of the total calories I burned during my adventure. If anything, the caloric needs estimate is conservative. It only takes into account mileage with an offset for elevation gain. It doesn't take other factors into account that burn more calories to cover the same ground; such as cold temperatures wherein your body burns calories heating itself, or moving against a strong headwind. In all actuality, it's likely I burned a few more calories than I estimate here.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An obvious aberration in my fueling regimen is the SweetTarts. I have only extremely rarely had trouble with queasiness or upset stomach or feeling nauseous during high mileage, multi-day endurance adventures. What DOES sometimes trouble me is simply a lack of appetite. I try to take a "wierd food" of some sort on each adventure, something that tastes completely different and has a distinct texture or unique mouthfeel. This is how I first started taking toasted seaweed on adventures, and it is now a regular part of my fuel kit. I figured tart, chalky, pseudo-fruit flavored lozenges would fit the bill nicely, and they did indeed. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SweetTarts were one of my favorite treats as a kid, and I still really enjoy them. I had forgotten I had them with me, and was quite stoked when I found them in my pack during the descent from the first summit. I realize, and freely admit, that they have almost no actual food value (or food ingredients), but they are certainly calorie dense. I'm not proud of them being part of my fueling for this adventure, but Kathy and I strive to be as transparent as we can be in recounting our adventures, and sometime that means having to publicly admit to enjoying a box of artificially colored sugar disks. Mea culpa. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">RAS' COMPLETE CALORIE LIST FOR MOUNT ADAMS INFINITY LOOP:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<b style="font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Total calories consumed during Mount Adams Infinity Loop</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Trail Butter Expedition Espresso 2.5 x 760 = 1,900 calories</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Honey Stinger Waffles 6 x 150 = 900 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Picky Bars Smooth Caffeinator 2 x 200 = 400 calories</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Peanut Butter Crackers packet 2 x 200 = 400 calories</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Honey Stinger Cherry Cola Energy Chews 3 x 160 = 480 calories</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Toasted Seaweed Snacks 3 x 30 = 90 calories</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">SweetTarts throwback box 2 x 780 = 1,560 calories</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Instant Rice 1 cup x 390 = 390 calories<br />Instant Refried Beans 1 cup x 384 = 384 calories</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">-----------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">6,504 total calories consumed</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Caloric needs for Mount Adams Infinity Loop<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">6,600 calories = </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">66 miles x 100 calories per mile<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">2,000 calories = </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">20,000</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">feet</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (round estimate) elevation gain</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> x 100 calories </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">per 1,000 feet of gain</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">5,000 calories = </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">2,000 daily baseline metabolic calories x 2.5 days<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">-----------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">13,600 total calories burned<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Overall Caloric Burn Versus Intake for Mount Adams Infinity Loop<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">13,600 total calories burned<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">6,504 total calories consumed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">-----------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>7,096 calories</b> total caloric debt accrued</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPadKDSMVO_K19iPPZAYzjFBZCtSj464sPshkqZTlKC6-IsWs1KE8l_HTK5vVm-yuXRjsqVJCpX_1dHtUubAW6e0e87sEIZNtS_zVU_phlgqiFSbxnQFToyHeRzZYg97cjvLQIT2I7Aw/s1600/WP_20161011_00_42_59_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPadKDSMVO_K19iPPZAYzjFBZCtSj464sPshkqZTlKC6-IsWs1KE8l_HTK5vVm-yuXRjsqVJCpX_1dHtUubAW6e0e87sEIZNtS_zVU_phlgqiFSbxnQFToyHeRzZYg97cjvLQIT2I7Aw/s640/WP_20161011_00_42_59_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-39172231043719948592016-10-09T19:44:00.000-07:002016-10-11T02:45:49.245-07:00MAIL Complete Gear List<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Mount Adams Infinity Loop</b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MMpoU0nn19BJDzjMB6riSI7jbByWVe9XKAivoLXNaxHADltot8uwbz6YLGxixhAhFahIG-iISlWagw8fdWtu3YFEKQRpDv0Bx3APFE4XNgvCWmuUqLuTpBKAjqlVjEryrkNtTWTnRg/s1600/Adams+Infinity+Loop+Pre-Gear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MMpoU0nn19BJDzjMB6riSI7jbByWVe9XKAivoLXNaxHADltot8uwbz6YLGxixhAhFahIG-iISlWagw8fdWtu3YFEKQRpDv0Bx3APFE4XNgvCWmuUqLuTpBKAjqlVjEryrkNtTWTnRg/s320/Adams+Infinity+Loop+Pre-Gear.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Complete Gear List</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>by Ras Vaughan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2016/10/mount-adams-infinity-loop-complete-only.html" target="_blank">Mount Adams Infinity Loop</a></b> was my second foray into the very rarified discipline which Gavin Woody has dubbed "ultraneering". The simplest definition of this would be something along the lines of, "A route of greater distance than a standard marathon which includes terrain which necessitates the use of mountaineering skills, methodology, and/or gear." As often happens, I found myself carrying a pack full of gear for a 56+ hour, 60 mile double summit traverse and circumnavigation of Mount Adams which was substantially smaller and lighter than those being worn by other climbers for a single summit bid. In saying this, I'm not judging the gear choices of others, simply presenting the juxtaposition of techniques. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What I was attempting, and what fascinates and exhilarates me, is the minimalist, fast and light, alpinist end of the spectrum, as evidenced by the list below. In putting together my kit for an adventure of this sort, I make every effort to avoid carrying things which serve only one purpose. Rather than carrying a number of very specific pieces of gear, I attempt to assemble an extremely flexible and versatile collection of tools and materials that can be configured many different ways to deal with any number of unforeseen circumstances.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since this project was solo and unsupported, I did end up carrying a couple pounds worth of batteries and chargers for the electronic equipment. Much of this would be unnecessary on a trip for the pure joy of it. I end up carrying extra gear such as a SPOT transponder and GoPro in order to document my efforts and to provide some degree of interactivity for friends, family, and the general public to follow along. This comes with being a public person and a sponsored athlete, as well as an FKT player.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>MOUNT ADAMS INFINITY LOOP COMPLETE GEAR LIST:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's a complete list of all the gear (non-food) I used:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nathan Journey Fastpack (preproduction test model)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nathan Insulated 750 ml bottles (qty 2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nathan 2 Liter Bladder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Altra NeoShell Lone Peak Mid High insulated, waterproof trail running shoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Altra Performance Half Zip Long Sleeve Shell </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Altra Everyday Shorts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Montbell synthetic puffy jacket</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Western Mountaineering Flash Pant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sugoi Insulated Running Tights</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Injinji Trail 2.0 midweight toe socks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Smartwool midweight socks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Smartwool Arm Warmers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seven Hills Running Shop shirt by Pearl Izumi</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kahtoola KTS Steel Crampons</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Julbo Glacier Glasses</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Outdoor Research Expedition gaiters</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black Diamond Polar Icon Headlamp</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black Diamond gloves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bluewater 48" webbing sling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Camp Corsa Aluminum Ice Axe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Needles 50k buff (gift from Kathy)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REI merino wool liner gloves (didn't use)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cheap Fleece camo hat bought in a mini mart years ago</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black Diamond Ultra Distance Carbon Z Poles</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Duct tape wrapped around each trekking pole, 6 feet x 2 = 12 feet total</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black Diamond Vapor Helmet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">SPOT Transponder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">REI ultralight 10 liter Drysack</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sony Walkman mp3 player</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Asio Altimeter watch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Garmin eTrex 20 gps</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">GoPro Hero3+ camera<br />Nokia Lumia 930 smartphone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">EC Technology Power Bank 3.7V/22400mAh/82.8Wh charger<br />Sony walkman 16gb mp3 player</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sea To Summit titanium spork</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ziplock screw top container for soaking dehydrated food<br />spare OR gaiter for use as a skidplate for seated glissades</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">550 paracord to rig above mentioned gaiter in place, 3 meters</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Energizer Ultimate Lithium AAA batteries (qty 6) for SPOT transponder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Duracell Quantum AA batteries (qty 14) for headlamp and gps</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">caffeine pills 200mg (qty 15) used 6</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ibuprofin pills 200mg (qty 24) used 12</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">numerous ziplock baggies</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Master Amino Acid Pattern supplement (10) used all 10, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> could have used 90 but didn't have the budget for it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MMpoU0nn19BJDzjMB6riSI7jbByWVe9XKAivoLXNaxHADltot8uwbz6YLGxixhAhFahIG-iISlWagw8fdWtu3YFEKQRpDv0Bx3APFE4XNgvCWmuUqLuTpBKAjqlVjEryrkNtTWTnRg/s1600/Adams+Infinity+Loop+Pre-Gear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MMpoU0nn19BJDzjMB6riSI7jbByWVe9XKAivoLXNaxHADltot8uwbz6YLGxixhAhFahIG-iISlWagw8fdWtu3YFEKQRpDv0Bx3APFE4XNgvCWmuUqLuTpBKAjqlVjEryrkNtTWTnRg/s640/Adams+Infinity+Loop+Pre-Gear.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-11386568694477306122016-10-09T18:39:00.002-07:002016-10-10T19:20:19.100-07:00Mount Adams Infinity Loop COMPLETE - Only Known Time<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mount Adams Infinity Loop Completed</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Only Known Time of 56 hours and 20 minutes</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Solo, Unsupported</span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>A Combined Double Summit Traverse And </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Circumambulation Of Mount Adams<br /><br />Official Start Time - 12:02 PM Saturday, September 24, 2016</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Official Finish Time - 08:22 PM Monday, September 26, 2016<br /><br />Total Distance measured by Garmin eTrex 20 - 60.01 Miles</b></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OEKoqza17zg39zhTpFyZZylAg-vWObAYJE_-0lo61A1KRkAdl6c1mw2G0S1JZxFBczFj1fEYVUWbWcmE9tWs_Cyy1R6dqcrZCYVJ53zDL9EconlVCjRKSM4tXCWhHttjcLagnbODOw/s1600/G0070450_Ras_Headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Gavin Woody / Ultraneering.com" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OEKoqza17zg39zhTpFyZZylAg-vWObAYJE_-0lo61A1KRkAdl6c1mw2G0S1JZxFBczFj1fEYVUWbWcmE9tWs_Cyy1R6dqcrZCYVJ53zDL9EconlVCjRKSM4tXCWhHttjcLagnbODOw/s320/G0070450_Ras_Headshot.jpg" title="photo by Gavin Woody / Ultraneering.com" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>by Ras Vaughan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At 12:02 PM on </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Saturday, September 24th, 2016, I began at the intersection of the Killen Creek Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the High Camp Trail on the north side of Mount Adams. This was a three mile approach from my car, so I did not plan on resupplying in between loops, as this would add a six mile out and back. Therefore, the entire Mount Adams Infinity Loop was unsupported. I didn't place any resupply caches or forage or accept trail magic, I carried all my food and gear from the very beginning to the very end, didn't drop off any trash, and I only refilled my water from natural sources.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had never before set foot on either the North Cleaver or the South Spur routes, but I had lots of route beta from SummitPost.org and other sources. The Class 2 scramble up the North Cleaver was fun and interesting and only got challenging when I accidentally veered off the proper route momentarily. I saw three or four other climbers descending as I was ascending.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Summit Number One, 7:00 PM </b>was very cold and wet due to very high (50+ mph) winds and low clouds enclosing the summit. It was too cold and wet and inhospitable to stop for any reason, be it eating or taking pictures. It was growing dark as I traversed the summit. I was the only person on the summit as the sun began to set, and, consequently, the last person down that day. Once I reached the summit I had a GPS track to follow down the South Spur, although this was unnecessary because of the easy to follow boot track and glissade chutes. I hiked and ran through the night, napping briefly at random intervals. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I completed the first loop and reached the start/finish Killen Creek/PCT/High Camp Trail intersection at 8:00 AM on Sunday, September 25th. I changed out to my daytime layer, repacked my kit, and began my second assent a little before 9:00 AM. The second climb up the North Cleaver was sunny and warm and uneventful. I saw no other climbers during my ascent, and was frequently following my own footprint from the day before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYcw8in4MOfbr9bMYuldEqfWk0u7p5LI9HWSDqXTZClyZ2iLW3IKh9kjuTLbKVzT7j7btvC0D-3FOYSX0tRwS5BpMMx7cDrWuDM8DnNg6Uax5f8J3IdcROvWFK8DASTvkeLchxkVkBQ/s1600/MAIL+SPOT+track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="graphic by Ras/UltraPedestrian" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYcw8in4MOfbr9bMYuldEqfWk0u7p5LI9HWSDqXTZClyZ2iLW3IKh9kjuTLbKVzT7j7btvC0D-3FOYSX0tRwS5BpMMx7cDrWuDM8DnNg6Uax5f8J3IdcROvWFK8DASTvkeLchxkVkBQ/s640/MAIL+SPOT+track.jpg" title="graphic by Ras/UltraPedestrian" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><b>Summit Number Two, 6:15 PM</b> was much sunnier, far less windy, and triumphant in sentiment. It was much more tolerable, so I was able to shoot a short video and take a few photos. Again I was the only person on the summit, and the last person down that day. A surprising amount of snow had melted since the previous evening, leaving the uppermost slopes bare rock. However, I was still able to glissade for about 2,500 feet of the descent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once I reached the Round The Mountain Trail I turned East for a mile or so, and then found a spot to lay down and nap for a couple of hours. I started moving again around 3:30 AM on Monday, September 26th.<br /><br /><b>Bushwhacking & Route Finding Across The Gap</b> was more fun than I had expected, and easier on a technical level. However it was slow going, and for long sections I was only making a mile or so per hour. I saw a large Black Bear in the Hellroaring basin just after sun up. The next basin north was even slower going, sidehilling across scree and moraine. The creek crossings were easier than I had expected, until I came to the Big Muddy. I got stuck here for more than an hour hiking up and down the creek trying to find a safe rock hop to get to the other side. I eventually succeeded, and after another short bushwhack connected with the Highline Trail, putting the end in sight, figuratively. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I reached the intersection of the Killen Creek Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the High Camp Trail for the third time at </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">08:22 PM on Monday, September 26, 2016, to establish an official <b>Only Known Time</b> of <b>56 hours</b> and <b>20 minutes</b> for the <b>Mount Adams Infinity Loop</b>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXopC5ao2qSzEGWv2q1K6FXRiR0-RQrvr5GrKo2Ek4ROwuviFGbcnD6pG0zBRH69iAAgBVwfBb96vJhkS8nzwPOrRv-dfV5G4c31eN5L7l2DhlbDesmIYgi3V6pjsphWKV1aEhWfDTWw/s1600/2nd+Summit+Jump.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXopC5ao2qSzEGWv2q1K6FXRiR0-RQrvr5GrKo2Ek4ROwuviFGbcnD6pG0zBRH69iAAgBVwfBb96vJhkS8nzwPOrRv-dfV5G4c31eN5L7l2DhlbDesmIYgi3V6pjsphWKV1aEhWfDTWw/s640/2nd+Summit+Jump.JPG" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Summit Number Two, self-portrait.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Facebook/Instagram Updates from the trail during the Mount Adams Infinity Loop:</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="586" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJahsonItes%2Fposts%2F1103386726364858&width=500" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="491" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJahsonItes%2Fposts%2F1104165156287015&width=500" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="529" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJahsonItes%2Fposts%2F1105448829491981&width=500" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><b><br /></b></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><b>What a Blessing to be a Hominid! Give Thanks for Life!</b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><b><br /></b></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><b><br /></b></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>
</b></span>Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-12529286939955529332016-09-23T14:50:00.002-07:002016-09-23T14:50:45.300-07:00Mount Adams Infinity Loop OKT Attempt<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mount Adams Infinity Loop</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Only Known Time Attempt</span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A Combined Double Summit Traverse And </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Circumambulation Of Mount Adams</b></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OEKoqza17zg39zhTpFyZZylAg-vWObAYJE_-0lo61A1KRkAdl6c1mw2G0S1JZxFBczFj1fEYVUWbWcmE9tWs_Cyy1R6dqcrZCYVJ53zDL9EconlVCjRKSM4tXCWhHttjcLagnbODOw/s1600/G0070450_Ras_Headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Gavin Woody / Ultraneering.com" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OEKoqza17zg39zhTpFyZZylAg-vWObAYJE_-0lo61A1KRkAdl6c1mw2G0S1JZxFBczFj1fEYVUWbWcmE9tWs_Cyy1R6dqcrZCYVJ53zDL9EconlVCjRKSM4tXCWhHttjcLagnbODOw/s320/G0070450_Ras_Headshot.jpg" title="photo by Gavin Woody / Ultraneering.com" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>by Ras Vaughan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">My only experience of Mount Adams is sleeping high on its shoulder along the PCT during the final night of my <b><a href="https://www.trailrunnermag.com/component/content/article/1425-ultrapedestrian-ras-completes-unsupported-crossing-of-washington" target="_blank">Unsupported Washington Traverse</a></b> two years ago. Beginning the morning of Saturday, September 24th I hope to get to know Mount Adams much better by attempting the Mount Adams Infinity Loop, accruing approximately 50 miles and 20,000+ feet of elevation gain in the process. As of this moment, there seems to be a weather window for Saturday through Tuesday, but with some high winds on the summit Saturday; so decent conditions, but less than perfect, as is to be expected, and success is far from guaranteed. This project presents a lot of questions marks, and I'm excited about answering a few of them, regardless of how it plays out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Intended Route And Methodology</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the morning of Saturday, September 24th, 2016, I will begin at the intersection of the Pacific Crest Trail and the High Camp Trail on the north side of Mount Adams. I will climb the North Cleaver, traverse the summit, descend the South Spur, and run and hike around the base of the mountain <i>clockwise</i> on the PCT back to my starting point. I will then once again climb the North Cleaver, traverse the summit, descend the South Spur, and then run and hike around the base of the mountain <i>counterclockwise</i> back to my starting point by linking together the Round The Mountain Trail, Bird Meadow Trail, Trail Of The Flowers, bushwacking The Gap, and finally the Highline Trail back to the PCT and my starting point. I plan to travel solo and unsupported, carrying all of my food and gear from start to finish, picking up no resupplies or caches, and only taking water from natural sources. The bushwack section is a big wildcard as far as guesstimating time goals. I would be very happy with a 48 hour finish, but expect it may be more in the 60 hour range, especially if I hit The Gap during the night and need to wait until daylight to aid in route finding. Although not on the same scale as Mount Rainier, this is another project that will be a blend of fastpacking, ultrarunning, and some light mountaineering; a mixed discipline which Gavin has dubbed Ultraneering.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>History Of The Infinity Loop Paradigm</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In researching and preparing for my 2015 Cowlitz Connection project with Richard Kresser (detailed <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-cowlitz-connection-route.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.trailrunnermag.com/component/content/article/120-adventure/1847-a-new-qoktq-route-on-rainier" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>, and <b><a href="http://www.runningfarther.com/2015/07/16/you-aint-failing-you-aint-trying/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>), I learned of a dream project of legendary climber Chad Kellogg which he was never able to attempt due to his untimely passing in a climbing accident on Mount Fitz Roy. He called it the Infinity Loop. The idea was to traverse the summit of Mount Rainier, run the Wonderland trail back to the starting point in one direction, traverse the summit again, and then run the Wonderland the opposite direction back to the starting point, thus tracing a figure eight, or an infinity sign. This past July, Gavin Woody and I had the honor of bringing Chad's vision to life and completing the Mount Rainier Infinity Loop (detailed <b><a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/outdoors/article99397247.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.mountaineers.org/blog/rainier-adventure-achieved-and-a-matching-gift-challenge" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>, <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2016/07/complete-gear-list-mount-rainier.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>, and <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2016/08/mril-caloric-burn-versus-intake.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>). The Infinity Loop helped me achieve a long sought after goal regarding Mount Rainier: having as complete an experience of the Mountain as possible in a single effort. The Mount Adams Infinity Loop is an experiment to see how well that approach translates to another of the Pacific Northwest's iconic volcanoes.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>How To Follow Along</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My progress can be tracked on my SPOT transponder beginning sometime on the morning of Saturday, September 24th, 2016:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0tkL8TsPPZ0FdFCek5itYbKZGMHtEMiQv" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>SPOT Transponder Tracking Page</b></span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the rare occasions when I have cell reception I will post updates to Facebook and Instagram:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JahsonItes" target="_blank"><b>Ras' Facebook</b></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ultrapedestrian/" target="_blank">Ras' Instagram</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What an amazing time to be Alive! What a Blessing to be a Hominid!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NG0tR6xESQ-g8EitbHqWLik0Imoq-8qET7slrzFnu1GZGq1DxhhTg4xz_PoSxysEPtsJ9oN7m-X4WtuM7fypCf-yjuAYotquQylXpIbv3YgEBB2t9o5icitx08bYCEO9OFcY2GAPXA/s1600/Adams+Infinity+Loop+Pre-Gear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NG0tR6xESQ-g8EitbHqWLik0Imoq-8qET7slrzFnu1GZGq1DxhhTg4xz_PoSxysEPtsJ9oN7m-X4WtuM7fypCf-yjuAYotquQylXpIbv3YgEBB2t9o5icitx08bYCEO9OFcY2GAPXA/s640/Adams+Infinity+Loop+Pre-Gear.jpg" title="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-4301201913522615312016-08-09T08:16:00.003-07:002016-08-09T09:03:47.807-07:00Mount Rainier Infinity Loop - Caloric Burn Versus Intake<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Complete Caloric Burn versus Intake</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAq1a4w7iL2lJr7NOJz0J8eM2I3Q515SmbQdBGEtuL9rc6Eh1xelLGmAzgn54OF5ibtsIAhwI1hLpeLGnbqrz1LnsiIVc1-TPyKogd84QtGfQb-A45oj5yWUkoGtPVHiREdMH5bJeUvA/s1600/WP_20160806_15_35_21_Pro__highres_calories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAq1a4w7iL2lJr7NOJz0J8eM2I3Q515SmbQdBGEtuL9rc6Eh1xelLGmAzgn54OF5ibtsIAhwI1hLpeLGnbqrz1LnsiIVc1-TPyKogd84QtGfQb-A45oj5yWUkoGtPVHiREdMH5bJeUvA/s400/WP_20160806_15_35_21_Pro__highres_calories.jpg" title="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Mount Rainier Infinity Loop</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Our Parks/Your Adventure Fundraiser for The Mountaineers Youth Programs - </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Ras Vaughan and Gavin Woody</b></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>by Ras Vaughan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">RAS' COMPLETE CALORIE LIST FOR MOUNT RAINIER INFINITY
LOOP:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Trail Calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Honey Stinger Waffles 10 x 150 = 1,500
calories <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Picky Bars Smooth Caffeinator 4 x 200
= 800 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Trail Butter Expedition Espresso 5 x
760 = 3,800 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pringles Tangy Buffalo Wing 3 x 900 =
2,700 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Instant Korean Ginsing Tea 9 x 10 =
90 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Peanut Butter Crackers packet 3 x 200
= 600 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Granola Bar 1 x 190 = 190 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Honey Stinger Cherry Cola Energy
Chews 5 x 160 = 800 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Honey Stinger Juneberry Protein Chews
1 x 150 = 150 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kim Chee flavored Dried Seaweed
Snacks 1 x 30 = 30 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Instant Oatmeal Packets calories 5 x
170 = 850 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Honey Stinger Peanut Butter &
Jelly bar 1 x 170 = 170 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Honey Stinger Cran-Apple &
Walnuts bar 1 x 150 = 150 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Honey Stinger Nuts, Seeds, &
Roasted Serrano bar 1 x 200 = 200 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-----------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">12,030 total calories on trail<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Calories at Resupply</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
Soon Vegetarian Noodle Soup 180 x 4 = 720<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stir-Fry vegetable mix 100 x 1 = 100<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Energy drink 180 x 2 = 360<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">----------------- <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1,180 total calories at resupply<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Total calories consumed during Rainier Infinity Loop<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">12,030 total calories on trail<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1,180 total calories at resupply<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">----------------- <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">13,210 total calories consumed <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Caloric needs for Rainier Infinity Loop<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">120 miles x 100 calories per mile =
12,000 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">40,000 feet elevation gain x 100
calories per 1,000 feet of gain = 4,000 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2,000 daily baseline metabolic
calories x 4days = 8,000 calories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">----------------- <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">24,000 total calories burned<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Overall Caloric Burn Versus Intake for Rainier Infinity
Loop<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">24,000 total calories burned<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">13,210 total calories consumed <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">----------------- <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">10,790 calories total caloric debt
accrued – iViva fat fueling!</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV8GwlLGuuB1iz54iJ8Itkkca41tKJuJdIeprypVhi36cD2Hdqofkd81HAZt5_ak5XPBboa-On2OTyJ5WX4IC_-eFH2mBfGEP9wH8LgpwTZl2o21Gd_sPVV73lz5dAQ2cXUhjAh9Rzw/s1600/WP_20160806_15_35_21_Pro__highres_calories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV8GwlLGuuB1iz54iJ8Itkkca41tKJuJdIeprypVhi36cD2Hdqofkd81HAZt5_ak5XPBboa-On2OTyJ5WX4IC_-eFH2mBfGEP9wH8LgpwTZl2o21Gd_sPVV73lz5dAQ2cXUhjAh9Rzw/s640/WP_20160806_15_35_21_Pro__highres_calories.jpg" title="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;">We hope to use this project to inspire future generations of climbers, runners, thru-hikers, fastpackers, backpackers, and adventurers of all stripes by helping raise money for The Mountaineers Youth Programs by means of the </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://mountaineers-2691.wedid.it/502" target="_blank">Our Parks / Your Adventure</a></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"> initiative. Please </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://mountaineers-2691.wedid.it/502" target="_blank">click here</a></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"> to learn more about the program and to donate. Whether you give $10 or $5,000 your donation will help introduce deserving young people to the fulfillment and enrichment of outdoor adventure, essentially helping to reintroduce them to their natural habitat.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8QzG9ISkKTCUS30Twmv8BWmNOg6CSOxvwepw3FJjq2gF6xQPZA2Niv95U765js3PmCgptaCWiHfsV1EcDHh9UZ_VjK0N4UocMTqrNw7HFIKKIFFsmJhoukG1WPbDUuNCuvSQBB3rGg/s1600/WP_20160727_20_13_11_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8QzG9ISkKTCUS30Twmv8BWmNOg6CSOxvwepw3FJjq2gF6xQPZA2Niv95U765js3PmCgptaCWiHfsV1EcDHh9UZ_VjK0N4UocMTqrNw7HFIKKIFFsmJhoukG1WPbDUuNCuvSQBB3rGg/s640/WP_20160727_20_13_11_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-14000288576862830942016-07-30T15:50:00.001-07:002016-10-09T18:59:23.326-07:00Complete Gear List Infinity Loop<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><script></b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({</b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> google_ad_client: "ca-pub-7007044302923839",</b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> enable_page_level_ads: true</b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> });</b></font></p>
<p>
<font data-blogger-escaped-style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><font data-blogger-escaped-style="font-size: x-large;" face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"></font></b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b></script></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Complete Gear List</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnjGq5__YxF6TASSw940lPmNc-hXw6OhyKownLNnmC9QWEUiMFL7wUMoge02PMMePwXoHnbSVglpSPO7f34-4tMCyhwxXeHXq8Nep3BAjzecnzmJh7fBvJqH2pFHzXlH6OYI5elbP7g/s1600/gear+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnjGq5__YxF6TASSw940lPmNc-hXw6OhyKownLNnmC9QWEUiMFL7wUMoge02PMMePwXoHnbSVglpSPO7f34-4tMCyhwxXeHXq8Nep3BAjzecnzmJh7fBvJqH2pFHzXlH6OYI5elbP7g/s320/gear+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Mount Rainier Infinity Loop</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Our Parks/Your Adventure Fundraiser for The Mountaineers Youth Programs - </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Ras Vaughan and Gavin Woody</b></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>by Ras Vaughan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>COMPLETE GEAR LIST FOR MOUNT RAINIER INFINITY LOOP:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the challenges I enjoy about hard to define multi-disciplinary adventures is gearing up and kitting out. Especially when there is a serious mountaineering element combined with high-mileage travel it's of the utmost importance to carry a minimal kit which is flexible enough to do everything you need it to do. On the Rainier Infinity Loop I was very happy with how this played out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Loop #1 starting pack weight: 24 lbs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Loop #2 starting pack weight: 20 lbs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ending pack weight: 15 lbs</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's a complete list of all the gear (non-food) I used:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nathan Journey Fastpack (preproduction test model)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nathan Insulated 750 ml bottles (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nathan 2 Liter Bladder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Altra NeoShell Lone Peak insulated, waterproof trail running shoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Altra Performance Half Zip Long Sleeve Shell </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Altra Racer Shorts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Altra Running Ambassador Shirt (1st loop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Montbell synthetic puffy jacket</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Western Mountaineering Flash Pant (didn't use)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sugoi Insulated Running Tights</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Injinji Trail 2.0 midweight toe socks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Smartwool midweight socks (2nd loop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Smartwool Arm Warmers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Darn Tough wool socks (1st loop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seven Hills Running Shop shirt by Pearl Izumi (2nd loop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kahtoola KTS Steel Crampons</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Julbo Glacier Glasses</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Outdoor Research Expedition gaiters</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black Diamond Polar Icon Headlamp</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black Diamond gloves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black Diamond Coulior Climbing Harness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">DMM Big BOA Locking Carabiner (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">DMM Revolver Locking Carabiner (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">DMM Shadow Carabiner (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Metolius Prussiks (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Metolius 24" webbing sling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bluewater 48" webbing sling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Camp Corsa Aluminum Ice Axe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Northwest Endurance Events buff</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">UltraPedestrian fleece beanie (didn't use)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REI merino wool liner gloves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cheap Fleece camo hat bought in a mini mart years ago</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Six Moons Designs Gatewood Cape, dropped at car after 1st loop</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Trail Butter "Be Trail Ready" trucker cap</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not Pictured:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black Diamond Ultra Distance Carbon Z Poles</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black Diamond Vapor Helmet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">SPOT Transponder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sony Walkman mp3 player</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Asio Altimeter watch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">BRS-3000T stove</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Toaks 750ml titanium pot</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We hope to use this project to inspire future generations of climbers, runners, thru-hikers, fastpackers, backpackers, and adventurers of all stripes by helping raise money for The Mountaineers Youth Programs by means of the </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://mountaineers-2691.wedid.it/502" target="_blank">Our Parks / Your Adventure</a></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> initiative. Please </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://mountaineers-2691.wedid.it/502" target="_blank">click here</a></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to learn more about the program and to donate. Whether you give $10 or $5,000 your donation will help introduce deserving young people to the fulfillment and enrichment of outdoor adventure, essentially helping to reintroduce them to their natural habitat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUM5HRZx5YZbGajSIiwXZDz7RR9XKeJd7ivL1QrlbVtvzgkmnplt-S7rg0zzPsMaNDNNJ8CEz3k8i3vq9qXNCMqYEGFyeHsQpc4C7S659GBMQtqtho2W5g0UOqPhyphenhyphen3dMXdL0P5fmWww/s1600/gear+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUM5HRZx5YZbGajSIiwXZDz7RR9XKeJd7ivL1QrlbVtvzgkmnplt-S7rg0zzPsMaNDNNJ8CEz3k8i3vq9qXNCMqYEGFyeHsQpc4C7S659GBMQtqtho2W5g0UOqPhyphenhyphen3dMXdL0P5fmWww/s640/gear+photo.jpg" title="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-55265311626409013532016-07-30T14:56:00.000-07:002016-10-04T17:33:26.904-07:00Rainier Infinity Loop Completed<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mount Rainier Infinity Loop Completed</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Only Known Time of 99 hours 7 minutes</span></b></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Our Parks/Your Adventure Fundraiser for The Mountaineers Youth Programs - </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Ras Vaughan and Gavin Woody</b></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6VUe6UInhA17pAiFBMtGUd9pRkxWso5d7ipFHDA3_fwyVwF-S7sistLlEmz5PwB8OuZaubpL_HQ_4Pa3KmlcNg0GlADOJKUijOjjoVYuSxPrwm4EoV0HP54w8KZcbVnhe0aMTQrOdA/s1600/Infinity+Loop+finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6VUe6UInhA17pAiFBMtGUd9pRkxWso5d7ipFHDA3_fwyVwF-S7sistLlEmz5PwB8OuZaubpL_HQ_4Pa3KmlcNg0GlADOJKUijOjjoVYuSxPrwm4EoV0HP54w8KZcbVnhe0aMTQrOdA/s320/Infinity+Loop+finish.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>by Ras Vaughan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">THE MOUNT RAINIER INFINITY LOOP IS IN THE BOOKS, and it is an amazing honor to be a part if it. Gavin Woody and I put up an official time of 99 hours and 7 minutes, sneaking it in under the three digit mark by less than an hour. We ran two unsupported loops traversing the summit of Mount Rainier twice, one clockwise and one counterclockwise, resupplying at our cars at the midway point in Paradise. We got all of our water, other that what we took from our cars at the beginning and middle, from natural sources and did not drop off any of our gear or garbage except at our cars. So, for all my beloved Adventure Dorks out there, technically it was a self-supported project comprised of two unsupported loops. And for the record, I did forage some berries along the route.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An Armchair Alpinist long before I ever touched an ice axe, I've been strongly influenced in my approach to adventure by the values of climbers such as Chad Kellogg (who designed the Rainier Infinity Loop). "Fast and Light", "sustainable pace", "fair means", and "good style" are all precepts I hold dear, and they are all paradigms I have applied to fastpacking, thru-hiking and adventure running, but that had their origins in Alpinism. I was especially Blessed over the last four days to do my best to apply these values to a dream route of Chad's that he was never able to attempt. I'm certain it would have looked a bit different done by him. There were a few specifics that I didn't know about his vision of the Infinity Loop and Gavin and I made a couple small choices that are ours alone. But our goal was to complete it in a fashion that would honor and propagate the inspiration we took from Chad's life and adventures, and I feel we did that to the best of our abilities. May the circle of inspiration spiral ever onward into the endlessly amazing possibilities of future generations of adventurers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was also quite blessed to have the opportunity to do this project with Gavin. There are not as many people as you might think who really understand the beauty and the simple purity of carrying an ice axe, crampons, harness and other assorted climbing kit esoterica for 93+ miles simply in order to have them when you need them for twenty-ish miles of actual mountaineering. But Gavin not only understands it, he feels it, it resonates for him. This project would not have been possible without him, and it was a blessing getting to stumble around Rainier with him punch-drunk with adrenaline and sleep deprivation. Hopefully we'll come up with something else crazy and beautiful to attempt together in the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'll post more details and a trip report over the coming days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We hope to use this project to inspire future generations of climbers, runners, thru-hikers, fastpackers, backpackers, and adventurers of all stripes by helping raise money for The Mountaineers Youth Programs by means of the <b><a href="https://mountaineers-2691.wedid.it/502" target="_blank">Our Parks / Your Adventure</a></b> initiative. Please <b><a href="https://mountaineers-2691.wedid.it/502" target="_blank">click here</a></b> to learn more about the program and to donate. Whether you give $10 or $5,000 your donation will help introduce deserving young people to the fulfillment and enrichment of outdoor adventure, essentially helping to reintroduce them to their natural habitat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What a Blessing to be a Hominid! Give Thanks for Life!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifh5ft2S2IM8218_FtkZmFBI8iO84NT_rKAMs7q5I37lbMuGS9H6-o2MbDfFyHfH8wwkLwVHDUkR0wvTBd50PWVxDEK7aVzhyxg2oAPG0mx_gY-UoPyCVWKaCsS_6ORVR1nryLoVFs9w/s1600/gavin+emmons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifh5ft2S2IM8218_FtkZmFBI8iO84NT_rKAMs7q5I37lbMuGS9H6-o2MbDfFyHfH8wwkLwVHDUkR0wvTBd50PWVxDEK7aVzhyxg2oAPG0mx_gY-UoPyCVWKaCsS_6ORVR1nryLoVFs9w/s640/gavin+emmons.jpg" title="photo by Ras / UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-57359119212907426132016-07-22T00:06:00.000-07:002016-12-23T02:55:16.198-08:00Rainier Infinity Loop<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><script></b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({</b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> google_ad_client: "ca-pub-7007044302923839",</b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> enable_page_level_ads: true</b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> });</b></font></p>
<p>
<font data-blogger-escaped-style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><font data-blogger-escaped-style="font-size: x-large;" face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"></font></b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b></script></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mount Rainier Infinity Loop</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Only Known Time* Attempt</span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRuCpf0pFw5cjICB-ckhUiL_-c-i6DsKDkKFJlM5WnBR-jbYc3WavgVByMUhdu0lGLWecXuHvN5xNS7THvkQ399Q4O5sd_bkRHvyc5ai5D-wbEd5C7nrOvjYBimDmSdeQKpdzHCYxeQ/s1600/RIF_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRuCpf0pFw5cjICB-ckhUiL_-c-i6DsKDkKFJlM5WnBR-jbYc3WavgVByMUhdu0lGLWecXuHvN5xNS7THvkQ399Q4O5sd_bkRHvyc5ai5D-wbEd5C7nrOvjYBimDmSdeQKpdzHCYxeQ/s320/RIF_logo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Our Parks/Your Adventure Fundraiser for The Mountaineers Youth Programs - </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Ras Vaughan and Gavin Woody</b></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQxiLaGR38O-Gkh7qEO37Tlcf03l8Z5v-kG0qUvJhLn3WUhkghKp48Fwr43auxEfi-fLlpBP79ZnyGE9jIWgqwcyrwZInvDXtgBq1Y0WaA_lqjk3FGrGXgWHdWaCxI84BRCQWHXYE6A/s1600/WP_20160710_14_25_49_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQxiLaGR38O-Gkh7qEO37Tlcf03l8Z5v-kG0qUvJhLn3WUhkghKp48Fwr43auxEfi-fLlpBP79ZnyGE9jIWgqwcyrwZInvDXtgBq1Y0WaA_lqjk3FGrGXgWHdWaCxI84BRCQWHXYE6A/s320/WP_20160710_14_25_49_Pro.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>by Ras Vaughan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rainier is the mountain that made me the man I am. I find myself constantly drawn back to simply invest time there, to delve within myself, and to try yet again to experience The Mountain as completely as possible. This recurring drive is what has led me to complete the Wonderland Trail ten times (detailed <a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2012/09/double-wonderland-reversing-ambition.html" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> and <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2012/09/double-wonderland-reversing-ambition_18.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>), including a Double Wonderland (detailed <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2012/09/double-wonderland-reversing.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>), and 2015’s Cowlitz Connection project with Richard Kresser (detailed <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-cowlitz-connection-route.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.trailrunnermag.com/component/content/article/120-adventure/1847-a-new-qoktq-route-on-rainier" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>, and <b><a href="http://www.runningfarther.com/2015/07/16/you-aint-failing-you-aint-trying/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In researching and preparing for the Cowlitz Connection, I learned of a dream project of legendary climber Chad Kellogg which he was never able to attempt due to his untimely passing in a climbing accident on Mount Fitz Roy. He called it the Infinity Loop. The idea was to traverse the summit, run the Wonderland trail back to the starting point in one direction, traverse the summit again, and then run the Wonderland the opposite direction back to the starting point, thus tracing a figure eight, or an infinity sign. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was gobsmacked the first time I heard this route described. Everything about it sounded huge and simple and elegant, and so far out of my league as to be laughable. But it became one of those ideas that my mind refuses to let go of once gotten ahold of. It became my go to thought whenever my mind wasn’t actively engaged in something else. Whether I thought I was capable of attempting this route or not, my brain was already making plans to do so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Rainier Infinity Loop inhabits the extremely nichey grey area that I find so fascinating, somewhere in between mountaineering, fastpacking, thru-hiking, and ultrarunning. Ultramountainpacking? Fast-hikaineering? Such potential descriptions are far too clunky and awkward to express what to me is a very simple and elegant idea: covering long distances in beautiful and challenging places by fair means and in good style. For the record, I’m not claiming to have ever achieved this, merely to be actively pursuing the goal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Routes such as the Mount Rainier Infinity Loop have a beauty and elegance to me that equal that of the Expressionist masters. I experience it as a something akin to a symphony, an idea that sends my heart and mind soaring and can bring a spike of adrenaline and the sound of blood rushing in my ears simply by calling it to mind. Learning of this beautiful and crazy route, fully conceived but left on the table incomplete, could be compared to finding a color-by-numbers canvass left behind by Monet. It’s an opportunity to play a part in the realization of a grand idea, something otherwise beyond my ken and conception. Attempting to make the Rainier Infinity Loop a reality is an honor of which I am unworthy, and an opportunity impossible to pass up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On Saturday, July 23rd, 2016, around 4:00 pm Gavin Woody and I will begin our attempt to color in the masterpiece Chad Kellogg sketched out in his mind, a unique approach to experiencing The Mountain by a man with a singular understanding of that mountain. Gavin and I will depart Paradise, climb Disappointment Cleaver, descend the Emmons Glacier and Inter Glacier, run the Wonderland Trail clockwise back to Paradise. There we will rest briefly and resupply. We will then again climb Disappointment Cleaver, descend the Emmons Glacier and Inter Glacier, and then run the Wonderland counterclockwise to Paradise once again. Each of the two loops will be unsupported, carrying all of our gear, food, and trash from beginning to end, and only taking water from natural sources. Seventy-two hours would be a great performance for me on this project, but I suspect it will take more in the ninety-six hour range.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our progress can be tracked on our SPOT transponder beginning around 4:00 pm on Saturday, July 23rd, 2016:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0tkL8TsPPZ0FdFCek5itYbKZGMHtEMiQv" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>SPOT Transponder Tracking Page</b></span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the rare occasions when we have cell reception we will post updates to our Facebook and Instagram profiles:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JahsonItes" target="_blank"><b>Ras' Facebook</b></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ultrapedestrian/" target="_blank"><b>Ras' Instagram</b></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/gavin.woody" target="_blank"><b>Gavin's Facebook</b></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/gavinwoody/" target="_blank">Gavin's Instagram</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our <b>Mount Rainier Infinity Loop</b> attempt is meant to be a celebration of the amazing and extraordinary things that Human Beings are capable of. Gavin and I are drawing our inspiration from the life and adventures of Chad Kellogg, and hope to send that energy and inspiration reverberating out into the world to inspire others as it has us. And we also hope to use this project to inspire future generations of climbers, runners, thru-hikers, fastpackers, backpackers, and adventurers of all stripes by helping raise money for The Mountaineers Youth Programs by means of the <b><a href="https://mountaineers-2691.wedid.it/502" target="_blank">Our Parks / Your Adventure</a></b> initiative. Please <a href="https://mountaineers-2691.wedid.it/502" target="_blank"><b>click here</b></a> to learn more about the program and to donate. Whether you give $10 or $5,000 your donation will help introduce deserving young people to the fulfillment and enrichment of outdoor adventure, essentially helping to reintroduce them to their natural habitat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What a Blessing to be Alive! Give Thanks for Life!<br /><br /><b>* Footnote:</b> According to some MRNP Climbing Rangers there is a local climber who completed the Infinity Loop a couple of years ago. It was done as a project of personal accomplishment with no announcement of intent, no live tracking or transparency, no trip report, and no time posted or made public. I have the utmost respect for efforts of this sort and am not trying to detract from it at all. However, Gavin and I are playing the FKT/OKT game according to the established rules: declaring our intentions, posting tracking links, opening ourselves up to public scrutiny, and establishing a time for others to challenge in the future. Since baseball is popular, I'll use a baseball analogy. A pitcher might be able to throw the world's fastest pitch under perfect conditions outside of a game. That would be a matter of great pride and personal accomplishment. However, it would not be the same as throwing the world's fastest pitch against a batter and in front of a crowd. The pitcher throwing in perfect conditions has accomplished something impressive, but is not actually playing the game. Our Rainier Infinity Loop OKT attempt is being made according to the established methodologies of Peter Bakwin's Fastest Known Time website. We are playing the game.</span><br />
<br />Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-80422882345067535342016-07-20T07:48:00.001-07:002016-12-21T19:32:56.642-08:00Dharma Bumming Double Desolation<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><script></b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({</b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> google_ad_client: "ca-pub-7007044302923839",</b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> enable_page_level_ads: true</b></font></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b> });</b></font></p>
<p>
<b><font data-blogger-escaped-style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"></font></b></p>
<p>
<font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><b></script></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Dharma Bumming the Double Desolation Route</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xY6iimh_uGObZojm-4EHyQrrcoLFiOzClYBPQk8cMGJv1OHOZJelA5hfa8_IArjFmZlarQDGnuOWR7Ka1ZF6ZqsUizMFeZMOiLX096Fcbsh8SwqkutmpjITW_98enO6shewINBWEMg/s1600/DSC05017SELFIE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xY6iimh_uGObZojm-4EHyQrrcoLFiOzClYBPQk8cMGJv1OHOZJelA5hfa8_IArjFmZlarQDGnuOWR7Ka1ZF6ZqsUizMFeZMOiLX096Fcbsh8SwqkutmpjITW_98enO6shewINBWEMg/s1600/DSC05017SELFIE.JPG" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kathy Vaughan & Lisa Eversgerd</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">By Kathy Vaughan</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Once the restriction of running only during daylight hours is a concept of the past, an adventure can begin at any time of the day or night. My adventure partner Lisa and I discovered this when we completed the Methow Trails 200k Nordic Ski Challenge, the first people to take it on in one push. We set out on a cold, starlit night at 11:00 p.m. to begin the ski challenge. We skied day and night to complete 217k of trail, sleeping in Lisa’s pop-up camper at the trailheads as needed for breaks. We had run and hiked together before, overnight, napping trailside when we started falling asleep on our feet. Staggering around like drunks becomes dangerous on certain types of trail. We usually choose rugged, remote trails, sometimes with precipitous drops to one side. So we have learned to grab sleep as needed in order to complete long endurance efforts together, and to begin them when it best works out for our busy schedules.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lisa works as an organic farmer and soap maker at her home in the Okanogan Highlands community of Chesaw. Ras and I own a cabin with a creek and five acres in Chesaw as well. She and I met at an arts and craft bazaar in Molson, another tiny community. We hit it off when we were on a Rendezvous Huts ski trip on the Methow Trails five or so years ago. We wanted to ski longer and later into the night than the other ladies we were sharing the hut with, and so we did.We then began skiing and ultrarunning together as often as we could. Now that Ras and I have moved across the Cascade Mountains to Whidbey Island in-between long thru-hikes, it’s slightly more complicated for Lisa and I to hit the trails together. Our last run was on the Kettle Crest Trail, 20 miles including a climb up Colombia Mountain. We got into some freak June snow and colder temperatures on that run. We started at 3:30 in the morning in order to have time to complete the route during the short weekend trip. Ras and I had come over to Chesaw to finish up some unfinished moving business. We needed to be done by noon for our long drive home, so Lisa and I started before light, allowing us to be treated to both the moon still bright in the sky and the sunrise. These trips and other had enabled us to be prepared to begin an adventure at any time of the day or night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now at 7:30 p.m., having driven to the East Bank Trailhead nearly three hours away, after having gotten off work from my regular job of weeding people’s yards, Lisa and I were meeting up once again. Ras stopped by on his way to attempt the Kettle Crest 15, a run along the crest trail summiting all the peaks along the way. Gavin Woody would be joining him there.He took our starting photo for us. He then surprised us by cheering us on from the parking lot overlooking the trail after he had already said goodbye. Then Ras took off, leaving Lisa and I alone with her dog Lucy, to begin our journey along Ross Lake.It was 8:30 p.m. as we descended towards the bridge that spanned the confluence of Ruby and Panther Creeks. The turquoise waters churned below and I calmed my own insides as the excitement of what lay before us was now becoming a reality.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEAgvl1C24U2mXQZ_c2OAyXRcDqBpNFkb3qKpEC51pujaHATNh3CyRYPH5sEoRuGSj9GJM2t7o7k-9ybn4bJ-Zk-HpnDOCTjCR_WnZAalnZ2jCS8CAloXqfJnO2xkaDsUVYsC34M-Jw/s1600/IMG_20160708_202230k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEAgvl1C24U2mXQZ_c2OAyXRcDqBpNFkb3qKpEC51pujaHATNh3CyRYPH5sEoRuGSj9GJM2t7o7k-9ybn4bJ-Zk-HpnDOCTjCR_WnZAalnZ2jCS8CAloXqfJnO2xkaDsUVYsC34M-Jw/s640/IMG_20160708_202230k.jpg" title="photo by Ras Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lisa, Lucy and I were attempting the Mind Body Challenge, an 88 mile route with 17,500 feet of elevation gain. Ras had conceptualized this route and offered it as part of our UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge series. The idea was to complete the route and then relate the journey to one of Jack Kerouac’s books that he wrote while working as a lookout on top of Desolation Peak, through a blog or other creative form of expression. Ras had dubbed this uniquely nerdy quest the UltraPedestrian Mind/Body Challenge, and this particular route the Double Desolation. Climbing 5,000 feet in five miles to reach the lookout, on the way out the East Bank Trail and on the way back, after tagging up at Hozomeen at the Canadian border, is an essential part of the route’s design. Ras and I climbed up to the lookout with our daughter Angela when she was about 12. Even at this time, he thought climbing it twice as you travel to the north end of the lake and back would be a unique and crazy challenge.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lisa and I caught up with each other on our personal lives as we ran and hiked. We talked about our jobs, our families, our homes and all kinds of other topics. The miles went by quickly and I was surprised each time I saw one of the trail signs for the camps along the way. I had been on this first 17 mile stretch of trail so many times that I knew the mileages and the order in which these camps were situated along the lake. It had become dark. We were soon right above the lake on well-built trail. We could see the water shimmering if we shone our headlamps on it just right. We sat down for the first time ten miles in to have a quick snack. We made a plan to keep pushing through any rain and to be prepared to stop and put on our Gatewood Capes when the time came. We had already been rained on for a short spell. It felt good to have the cool drops fall on us after the build- up of humidity, causing us to sweat as we pushed the pace along the fairly cruisy trail. After the first 1,500 foot climb up to Hidden Hand Pass, the trail essentially rolls along nicely. We were to Lightning Creek and the intersection to the Desolation Peak climb before we knew it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The first two miles traverse the side of a steep, grassy hillside with large pine trees. The forests along the lake are mostly cedar, fir, and maple. But along this lone stretch, tall pines reside. And also a bear. Ras and I had seen it the previous weekend near dawn, descending from Desolation. It had been sleeping under a large fir tree leaning against the trunk and reclining comfortably when I first saw it. Ras and I accidentally shone our headlamps into its sleepy face as it awakened, startled and then ran off into the trees.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> When we got to the intersection where the spur trail descends to the lake for boaters to access the climb at Jack Point, we knew the ascent was about to begin for real. We would climb 1,000 feet every mile, mostly with switchbacks. Up and up we went, the rain beginning to come down heavier the higher in elevation we got. It began to get a little bit chilly. I had on compression capris with a skort over the top, ankle high Injinji toe socks with gaiters, my Altra Lone Peak 2.5s, a short sleeve Altra tech fiber shirt with Smartwool arm sleeves, a big warm ear flap hat I bought while thru-hiking the Arizona Trail, a Smartwool neck warmer and my cape over the top of all of this. My skort and capris got wet from the brush. The cape was soaked through, but I stayed mainly warm and dry up top while moving as fast as possible on this climb. I stayed focused on moving sustainably and quickly, visualizing how I would change into warm layers at the top. Lisa had seen a forecast which called for heavy rain to start at midnight and last until about 6:00 a.m. It had started at 1:30 in the morning and I focused on enduring the conditions for this window of time. The forecast called for cloudy skies with sun breaks throughout the rest of the weekend. I just had to get through this. I reminded myself of the phrase, “This too shall pass”. I set my ego aside and understood that Lucy and Lisa were also enduring these same conditions. Staying warm by moving was the only option. I knew to stay focused only on that one task at hand.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I saw flashes of lightning over the distant mountains, lighting up the dark sky. Waiting for a few seconds, the loud claps of thunder sounded and I wondered how safe it was to keep climbing. I called out to Lisa, wondering if she had seen the lightning too. We decided to keep climbing towards the summit to stay warm, but only stop to take shelter if the thunder sounded closer.Luckily, the storm began to let up within about 15 minutes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The climb got increasingly steeper and the sky lightened. After hours of being soaked by a heavy rain, it let up gradually. Then, it was light out. I shook my cape out as I hiked so that it could dry while I was still wearing it. It was helping to keep me warm from the cold, post- dawn temperatures. Lisa and Lucy made some distance on me on the climb, but soon we were all at the top. We felt really good about this progress. We had climbed Desolation for our first time. It was hard, but we both knew we could do it again, even after running another 28 miles with 5,000 feet of elevation gain in the interim.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3o8DV2WwCi-cYo5QJp5-aCyOlotLA4-DpQ-PKH7wLTEklOvIlcGkN_HJhbHpjN92ukTottZLhdXvT2G7rmKh1RIExJaMwdu1_hEJBaxHqlnfZDza-Y3sGVy_xw4htTYEUqXeSkUOtQ/s1600/IMG_20160709_074703_3k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3o8DV2WwCi-cYo5QJp5-aCyOlotLA4-DpQ-PKH7wLTEklOvIlcGkN_HJhbHpjN92ukTottZLhdXvT2G7rmKh1RIExJaMwdu1_hEJBaxHqlnfZDza-Y3sGVy_xw4htTYEUqXeSkUOtQ/s640/IMG_20160709_074703_3k.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I set to work in the cold, quickly getting my dry Smartwool hooded sweater on and my soaking wet short sleeve Altra shirt off of me. I would not be working as hard on the descent and would need to be dressed a little bit warmer. I tucked my wet cape away into it’s own pocket, hoping to have a chance to dry it out later on a break. I pulled on my down puffy pants, knowing they would get a little damp, but also wanting to put something on quickly that would warm me up immediately. They would be easy to take off when I was warm enough and I could then strap them to the outside of my pack to dry during the day. I wanted to preserve my insulated tights for nighttime running and also have them dry to wear for a nap.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We took a couple of pictures and then started moving at a pretty good pace down the steep mountain trail. The wildflowers were in bloom up above the tree line. The rich fragrance of the small alpine trees smelled so good. It evoked memories of hiking with Ras and Angela when she was young. I was loving being up high and taking in the incredible views all around me. We ran most of the five mile trail down from the top of Desolation. As we got to the two mile section of trail that stretches along high above the lake, we saw the black bear that Ras and I had seen the weekend before. I was in the lead and I saw the beautiful animal lumber across the trail and then start trotting uphill, well away from us. I thought the bear might be around again. I’d seen lots of scat and rotten logs that had been dug out in a search for grubs and insects.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvhVydxIQ1I6i4g_C-9_622ONBlXelrDeKNnV7jxCsWN0StVbgkT9HvlbjYdpjlkXEvGgK95CbqCxrqZp2hicIvHBDvI8yQ-Mn3sEd34HptnAJaHj9W8nwcUOCXcSLZvadlgqcFIOvw/s1600/IMG_20160709_074720k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvhVydxIQ1I6i4g_C-9_622ONBlXelrDeKNnV7jxCsWN0StVbgkT9HvlbjYdpjlkXEvGgK95CbqCxrqZp2hicIvHBDvI8yQ-Mn3sEd34HptnAJaHj9W8nwcUOCXcSLZvadlgqcFIOvw/s640/IMG_20160709_074720k.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Our plan was to get water at the bottom of the descent and take a quick break while doing so. We would then get going further along Ross Lake, back into the Lightning Creek drainage. We would tag up after 14 miles and 2,500 feet of elevation gain in Hozomeen, where the Canadian border sits. We were mentally prepared to run all the flats and downhills, power hiking the uphills. We weren’t planning on taking a break until we reached the turn-around. Off we went, the journey now being broken up for ourselves into bite size pieces that we knew we could handle.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This section starts with a good climb, high above Lightning Creek, which one hears far below. There is some exposure in this section, but the well-built trail is easy to follow and feel safe on while still moving efficiently. The two-ish mile climb is followed by downhill to the creek itself and a sturdy old cabin. Other runners have slept in this dry space on their Mind/Body Challenges; John T. Barrickman and Jeff Wright both. Lisa and I exchanged an agreement that it would work well as a shelter if we happened to be near it in another down pour such as we had already experienced.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGss8Ap-HLZimswEyYItl8r30adnO66rgHYaUsxy1rGRQwF833ibboMV0Z4F-nzTyoiwDavvv5pMZBP7LO4UYCboGIrWlgG7AdUwayPeK7P_ELxPIMc3_4d-4jVEJjQuDk5qkYlSPQIw/s1600/IMG_20160709_111527k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGss8Ap-HLZimswEyYItl8r30adnO66rgHYaUsxy1rGRQwF833ibboMV0Z4F-nzTyoiwDavvv5pMZBP7LO4UYCboGIrWlgG7AdUwayPeK7P_ELxPIMc3_4d-4jVEJjQuDk5qkYlSPQIw/s640/IMG_20160709_111527k.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The forest now becomes thick with both old growth and smaller trees, crowded almost. Soft, green moss carpets the forest. Huge old downed logs have a layer of moss on top of them that serves as a soil for young trees and the forest underbrush to grow. These are called nurse logs. They give such an enchanted feel to the forest, some of these logs looking so ancient. The wood is rotting and rich in scent. I can’t take it all in as I run and look around me, entranced and pulled forward further down the trail. It makes it easy, easier than it should be.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we reach the turn around, we are 44 miles in. Lisa and I see the old cabin I have read about in trip reports and trail guides. We are now in Hozomeen. We had felt like we were off the main trail for a couple of miles, as this mystical forest seemed endless at a certain point. I had remembered Ras saying we didn’t need to take the Trail of the Obelisk, we just needed to cross the parking lot. He had read this in John Barrickman’s trip report, which I had not yet read. Lisa and I crossed the parking lot and did not see anything obvious. We were in a campground. We saw the park ranger and asked him where the obelisk was. We told him we needed to reach that point as our turn-around and that it should be at the exact border with Canada. He directed us a mile or so down a dirt road that led out of the campground in which the trail ends. We were both bummed to have further to go, as we were so happy to have reached this spot. Not only that, the dirt road sounded like it would be quite painful on the already tired feet, 44 miles deep now. We took off down the road looking for the obelisk.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> On and on we hiked, finally seeing the trail sign for the Trail of the Obelisk. I remembered again Ras saying we did not need to take this trail. We hiked past the ranger cabin and to the signs indicating we were at the border with Canada. We took photos for proof here and trusted that the obelisk itself was not the only requiredproof that we had completed the route. We were at the border with Canada, and we felt that was what mattered. I was unaware of any other ruling for proof. I only knew what Ras had said about John saying, “Just cross the parking lot.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHOXm2QyKIeSrJu9A5Gla8lxwW8px0uIdxDKk1O8ot6c8l1Z_0-GU8AxHM_ROPMrXLpQ2rL-q18JpZJ1vCCopstIUheIEZJ7di7TFjVq8x0kBlc2eNUBFyqcaqxcaASRt51j2wFd77w/s1600/IMG_20160709_174658k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHOXm2QyKIeSrJu9A5Gla8lxwW8px0uIdxDKk1O8ot6c8l1Z_0-GU8AxHM_ROPMrXLpQ2rL-q18JpZJ1vCCopstIUheIEZJ7di7TFjVq8x0kBlc2eNUBFyqcaqxcaASRt51j2wFd77w/s640/IMG_20160709_174658k.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We got back to the trail head and started our return trip to the Lightning Creek/Desolation Peak trail junction. We stopped to take a quick break for refueling and discussed our strategy to get back as fast as possible to that junction. Lisa suggested we push our fastest for the first 3.2 miles back to the junction with the Hozomeen Lake spur trail. She would take the lead and I would follow her. We moved really well and got there in just over an hour, most of it climbing.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I then took the lead and pushed as fast as I could for the next 3 miles to where the Lightning Creek trail begins. I forced myself to go fast. I visualized the nap we had decided to take. We were going to bundle up and sleep for 3 or 4 hours when we got back to the trail junction. We now only had about 10 miles until that nap. I could do that any day. I imagined putting on all the layers I had with me and spreading my cape out on the ground. We would try to find a spot under one of those big old pines, or on some soft moss. I snacked consistently and kept sipping my water. We were able to refill from faucets at the lakeside camp.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We ran past the lovely stream, not seeing it now that it was dark, but hearing it’s pleasant rushing noises. I had music going in one ear, just enough to distract me from any of my discomforts and to help me keep up a faster pace from the beat of the reggae dancehall music I enjoy listening to on the trail. We had each taken a caffeine pill and this was helping us to stay focused and increasing our ability to put forth a strong physical effort, now over 50 miles into this unsupported run. Our packs were heavy for running, but we both are used to this, doing unsupported treks more often than supported. We hiked hills and pushed the pace on flats and downhills.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We passed the old cabin and I was grateful that we were not in a position that required us to step inside of it. We were feeling good: strong, focused and ready for our nap. The cozy nest we would make was calling our name. Lisa led a good pace on the relentless, exposed climb back up high, high above Lightning Creek. It was eerie to hear it far below and to know that one misstep could send any of us toppling down the steep hillside. I followed the trail and Lisa’s headlamp. She called out “How are you feeling?” I called back “Shitty! I had forgotten about this big climb and the drop-off is freaking me out since I’m stumbling around tired! How about you?” She called back “Yep, I know what you mean about the drop-off. If we find a good place to sleep, I’d be ready to take our stop.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We each found a place in our minds to go, to relax, to keep moving towards the desired trail junction where we really wanted to be. We made it and then went beyond. We found a perfect wide spot in the trail with moss and protective trees overhead. We each made our own spots. I put on all my layers and had a down puffy suit on over it all. I spread my cape out on the trail, carefully keeping the down gear off of the still wet edges. I then wrapped the cape over the top of me and fell fast asleep. It was 1:30 in the morning and we would sleep until 4:30.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I awoke with a stuffed up nose and finally, not wanting to wake up Lucy and Lisa, blew it hard so that I would stop sniffing and could breathe normally. Instead, I did wake Lucy and she jumped to her feet barking as if a monster had entered our camp in the night. She barked again and leapt behind Lisa for protection. I talked to her calmly so she would know it was me, Lisa doing the same. Finally, she came up to me and sniffed me out. She then realized who I was and curled up into a little ball next to me. I lay down again, snuggling up next to her for warmth, as the pre-dawn morning temperatures were quite cold. She was now being very sweet to me and the warmth she provided was amazing. This was a very pleasant few minutes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now, it was time to be strict with our plan. Lisa and I both put on appropriate layers for getting going and started off down the trail. We were going to push this climb as best we could. It was really the crux of our challenge. We had to climb this steep mountain just one more time. And then a quick 5,000 foot descent. And then a 19 mile run out rolling trail, to the completion of the route. We had it now. We knew what was ahead of us. We just had to be careful to not get injured on the steep downhill.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Not far down the trail, we saw the big black bear for the second time. This time it saw us too and Lucy let out a bark. Lisa had her on a leash. The bear took off up the steep hills, chuffing repeatedly. It stopped and turned back to look at us, chuffing once again. We kept moving down the trail, giving the bear it’s space.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsImLlOalMV0bgPC8OpAXchYkDsWBilHJI-NMANgGVxUn679-Aa5NURRhIxOLWKiU0cCxEd94Sv1dkxoqbwhkzXGZlbbTsijcr196nJsQ2VIlyGR3IgumkFdjrhfF9eD7VwGvgghWMw/s1600/IMG_20160709_111546k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsImLlOalMV0bgPC8OpAXchYkDsWBilHJI-NMANgGVxUn679-Aa5NURRhIxOLWKiU0cCxEd94Sv1dkxoqbwhkzXGZlbbTsijcr196nJsQ2VIlyGR3IgumkFdjrhfF9eD7VwGvgghWMw/s640/IMG_20160709_111546k.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We continued to the trail junction where the climb begins towards Desolation for real, and a steep descent leads to the lake shore for boaters, Lisa, Lucy and I settled into a good pace, Lisa taking the lead. I pushed to keep up with her the best I could, as she is a faster climber than me. Lucy stayed back with me for the most part, sometimes darting ahead to be with Lisa. She was enjoying being off leash, now that we were well past the bear, and seemed to like my slower pace. At one point, she stopped abruptly in the trail. I heard buzzing, getting louder, and realized that we were right near a bee nest. She did not want to pass by it, but did anyway and got stung a couple of times. It all happened so quickly that it was hard to react appropriately. I walked right through as well, and got stung twice. The stings hurt and I shouted profanities. I kept on going, trying to hike it off. Lucy cranked her head around a couple of times to chew at the spots where she’d been stung. Soon, I had forgotten about the stings. We did mark the area with branches so that on the descent we would be aware of the nest.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We got higher and higher and were soon out of the trees. This felt like a huge accomplishment. We still had a lot of climbing ahead of us, but now the switchbacks were taking us directly, and even more steeply, up the mountain.The closer we got to summiting Desolation for our second time, the better I felt. I knew I was going to finish the Mind Body Challenge this time. This was my fourth attempt and Lisa’s second. We had tried it last year and gotten caught in a relentless rain storm, complete with thunder and lightning. We made it just past Nightmare Camp before turning around and heading back towards Lightning Creek, the East Bank Trail head and our cars.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This time we had it though. We could now see the lookout in the distance and it was pulling us towards it. We wound our way up the steep trail until, finally, we were at the lookout. I pulled out my phone so that I could take a couple of pictures. I put my puffy jacket over the top of what I was wearing so that it would be easy to pull off once I got warmed up again, had a caramel Honey Stinger waffle and loaded the front of my Nathan pack with snacks. Ready to go, we turned to descend 5,0000 feet back down to Ross Lake.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> With tired feet, we moved as efficiently as we could down the steep switchback trail. The wildflowers were vibrant all around us. Lucy showed off, romping off and perching herself on top of rocks. Really, she was looking for small critters to play with or chase, but it was fun to think of her acting so regally. She deserved the right to feel proud; she was just about to become the first canine to complete the Mind/Body Challenge.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLIKI4s_tXfSedNAbKX9PWkPxdybBB2RPhea0PMwzfWFofw4l1P7xpLbWpGI32-h9z0JKgEN3j2Xfz0yrkYq1ltBxVQOu3M7WmSqk6RuUQZDrend0OgOrn5fLljaa96L2TEoiV5RJug/s1600/IMG_20160710_093716k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLIKI4s_tXfSedNAbKX9PWkPxdybBB2RPhea0PMwzfWFofw4l1P7xpLbWpGI32-h9z0JKgEN3j2Xfz0yrkYq1ltBxVQOu3M7WmSqk6RuUQZDrend0OgOrn5fLljaa96L2TEoiV5RJug/s640/IMG_20160710_093716k.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> We stopped at a flat outcropping of rocks to take off our warmer layers from the early morning hours. The day was quickly warming up. There were still some clouds overhead, but the sun was shining through and with minimal layers the temperature felt just right. Down the switchback we flew, making our way once again towards the intersection of trail where one heads off either into the Lightning Creek drainage where we had ventured the day before, or back down the East Bank Trail directly along Ross Lake.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> After the 28 mile stretch of the route down Lightning Creek, to Hozomeen and back, and the second climb of Desolation over with, nothing felt daunting to me anymore. All of the remaining mileage felt doable. I just had to get into the proper mindset and take care of myself physically. I decided to finally start listening to Jack Kerouac’s “Dharma Bums”. I had left it until now, as it can be such relaxing listening and I didn’t want to encourage myself to get drowsy. But now it was engaging and the perfect accompaniment to the less interesting stretch of trail that lay ahead.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTy0g9ToShlHdN7UAeXmGH3FJME1qTgkSavspttURkXZ8ECYSC4O868tMvWbNyfzKUk_nlrdvMj_sAnMOyuIUy0g1IWpq7iRwXRtY1n0Q73QEBkzkm6zjdb-e-BTh2y6ZRYP0M9J1Mw/s1600/IMG_20160710_093654k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTy0g9ToShlHdN7UAeXmGH3FJME1qTgkSavspttURkXZ8ECYSC4O868tMvWbNyfzKUk_nlrdvMj_sAnMOyuIUy0g1IWpq7iRwXRtY1n0Q73QEBkzkm6zjdb-e-BTh2y6ZRYP0M9J1Mw/s640/IMG_20160710_093654k.jpg" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan / UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The 19 miles of trail along the lake that remained were rolling. I led the pace and I wanted to run everything flat and all of the downhill. I wanted to hike the uphills as fast as I could. Lisa had to work the next day and had a several drive to get home. At this point, every time I could push myself when I didn’t feel like it, it would make a difference. It was time to keep the pace strong and finish this challenge in good style. I felt very motivated.Everything felt right. I nibbled on my remaining Honey Stinger Waffles and slurped on my Expedition Espresso Trail Butter pouch. I had a Honey Stinger walnut cranberry bar that tasted delicious. It was from a sample pack they had sent me, as an ambassador, of several of their new products. The walnut cranberry bar hit the spot perfectly and reminded me of a Christmas shortbread. I also had a couple of Picky Bars left. These had been so easy to eat throughout the miles and always filled me with good energy and nutrition. I had brought just enough food with me. I’d eaten everything but a Lemon Honey Stinger Waffle.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We got to May Creek bridge and sat down for a break while we filtered water. We decided we would take one more break at Roland Creek after the log crossing. This would leave us with 6 remaining miles. We could pull that off any day of the week.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I continued to lead the pace after our nice break alongside the creek. I had been enjoying “Dharma Bums”. It was definitely distracting me from any of the aches and pains I had after 82 miles. I related to the character Christine, who baked biscuits and made soups and found joy in sharing these with others, feeding others. I have lived like that and would love to spend more time cooking for others now. I travel the trails seeking spiritual fulfillment too and I said to myself, “I’m a Dharma Bum”. I cruised effortlessly along the trail, feeling lighter as I went.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Crossing the confluence of Panther and Ruby creeks, the rushing waters below were soothing and harkened a sense of completion. Lisa, Lucy and I were coming to the end of our journey. We climbed the few switchbacks that led to the parking area and Highway 20. After 46 ½ hours, the three of us had completed the route. We returned to our cars to change into comfy clothes. Lisa made us coffee with her Jet Boil. We said goodbye and Lisa pulled away as Lucy slept soundly on the bench seat of her truck.I stayed behind to sleep in the back of my car overnight. I wanted to soak in all the goodness, all the joy, all the sense of accomplishment. I prepared some canned chili and a box of mushroom rice pilaf. I sat in my camp chair with a cozy fleece blanket and fell into the deepest relaxation I’d had for months.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIPNluajcBi8X8NWuTxQwftUMImOzzbgVgiA12RnpBK-QLqjjwxqM9YJBsamQpKRJFnPyMmthlyfKd7tpXClUTU_e92cD6Xck7UMjm0RFv-8LNZJKYmWdPi0jW1i4nswPotMYsP8oJg/s1600/IMG_20160709_111611k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Lisa Eversgerd / UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIPNluajcBi8X8NWuTxQwftUMImOzzbgVgiA12RnpBK-QLqjjwxqM9YJBsamQpKRJFnPyMmthlyfKd7tpXClUTU_e92cD6Xck7UMjm0RFv-8LNZJKYmWdPi0jW1i4nswPotMYsP8oJg/s640/IMG_20160709_111611k.jpg" title="photo by Lisa Eversgerd / UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-19291548249779215022016-01-27T22:20:00.000-08:002016-10-09T14:31:18.626-07:00AZT Yo-yo - The Final Yo<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>AZT Yo-yo - The Final Yo:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Patagonia To The Mexico Border</b></span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">By Kathy Vaughan</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Tn2boE2yJ1WONaor1KuOq_jQeoJaPJ54RXqdDfVt5heeoAsAJIH9uI1dwM0AgAk5VojdoIwMjp6rCpEy2mMBNL9s4eT4rNWUu1r4ny67rixAADh8mzYfoSOkkRW11ULhhYkc_vJWDw/s1600/WP_20151219_09_52_34_Pro_PatagoniaSelfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Tn2boE2yJ1WONaor1KuOq_jQeoJaPJ54RXqdDfVt5heeoAsAJIH9uI1dwM0AgAk5VojdoIwMjp6rCpEy2mMBNL9s4eT4rNWUu1r4ny67rixAADh8mzYfoSOkkRW11ULhhYkc_vJWDw/s200/WP_20151219_09_52_34_Pro_PatagoniaSelfie.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="111" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I sat alongside the trail, surrounded by bare aspen trees. It was just past dawn and the ground was hard with frost. There were patches of snow in the cold forest and the morning air was moving in the never ending wind. Ras and I had been hiking all night, from the time we left our final gateway community along the Arizona Trail, the small town of Patagonia. We had stayed at The Stage Stop Inn and our plan for weeks had been to push straight through our remaining mileage from there; 55 miles. We had showered, washed our clothes, ate some good food and slept well. Our packs were organized. We had ourselves set up to finish our 1,668 mile thru-hike yo-yo sometime the following day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We had been through all kinds of extremes and they began as early as our first day on the trail. We began in triple digit temperatures at the Arizona/Mexico border. There were dark clouds overhead and they produced a raging thunder and lightening storm. Then came high winds, heavy rain and sleet. We made it eight miles to Bathtub Spring, where we huddled inside our tent, coming tens of miles shy of our goal for the day. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXswaOmCTBRSItHBLOSKrplatkPCyScEK4JfrIWDkZF0GXlBbvWQ3jseJuPP-NSSa9XV2AVdHgsmOhL8TNbQN_m3NYi5absaTbd5nSbyO7f1qgdTYXnvi-I7L9ekRupjabJmf0ZkV_BA/s1600/WP_20151218_12_19_43_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXswaOmCTBRSItHBLOSKrplatkPCyScEK4JfrIWDkZF0GXlBbvWQ3jseJuPP-NSSa9XV2AVdHgsmOhL8TNbQN_m3NYi5absaTbd5nSbyO7f1qgdTYXnvi-I7L9ekRupjabJmf0ZkV_BA/s640/WP_20151218_12_19_43_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Creek crossing north of Patagonia, AZ.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The trials and tribulations continued to build a strength in us both. I underwent changes in the trail. I began to display very raw emotions and almost animalistic behaviors. By this final push, the challenges I'd endured had hardened me physically and mentally. I had muscles and bones I'd never felt before. I was short-tempered and edgy. I had memories of our hike racing around in my mind and causing strong emotions. Chills, tears, happiness, drowsiness and disorientation all came over me as the night wore on and the darkness came over the trail, for one final time. It was too cold to stop for long. Ras and I had already had our dinner break. We were determined to continue moving all night and not stop to pitch our tent. I remember feeling like I needed to stop and rest and trying to express this to Ras. I knew we couldn't, but I whined about it anyway. I was deteriorating and hoped to not reach melt-down stage. I was failing. We were already going to finish way past our original goal of 70 days. We then aimed for 80 days. We would finish on Day 93 if we kept on going through the night. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvz_2UQfkK-09BkwIScjPDZx4X76Jrg0PlKW0oAaZ3HTclFVGnuISGpNkiuswNbaXsVYj6f90DQQMd4ma4YPNaSL0IVjbjBctiCeWvD4fSPxDIYmuof2Y98RgsIx0usek4SQg0atyPQ/s1600/WP_20151108_09_00_49_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvz_2UQfkK-09BkwIScjPDZx4X76Jrg0PlKW0oAaZ3HTclFVGnuISGpNkiuswNbaXsVYj6f90DQQMd4ma4YPNaSL0IVjbjBctiCeWvD4fSPxDIYmuof2Y98RgsIx0usek4SQg0atyPQ/s640/WP_20151108_09_00_49_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Climbing out of the Grand Canyon on the South Kaibab Trail.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We had continued and now sitting here, just past dawn, taking in some food to wake up and get fresh energy, I was trying to come to terms with the mileage that lay ahead. Ras had given me a huge protein bar. I had a few of my own trail snacks left, but he thought the protein punch from this bar would help me keep my emotions in tact. Exhausted, I nibbled on the bar and looked up the trail. I knew we had a climb ahead. I knew I could do it. At the top of the climb, we would find a nice spot in the morning sun to pull out our Jet Boil and have some hot food. The draw of this food break would help motivate me. The climb was through Sunnyside Canyon and as the name indicates, it was down in a canyon, below the warmth of the rising sun. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAao-C62DVRLyNqAdw6S4dkemdjI6tF3hVljzs0n1HgVu9Zjg-EM14EAxh2SX9fRY_8wmtXWQ6g9b3xsFG1TeoaXlaVO44zWVncgU6JQ_2HoeGtqxYaIgiiXUnEhZkqNWcYTwt10VJtg/s1600/WP_20151112_08_45_13_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAao-C62DVRLyNqAdw6S4dkemdjI6tF3hVljzs0n1HgVu9Zjg-EM14EAxh2SX9fRY_8wmtXWQ6g9b3xsFG1TeoaXlaVO44zWVncgU6JQ_2HoeGtqxYaIgiiXUnEhZkqNWcYTwt10VJtg/s640/WP_20151112_08_45_13_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I remember leaving Patagonia the morning before, starting out with a pleasant three mile road walk with warm temperatures. I ate as I hiked. My front pack was filled with good trail food – Honey Stinger Waffles, Expedition Espresso Trail Butter, left-over potato chips our new friend Patrick Muldowney had brought us on the trail, peppermint and lemon hard candies, Thai flavored soy curls Ras had made, chocolate, fruit snacks, an orange, and other snacks that I can't now recall. We had stopped for lunch in a wash earlier in the day. I savored that break as I had savored all of our breaks. We had always found cool spots to stop to eat lunch and dinner each day. I was going to miss those special times once off the trail.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJUae4ViIo885vfPu87_QQo9Q7CpxVNpOGOMn1R_IZUSCy79sVgHdvWdaEKwW4pwsShWeTTusbv99IvEjia0shkHJjunSB9Fom0BEDaVa2MC3VvoAOhIaOjnM-NNMCJDauw-Cu7DUlg/s1600/WP_20151219_17_29_10_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJUae4ViIo885vfPu87_QQo9Q7CpxVNpOGOMn1R_IZUSCy79sVgHdvWdaEKwW4pwsShWeTTusbv99IvEjia0shkHJjunSB9Fom0BEDaVa2MC3VvoAOhIaOjnM-NNMCJDauw-Cu7DUlg/s640/WP_20151219_17_29_10_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> But after that break, much of the rest of my final nighttime miles on the Arizona Trail become a blur. I know that sometime before dusk we saw two hunters. We had seen a couple of deer earlier. The hunters had thick Slavic accents and had been watching us through binoculars. They had seen us climbing up the steep arroyo towards them and were curious about us. After all, it was December and hikers were few and far between. We shared with them how we had been out hiking since mid-September along the Arizona Trail. They were fun to visit with and wished us well as we hiked away. We saw each of them get in their own vehicle and drive off towards a distant lake. We watched the sun set over the rugged mountains of Arizona in one direction and Mexico in the other. It was all very surreal.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijM5_XJJkiHfgTrA1eZi2NAvJ8vj8DXq9kSRC4qIBnOalkTFRo_i-o_SZixsOKOSdq1TrURTnYj29emF16ha3EeATdEijVeRipziqzaHjbzEDn35MJFayPu6mnm_BvdcnTXbvLxLiJAA/s1600/WP_20151112_12_42_01_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijM5_XJJkiHfgTrA1eZi2NAvJ8vj8DXq9kSRC4qIBnOalkTFRo_i-o_SZixsOKOSdq1TrURTnYj29emF16ha3EeATdEijVeRipziqzaHjbzEDn35MJFayPu6mnm_BvdcnTXbvLxLiJAA/s640/WP_20151112_12_42_01_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Postholing among the aspen in the San Francisco Peaks.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now, in the frozen canyon, after having moved all night, Ras pealed off ahead of me for the climb. He was chilled and wanted to find the sunshine. I settled into a steady climb. We were heading for Miller Peak at about 9,000 feet. It was perhaps 4,500 feet at the mouth of the canyon. There were patches of snow in shady spots, but whenever the sun came through the trees, it was warming and invigorating. The switchbacks continued up and up. I had done so many of these types of climbs the past three months, I knew how to get it done. I used my poles to set a rhythm that would keep me moving at a good pace. One foot in front of the other. It had been a phrase that ran through my head many times along the trail. After lots of snowy miles on this southbound journey along the AZT, I knew this would be the crux of it. This would be the last of the serious type of snow, if there was going to be anymore. By this, I mean post-holing through deep snow or carefully moving over icy snow. My Altra Lone Peaks, both the Neo-Shells I wore northbound and the 2.5's I was now wearing, have rugged traction that work well in the snow. I imagined the possibility of twenty something miles in deep snow. That just eventually gets your feet wet when in running shoes. At 9,000 feet, I had expected there to be a lot of snow. I expected my feet to get cold, painfully cold. But instead, I was greeted with this blessed surprise of just the occasional snowy patch. We were doing it. We were going up and over Miller Peak. Ras and I often said to each other on the trail, “We're doing it!” It was one of our motivational phrases. Other times it was a way of saying, “What we are in the middle of is kind of crazy!” ( or kind of cool). This was one of those moments. Ras was still up ahead though. I couldn't say it out loud to him, so I said it to myself anyway. I was feeling a huge sense of relief that snow was not an issue on this much anticipated ascent.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhV7Zihh-heUJaWUyHNuFqVrdvyGZmwb-Df3Nae05lcesqztEgEwvVZxsgNsB1e17t25SKP1s_lU9_kSsSXCx2tmbpwvnJ27V2981C8dPOSmQXKH8K8QnyKNCC-JKjaoQQskgQQRYmQ/s1600/WP_20151112_10_45_18_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhV7Zihh-heUJaWUyHNuFqVrdvyGZmwb-Df3Nae05lcesqztEgEwvVZxsgNsB1e17t25SKP1s_lU9_kSsSXCx2tmbpwvnJ27V2981C8dPOSmQXKH8K8QnyKNCC-JKjaoQQskgQQRYmQ/s640/WP_20151112_10_45_18_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Snow on the San Francisco Peaks.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It turns out, I was just on his tail. I came around a twist in the trail where I could see a sunny patch up ahead. I saw Ras' pack propped up against a huge fir tree. He was just beyond his pack, checking to see if he could get a cell signal to message Sirena Dufault, who would be meeting us for the final 2.6 mile out and back to the terminus at the Mexico border She would be able to drive to the parking lot at Montezuma Pass. From there, we had the out and back to reach the actual border, the fence line, the swath of land dividing the two countries. We figured we would be there in a few more hours and it was time to let her know so she could drive from Tucson. Ras couldn't get a signal, but we set out our sleeping pads anyway and pulled out our stove to heat up water for coffee. We rehydrated beans 'n' rice. The sun dipped behind the tall trees and the wind blew. It was chilly as we sat for our final trail meal. That was okay with both of us. We just bundled up and enjoyed our hot food and drinks anyway.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We finished our break and contoured for several miles before the final climb to the high point. We stopped when there was a signal to get the message off to Sirena. I thought of our friend Benedict who had dropped us off in September when we started our journey. He had wanted to pick us up too and I hoped he might be there. I hoped he and Sirena had made arrangements together if he had wanted to come. Either way, I felt so grateful that we would have a friend at the end to greet us and then share in our joy, while traveling back to Tucson. Our car was waiting there to take us back to Washington after a couple of rest days at the home of Sirena and her husband, Brian. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBVZXFTLcDCnMCBD5cv5OqpMcbd9HkKvCfkgEFz8CQktWXVjCsJvYPfOjDsbyLUdRgteOXM7CxEICuBbAm3S2xs3XkuDds2D4aiYHDBBF2YTJgkUbJMUAIK6dMUsrq8qG-OZeql2-NA/s1600/WP_20151203_17_42_28_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBVZXFTLcDCnMCBD5cv5OqpMcbd9HkKvCfkgEFz8CQktWXVjCsJvYPfOjDsbyLUdRgteOXM7CxEICuBbAm3S2xs3XkuDds2D4aiYHDBBF2YTJgkUbJMUAIK6dMUsrq8qG-OZeql2-NA/s640/WP_20151203_17_42_28_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Twilight in the Gila River Canyons.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The views from Miller Peak were awesome. There were small lakes dotting the landscape below, the mountainous country of Mexico to our north, huge rocks and boulders to scramble around as we worked our way along the trail and a bright blue sky overhead. We both had steely focus on moving as efficiently as possible towards the end of the trail. Some icy, narrow, north facing stretches of trail wound around the western flank of the peak. There were many downed aspen to climb over and the going was tedious. The wind still howled as we moved cautiously through this area. Then, ahead the trail was visible and snow free for the final miles to the Montezuma Pass parking lot below. It felt so exciting, so unreal. It even felt bitter sweet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfewGUOQoKbNb1PLFzNyIDd-uDGC5v2fKlu0A6Uyy5LVCMpVdwzdrNNc_d-ZcV9MkL5uKWNHgZvDVgj9jSgI12U23UHg3nSu_mRgvTy5Qxr5qE1Kq5bYNEkzsFVPqBPtvCCnq-d4mZw/s1600/WP_20151218_12_26_29_Pro__highres_KathyAction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfewGUOQoKbNb1PLFzNyIDd-uDGC5v2fKlu0A6Uyy5LVCMpVdwzdrNNc_d-ZcV9MkL5uKWNHgZvDVgj9jSgI12U23UHg3nSu_mRgvTy5Qxr5qE1Kq5bYNEkzsFVPqBPtvCCnq-d4mZw/s640/WP_20151218_12_26_29_Pro__highres_KathyAction.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We started the descent towards Montezuma Pass. Ras moved ahead of me on the trail. I most often led, dictating the pace so that we could stay together. We both knew the route ahead now. It felt good for us each to do our own thing, allowing the space for us to have our own special realization that we were about to finish our biggest endurance feat yet. We had hiked from Mexico, 800 miles to the Utah border and then turned around to hike back to Mexico. We had hiked just shy of a total of 70 miles to get to our resupply packages awaiting us in gateway communities. Sirena is the Gateway Community Coordinator for the trail. She has worked hard and creatively to develop the relationships with these communities for the Arizona Trail Association, so that thru-hikers can utilize their services. All of her energy has paid off and we were greeted in these communities with respect, useful services, hiker friendly lodging, and a welcoming vibe. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscFkw10hFsOqM5McRc6Gq4RgQtHCoYRB3j-0PV8hyphenhyphen7OQ-uAxVR6nVWhzscKSJLo5mWSVL0hyphenhyphenIvl7f06mC_083pBBJ_Bx9YGcOcNOdjrgvx2OSbiWJhZFrYBjUS_CxPzG1tgB9a92tDw/s1600/WP_20151209_10_04_41_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscFkw10hFsOqM5McRc6Gq4RgQtHCoYRB3j-0PV8hyphenhyphen7OQ-uAxVR6nVWhzscKSJLo5mWSVL0hyphenhyphenIvl7f06mC_083pBBJ_Bx9YGcOcNOdjrgvx2OSbiWJhZFrYBjUS_CxPzG1tgB9a92tDw/s640/WP_20151209_10_04_41_Pro__highres.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Gateway Community of Oracle, AZ.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Ras stopped to take off a couple of layers. We were dropping in elevation and the desert sun was warming. As I met up with him, I stopped to make a couple of adjustments too. I reached up and realized that my Trail Butter trucker cap that I'd kept such careful track of for the entire three months, had now blown off of my head. I had it over the top of my warm, ear flap hat because the sun was bright in my eyes. I had already lost my Julbo Zebra Lens sunglasses back near La Posta Quemada when stopping at dusk one evening, and so I needed the hat to block the sun. It was perched too loosely, it seems and one of the strong gusts tore it from my head without me knowing. I was pretty tired and in a focused, zombie-like state as well, so it didn't surprise me at the time that it had gone unnoticed. I had been on the trail for over 30 hours at this point. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We passed some hikers just before Montezuma Pass that somehow knew who we were and that we were about to finish our hike. We were hiking pretty fast, a light run even. We were both in ultrarunner mode, heading to the finish with a final burst of energy that comes out of nowhere. You “smell the oats in the barn”, or your body knows you can rest once you make this final push so it gives you all it's got. Whatever it is, it feels like magic and you just go with it. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EkgKCul42Ave_QTrcFfoqldFbHed8LZpv3lf_p1usJog078kP-1st1wB8XaM467A0gqfkYnUQVpV8T1DO_ORVA15OhWnnMtC8n2GN3dIWS7Zs0FeWwoqtIHRQZYe9wgbcOub05YTKw/s1600/zIMG_2437byArmandoGonzalez.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Armando Gonzalez" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EkgKCul42Ave_QTrcFfoqldFbHed8LZpv3lf_p1usJog078kP-1st1wB8XaM467A0gqfkYnUQVpV8T1DO_ORVA15OhWnnMtC8n2GN3dIWS7Zs0FeWwoqtIHRQZYe9wgbcOub05YTKw/s640/zIMG_2437byArmandoGonzalez.JPG" title="photo by Armando Gonzalez" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The final stretch to the Mexico border.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We reached the Montezuma Pass parking lot and I didn't see Sirena or the AZT vehicle. I saw a guy running, though and he seemed to be running towards us. I didn't recognize him. He was very excited. He called out to us “Congratulations!” It was Armando Gonzales, the Trail Steward for this passage of the AZT. He had been following us and had come out to greet us at the finish. He joined us for the out and back and we soon heard a hoot from behind us on the trail. Sirena had gotten there just in time. She hustled down the switchbacks and soon caught up to us. Armando ran off ahead to take pictures of us approaching the terminus. It felt too good to be true. After all of this time, all that we'd experienced, all the miles that were on our feet, we had reached the end of the journey. We had traveled across Arizona as one, again, and then once again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Ras and I set out to hike the 800 mile Arizona Trail as a Yo-Yo thru-hike (up the trail and then back again) on September 18th, 2015 . We finished the trail on December 20th, 2015. We had previously hiked the trail in the spring of 2014. At this time, I set the Inaugural Women's Fastest Known Time on the trail with a time of 35 days 5 hours and 2 minutes. With the completion of this Yo-Yo, Ras and I set an Only Known Time of 93 days, 6 hours and 22 minutes. We also became the first people to have thru-hiked the trail three times. These were all goals we set ahead of time in order to enjoy the rugged, mountainous desert trail; share our time out there with others to help teach, inspire and motivate; have the experience of a long thru-hike and to set the above records. We accomplished all of these things.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wodD58WZjyZoqrloUHjlOzmSID6p3qGrhoDIb3zxMZdehqmkT86mulk2ASNy4-KrjcZEiKMBFq30ASccN-Aq2JPhkVYXCq7M5Hql_piMlwXK7TG39A2mVuAGYrpH2oxrK8GqYAsAUw/s1600/zIMG_2455byArmandoGonzalez.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Armando Gonzalez" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wodD58WZjyZoqrloUHjlOzmSID6p3qGrhoDIb3zxMZdehqmkT86mulk2ASNy4-KrjcZEiKMBFq30ASccN-Aq2JPhkVYXCq7M5Hql_piMlwXK7TG39A2mVuAGYrpH2oxrK8GqYAsAUw/s640/zIMG_2455byArmandoGonzalez.JPG" title="photo by Armando Gonzalez" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
Kathy Vaughanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16781079217933588340noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-54759047837633423492015-12-22T00:52:00.000-08:002015-12-22T00:52:19.059-08:00AZT yoyo OKT<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>AZT Yo-yo Only Known Time:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Ras & Kathy Hike The 800 Mile Arizona National Scenic Trail Twice, South To North To South, In 93 Days, 6 Hours, and 22 Minutes</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMj92OT0AB2f8voCI5O9qgx1mP79Tl1ghskwrvgxHFhHay3JO1bifcQ0vdh6qeZiIvVAqwISJsDxsYyWawVV1TLKGS-oe66fPYf9pLOB-Mux-S5q2ye5iOnixJwapx10YZdYlxGL_vQ/s1600/aztyoyofinish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMj92OT0AB2f8voCI5O9qgx1mP79Tl1ghskwrvgxHFhHay3JO1bifcQ0vdh6qeZiIvVAqwISJsDxsYyWawVV1TLKGS-oe66fPYf9pLOB-Mux-S5q2ye5iOnixJwapx10YZdYlxGL_vQ/s640/aztyoyofinish.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings, Every One!</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> At 10:16 AM on Friday September 18, 2015, Kathy and Ras left the Mexico Border heading north to attempt to yo-yo the Arizona National Scenic Trail. They touched the Utah border at 2:51 PM Wednesday, November 4, then turned around and headed once again toward the southern terminus. They reached the Mexico Border again to complete their journey at 4:38 PM, Sunday, December 20, 2015, establishing an Only Known Time for the first ever yo-yo of the AZT of 93 days, 6 hours, and 22 minutes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> To see posts and updates from throughout their thru-hike, and to track future interactive adventures, friend and follow Ras and Kathy at the following:</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbsaPVILf7MJBMFtlvIrzDQ" target="_blank">UltraPedestrian YouTube Channel</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ultrapedestrian/" target="_blank">UltraPedestrian on Instagram</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JahsonItes" target="_blank"><b>Ras on Facebook</b></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kathy.vaughan.7" target="_blank"><b>Kathy on Facebook</b></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://twitter.com/UltraPedestrian" target="_blank">UltraPedestrian on Twitter</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/UltraPedestrian" target="_blank">UltraPedestrian.com on Facebook</a></b></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-32262792813907194912015-09-17T21:01:00.001-07:002015-09-17T21:06:50.408-07:00Arizona Trail Yo-yo Only Known Time Attempt<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>AZT Yo-yo</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Attempting An Only Known Time<br />On The Arizona National Scenic Trail</span></b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIstQw82uSI449CVlZun3V0OYA8Xmy6R0lR7fVphF5WYJL57syWX1lmtNORI1d0FA-rhgr8rLHOJZwkgitO5Qf5q7Bt6EoN3_KvO8WN2ajtvxXlo8AQ6Q60ercRyvnvKgx31unUowhQ/s1600/RasProfile+photo+by+Chihping+Fu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="photo by Chihping Fu" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIstQw82uSI449CVlZun3V0OYA8Xmy6R0lR7fVphF5WYJL57syWX1lmtNORI1d0FA-rhgr8rLHOJZwkgitO5Qf5q7Bt6EoN3_KvO8WN2ajtvxXlo8AQ6Q60ercRyvnvKgx31unUowhQ/s200/RasProfile+photo+by+Chihping+Fu.jpg" title="photo by Chihping Fu" width="128" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Ras</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"> "A man is honorable in proportion to the personal risks he takes for his opinion; in other words, the amount of downside he is exposed to." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">-- Nassim Nicholas Taleb, <i>Antifragile</i> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings, Every One!</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Beginning tomorrow, Friday September 18, 2015, Kathy and I will begin our attempt to yo-yo the Arizona National Scenic Trail. We will begin at the southern terminus at the Mexico border, make our way to the Utah border, then turn around and make our way back to the southern terminus. We hope to complete the trip in 70 days. Kathy also has the ambition of bettering her Women's FKT on either the northbound or southbound leg of our adventure.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our progress can be monitored on our SPOT transponder page at:</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0zQbUiFUjuCCJeFY2yq29RzaWBqsNfFqp</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will be posting updates to my facebook page throughout the journey at:</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/JahsonItes<br /><br />And we will post updates to this blog when possible.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRgj1yGPkCJBhiVV7RFxbBQd4MtCZp1CJiEateQQBjZNxMhRIgr81e2Q1FPyvarLzhFlYkNzi-tLszihHZb6L6jydKAfRDVKUXjf5gtIF_CeM3OlkxTM6QUAm6nyYNjdzYyFChyphenhyphen2plQ/s1600/0513141327-04KathyFinish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRgj1yGPkCJBhiVV7RFxbBQd4MtCZp1CJiEateQQBjZNxMhRIgr81e2Q1FPyvarLzhFlYkNzi-tLszihHZb6L6jydKAfRDVKUXjf5gtIF_CeM3OlkxTM6QUAm6nyYNjdzYyFChyphenhyphen2plQ/s640/0513141327-04KathyFinish.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div>
Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-15691188063349431752015-08-06T23:45:00.004-07:002015-08-07T00:14:28.615-07:00Baker Lake 100k - Fourth Time's A Charm<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Baker Lake 100k Fat Ass Trail Run:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Fourth Time's A Charm</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3F3KMLJjqY5zz0Smf-I9aam4eXHA1AhunyKTfc7I7W5sn00SD0gQblZ2LffHpNzK_mD4u5xAbg7IGW5EXONrh_5u_tC6U_1CG8Jxj80LG_ImK46kh4JHdrjragpy1dNHN-bqVe_lHQg/s1600/TripleSelfieCrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3F3KMLJjqY5zz0Smf-I9aam4eXHA1AhunyKTfc7I7W5sn00SD0gQblZ2LffHpNzK_mD4u5xAbg7IGW5EXONrh_5u_tC6U_1CG8Jxj80LG_ImK46kh4JHdrjragpy1dNHN-bqVe_lHQg/s200/TripleSelfieCrop.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="200" /></a><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">By Kathy Vaughan</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Kulshan Campground was packed with big trucks and fishing boats. Ras and I found a spot in the corner of the campground, under some huge trees. It was dry and protected from the rain showers that were coming down now and predicted for the following day as well. Our friend Lisa, my adventure bestie, would be meeting us soon and we wanted to have our shelter up before she arrived. The next day we would be running a self-supported 100k, or 63 mile, run along the forested Baker Lake Trail.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Baker Lake 50k was my first race ever. I ran it for the first time in October of 2011 and have run it each Autumn since then. Two winters ago, Terry Sentinella, having taken over as the Race Director for the event, decided to offer a 100k or 50k Fat Ass run on the course. Runners had the option of running the course twice to total the mileage for the 100k, and they could choose to do it any time during the month of December. He offered a medal for the 50k finishers and a buckle for the 100k finishers. Ras and I chose to run it and ended up taking a 50k finish instead of our planned 100k. As it turns out, running this trail just two months later than race day, is a whole different story. You can red the trip report <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2013/11/baker-lake-take-two.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In July of 2015 he offered an option of running the 100k Fat Ass again, choosing not to offer a 50k option this time. Ras and I finished the 100k. You can read about our adventure <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2014/07/baker-lake-100k-fat-ass-trip-report.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>. This past December, Ras and I again attempted a 100k winter run along Baker Lake, and again had to stop at 50k. The temperatures were in the single digits, the creek crossings were icy and dangerous, and we felt like it was too dangerous to continue. You can read that trip report <a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2015/01/baker-lake-new-years-eve-run.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">here</a> and watch the video <b><a href="https://youtu.be/_LEYoaU75tg" target="_blank">here</a></b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Ras and I were determined to get another 100k finish. I had talked up this trail to Lisa over and over again. I did not have to twist her arm to get her to run it with us. This would be Lisa's first 100k trail run, although she has run lots of ultra distance runs with me and she and I finished a 200k winter thru-ski together on the Methow Trails last year. <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2015/01/methow-trails-200k-challenge.html" target="_blank">Here</a></b> is the link to that blog. I knew she was more than ready to run this course, strong and solid. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Lisa pulled up outside the shelter and called out to us, inside staying dry and preparing for the next day's run. I gave her a big hug and some small pieces of drift wood to use in her <b><a href="http://www.lostcreekorganics.com/pine-needle-baskets/" target="_blank">hand made pine needle baskets</a></b>. She and I used to live only fifteen minutes apart from each other in the Okanogan Highlands. Now, Ras and I are living near a beach on Whidbey Island, working for a weeding service this summer and saving money for a thru-hike in the Southwest we are planning for the Fall. It's hard not living so close to my good friend, but sharing trail running adventures together as much as possible and exchanging little gifts of our natural surroundings, helps to keep us connected. Lisa brought me fresh, organic greens from her <b><a href="http://www.lostcreekorganics.com/" target="_blank">farm</a></b> and some homemade green curry paste for Ras.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We spent the rest of the evening preparing for our run and talking through the logistics. We would start at the Baker River Trailhead the following morning, driving our car down to that end at about 3:30 a.m. We would then run back to our camp in order to use our shelter for our “aide station”. We would all have a supply of dry clothing, food and water to use the two times we would reach it for our turn-around. From the Baker River Trailhead to our set-up shelter in the Kulshan Campground would total 15 ¾ miles each time. This is the opposite direction of the official Baker Lake 50k course, but Terry has allowed us to run it this direction for an official finish. This allows us to leave a camp/aide station set up in the campground safe and protected, whereas there is no camping allowed at the Baker Lake Trailhead end of the course. A Northwest Forest Service Pass is required at that trailhead and the camping is $22.00 per night at Kulshan. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The rain spattered on top of the shelter, waking me up before the 2:45 alarm sounded. I got up and started making coffee. Ras shut off his alarm and snuggled down deeper into the sleeping bags. He didn't seem too anxious to get out into that weather and I wasn't feeling ready for it yet either. Lisa came inside, after having slept in the back of her truck underneath a dry canopy. We all got ready and drank our coffee, making a thermos of it to have in the car for the finish of our first 50k. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We loaded our gear and ourselves into our car. Then we drove down to the Baker Lake Trailhead under the dark and rainy morning skies. There were many cars and trucks lining the thirteen mile Forest Service road that led to the trailhead. I wondered if it was just a normal busy summer weekend in the little campgrounds along the lake, or if perhaps it was going to be a busy fishing day on the lake. From the number of boats, trucks, and fishing conversations I had already observed in Kulshan Campground, I figured it was probably the latter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Arriving at the large lot, we decided to wait out the downpour. I hopped out and got the envelope for the Northwest Forest Service $5.00 fee for the day. Before I knew it, all was quiet in the car. We ended up sleeping for several more hours, waiting for the sheets of rain to stop coming down and getting some additional rest. Ras and I were tired from our weeding job and Lisa had spent hours the previous week working on the garlic harvest at the <b><a href="http://www.lostcreekorganics.com/" target="_blank">organic farm</a></b> she owns and operates with her husband Jason. We all needed more sleep and had decided it would be a good idea to take advantage of this time waiting out the rain storm to catch up on our rest. We were about to expend a lot of energy over what we figured would be about 17 hours. We had no idea what was really in store for us. Running around out in the middle of the woods wouldn't be nearly as much fun if we had anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSmqo7ucJFiAPWySsEPg5DMIT5rR8WJWp6N7ij0Oul4ssTKN-Ubz137KUaTogz0KHfqOuCa3olS2V9iQSupQSsv1tjz7EFSxp__5_Rm7YYLA48iZdWsekm4PdLcJkTUOCFIhrCIcYGw/s1600/DSC06389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSmqo7ucJFiAPWySsEPg5DMIT5rR8WJWp6N7ij0Oul4ssTKN-Ubz137KUaTogz0KHfqOuCa3olS2V9iQSupQSsv1tjz7EFSxp__5_Rm7YYLA48iZdWsekm4PdLcJkTUOCFIhrCIcYGw/s640/DSC06389.JPG" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> At just a few minutes after 8:00 a.m., we stepped foot on the trail and began our adventure. The rain was coming down lightly, although there were puddles on the trail and the brush was sopping wet. I had on a 99 cent rain poncho and Lisa had fashioned a skirt out of a kitchen size garbage bag with a draw string. We decided to “Be Bold and Start Cold” and thus had on shorts, skorts and short sleeves underneath the protective rain gear. I wore knee high Smartwool ski socks to keep my feet warmer and drier than short Injinji crew socks would. I knew I could change them at the turn-around and put on my usual Injinji toe socks if need be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I was starting out in my Altra Lone Peak 2.0's and had a pair of the Altra Olympus 1.5's, a max cush model, for after the first 50k. I knew my feet would be feeling the mileage then and the extra cush underfoot would feel good. This is something I've been doing for about a year now, when I run long distances and have access to a shoe change. The balls of my feet have been getting sore much sooner into a long run since my Pigtails Challenge 150 mile finish Memorial Day weekend this Spring. I haven't been putting as much time into stretching and rolling out as I should, and I've been suffering the consequences. I've had a couple of other awesome runs since Pigtails, and each time I've gotten crazy sore feet, especially my left foot, which has affected my pace. I had high hopes that this run on the Baker Lake trail would be better. Not long into the run, I could tell that I would have foot pain again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I led the pace and we all moved along the wet trail, quietly settling into the long day ahead. I felt calm and peaceful amongst the gigantic old growth trees, the thick blankets of moss and the huge ferns surrounding me. The rain felt good against my face and I stayed plenty warm enough. I saw quick movement on the trail, tiny insect like things crawling or hopping rapidly to and fro. I finally stopped to get a closer look and could see that they were the tiniest frogs I had every seen. They were the size of the little insects that flit about on the surface of ponds and behaved in a similar way. I was amazed at what I was seeing. There were thousands of them and as we ran along, we continued to see them for about a three mile stretch of trail. The weather had been so dry for weeks and now these heavy rains were drenching the earth. It seemed to me that the wet conditions must have been forcing the polliwogs to suddenly continue their natural process, on a very large scale. Ras and Lisa were just as puzzled and amazed by this occurrence. Soon though, we were out of the little ecosystem where this was taking place and there would be other wonders to experience. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVKjwDnhNiel6j53Sr53t23hSuctliBqtYPKL6GIN4OUDg5w4zX2u713eAHbHvSYe53lZHrcbm9A4RDin9B4jSSfXr4zVCuznWuLra5u4wvAwI7R1LEa_wGp8i587s0AlEWT8KcLh-g/s1600/DSC06387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVKjwDnhNiel6j53Sr53t23hSuctliBqtYPKL6GIN4OUDg5w4zX2u713eAHbHvSYe53lZHrcbm9A4RDin9B4jSSfXr4zVCuznWuLra5u4wvAwI7R1LEa_wGp8i587s0AlEWT8KcLh-g/s640/DSC06387.JPG" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We now saw some huge frogs, as Ras and I had seen last July on this trail. We had hoped and expected to see them this time too. I really like frogs and it was fun to see so many of them. The huge ones moved quite slowly, especially in comparison to the miniature ones moving so fast it was hard to not step on them as we ran. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The sun peaked through the clouds a time or two as we ran this first leg along the lake. I had given Lisa some trail beta and we were now reaching Anderson Creek. A slippery, off camber, log bridge spans the swiftly moving creek. I remembered the second year I ran the 50k here when two guys in the race helped a line of women across, holding our hands as we stepped off the slippery log. I thought it was sweet of them. Later in the race, another guy, who I later came to know and become friends with, Ryan McKnight, grabbed my hand to keep me from falling off the trail into a shallow ditch as we passed each other. Again, I was impressed with the nice camaraderie. I love the trail running community for all of the support, positivity and encouragement given each other.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Now over the bridge, it was just a short distance to the road that leads downhill for 1 3/4 miles to the dam crossing and the Kulshan Campground. We discussed what we would need to do at the turn-around. We wanted to make it as quick as possible, knowing that our later stops would likely take longer as we got deeper into the miles and needed more time to eat and rest. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuJN8HQDlg5klTrmZuJiYipHGRquV-JunDxo-FagGv7VoOzJR9oBCNsbu-YQ1Yp6GRm62r5pRvnp2jyhLC5jcSP0pM55u502Uahz_J7969BBQZ5QBDQUuY_6yrlo8ADtyc-D0DBPXPg/s1600/DSC06390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuJN8HQDlg5klTrmZuJiYipHGRquV-JunDxo-FagGv7VoOzJR9oBCNsbu-YQ1Yp6GRm62r5pRvnp2jyhLC5jcSP0pM55u502Uahz_J7969BBQZ5QBDQUuY_6yrlo8ADtyc-D0DBPXPg/s640/DSC06390.JPG" title="photo by Kathy Vaughan/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Ras, Lisa and I left the campground a few minutes after 1:00 in the afternoon. I wasn't happy with the pace I was keeping and I knew it was a slow start. We should have been leaving the camp well before 1:00, but there was nothing to do now but look ahead and I vowed to myself to move faster, no matter how much foot pain I was having. I wanted everyone to have a good time and not to feel slowed down by me. As a slower paced runner, I'm often in the back-of-the-pack, although I've been moving ahead just a bit in the pack. This has felt good. I have been happy with my Spring races, how I performed and persevered through challenging distances. I'd finished 1st and only female at Rock Creek 100k in April and 2nd female at Pigtails Challenge 150 Mile. I knew I could finish this 100k, but I also knew it would be a challenge. I was ready for it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We had a fun climb after crossing the dam as we hiked towards the single track along the lake. We were in good spirits and laughed as we climbed. It felt good to have nearly 18 of our miles now completed. I planned on taking some ibuprofen and changing into my Olympus once we reached the car to help with the discomfort I was having in my foot. This gave me something to look forward to and a way that I could try to deal with what was happening. A big part of finishing ultras is problem solving. Quitting can't be your first option. Evaluating what tools you have available for yourself and choosing which ones to pull out of the box is how you can keep going. I had tools available and I was going to use them. I wanted to earn that buckle and enjoy more hours of trail time with two of my favorite people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_MM1hr4xBwjbNsMt070gJ_P7UFxNMZW0VvkFWFHuZIr2-1AsW-WyEXhqLjR13hB1aEKueUvBLK_jvVy0oTH1fjjQsVF6SWTJHfLtRRQp3VnX4UQ79iGFBGfzVgqZa6W-fooPxIUZ3A/s1600/G0557684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_MM1hr4xBwjbNsMt070gJ_P7UFxNMZW0VvkFWFHuZIr2-1AsW-WyEXhqLjR13hB1aEKueUvBLK_jvVy0oTH1fjjQsVF6SWTJHfLtRRQp3VnX4UQ79iGFBGfzVgqZa6W-fooPxIUZ3A/s640/G0557684.JPG" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The first 50k had about 3,500 feet of elevation gain in it; rolling trail and three sets of switchbacks at the Baker River end. This feels fairly moderate in that first 31 miles, but begins to add up into the second 50k. I was mentally determined to run everything runnable, all of the flats and downhills, and to hike all of the hills with purpose. Physically, this was a tougher challenge. Each rock hurt and try as I might, it was hard to keep up a good running pace. I got pretty discouraged and I felt self-conscious. I felt disappointed in myself and wondered if I'd ever run pain free again. I asked Ras and Lisa to lead the pace. I didn't want to fall behind and I thought I would do better, pushing myself to keep up with them. They took off and got a pretty good lead on me. I had mixed feelings about this overall, but I began to relax mentally. I let up on myself and began to give myself encouragement instead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Finally, we got to the big bridge where Glenn Tachiyama and Takao Suzuki take pictures of the racers on the official race day in October. There were no photographers here now. There was no one to cheer us on to the big lot at the river trailhead. Running and moving for all of these miles and all of these hours, comes from within. It doesn't come from trying to prove anything to anyone other than oneself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I started trail and ultrarunning at age 44 to prevent any type of depressive episode from happening when my only daughter left for college. I ran off nearly 50 pounds and did so with only about ½ of my pancreas. I've had three hospitalizations during the time I've been running, due to pancreatitis. I keep on pursuing this lifestyle though, following a low-fat diet and taking pancreatic enzymes daily to prevent further attacks from occurring. I play the game the way I find interesting and fulfilling. I sometimes use terms to describe the type of run I am attempting or pursuing for the purpose of distinguishing it from another type of run. This self-supported 100k was entirely different and way more difficult than the organized and supported Rock Creek 100k I'd run in April. I aim to inspire others and encourage others. I know it's possible for someone who sets their mind to it to pursue this way of life also.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ln7m3pXKMtzMbfGFfN7BhciZlrCfDPDW7sTnKBzMIRWtpHUjfc-8tj1GlGTyHgOi59raqtkuTSanB1v3B7gIGdLxfi9oaRT7d-wydzweOHBvEZgL9UFb3RH_48ILBWNAPVwEKRTM6Q/s1600/GOPR7688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ln7m3pXKMtzMbfGFfN7BhciZlrCfDPDW7sTnKBzMIRWtpHUjfc-8tj1GlGTyHgOi59raqtkuTSanB1v3B7gIGdLxfi9oaRT7d-wydzweOHBvEZgL9UFb3RH_48ILBWNAPVwEKRTM6Q/s640/GOPR7688.JPG" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Ras, Lisa and I all climbed inside the car. Mosquitoes were thick in the air and I wanted to get away from them so I could change into some dry layers without getting bitten up too badly. I snacked on some food and sunk into the front car seat, resting while I ate. I changed into some long tights, Injinji's and the Altra Olympus my feet had been craving. Lisa climbed into the very back of our Suzuki and changed into dry layers as well. Ras made all of the adjustments he needed to make and by the time we hit the trail again, it was just getting dark. We had our headlamps ready for the nighttime run, but waited until the last minute to turn them on. It's nice moving for as long as possible once the light changes at dusk. I like getting used to the change in atmosphere before having the bright light on my head lead my way down the trail. I was borrowing Ras' new Black Diamond Polar Icon headlamp. It was supposed to be brighter and better and this would hopefully help with my nighttime pace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The first stretch back out, along the bottoms of the Baker River, were easy and pleasant. We all moved along at a good running pace and it felt good to be starting our 2nd 50k. We all had our music or book plugged in, choosing to use distraction for the first miles. It was fun to have my favorite raggae tunes playing in my ear, while I soaked up the last of any remaining light in the forest. We were quiet and focused as we moved along the trail. My max cush underfoot felt awesome. The anti-inflammatories had kicked in and I felt very motivated as the miles melted away, into the night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The trek back toward Kulshan seemed to take forever. We were all sleepy on the trail and getting the drowsies. We decided that once we got back to Kulshan, we would lay down for an hour and sleep. We would then get up and have coffee, hot soup and Lisa's cold Asian salad, loaded with veggies and flavor. This would give us the energy we needed to finish this 100k run. We were too tired to stay awake on the trail and it slowed our pace to a drunken-like stumble at times. We had already laid down on the trail for numerous naps and we needed to just fall soundly asleep for a spell. This helped me tremendously during Pigtails. I knew it would help now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg3FWWeyXcC1GVPOXnCtcXg1nc_pQEzysWq9AY4c4gjOw76GzjyUqexlK1U-Cbj1jHpIZLd7R0UMPCTRO8yAx2FQlqcP2k6qTrcj3PTcn_RuuwSe0Ee0k1kMYPdoRc_9SViNMyQdU4w/s1600/GOPR7701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg3FWWeyXcC1GVPOXnCtcXg1nc_pQEzysWq9AY4c4gjOw76GzjyUqexlK1U-Cbj1jHpIZLd7R0UMPCTRO8yAx2FQlqcP2k6qTrcj3PTcn_RuuwSe0Ee0k1kMYPdoRc_9SViNMyQdU4w/s640/GOPR7701.JPG" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I was completely out of it, as I set my alarm. I crawled into my sleeping bag and don't even remember falling asleep. Lisa got into the back of her truck and Ras got in the sleeping bag beside me at some point; I was already nearly comatose when he did so. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I was the first to awaken. I don't know if I heard the alarm go off or not. I just knew it was time to hop back up and get on the trail. The clock was ticking and even though our finishing time was already going to be outrageous, I didn't want it to be any slower. My original goal had been to finish faster than last summer, but that goal had been squashed many hours ago. We were looking at a 30 hour finish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I went to the back of Lisa's truck and called out to her. She was soon inside the shelter, finishing up her preparations to get back out there for our final leg. Ras hadn't stirred yet, but I knew with the noise Lisa and I were making, he would be up and getting ready shortly. I made coffee for everyone and we changed into layers appropriate for the new day, a sunny morning, the rain long since having stopped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Everyone was ready pretty quickly and we began hiking out of Kulshan camp, loosening up our sore muscles and our tight feet. We hiked at a good clip and mixed in running on the less steep section of the road. Before we knew it, we were at the single track section and moving towards Anderson Creek, Anderson Point, and Maple Grove Campground. We were all fully awake now and no one needed to stop for a nap. We had our first view of a small portion of the flank of Baker. The temperature was warm, but not hot, perfect for a run in the woods. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My mind was full of thoughts of the finish, of a good meal, comfy clothes, a buckle. Lisa led the way and kept a good pace. She called out breaks ahead of time and we stopped briefly at Maple Grove and Noisy Creek Campgrounds for short rests. Our focus was on the finish though, and we knew we had it now. It had been a fun, challenging, adventurous time along Baker Lake and Baker River. We had shared many laughs; kept each other company in the night; conversed about a myriad of topics, all the while running & hiking 63 miles, for the fun of it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinH5VJ1efKO6ZARauz9yodkNx4jvCrmhZCG6r6ctxf0oFn7hCBhOZaCd0xsC9HOmKRjohrt4OsT11KsE-orHS9py2nYCoa9jmN78fwibALFpxVcFvj4hrEHdw-KX5okbvt9POFewTsfQ/s1600/G0587707K%2526LeND.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinH5VJ1efKO6ZARauz9yodkNx4jvCrmhZCG6r6ctxf0oFn7hCBhOZaCd0xsC9HOmKRjohrt4OsT11KsE-orHS9py2nYCoa9jmN78fwibALFpxVcFvj4hrEHdw-KX5okbvt9POFewTsfQ/s640/G0587707K%2526LeND.JPG" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Back at the car, Ras took a couple of pictures of Lisa and I. He had been teasing us about our choice of “morning after” running attire, I in my purple Smartwool tights and Lisa in a torquioise colored long sleeve, lightweight tech sweater. He said it looked like we were running in our pajamas. After all of the sleep running, we had both decided to wear cozy clothes for our final 15 ¾ mile stretch. I stopped my watch when we got back to the lot and glanced down to see a finishing time of 30:35. It's a time that reflects what a self-supported, 100k trail run can be like if one takes the time to rest, sleep, and picnic. It wasn't my top performance, but it was at the top of my list of great experiences for this summer. After a move to a new area, in a neighborhood rather than in the middle of the woods; working a new job five days a week, of hard physical labor; leaving behind some of my solitude and independence for the time being; I am happy that I can still prioritize and experience a run like this. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> To run with Lisa, Ras and the frogs; to hear the wind rustle the leaves and cause the trees to squeak together eerily; to move through the quiet of the night, hearing the birds sing as they awaken for the day; to test my limits of physical and mental endurance: I feel like I'm thriving, living at my fullest, during these long runs. I am at my best and I'm challenged to keep the strength in me; to not melt into my worst. There are highs and lows along the way. I take away the feeling of peace and gratitude when I leave the trail. I share this essence with others I encounter through my blog writing, my stories I tell to those I'm around and; my eagerness to teach others how they too can experience the joy of moving along a trail in the wilderness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <b>FOOD LIST</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Vegetarian Bean & Rice Burritos – 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Black Cherry Clif Blocks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Clif Bars – Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Toffee Buzz, Carrot Cake</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. “Tings” Baked Corn Snacks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Indian Spiced Cracker mix by Bhutan</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. Black Bean Soup by Trader Joe's</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. Chia Seed/Lemonade Drink</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. 2 baggies of assorted gel candies/sports gel chews</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. Dark Chocolate covered raisins</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. Coffee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11. 1 Energy Drink</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12. 2 packages Stonewall's soy jerkey “Wild” flavor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Kathy Vaughanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16781079217933588340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-78647491458730889782015-07-20T23:06:00.003-07:002015-07-23T20:43:39.162-07:00Cowlitz Connection Route<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Cowlitz Connection Route</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />An Unsupported Only Known Time Attempt</span></b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIstQw82uSI449CVlZun3V0OYA8Xmy6R0lR7fVphF5WYJL57syWX1lmtNORI1d0FA-rhgr8rLHOJZwkgitO5Qf5q7Bt6EoN3_KvO8WN2ajtvxXlo8AQ6Q60ercRyvnvKgx31unUowhQ/s1600/RasProfile+photo+by+Chihping+Fu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="photo by Chihping Fu" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIstQw82uSI449CVlZun3V0OYA8Xmy6R0lR7fVphF5WYJL57syWX1lmtNORI1d0FA-rhgr8rLHOJZwkgitO5Qf5q7Bt6EoN3_KvO8WN2ajtvxXlo8AQ6Q60ercRyvnvKgx31unUowhQ/s200/RasProfile+photo+by+Chihping+Fu.jpg" title="photo by Chihping Fu" width="128" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Ras</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"> If any one trail can be credited with making me who and what I am today, the Wonderland Trail is it. Sixteen years ago, the first time I hiked the Wonderland with Kathy and our daughter Angela, who was seven years old at the time, it took us 21 days to complete the 93 mile loop, including two zero days. My fastest time for the complete Wonderland is 33 hours and 35 minutes, which stands in my mind as the best running performance of my career. Despite having completed the trail ten times, I still find myself drawn to it, wanting to do it yet again; and when I am pondering potential future adventures my mind always wanders back to the Wonderland and the iconic mountain it encircles. (Read about my history with the Wonderland Trail here: <a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2012/09/double-wonderland-reversing-ambition.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Part One</a><b> </b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2012/09/double-wonderland-reversing-ambition_18.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Part Two</a><b> </b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2012/09/double-wonderland-reversing.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Part Three</a>)</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Mount Rainier haunts western Washington like a temperamental deity, at times peaking out from behind the clouds with which it obscures itself, and on other occasions boldly displaying its immensity against a deep blue sky, but always there, seen or unseen, but ever seeing. The Mountain draws tens of thousand of us puny humans to itself every year to scamper around its flanks or even, audaciously, climb its face. The vast majority of those humans return home safely, their lives enriched, their bodies and minds challenged and toughened. But every so often the Mountain kills, seemingly randomly choosing one of the animate to make inanimate, as if to say, "Remember with whom you're dealing." It's not a tame mountain.<br /><br /> Rainier maintains an even greater sway over me than it seems to others. Vaughan family tradition holds that in the 1930's, the days of hobnailed boots and hemp rope, my grandfather climbed Rainier. That's all my mother knows, the fact of the accomplished climb. My father passed away in 2003, and I never learned more before he left this world, as to what route my grandfather took up the Mountain, how many people he climbed with, or any of the other specifics that would add some concrete detail to the tale. It has simply been passed down that long ago a Vaughan climbed Mount Rainier. And that seed grew the idea in my mind that one day another Vaughan would climb Mount Rainier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX59vB8YzKJy3shv4pnY0xBly8ZPMHlYkRD3wj7ekIVEa0xpQXir9h4MlMIewkf3i1fhczm2lLHc0UohQTjbbcAmFT-GKITw8LdtnM-BPMk5IkKv_CH976o4zQMzMp4QLQ0K8K6wcxA/s640/aakPrussikPractice.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prussik training the day before our adventure began.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In my frequent meditations on my favorite Mountain I find myself constantly scheming on combinations or iterations of routes near, on, and around Rainier. Like a rat focused on finding the solution to a maze in order to obtain the cheese at the end, my mind is forever imagining routes, trail linkages, and methodologies to combine into the perfect and complete experience of the peak once widely known as Tahoma, Tacobeh, Pooskaus, Tacoma, and other appellations. Including the summit in a route seemed like the next logical step, but it also was taking things to the next level: in particular, entering the realm of mountaineering. <br /><br /> I'm a top notch Armchair Alpinist, but prior to this trip I had no actual mountaineering experience. I had spent plenty of time above the treeline, had lots of experience hiking on snow, and knew the basics of self arrest with an ice ax. I also had lots of real life experience that would translate. I had worked as a merchant marine and was familiar with handling rope lines and tying various knots and hitches, plus I had done high work on ships, hanging from a boatswain's chair 40 feet off the deck painting the superstructure. I had also done lots of high work as a carpenter balancing on ladders and scaling scaffolding wearing a 20 lb tool belt, as well as dancing along rooftops. But I had no proper mountaineering experience.<br /><br /> At some point my brain settled on the idea of combining a traverse of the summit with the Wonderland Trail, ideally doing it all unsupported, and there was no getting around the fact that I would need help. I needed the help of an experienced mountaineer who was not only an ultrarunner as well, but one mental enough to see the appeal of carrying all of our gear, food, and supplies for the entire trip, with no resupply and no dropping off trash. There was one man who came immediately to mind. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL8eG8yzHdayl5zEGnKuYt4O2CtPxtBWL74f9KNHA2AKLRUePFEbcNI_JeGmF46UjFg1O74OVj-SzdquXn2WvPgBNjKCzgtelxX3jMa7JrTWMqIrS6C5wQYTSC9dJzx_nIjXa9yd9wA/s1600/aPanhandleCreek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL8eG8yzHdayl5zEGnKuYt4O2CtPxtBWL74f9KNHA2AKLRUePFEbcNI_JeGmF46UjFg1O74OVj-SzdquXn2WvPgBNjKCzgtelxX3jMa7JrTWMqIrS6C5wQYTSC9dJzx_nIjXa9yd9wA/s640/aPanhandleCreek.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After four years as an Army Engineer at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Richard Kresser chose to make the Pacific Northwest his home permanently. Mount Rainier has always been a driving force in his life, since he first climbed it in 2007. A climber first and a trail runner second, Richard is fascinated by all mountain travel, and the most effective movement over varied terrain. In 2013, he set the Unsupported Fastest Known Time of the Wonderland Loop in 27:16. He currently works as a Race Director for Evergreen Trail Runs and the Bigfoot/Tahoe 200 Mile Endurance Races, and works ski patrol at Stevens Pass Resort in the winter. He runs for Altra Footwear and Nuun.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> Richard Kresser is a mountaineer and ultrarunner and Altra AmBadAssador that I had met and spoken with at the Cascade Crest 100 Miler in the summer of 2014. Kathy and I had captained an aide station and Richard had run the race finishing in under 22 hours for 11 place overall. He also held the Unsupported Fastest Known Time for the Wonderland Trail. At that time he told me about an ambitious project he has in the works that combines mountaineering and ultrarunning. I again ran into Richard at the Tahoe 200 Miler last September, where he was involved in putting on the race. From these facts and our conversations a gestalt arose, proving that Richard as a whole was greater than the simple sum of his parts, and that he was the man for the job.<br /><br /> The lodge that Kathy and I had been caretaking for the past seven years in the Okanogan Highlands had been put on the market, and had become an unlivable parade of realtors and prospective buyers. In our everyday life we are very private people, and having strangers constantly paraded through our home was horribly stressful for both of us. So we found ourselves with no fixed address. On top of that, the usual offers of and opportunities for spring work seemed to have suddenly dried up after thirteen years. I can be a challenging person to deal with on a daily basis, and it's possible that my reputation had outgrown the local job market. Additionally, grants we had applied for and proposals we had submitted to potential sponsors to fund our adventure season had not come through, leaving us very much in the lurch in every aspect of our lives.<br /> <br /> Knowing we would be relocating to the Wetside for a while to earn an adventure budget, and wanting to keep my adventure goals moving forward, I contacted Richard by Facebook message the beginning of May 2015 with the basic idea for the Rainier Wonder Route: a concept route that would include the entire 93 mile Wonderland Trail and a traverse of the summit part way through, climbing the Disappointment Cleaver Route and descending the Emmons Glacier, carrying all of our gear and food from beginning to end. It was a crazy idea, with some clunky aspects to it, but with an unsupported "purity" that really resonated for me and, I hoped, would for Richard. I admitted to Richard that carrying our mountaineering gear for an additional 60+ miles after the traverse was kind of an "out there" idea, but that, to my way of thinking, "... Caching gear for the climb to pick up and use for the traverse and then drop before running the route out to the end just seems so ... ordinary. "</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> To my delight and surprise Richard Responded, "I am TOTALLY IN!"<br /><br /> Richard had a very tight schedule, leaving only the first half of July as a window of opportunity for the project. Moreonver, it was a particularly bad year for the climbing routes on Rainier. At the beginning of July the climbing Rangers were describing "September-like" conditions, with crevasses opening on even the highly trafficked routes, such as the D.C., and weakening and collapsing snow bridges on the Emmons. There were a number of factors against us, and we knew our chances of completing the route were slim, but we both were of a mind that it was better to try and fail than to not give it a go this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.runningfarther.com/2015/07/16/you-aint-failing-you-aint-trying/" target="_blank">Read Richard's Trip report Here</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Between Facebook messaging and a google spreadsheet for brainstorming gear needs, Richard and I completed all of our planning for the trip online. We didn't speak on the phone or in person until Thursday, July 9, when he picked me up at the ferry landing in Mukilteo in his serial-killer-mobile, a nondescript white panel van. We had arranged to meet at 10:00 am to allow of plenty of time to get to the White River Campground early enough for Richard to teach me the essential knots and ropework for safe glacier travel as a two-man rope. From the basics of prussiking to rigging a snow anchor and z-pulley system for crevasse rescue, he demonstrated and I drilled and practised until the early evening. Then we readied our gear for the morning, and Richard went to sleep about two hours before sundown. I followed the Wonderland a couple hundred yards down to where the log bridge over the White River had been washed out, listened to boulders being clanged along the bottom by the raging chocolate milk of glacial meltwater, let my mind chew on the crossing problem, and ate a couple of Tasty Bites packets while just sitting there with the Mountain. My mind was racing with possibilities and contingency plans and my nerves were singing with the adrenaline rush of our impending adventure. Just as the sun was setting, I lay down to sleep.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvBccF2JfwudOEhoKcQIbsXMMuWXWq541XxDpqzP6ZlEiICfS03hI0MF2xazNXZ3BtoVsgyUC8rxs5atZf4YosXmdxBu8O2vFCFrp1C6t_LKPr-SiDtjNyDukJYFEuR6ggE930CxZ1A/s1600/aStartTime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvBccF2JfwudOEhoKcQIbsXMMuWXWq541XxDpqzP6ZlEiICfS03hI0MF2xazNXZ3BtoVsgyUC8rxs5atZf4YosXmdxBu8O2vFCFrp1C6t_LKPr-SiDtjNyDukJYFEuR6ggE930CxZ1A/s640/aStartTime.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> At 7:55 am Friday morning Richard and I left White River Campground on the Wonderland Trail carrying 35+ pound packs containing roughly 60 hours worth of food, 40 meters of rope, boots, crampons, ice axes, helmets, down pants and jackets, gloves, harnesses and more. We covered about 200 yards before we hit the aforementioned log bridge outage. We scouted upstream a ways and found a wider braided section that was shallow and fordable on the near side of a small rock island, and on the far side had a downed log sticking over it about waist high. I had anticipated this ford and had rigged my shoes for it by removing the insoles and not wearing socks. Richard quickly removed his gaiters and socks and insoles, and then made the first crossing. The water was fast and heavy and strong and was challenging to move through even at the shallow braid. And, disconcertingly, we could hear small boulders bouncing off one another as they were hurled downstream underwater. On the second braid we were able to straddle the downed tree and hump our way across. It was precarious and ungraceful, but we were thankful to not have to deviate from the Wonderland Trail proper. Even scootching across the log the strong current reefed on our feet and lower legs, trying to topple us from our safety log and into its deadly, Quik torrent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As soon as we were once again safely on dry ground we broke into an easy run. This is the sort of moment I live for; the entrance into insanity, the first steps in a journey to the unpossible, Sisyphus' first climb. I caught a toe on a root right away and didn't fall (I don't think Richard even knew), but hit the top of my toe hard enough to bruise it. My toe immediately went from numb with glacial runoff chill to throbbing with white hot pain. It seemed the perfect juxtaposition for the beginning of an adventure that was designed to push me to my limits and beyond, and which, with it's mountaineering aspect, was by far the most dangerous thing I had ever done. And yet we ran eagerly toward our destiny, ungainly under our packs, hovercrafts of anticipation, floating over those first four miles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSmUdHz0_H870eweXfrf293MwVWihPjwTqeF0Nn66yZCGvastJ5qRm6b6iwArojh4BoUkucM8GMzWcGIExUyyt5nH7nGiLlWfz5TaJUOu5YNttw1KRMZaRU4OY6OO5KJ5bO33dYmdzQ/s1600/aBegin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSmUdHz0_H870eweXfrf293MwVWihPjwTqeF0Nn66yZCGvastJ5qRm6b6iwArojh4BoUkucM8GMzWcGIExUyyt5nH7nGiLlWfz5TaJUOu5YNttw1KRMZaRU4OY6OO5KJ5bO33dYmdzQ/s640/aBegin.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Soon after we began climbing the switchbacks up along Frying Pan Creek toward Summerland our shoes had dried a bit, so we stopped to re-rig our footwear and fill water bottles. There was a lot of water over the next number of miles, so we were just carrying one full bottle each. We took off our shoes, banged the glacial silt out of them, reinserted the insoles, put our socks back on, and got moving again. Our "fording rig" had performed admirably, and is a technique I will definitely use in the future. My shoes felt great, and with dry socks and insoles only seemed a bit damp, and perfectly comfortable. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSmUdHz0_H870eweXfrf293MwVWihPjwTqeF0Nn66yZCGvastJ5qRm6b6iwArojh4BoUkucM8GMzWcGIExUyyt5nH7nGiLlWfz5TaJUOu5YNttw1KRMZaRU4OY6OO5KJ5bO33dYmdzQ/s1600/aBegin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXvLDvFbDMb5l_XpSpEwbtzjk5UOaOqKk3NLp_qEb9DLqdjsdhPjpVEgYnlSQPkCdWBpEys9OWufmBASyVjJPdKsToMUN9RXYNoVsvarmBMcgDNCTpWrYYRJCMrNgPO_Vank5vhOR9g/s1600/afterFordShoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXvLDvFbDMb5l_XpSpEwbtzjk5UOaOqKk3NLp_qEb9DLqdjsdhPjpVEgYnlSQPkCdWBpEys9OWufmBASyVjJPdKsToMUN9RXYNoVsvarmBMcgDNCTpWrYYRJCMrNgPO_Vank5vhOR9g/s640/afterFordShoe.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I felt good with my poles out just clicking and climbing away. I don't know what the reality was, but at this point I felt like Richard and I were well paired, and that we were moving at a pace that was efficient for both of us. Unfortunately, this is because I was fresh and performing the best I would of the entire trip, whereas Richard had a sour stomach that had been bothering him since breakfast. Fortunately for Richard, his stomach would soon clear up. Unfortunately for both of us, my performance would deteriorate from Panhandle Gap on out.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> But, blessedly, I didn't know that at the time. I was feeling good, enjoying the brisk climb on one of my very favorite trails on the planet. On any given day, if asked were I would prefer to be spending my time, I would answer, "Mount Rainier." Out on the trail, in general, is where I most feel alive, most natural, most free to be myself, most like I actually fit in somewhere. The Wonderland Trail in particular is where I feel absolutely at home and most essentially alive. Beauty was all around me and passing through me, and it passed no judgement on my ugliness, internal or external. Mount Rainier is not were I feel closest to God, but where I feel most overwhelmed by God.<br /><br /> I know for a fact that God is not an angry bearded caucasian man in the sky causing wealthy first-worlders minor inconveniences as cosmic payback for their manifold sins and wickedness, or influencing the outcome of reality teevee shows in response to frantic and plaintiff mutterings of, "Oh, PleaseJesusPleaseJesusPleaseJesusPleaseLetUsWinThis!" I'm less convinced that God might not be a mountain. But I'll stop short of asserting that, and will say that Mount Rainier is a Divine Wi-fi Hotspot. To interpolate this in terms of hebrew numerology, Rainier is a 7g network; a perfect connection. On one of our most recent Wonderland Trail hikes, Kathy and Angela and I passed a woman climbing up from Indian Bar as we were heading down to it from Panhandle Gap. She was wearing foam gardening kneepads, and we had seen her kneeling down on the trail with her face nearly in the dirt. It's possible that she was a botanist or an entomologist studying something so small we hadn't noticed it. But she wasn't wearing a National Park uniform and didn't have the federal government vibe many NPS employees unwittingly emit. My impression was, and still is, that she was doing prostrations, one on each of the erosion steps. A little research shows this was likely <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/06/27/currently-hanging-the-prostrations-of-mimi-allen" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">A K Mimi Allin</a>. I presume one of the reasons she chose Rainier is because the cosmic reception is so good.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yF7gNvSmzSfQg6os7l-fT7ZVkdqSjysaVb4t7iQM4t1ItO3wsmesHKX4W8yeXYD9PaTdjkRMpDLRry9NtMo_KwE2AV54GH07UYlk41gYcrzbNYF2RJPPt9bgJe50tgdgOtpYhXxo2A/s640/zheroes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we were making our way up along Frying Pan Creek, just below Summerland, we met Jerry and Mary Zyskowski. As Richard and I came up behind them, I saw their packs were festooned with patches commemorating treks and adventures all over the world. We chatted briefly as we passed them, and then again outside Summerland when they passed us. I asked Mary if I could take her photo, but she said she was uncomfortable with that, but she was okay with us taking a photo from the back to show some of her patches. I'm flattering myself, but I felt a kinship with these two Hominids, as if my soul recognized kindred spirits, and I felt some regret that we were at the beginning of a fast push and couldn't stop to hear some of their stories. I hope Jerry and Mary are a glimpse of what the future holds for Kathy and I. In other words, when I grow up, I wanna be like Mary and Jerry Zyskowski.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFD9RYJrYYjQC3G_Mq5rIYBgnSRHGzf2Jc6TXK5Q6CO8NaWZTi4dPL1Xld-g_cDJB-42F2TOG4M2q9ixt-0K3OMYmho2U_CItrXdga2bMT7w9lDP5cLTsFhS5XMgTeLkaAEksAGYPag/s1600/RasSummerland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFD9RYJrYYjQC3G_Mq5rIYBgnSRHGzf2Jc6TXK5Q6CO8NaWZTi4dPL1Xld-g_cDJB-42F2TOG4M2q9ixt-0K3OMYmho2U_CItrXdga2bMT7w9lDP5cLTsFhS5XMgTeLkaAEksAGYPag/s640/RasSummerland.jpg" title="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My pack felt about as heavy as on the Unsupported Washington Traverse last year, so I guestimate it was nearly 40 pounds; perhaps a couple pounds over that if you include 4 1/2 pounds of climbing rope. The weight was noticeable, but felt like I could sustain a good pace while carrying it. The day was cloudy, which was a blessing, as daytime temperatures had been scorching hot for weeks. As we climbed past Summerland and up toward Panhandle Gap I was still feeling strong, but Richard was getting over his stomach problems and starting to outpace me. I would turn a corner thinking I was right behind him, only to find him 100 yards up the trail. From this point on I could never keep up with him, much to my chagrin. </span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjybspdlX-0s3e81XO6eNV2KeYj_Zax3MLEv4zr5YQ1tLe4GdIrNNQZdNxvk4vD4Aqx544x3VfQn2IJoL33y9ntTLQmjltz-EklctKg5_ykM-FXcVmSPK1qXOW54shTVYlbMp5VgQ1oA/s1600/aPanGearTraverse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyS3z0j2nUxm97hkRrEgTDxMxW50Rv5SQ5-3RiiVK7K2xDNOpxds0MDHpVH6pldRJXe-lURT0I0mrm0_HB_9p_zmvJ0ja0j_fZpS8RXpUkZhqBIxCUmk4D-wynN5-XWbqm3jJuUZysLg/s1600/aPrePanhandle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyS3z0j2nUxm97hkRrEgTDxMxW50Rv5SQ5-3RiiVK7K2xDNOpxds0MDHpVH6pldRJXe-lURT0I0mrm0_HB_9p_zmvJ0ja0j_fZpS8RXpUkZhqBIxCUmk4D-wynN5-XWbqm3jJuUZysLg/s640/aPrePanhandle.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL8eG8yzHdayl5zEGnKuYt4O2CtPxtBWL74f9KNHA2AKLRUePFEbcNI_JeGmF46UjFg1O74OVj-SzdquXn2WvPgBNjKCzgtelxX3jMa7JrTWMqIrS6C5wQYTSC9dJzx_nIjXa9yd9wA/s1600/aPanhandleCreek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Surprisingly, there was no snow at all on Panhandle Gap, or on the traverse above Indian Bar. This was vexing in the middle of July. Most years it's all snow hiking from below Panhandle Gap all the way across the top of Ohanapecosh Park to the beginning of the descent toward Indian Bar until the middle of August. When we bought our climbing permit the ranger inundated us with pessimistic route beta, especially for the Emmons. She referred to "September-like" conditions, and that certainly applied to Panhandle Gap. I can't recall ever before moving through that section without touching snow at all. I knew this would mean few water sources along the Cowlitz Divide, if any. But over the gap and across and down to Indian Bar water would be not only plentiful, but delicious; some of the best tasting water I've had in my life, ice cold, fresh off the Fryingpan Glacier.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7EcMd5cjNNKzxX2jg2R7c-bWITv9ehAQN3BjcBLz7Dd9w5p8wSgq4XV0eK_BuSVZaIo-jte4M0gZB5kk9JqoWCIUhPOgqof7xelInf93K6wa-fVSjm0C5HP1jeWmQXS350SVNciyhA/s1600/aPanhandlePack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz8fH_dRUMyJGb_VyNkxQFGVlIJ8EJmslseIJplsaJhMAl1fBkcz3ddUkxJA1SDwQZIEyRL89MvfRgyYkeDkeyq8IxQeoV5Mc-3PyTTsCG4LgoS1BlRQq0tox9Y61axcNSqPVQ8XEqg/s640/aPanhandlePalaver.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A disturbingly snow-free Panhandle Gap.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz8fH_dRUMyJGb_VyNkxQFGVlIJ8EJmslseIJplsaJhMAl1fBkcz3ddUkxJA1SDwQZIEyRL89MvfRgyYkeDkeyq8IxQeoV5Mc-3PyTTsCG4LgoS1BlRQq0tox9Y61axcNSqPVQ8XEqg/s1600/aPanhandlePalaver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUj0OwLJE_NPCqRsnloEKVs_kxGAfd6lqhX9BqdIueo_df52ZPDBNY98D4b39meDYrmyfW3Qj457QYr-kFiR7nw-Kd9SiIDliIYF1Ljtz6z8fzPt3Q7jErYsODtC-8WnY9wfcYHJoucg/s1600/aPanhandlePoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We started running again as we dropped over the rim of Panhandle Gap, just as the sun came out from behind the clouds, and the temperature jumped twenty degrees. We slaked our thirst at many of the creek crossings as we whoopdeedooed our way along the top of Ohanapecosh Park, alternating between gentle runable downhills and short climbs. In the heat of the direct sun I was much more aware of the weight of my pack. I could feel that my entire core was working hard to stabilize me while running under the weight of my load. The heat was magnifying the effect. <br /><br /> As we began the descent to Indian Bar my discomfort continued to increase and my performance continued to decline. The steep downhill on the erosion steps was battering me and sapping my energy. When we hit the valley floor and neared the Indian Bar camp I had just about caught up with Richard again. I told him I needed a short sit down break. It seemed we were both feeling the heat, but me moreso. I was out of breath and dripping sweat. Although we found a shady spot just across the bridge from the camp, the air was stagnant, with no cooling breeze, and the pause did not refresh as much as I had hoped. <br /><br /> The sun was still out in full, and the direct strength of it felt as though it were causing my skin to sizzle. From Indian Bar across the Cowlitz Divide is often very exposed and hot. Most of the times I've moved through this section of trail, it's been in short bursts of hiking or running from one patch of shade to the next. Today would be no different, except that usually there would be snow to eat and hold on my neck to cool myself, as well as seasonal snowmelt runoff, cold and refreshing. This year there was none of that. There was no water from Indian Bar to Nickel Creek. We had filled our bottles from the creek by the Indian Bar Group Site shelter, but at the rate I was sweating, that would leave me without water well before Nickel Creek. <br /><br /> I was moving efficiently on the flats and downhills. Climbs were a different matter. There have been lots of times that I have performed well in warm weather for days or weeks on end, but this was not one of those times. On even the slighest uphill gradient I slowed to a crawl. Barely into the double digits mileage wise, I was already to the point of having to force myself to take 100 steps before allowing myself to lean on my poles and rest for a minute. Whether I still wasn't fully recovered from the Pigtails 200 Miler over Memorial Day, or was suffering the deleterious effects of living at sea level for the past six weeks after living and training at 3500 feet and higher for the last fourteen years, I know not. My performance was atrocious, that I do know, and in my mind's eye I could see all of our plans unraveling.<br /><br /> The mountaineering portion of this project was predicated on the idea of hitting Camp Muir between 10:00 pm and midnight. That would allow us to push on for the summit during the cold of night, when rockfall would be minimized, top out at dawn, then have the morning light to sight out our line down the Emmons in the cool of the morning while the snow bridges were still solid. <br /><br /> I became more and more convinced I was suffering a minor case of heat stroke. Each time I would sit down on the side of the trail for a minutes to allow my core temperature to tick down a notch or two, my mind would be running numbers, trying to figure out what pace I would have to make for the rest of the way up to Camp Muir in order to hit our dawn summit goal. This produced an anxiety that I am unused to in my adventuring. Usually my timelines are based solely on my goals and aspirations, and I don't worry too much about backing off from an A goal in order to hit goals B, C, and D. But on this project the effects would cascade through our entire timeline, and we didn't have days of leeway with which to play.<br /><br /> I pushed on, constantly telling myself that if I ate and drank a little more, I would feel better, that there was plenty of time to salvage this effort and turn things around. We finally made it over the last of the spires along the Cowlitz and began the extended descent to Nickle Creek. Back on flats and downhills I was moving well again, if not quite keeping up with Richard. After a few miles of pleasant, duffy single track, I caught up to Richard at Nickle Creek, where we both ate and drank and filled our bottles as we rested and cooled down. Richard was clearly feeling better than I was, and he took over carrying the 40 meter rope at that point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7EcMd5cjNNKzxX2jg2R7c-bWITv9ehAQN3BjcBLz7Dd9w5p8wSgq4XV0eK_BuSVZaIo-jte4M0gZB5kk9JqoWCIUhPOgqof7xelInf93K6wa-fVSjm0C5HP1jeWmQXS350SVNciyhA/s1600/aPanhandlePack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7EcMd5cjNNKzxX2jg2R7c-bWITv9ehAQN3BjcBLz7Dd9w5p8wSgq4XV0eK_BuSVZaIo-jte4M0gZB5kk9JqoWCIUhPOgqof7xelInf93K6wa-fVSjm0C5HP1jeWmQXS350SVNciyhA/s640/aPanhandlePack.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Cloud cover closed in and once again the temperature dropped. This was an immense help, but did not restore me as much as I had hoped. The cool felt good, but there was also increasing moisture in the air. We moved well over a few miles past box canyon and down to Maple Creek. Then we turned uphill to begin our 12,000+ foot climb to the summit, and I immediately once again slowed.<br /><br /> I can't say enough about how patient Richard was with my performance in this section. Each time we would sit for a couple of moments I would vow to keep up with him from then on. But once we started moving, my motivation would flag and my breathing would run away from me. I would stop and catch my breath and feel revivified, then be panting and brought up short again by my lack of wind. I cycled through this over and over, continuing to grind away not only at the climb, but at our dwindling time budget. In essence, I was writing checks my watch couldn't cover.<br /><br /> On top of all that, I had very little appetite. I had to invest in some gear for this trip on shorter notice than I would have liked, plus we had just relocated from the east side of the mountains and had only just paid off those costs. I was super broke coming into this adventure, and the one place I ended up being able to cut corners budget-wise was food. I had two big boxes of old school crunchy granola bars, a jar of chocolate hazelnut butter, a few packets of ramen, a few pouches of Tasty Bites, and a large baggie of oreos. Many of these things I had on hand, and that's what I had with which to make do. These were all foods I had successfully fueled with for thru-hikes and adventure runs in the past, but now they were failing me. They were unappealing and difficult to eat. I kept forcing spoonfuls of nutbutter into my mouth and washing them down with water, like big slimey pills. Same thing with the oreos. I would cram a few into my mouth and begin to chew them, then add water and chew it into a slurry I could swallow, then chase it with more water. But no matter which calories I took in or how often, I never seemed to get a boost of energy or any uptick in performance. I was fueling the grind, but just barely.<br /><br /> As we were climbing up to Reflection Lakes, where we would leave the Wonderland and make for Paradise, the weather turned more grey, and more wet, and more drippy. We found ourselves surrounded by thick, vaporous fog, and the underbrush began to paint us moistly as we passed. Then I felt a twang in my right quadriceps. There was now pain with each step, and when I came to a stop, I could see a muscle in the middle of my thigh spasming. Messaging it and stretching it during stops and paying careful attention to pointing my toe straight forward with each step had the cumulative effect of easing the pain, but not completely eliminating it. My mind was on the verge of panic, reeling, wondering pessimistically, "What <i>else</i> could go wrong?" But I kept reigning my worries in with a focus on form, breathing, and eating; the most essential basics of a Biped.<br /><br /> I feel like I was drifting in and out of consciousness for the rest of the climb up to Paradise. I remember at one point Richard and I both stopped and sat down on the side of the trail and fell asleep for fifteen minutes or so. Much of the climb is unclear from any dreams I may have had during that nap. There's no way to tell where one ended and the other began. I had never touched any of these trails off the Wonderland proper, and I had never even been to Paradise before, but that failed to excite me or hold my attention. I was stumbling through a swirling mist of vapor toward an unseen goal an unknowable distance away, or so it seemed. There was as much fog inside my head as out.<br /><br /> Each time I caught up to Richard he seemed to give us dwindling odds of achieving even a small portion of our goals. The Wonder Route seemed like a mathematical impossibility, the traverse seemed very unlikely to go, and even a simple summit attempt might be out of the question. I had no choice but to listen to Richard and accept what he was saying. He had the mountaineering experience and I was in complete agreement that he would have the final word on decision in his bailiwick. I could urge patience and restraint from making decision before they needed to be made, but I would accept his dictates when it came down to it. But for now there were still possibilities, so we kept climbing.<br /><br /> When we reached Paradise I needed to get out of the dang dripping mist, eat a bit, put on my rain shell, and reorganize my pack. We dismissed the idea of entering the crowded lodge, and instead spread ourselves out on the floor of the entryway to the closed Climber's Center. A few employees came and went as we dirtied up the floor, but there were all friendly and interested in what we were up to. Telling our plan to a few of them and seeing their eyes widen at the audacity of it seemed to renew our conviction. Regardless of how bad our odds of success might be, we had not yet come nearly far enough to turn back. There was only one way to go: onward and upward.<br /><br /> Richard shared some Airheads and Sourpatch Kids candies that tasted great to me, and I finally began to feel some energy returning. We got out our headlamps, layered up, and began the climb up to Camp Muir four hours after our intended departure time.</span></div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKdWVCrK4-ehJZtBBJpgqnbUlC4sk2PengCcFDFBrWozJ3ltavlIXWSuPtvtZ8E9ZmqLTcJPD3ztsEKOKqOc5QEL0YA5fgjbb8Vt7HG8cbUpcA7nOo-9ZL5pF5Zs_QZVkGJ3gzNuVmg/s1600/RasClimberCenter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKdWVCrK4-ehJZtBBJpgqnbUlC4sk2PengCcFDFBrWozJ3ltavlIXWSuPtvtZ8E9ZmqLTcJPD3ztsEKOKqOc5QEL0YA5fgjbb8Vt7HG8cbUpcA7nOo-9ZL5pF5Zs_QZVkGJ3gzNuVmg/s640/RasClimberCenter.jpg" title="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Muddying up the vestibule of the Climber's Center. Brother, can ya spare a Sourpatch Kid?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Almost immediately upon leaving Paradise we saw two Cascade Foxes. There were fairly aggressively begging for food, and it seemed obvious that they were used to be given that for which they asked. We didn't feed them, and before long they pushed past us and continued on their way down to paradise. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Finally, the foggy mist turned into clear, open air as we climbed above the weather. The asphalt path turned to trail and stacked rock staircases, then eventually turned into the Muir Snowfield. It was finally time to switch into boots and get the heaviest items in our packs off of our backs and onto our feet. I tucked my beloved Lone Peaks away in my pack and put on my down pants and the heavy mountaineering boots I had been carrying for the last 30 miles. It was the first time I had worn a stiff, traditional boot in fifteen years or so. I had switched to hiking in running shoes years before I even started running, so this was an uncomfortable step backwards in my evolution as a Biped. But at this point, I was happy enough to have them out of my pack that I didn't mind them being on my feet.<br /><br /> We got moving again. We had climbed about 8,000 feet since Maple Creek, and had another 2,000 to go to reach Camp Muir. I would force myself to take 500 steps before allowing myself a three minute sit break. The breaks were self-limiting because of the cold, which was a good thing. While climbing I would warm up and then pull the legs of my puffy pants up above my knees like shorts to allow for ventilation. During breaks, I would cover up my legs to retain warmth. Once I felt the first touch of a chill, I would start climbing again. It was a tedious cycle, but a productive one. And the quiet and dark and solitude on the Muir Snowfield in the wee hours of the morning was wonderous.<br /><br /> Richard and I stumped into Camp Muir at 4:00 am and sat down outside the shelter to layer up and discuss our remaining possibilities. At this point, making an immediate push, Richard was giving us almost no chance at the traverse. He rated the summit going both up and down the Disappointment Cleaver Route as a 50-50 shot. So, in other words, we may have just covered 30+ miles by foot carrying a ridiculous amount of gear to no end. My brain couldn't fathom that. my brain was processing the logistics as quickly as it could, clicking and whirring like a 1960's mainframe computer, frantically struggling to spit out a punch card with a significant series of holes in it.<br /><br /> I proposed to Richard that we just hang out at Camp Muir and sleep and eat and rest the entire time until 10:00 pm the following night, the ideal departure time upon which we had planned, albeit twenty four hours later. It would take the Rainier Wonder Route off the table because of Richards schedule and the impact it would have on my food stores. But it would make the summit a very solid possibility, and would keep the traverse on the table as a heavily weighted maybe. If we could make the traverse go, we realized we could still salvage a rather stout and elegant unsupported project out of the ruins of our Wonder Route plans. Richard agreed, and we both put on our puffy gear and racked out in the shelter, as neither of us was carrying a sleeping bag or bivy or tent.<br /><br /> The next day was one of anxiety like I've never felt during an adventure. Nothing was a given, and very little of it was within my control. As I tried to sleep and rest and relax, my mind played out worst-case scenario after worst-case scenario. And by worst-case scenario, I don't mean a crevasse fall, I mean failure; failure to follow in my grandfather's footsteps; failure to meet the goals I had so publicly put forward; failure to properly prepare myself for this challenge; and failure to test the limits of my physical and mental strength due to time limitations and weather imperfections. These thoughts seemed to gnaw at the fringes of my sanity throughout that day, and no matter how vigorously I shooed the worry birds away, then returned to find room to roost as soon as my attention was focused elsewhere.<br /><br /> It turned out Tanya Hoffman was as Camp Muir that same day. A group she was leading of three three-person ropes had summited that morning and were riding the adrenaline high of their accomplishment. The excitement was contagious and helped to buoy my confidence. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdls3JGCHtkZOSnWSpdZnI9YRjM41nxBna51Odu0w00ak-ICtHyvVtsA6d9Fc6sPJk_MCSoQXjrGazz-HJH3l7Z13J6-UiFCumf4hm1pI7mnX7zSmfAauNT-X7rYG-5zKufA_qc80jXQ/s1600/bSummit7Hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga86Ib8WJ7zWf21FAHnhawwaSn6R4Rxub7Ki9_bXwSEn38aoXYilgryqTlF2Z-YviSEottowI-DWbHJwkkiispScV1wQlsfMHXbR-LYEIfN_ls5BAOK0UrS3wU7CEIZgZv2Uj7PvfzlQ/s1600/bSummitBound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga86Ib8WJ7zWf21FAHnhawwaSn6R4Rxub7Ki9_bXwSEn38aoXYilgryqTlF2Z-YviSEottowI-DWbHJwkkiispScV1wQlsfMHXbR-LYEIfN_ls5BAOK0UrS3wU7CEIZgZv2Uj7PvfzlQ/s640/bSummitBound.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We put on crampons, harnesses, helmets and headlamps and roped up, beginning our climb a little after 10:00 pm, just as proper dark fell. The Disappointment Cleaver Route is maintained by the guide services that take paying clients up and down it almost daily, and when there is no fresh snowfall to contend with, climbing it is simply a matter of following the trail. Heather "Anish" Anderson, who had summited a couple of days earlier told me afterwards, "Yeah, the boot path up the mountain really made me feel like I was walking on a shoveled sidewalk in a mid-west winter (except for the crevasses!)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<br /><br /> The crevasses were bridged with aluminum ladders with planks secured across them. In the dark they were easy to cross, because there was no perception of exposure or distance or depth. The planks were illuminated by my headlamp, and everything else simply faded off into darkness, as though the only things that were real in the universe were those few things illuminated by my headlamp. My crampons bit into the planks nicely, and there were handlines fixed to hold onto. This infrastructure was in place and there was no point in trying to not use it. Indeed, in all but one instance there really was no way NOT to use the ladders. The exception was a ladder rigged on an uphill slope at an awkward angle that I found easier to climb beside than actually walk over. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4rJ1QUIZx-F6lhH9IR8XrAaDWVfBDh99D0xD0wEFkdiVSlKX_6QjSbkuxqiTKW1v0MK8q3DgHwhhgtjrPhDPSw8lZiFdanzvfVzU_ItTI3bX3MTeHPfRAyyUzlgrpr6kS29zgDzbLg/s1600/bsummitkladder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4rJ1QUIZx-F6lhH9IR8XrAaDWVfBDh99D0xD0wEFkdiVSlKX_6QjSbkuxqiTKW1v0MK8q3DgHwhhgtjrPhDPSw8lZiFdanzvfVzU_ItTI3bX3MTeHPfRAyyUzlgrpr6kS29zgDzbLg/s640/bsummitkladder.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The climb up the D.C. Route was difficult, in that it took some effort, but it was easy in that it was non-technical. It really was just hiking uphill in the snow very slowly. If I tried to push the pace at all I would break out in a sweat as well as outpace my breathing, and before long I would have to stop and catch my breath and cool down. I eventually slowed to a dirgelike waltz wherein I took one full breath in and out to each step and ice ax placement. Step, breathe in, breathe out. Step again, breathe in, breathe out. Move ax forward, breathe in, breathe out. Repeat. Going at this pace, with my puffy pants pulled up over my knees and my puffy coat sleeves slid up over my elbows, I could keep moving for extended periods in between breaks.<br /><br /> Richard and I ground away at the climb until dawn overtook us. Then we turned off our headlamps and kept climbing. Eventually we made it to the summit crater and only had a few hundred more feet to climb to the summit proper. I had made the entire climb thus far in puffy down pants, my Altra tech shirt, a synthetic puffy jacket, and a bandito (buff, or neck gaiter). I added my Pendleton wool shirt to my layers when we stopped to melt snow for water and to answer one of the final questions standing in our way: would we be able to make enough water? Because of our extra day at Camp Muir, we had burned through more stove fuel than anticipated. When we began our climb, we each had about 1 1/2 liters of water, and not much of an idea how much fuel was left in the canister. We had been offered water at the camp, but we had talked it through and had agreed to adhere to our unsupported ethic of only taking water from natural sources. In the end, we were able to make another 1 1/2 liter apiece, enough to get us far enough down the Emmons Route to get to liquid water. Our water would go, soon we would find out if the route would.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh0P0ps45J38IDOynajNeBg8TB0clPlv3ihOgaQd7eu2nDEQVTaZWVo2SsJt6kX-od_iKVz28N7-LCmeCFHDi0GqjdB7QJvM8miVNCBd26pivWrW7AcSLmiOktrziSq13LFpMsEzQNA/s640/bsummitFun.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Celebratory Summit Shenanigans. (l-r: Vaughan, Kresser)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh0P0ps45J38IDOynajNeBg8TB0clPlv3ihOgaQd7eu2nDEQVTaZWVo2SsJt6kX-od_iKVz28N7-LCmeCFHDi0GqjdB7QJvM8miVNCBd26pivWrW7AcSLmiOktrziSq13LFpMsEzQNA/s1600/bsummitFun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The summit was socked in by fog, so there were no stunning views, no open vistas, no perspective of height. But that's okay with me. My adventures are very much an internal experience to a great degree, and the summit I was standing on in my mind had a clarity that the physical one lacked. We set the camera up on a timer and took some summit shots for fun and posterity. Including Heather a couple of days before, three Altra AmBadAssadors had stood on the summit of Mount Rainier within a 48 hour period. Not bad for a running shoe company.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4rJ1QUIZx-F6lhH9IR8XrAaDWVfBDh99D0xD0wEFkdiVSlKX_6QjSbkuxqiTKW1v0MK8q3DgHwhhgtjrPhDPSw8lZiFdanzvfVzU_ItTI3bX3MTeHPfRAyyUzlgrpr6kS29zgDzbLg/s1600/bsummitkladder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLxVhv9vzY_D_u-2BYU_xpwU43dQt353d6i6hsEQtVHKoLsuMn6V-Ls2DL4qNgZaajv1-EB1zju7MXvDuD5Xmc5UcG16svRqQSftVHxdgsSACQYnTMiopht-m7GXo1NBkfKNhkKThwA/s640/bSummitRastafari.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Living Rastafari informs every aspect of who and what I am, and I was proud to stand on the highest point in the lower 48 US states as a Rastaman. As much as Mount Rainier is a giant antennae, this was a unique opportunity to broadcast some positive vibes around the world.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLxVhv9vzY_D_u-2BYU_xpwU43dQt353d6i6hsEQtVHKoLsuMn6V-Ls2DL4qNgZaajv1-EB1zju7MXvDuD5Xmc5UcG16svRqQSftVHxdgsSACQYnTMiopht-m7GXo1NBkfKNhkKThwA/s1600/bSummitRastafari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtRNG0THfX37qcc5r7QXFL21y8elXEQcm4mPsEvxkEVe9JVc2GPd0us2zFgScGfNHIhqLGHQ3n_1HqVlfhXIAbWuPYSvFSakQzmOaJwS11mKC8rKvHZs1Rx7Np-zpafqj6NFPKd9log/s1600/bSummitTotem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtRNG0THfX37qcc5r7QXFL21y8elXEQcm4mPsEvxkEVe9JVc2GPd0us2zFgScGfNHIhqLGHQ3n_1HqVlfhXIAbWuPYSvFSakQzmOaJwS11mKC8rKvHZs1Rx7Np-zpafqj6NFPKd9log/s640/bSummitTotem.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of Kathy's Trail Totems frost rimed on the summit of Mount Rainier.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdls3JGCHtkZOSnWSpdZnI9YRjM41nxBna51Odu0w00ak-ICtHyvVtsA6d9Fc6sPJk_MCSoQXjrGazz-HJH3l7Z13J6-UiFCumf4hm1pI7mnX7zSmfAauNT-X7rYG-5zKufA_qc80jXQ/s1600/bSummit7Hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdls3JGCHtkZOSnWSpdZnI9YRjM41nxBna51Odu0w00ak-ICtHyvVtsA6d9Fc6sPJk_MCSoQXjrGazz-HJH3l7Z13J6-UiFCumf4hm1pI7mnX7zSmfAauNT-X7rYG-5zKufA_qc80jXQ/s640/bSummit7Hills.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seven Hills Running Shop has a unique vision for its team and the running culture that they promote. The shop is represented by innovative adventurers, climbers, and thru-hikers as much as it is speedy runners, and I'm proud to be a part of such a unique collection of Hominids.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrheqzB0PgrkFj-j8LB2U4UUSI88Lpklxcj5beH8PPUiBRoTBG6129aBSuPbm33_rQlyR65j7Sb2ncsNMQA23b32gfJRU6RxyjLN5-4FxJWT0G9U9CoBtFQFSCGnD-40r1Fuv6VlvmZQ/s1600/bUSGS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrheqzB0PgrkFj-j8LB2U4UUSI88Lpklxcj5beH8PPUiBRoTBG6129aBSuPbm33_rQlyR65j7Sb2ncsNMQA23b32gfJRU6RxyjLN5-4FxJWT0G9U9CoBtFQFSCGnD-40r1Fuv6VlvmZQ/s640/bUSGS.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> After making the summit, all we had left was the question of the Emmons Glacier Route. When Richard checked in at the Climbing Ranger station at Camp Muir he was again met with pessimistic route beta, and I knew that he still thought there was a good chance it wouldn't go. Richard had only been part way up the Emmons before, and had been sidetracked when his group came upon a rope team that had taken a crevasse fall, landed on a narrow ledge, and had overnighted in the crevasse. After calling for help via cellphone and waiting for it to arrive, Richard's party had descended once again to Camp Sherman and given up their summit bid. So Richard had never been on the top end of the route and wasn't familiar with it.<br /><br /> When we were melting snow we agreed that we would give it a shot, and that worst-case scenario, we would have to climb back up and descend by the D.C. But almost as soon as we started down the Emmons Glacier Route we saw three ropes of climbers heading up toward us. We talked to the front rope and they assured us that the route was fine. Not only was there a clear route through the crevasses and the snow bridges were solid and safe, but they had made a boot track we could follow, had wanded the route, and had set pickets for protection on the sketchiest snow bridges.<br /><br /> Richard was stoked to finally get some optimistic route beta, but he was still feeling the pressure of leading a novice (me) on this route, so he wanted to keep moving and make it over the sketchiest of the snow bridges before the day warmed up, so we were immediately off. I was moving much better on the descent than I had been on the ascent by a long shot, so we made good, consistent progress. after we had dropped down a couple thousand feet the fog and cloud lifted and absolutely stunning views surrounded us. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQcXqLy0Ej_PeJDSDWHWjv7iBLtr4IRvocRoGvVLqG9L0D5Onja1i77P62yjwU6MgibI2-5-_2avz15ZwdXW0a84K2upfy9qysLe3k582s0iqruDq08zlQiwZyyA05PWdm4rFbrFDjQ/s1600/cDescent1stPerson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQcXqLy0Ej_PeJDSDWHWjv7iBLtr4IRvocRoGvVLqG9L0D5Onja1i77P62yjwU6MgibI2-5-_2avz15ZwdXW0a84K2upfy9qysLe3k582s0iqruDq08zlQiwZyyA05PWdm4rFbrFDjQ/s640/cDescent1stPerson.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The more the sky cleared, the more beauty was revealed surrounding us. We were immersed in frozen visions of violent upheavals, the ghostly glacial blue in the depths of crevasses, the deep dark blue of the high altitude sky, and the brown-stippled white of snow with bare rock protruding through it. It was an amazing place to move through, a beautiful and moving place of movement. So move we did. As much as we had moved relentlessly up the previous day and evening and morning, the remainder of this miniature eternity would be spent in descent. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv5CVlTIyrgXGKkn86TsOO1CXpUO04vcloEx71zVaxvS2XIcwYPS303zr8V5VX-UdIiJHWrLydcvhisPkfRAk8PcTTI7hyphenhyphenpKX4DmVVcsNvPZJ49tNnbjp_g8jymF5Iwwd9b9gOq6Ijg/s1600/RasSidehill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv5CVlTIyrgXGKkn86TsOO1CXpUO04vcloEx71zVaxvS2XIcwYPS303zr8V5VX-UdIiJHWrLydcvhisPkfRAk8PcTTI7hyphenhyphenpKX4DmVVcsNvPZJ49tNnbjp_g8jymF5Iwwd9b9gOq6Ijg/s640/RasSidehill.jpg" title="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My emotions lifted and my spirit soared as the realization finally began to dawn on me that I had stood on the summit of the same mountain upon which my paternal grandfather had previously stood. Pa, as I called him, had passed away when I was still a boy, and I only remember meeting him a few times. One of those times he had bitten me on the nose, although in retrospect I suspect it was meant to be playful and was more of a gumming than an actual bite. But that's one of the few memories I have of him. And now we share The Mountain, and it's one of the few experiences I have to connect me to him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbJf3Bo3ENA6K2KKjFXdF1NYEYPG2Z8bpttLxeg-V1uNIkRkrctgPinaiLrjjxC3wxIZRm1nAKZfDrsCkf7RY6uOiicn459mTIB6q2P3eaviTmGXM2-KfqfCxdBGIcgU6dsLaNru-VA/s1600/cDescent2nd1stPerson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbJf3Bo3ENA6K2KKjFXdF1NYEYPG2Z8bpttLxeg-V1uNIkRkrctgPinaiLrjjxC3wxIZRm1nAKZfDrsCkf7RY6uOiicn459mTIB6q2P3eaviTmGXM2-KfqfCxdBGIcgU6dsLaNru-VA/s640/cDescent2nd1stPerson.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Not only that, but our traverse was going. The Rainier Wonder Route would not be completed, not by us, not this day or the next. But we were putting up a nice test piece for anyone who wants to hurl themselves at the mountain an unnecessarily difficult way. The further we descended the more sure a thing this became. And when Camp Sherman came into view and we could sight out the route all the way down, the time for reserving our elation came to an end. We no longer had to reign in our hopes, but could accept that we had achieved a major accomplishment, blurring the lines between mountaineering and adventure running, while only catching a fleeting glimpse of our own limits.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQZtySnl9_ZrqHkW0CfxpZNJRX2sDMrESprXcPU3BQtywG95CoQxpKjizznPdFrVrtj821NBBtBh5H-jUYR-m0YuGvL7FMCWkwjYRky2FVjYimR3cnaqrppk-9fPrw_X9XjNI5Y6ADQ/s1600/cRich3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQZtySnl9_ZrqHkW0CfxpZNJRX2sDMrESprXcPU3BQtywG95CoQxpKjizznPdFrVrtj821NBBtBh5H-jUYR-m0YuGvL7FMCWkwjYRky2FVjYimR3cnaqrppk-9fPrw_X9XjNI5Y6ADQ/s640/cRich3.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As we descended the day was warming up considerably. I had stopped up high to take off my wool shirt, no longer needing it. By about the halfway point I had stopped again to remove my gloves and puffy jacket, and I had my down pants pulled up above my knees for ventilation. The heat had held off just long enough for us to make it past the most dangerous of the snow bridges. I could sense Richard relaxing as the question marks of our project were resolved, and as the burden of his responsibility for his own well being and mine was lifted from his shoulders.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0mAM_fJd0LSFLOuzpdPYGIaYbyltM0o3DgBQJARdB_hzibaCdQe8HCoEjfbsy2XlUJ6HG1Cxid_FPSpCrNlsBpFJtPhLXkKunHDEUnmioVa3WCj60C0fINgXyf7de8qcfgPUrolDLg/s1600/cRichCrevasse1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhvB0rrneA8YWNPdheQzdXR2TImFrHBLQ3P2DZJ2deDs5ed6jwgQJ-ow1-PNDJM2DrQoO9isKMlJE72JQHKd-sjkOD-COk6c_f3aR3O-AvsPCPJLc8iykLYrWga0CXpACU-h6G4w74g/s1600/cRichCrevasse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhvB0rrneA8YWNPdheQzdXR2TImFrHBLQ3P2DZJ2deDs5ed6jwgQJ-ow1-PNDJM2DrQoO9isKMlJE72JQHKd-sjkOD-COk6c_f3aR3O-AvsPCPJLc8iykLYrWga0CXpACU-h6G4w74g/s640/cRichCrevasse2.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> When we hit Camp Sherman we were both sweating in the warmth of the day. Even though cloud cover had rolled back in, the effort of moving in soft snow wearing heavy climbing boots and crampons was warming us from the inside faster than we could cool. We both traded our puffy pants for running shorts and an odd hybrid kit of ultrarunner meets mountaineer: short sleeve tech shirt, glacier glasses, helmet, ice ax, harness, boots and crampons. We would continue to travel roped up down the Inter Glacier until we reached Glacier Basin, as there was still the potential for crevasse falls, albeit slight.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtq2LdpvYuwhyphenhyphennYcfhyZdbWWtgAu5MROx5qooof4AeIPWLDOaf9Cj5DaqgBUljp_ipMlBRMeFvfKSMFvq_zKxlX3bTsBmiBC5LOS8Oh22DsFmFBwr8LP3AD4ClvjfL26nDg5xMoheyQ/s1600/cShermanStern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtq2LdpvYuwhyphenhyphennYcfhyZdbWWtgAu5MROx5qooof4AeIPWLDOaf9Cj5DaqgBUljp_ipMlBRMeFvfKSMFvq_zKxlX3bTsBmiBC5LOS8Oh22DsFmFBwr8LP3AD4ClvjfL26nDg5xMoheyQ/s640/cShermanStern.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> From Camp Sherman on down the mood was triumphant, light-hearted, and even playful. We ran down the soft steepness of the Inter Glacier, plunging down in big, heavy-footed strides like video footage of astronauts walking on the moon played at high-speed fast forward. We dropped to our butts and glissaded seated for hundreds and hundreds of feet. It struck me that there was an odd, and perhaps childish, symmetry to this: at the beginning of our trip the White River had forced us to drag our asses across a log to begin our journey, and now we were ending it by dragging our asses across the very headwaters of the White River itself. Poetic? Perhaps not. But at that point I was more than willing to accept whimsy in place of poesy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPexEc9YaAa4Vv7nFCzxse1QhROqZtgJ2ypT6V_sXaOotrvJpJKdGMK52PfmkSTuGht6_-_ykAEuryrTABhDUvx0mfhri7yNfGybDWUGy4uYFsydLg6GBZ4-ztCrMawn7NnrGw7ewIA/s1600/Route+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPexEc9YaAa4Vv7nFCzxse1QhROqZtgJ2ypT6V_sXaOotrvJpJKdGMK52PfmkSTuGht6_-_ykAEuryrTABhDUvx0mfhri7yNfGybDWUGy4uYFsydLg6GBZ4-ztCrMawn7NnrGw7ewIA/s640/Route+Map.jpg" title="photo by Richard Kresser/RunningFarther.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> When finally we reached the end of the Inter Glacier and switched out our climbing boots for trail running shoes once again, we knew we had reached the completion of the circle in every sense. In our burdened and ungainly manner we trotted out the last few miles to the White River Campground. As often happens at the conclusion of epic adventures, we passed scores of dayhikers, car campers, and tourists, none of whom suspected what we had just done. To a degree it was already becoming a secret thing, an experience that, no matter how much we talked about it, no one could truly grasp without setting foot to trail and actually doing it.<br /><br /> In the end, including roughly 18 hours spent doing nothing at Camp Muir, it took us 54 hours and 32 minutes to establish the Only Known Time for what I am calling the Cowlitz Connection Route. Comprising some 50 miles and 17,000 feet of elevation gain the Cowlitz Connection is a solid undertaking. But, as I've said before, an Only Known Time is the Schroedinger's Cat of FKTs. It exists simultaneously as both the Fastest and Slowest Known Time for a route, and our time is decidedly at the slow end of the spectrum. Had we not had our sights set on an even grander endeavor, had we set out specifically and only to do the Cowlitz Connection we could easily have taken twelve hours off our time. But it is what it is, and I'm extremely stoked that we were able to overcome so many challenges and stumbling blocks and accomplish what we did.<br /><br /> My heartfelt thanks goes out especially to Richard Kresser for taking a big risk on the crazy idea of an inexperienced fledgling mountaineer. I look forward to attempting another adventure together that's at least as ridiculous in scope and ambitious in intent as this one was.<br /><br /> And for all that, the Rainier Wonder Route is still on the table. I don't know when or if I'll attempt it again. I have another idea for a unique double circumambulation of the Mountain that I need to start researching. Plus there's Chad Kellogg's Infinity Loop Route, of which I only learned recently. It's above my skill level at the moment for sure, but I know my brain is going to have trouble letting go of that idea anytime soon. And, in the end, for me, that's what it's all about. The mental mastication, ingestion, and metabolism of an idea that leads to the eventual excretion of the adventure itself. And if you followed my metaphor closely you'll notice the previous sentence ended with both a period and a colon.<br /><br /> What a Blessing to be a Hominid! Give Thanks for Life! </span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjybspdlX-0s3e81XO6eNV2KeYj_Zax3MLEv4zr5YQ1tLe4GdIrNNQZdNxvk4vD4Aqx544x3VfQn2IJoL33y9ntTLQmjltz-EklctKg5_ykM-FXcVmSPK1qXOW54shTVYlbMp5VgQ1oA/s1600/aPanGearTraverse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjybspdlX-0s3e81XO6eNV2KeYj_Zax3MLEv4zr5YQ1tLe4GdIrNNQZdNxvk4vD4Aqx544x3VfQn2IJoL33y9ntTLQmjltz-EklctKg5_ykM-FXcVmSPK1qXOW54shTVYlbMp5VgQ1oA/s640/aPanGearTraverse.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Gear List:</b>Altra Lone Peak 2.0 trailrunning shoes<br />Zensah Calf Sleeves<br />Western Mountaineering puffy down pants<br />Western Mountaineering puffy down jacket (didn't use)<br />Montbell synthetic puffy jacket<br />Pendleton button-up long sleeve wool shirt<br />Darn Tough hiking socks, 1 pair<br />Injinji Trail 2.0 Midweight Mini-crew toesocks, one pair<br />North Face gore-tex shell<br />Black Diamond Gloves<br />Black Diamond Ice Ax<br />Black Diamond Polar Icon Headlamp</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Black Diamond Ultradistance z-poles</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Black Diamond Coulior Climbing Harness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 locking carabiners, 3 standard carabiners, 2 slings, 2 prussiks, 1 pulley<br />Outdoor Research Gaiters<br />Petzl Crampons<br />WAA UltraBag Pack with two 1 liter bottles<br />Salewa Boots<br />Julbo glacier glasses<br />Altra tech shirt<br />Team 7 Hills jersey (didn't wear)<br />REI merino wool glove liners (didn't wear)<br />Dirtbag Runners bandito<br />Fleece camo hat<br />Fleece UltraPedestrian hat<br />2xU running shorts<br />Platypus Unbottle 2 Liter<br />Pendleton Wool Shirt<br />REI ultralight 10 liter Drysack, two<br />webbing strap with buckle for attaching drybags to pack, two<br />SPOT Transponder<br />Sony Walkman mp3 player<br />Asio Altimeter watch<br />pre-charged portable charger<br />6' duct tape wrapped around each trekking pole, 12' total</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc06SeoaRC4-5ESpdBlngnNLlGiHvz5bEjVQspf_bzYsQq98aqy51VEQqrjjq376CMBbjoLFEsXSN-zrOoJZF-Iqvg5pR1hgEvT-_bEJ1TdHRwil0rlUqT_Cvb0O6IU3guqZxzmFhyphenhyphenpw/s1600/aaG0017298preGear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc06SeoaRC4-5ESpdBlngnNLlGiHvz5bEjVQspf_bzYsQq98aqy51VEQqrjjq376CMBbjoLFEsXSN-zrOoJZF-Iqvg5pR1hgEvT-_bEJ1TdHRwil0rlUqT_Cvb0O6IU3guqZxzmFhyphenhyphenpw/s640/aaG0017298preGear.jpg" title="photo by Ras/UltraPedestrian.com" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-33830471952410322542015-07-07T20:47:00.000-07:002015-07-07T20:47:50.384-07:002015 UltraPedestrian Mind/Body Challenge<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">2015 UltraPedestrian Mind/Body Challenge</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=33653" target="_blank">2015 UP Mind/Body Challenge Registration is OPEN</a></span></b></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> For 2015 we are offering a new and unique challenge called the <b>UltraPedestrian Mind/Body Challenge</b>. <br /><br /> <b>Here's the scoop:</b> The Route is an out and back from the East Bank Trailhead off Highway 20 in the North Cascades to the north end of Ross Lake and back. Here's the catch: you must summit Desolation Peak twice, on both the out and the back. So the complete route is East Bank Trail to the Desolation Peak trail, summit Desolation (a hike, not a climb), then head up Lightning Creek all the way to the Hozameen Campground, touch the monument at the Canadian Border, then reverse the route, including summiting Desolation a second time. <i>That's the Body part. </i><br /><br /> <b>Here's the Mind part:</b> Jack Kerouac spent 63 days during the summer of 1956 as a fire lookout on Desolation Peak. He wrote about his experiences in the books Lonesome Traveler, The Dharma Bums and Desolation Angels. To complete the UltraPedestrian Mind/Body Challenge you must read or listen to one or more of the works attributed to this period in Kerouac's career, and in your trip report tie in your experience on the trail to one of the books. This can be done in any way you see fit, through words, pictures, video, song, whatever expression you choose. Anyone who completes the route, reading, and writing assignment will receive a one of a kind finisher's patch.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The entry fee for the 2015 UltraPedestrian Mind/Body Challenge is $10.00 per person. All proceeds beyond the cost of patches and shipping costs will go to support UltraPedestrian.com and the UltraPedestrian Podcast.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=33653" target="_blank">2015 UP Mind/Body Challenge Registration is OPEN</a></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>How to participate in the 2015 UP Mind/Body Challenge:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Sign up on <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=33653" target="_blank"><b>Ultrasignup.com</b></a> <i>before</i> Sunday, November 1st, 2015.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Between the dates of Thursday, June 4th, 2015 and Tuesday, December 1st, 2015 complete the reading, the route itself, and your artistic expression, whatever form it may take.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Email your proof and documentation to UltraPedestrian@gmail.com with the subject line, "2015 UPM/BC PROOF & DOCUMENTATION" no later than Saturday, December 5th, 2015.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Visit UltraPedestrian.com and Ultrasignup.com on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 for complete results.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Watch your mailbox for your UPM/BC commemorative patch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Complete results will be posted on UltraPedestrian.com on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. Patches will be mailed out soon thereafter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We strongly encourage all entrants to join the </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/UPWildernessChallenge/" target="_blank">UPWC Facebook Group</a> </b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to ask questions about the routes, gather and share trail beta, connect with other UPWC participants, scope out the competition, and keep up to date on the most recent news, information, and general goings on. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Otherwise, please post any questions below in the 'comments' section.</span></div>
</div>
Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270946480733388.post-4448478791196588912015-07-06T21:05:00.000-07:002015-07-07T22:21:54.993-07:002015 UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">2015 UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=33220" target="_blank">2015 UPWC Registration is OPEN</a></span></b></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="art & design by Ras Scott Mosher of Ites Design" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawZG0sQDq4g59UaHupH1IKlg9EDjzlB54rK6xLTc8AqlLNbT49bphmHj0kj_wlhic3uoT4v1r2knfD63zUHWffzDhMzggyx_-JeyUcM3zKUzo4iZlO_C79SZG0TpR2mbkSqmZl4WpOQ/s640/2013+UPWC+Finishers+Patch.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="art & design by Ras Scott Mosher of Ites Design" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Each participant who completed the 2013 UPWC<br />received this custom designed patch. For the<br />2015 UPWC there will be a unique finisher's patch<br />for each route, and a special award for those<br />rare souls adventurous and badass enough to<br />complete all three routes, aka the Triple Crown.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The third annual UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge is a multi-faceted multi-media adventure blogging contest open to Trailrunners, Fastpackers, and Backpackers. This year we are offering three unique routes. Entrants may attempt any or all of these. There are no aid stations, no course markings, no start/finish, no lemming lines, no cut offs, no set date, in fact, it's all up to you.<br /><br /><b>NEW POINTS SYSTEM FOR THE 2015 UPWC<br /><br /> </b>The UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge is all about shattering paradigms, but as we are only in the third year, it is still very much a work in progress. While simple speed has it's advantages and rewards, one of the main goals of the UPWC is to recognize and celebrate other aspects of adventuring as well. For the first two years we struggled with figuring out how to quantify these other aspects of achievement. We have now come up with a points-based system intended do exactly that: award ALL aspects of adventuring, including, but not limited to, speed. Here is a breakdown of the new points system:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><b>Five (5) Points</b> will be awarded for:</u></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each Route Completed<br />Men's Fastest Time<br />Women's Fastest Time<br />Firsties (First Person or Team to Complete Each Route)<br />Lasties (Last Person or Team to Complete Each Route)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><b>Two (2) Points</b> will be awarded for:</u></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wildlife Sightings/Encounters</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blog Writing Excellence</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photographic Excellence</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">S.N.A.F.U.s</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good Style/Fair Means</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Uniqueness Of Methodology</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overcoming Adversity</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stubbornness/Stick-To-It-iveness</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Additional categories may be added at any time. All points are awarded at the sole discretion of Ras. There is no system for registering an appeal or requesting any form of arbitration or conflict resolution. But ya never know: call me out in the Facebook Group and if I find your argument creative or convincing or offensive enough, while it won't change my mind, it might earn you some bonus points (see below).</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<br /><br /><b>ALSO NEW FOR 2015! BONUS POINTS FOR PAST UPWC ROUTES</b><br /><br /><b> </b>Previous UPWC Routes may be completed for bonus points. Participants will receive <b>5 bonus points </b>for each route completed from <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-ultrapedestrian-wilderness.html" target="_blank">UPWC #1</a></b> and <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2014/06/2014-ultrapedestrian-wilderness.html" target="_blank">UPWC #2</a></b>. Completing a route includes producing content in the form of a trip report, photo album, video, audio recording, artistic rendering, or any other form which reflects your experience of the route and can be posted online via your personal blog and/or the UPWC Facebook group page. There is no signup fee for any of these bonus point routes, and, consequently, there are no finisher's patches for these routes. However, to be eligible for bonus points, entrants must have registered and paid their entry fee for at least one route from the current UPWC before completing a bonus route, and must complete at least one route from the current year by the end of the competition in order to receive the bonus points. Bonus point routes and current UPWC routes may be completed in any order.<br /><br /> <b>Five (5) bonus points</b> will also be awarded for completing the <b><a href="http://ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2015/07/2015-ultrapedestrian-mindbody-challenge.html" target="_blank">UltraPedestrian Mind/Body Challenge</a></b>.<br /><br /> <b>Important Note: </b>Two (2) bonus points may be randomly awarded by Ras at any time for any reason. Capturing a faceplant on video, sharing trail beta in the Facebook group, and displays of creativity are examples of what could earn you bonus points. Two major pointers for racking up random bonus points: be active in the UPWC Facebook group, and let your unique personality shine through in your adventures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <b>Route #1</b>, chosen by Rainshadow Running Race Director James Varner, is the <b>Graves Creek/Enchanted Valley Loop</b>. This route is about 55 miles and has three big climbs and about 15,000ft of elevation gain. It is a great mix of everything that makes the Olympics so amazing, big trees, dense forest, steep trails, river valleys, high open ridges, fun single track, and good odds of seeing bear, elk and other animals. This is a remote route with no road crossings and very few people. There are creek and river fords that have possibility of being dangerous at high water, there are a few sections like Graves Creek, Sundown Lake and Six Ridge Trails that get little use and even less maintenance. Excellent navigation skills are essential especially on Six Ridge Trail where the trail itself often disappears in meadows. Expect this route to take a lot longer than a 50 miler would normally take. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> James advises, "I would recommend doing the loop counter clockwise to get the most difficult navigating done first and before it gets dark."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the route: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start/Finish East Fork Quinault River Trailhead</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow the East Fork Trail for about a 1/4 mile then turn Right onto Graves Creek Trail. Then turn left onto Sundown Lake Trail. Then Left onto Six Ridge Trail, Then Left onto North Fork Skokomish Trail. Left onto Duckabush River Trail towards O'Neil Pass. Trail Becomes O'Neil Pass Trail. Turn Left onto East Fork Quinault Trail and follow all the way back to trailhead.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <b>Route #2</b>, chosen by Kathy Vaughan, is the <b>Chinook Pass/Ohanepecosh River Loop</b>. This 32 mile long loop begins at Chinook Pass on Highway 410. Choose between heading east towards Dewey Lake and then south to Anderson Lake, turning west on the Three Lakes Trail along Laughingwater Creek and then north near Silver Falls to follow the Ohanepecosh River along the Eastside Trail back to Chinook Pass OR doing the loop in the reverse direction, by following the Chinook Creek south, first. This is in the east side of the Mt. Rainier National Park and follows the Pacific Crest Trail for a stretch. East of the main Wonderland trail that encircles the mountain, this loop isn't as commonly explored. When you look at the Rainier map, though, the loop is obvious and just calls your name. This scenic loop offers a little bit of everything from rocky, high alpine country covered with wildflowers; to soft forested single track, cruisy and easily runnable; to virgin old growth forest along the delightful Ohanepecosh River, with wooden bridges, large boulders and both rapids and gently flowing bends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Kathy says, "I did this loop as one of my first unsupported, ultra distance runs with Deby Kumasaka, Adam Gaston and Angel & Tim Mathis, while Ras was running his Double Wonderland in 2012. At the time, I had figured the elevation gain to be about 6,500 feet."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <b>Route #3 </b>for the 2015 UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge, chosen by Ras, is a fast, fun, competitive, and classic route in the North Cascades: <b>Easy Pass</b>. This 24 mile route runs between the Easy Pass Trailhead and the Colonial Creek Campground on the southeast end of Diablo Lake. Easy Pass is a point to point route which can be completed either direction via the Easy Pass Trail and the Thunder Creek Trail.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In addition to being a favorite test piece for trail runners, the Easy pass route is a part of our personal history. We first hiked it as a double overnight when our daughter was 9 or so. Then it was the first long, unsupported trail run I ever did. Then to round things out, last year Kathy and her adventure bestie Lisa did a badassed out and back on the route. Now it's your turn, whether fast or slow, runner or backpacker, to make your way through the Fischer Basin, where Grizzlies and Wolverines have most recently been spotted in the North Cascades, and along Thunder Creek, retracing the steps of miners from yesteryear.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <b>All participants must at all times comport themselves in accordance with Federal, State, and Local laws, as well as Leave No Trace backcountry ethics.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Registration via <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=33220" target="_blank"><b>Ultrasignup.com</b></a> must be completed before a route is attempted. Entrants may participate solo or as part of a team. Teams can be independent, self-supported athletes than just travel together, or team members can mule for one another. But teams will not be allowed to receive any outside support from non-running personnel. Every member of a team must be a registered entrant in the 2014 UPWC (registration for minors is free). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> All participants must submit proof of having completed the route via Spot Transponder, GPS/Garmin/Suunto/DeLorne/Other data, photographic evidence, and/or a convincingly detailed trip report/blog.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are submitting your entry for speed based awards</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you MUST provide SPOT/GPS/GARMIN/SUUNTO/DELORNE/OTHER data as proof. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Each entrant or team must submit a detailed blog, photo blog, video, and/or podcast segment detailing their trip. The more details the better, everything from technical nuts & bolts (gear list, food/fuel list, pacing, strategy), to wildlife spottings & encounters, to personal/phsycological/spiritual experiences, and beyond. There are no limits to what you may include in your trip report. How you experience the trail and how you present that experience are up to you. The goal of this event is for all the participants to share and compare one another's unique experiences and perspectives. <b>You must generate content!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Everyone who completes a route for the 2015 Ultrapedestrian Wilderness Challenge will be awarded a unique finishers' patch (only available through UPWC participation) for every route they complete. Each route will have a unique patch design, and there will a distinct award for participants who complete all three, the <b>2015 UPWC Triple Crown</b>. In addition, there will be other prizes and awards based on a variety of criteria, including speed, good style, best photograph, best blog, gnarliest SNAFU, most diverse team, and numerous other aspects of backcountry wilderness adventure. Additional categories may be added based on submissions. All awards will be based on total points accumulated during the contest.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Sign up will close Tuesday, December 1st, 2015. All trips must be begun no earlier than Thursday, June 4th, 2015, and completed no later than Tuesday, December 1st, 2015. Results will be announced on UltraPedestrian.com on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. Prizes and awards will be mailed out (unless we will be seeing you in person soon).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The entry fee for the 2015 UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge is $20.00 per person per route. All proceeds beyond the cost of prizes, awards, and shipping costs will go to support UltraPedestrian.com and the UltraPedestrian Podcast.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=33220" target="_blank">2015 UPWC Registration is OPEN</a></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>How to participate in the 2015 UPWC:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Sign up on <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=33220" target="_blank"><b>Ultrasignup.com</b></a> <i>before</i> Sunday, November 1st, 2015.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Between the dates of Thursday, June 4th, 2015 and Tuesday, December 1st, 2015 complete any or all of the routes: the Graves Creek/Enchanted Valley Loop, the Chinook Pass/Ohanepecosh River Loop, and/or Easy Pass. <b>IMPORTANT NOTE:</b> You must complete your signup and pay your entry fee for each route PRIOR to attempting it to be eligible for awards and prizes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Email your proof and documentation to UltraPedestrian@gmail.com with the subject line, "2015 UPWC PROOF & DOCUMENTATION" no later than Saturday, December 5th, 2015.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Visit UltraPedestrian.com and Ultrasignup.com on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 for complete results & awards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Watch your mailbox for your UPWC swag envelope.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Complete results will be posted on UltraPedestrian.com on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. Prizes and swag will be mailed out soon thereafter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We strongly encourage all entrants to join the </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/UPWildernessChallenge/" target="_blank">UPWC Facebook Group</a> </b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to ask questions about the routes, gather and share trail beta, connect with other UPWC participants, scope out the competition, and keep up to date on the most recent news, information, and general goings on. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Otherwise, please post any questions below in the 'comments' section.</span></div>
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ehzde2yP-AA%2FUltCE6lS5kI%2FAAAAAAAAAwQ%2F4pzU7lfZ_PY%2Fs640%2F2013%2BUPWC%2BFinishers%2BPatch.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawZG0sQDq4g59UaHupH1IKlg9EDjzlB54rK6xLTc8AqlLNbT49bphmHj0kj_wlhic3uoT4v1r2knfD63zUHWffzDhMzggyx_-JeyUcM3zKUzo4iZlO_C79SZG0TpR2mbkSqmZl4WpOQ/s640/2013+UPWC+Finishers+Patch.png" -->Ras (j vaughan)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01809752577805616128noreply@blogger.com0