Bergen Peak - Steady Climb

Experienced the first flakes of the season at the summit of Bergen Peak after a steady ascent with friends.

Time: 2:04
Distance: 12 miles
Effort: Moderate
Body: Average
Weather: Cloudy & Cool

Met up late morning with Patrick G., Woody A. and Steve F. at the house. We quickly set off and ran a half-mile of roads to the neighborhood connector trail toward the upper parking lot at Elk Meadow Open Space. Once on the park trails, we cruised over to Meadow View and took that to the Bergen Peak trail and started climbing.

We ran a steady pace the whole way up, tagging the summit sign in just under an hour. As we stood at the summit sign we got a couple minutes'-worth of snow/ice falling from the sky...enough to call it the first flakes of the season here in Evergreen (the summit is at 9,708-feet).

After a few minutes of scenery gawking at the overlook, we started the descent at an easy pace. We returned the long way via Too Long, Meadow View and Painters Pause to the lower lot, then climbed up Sleepy S to another neighborhood connector that leads, after a few twists and turns, right down into the backyard.

Next up was a proper cool down, which consisted of Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale and an array of appetizers from the bottomless fridge. Really enjoyed catching up with Steve, Woody and Patrick. With my schedule, I don't get to run with groups as much as I'd like. Good conversation makes the time fly.

I felt surprisingly worked this evening. I've been taking it very easy since the Steamboat Run Rabbit Run 50, with only one or two 10+ mile runs. Might be time to start getting back into it.  Which reminds me, I signed up last week for February's Moab Red Hot 50K. I've already put in a request for no snow or mud this year.

Thanks to the gang for the run, especially for Woody, the day after placing 7th in the Wildcat Mountain 10 miler, and Patrick, a day after chasing Tim W. and Scott J. up Lookout Mountain doing 6x1 mile repeats. And I'm complaining about feeling worked...