Saturday, October 10 - Troublesome Gulch - Elk Meadow

Run: Troublesome Gulch - Meadow View Loop

Time: 1:15

Distance: 8+ miles

Effort: Easy

Body: Fair

Weather: Cold and foggy

After two unplanned days off (weather, work and family), I couldn't let another day pass without a bit of time on the trails. The snowy, cold and foggy weather up here was grim, but somehow motivating. The thought of running amidst the snow-covered trees and bent-over grasses was seductive enough to outweigh the expected chill.

I set off around 4 p.m. for a eight-or-so-mile loop (Garmin watch went dead mid-run) from home, down Lewis Ridge Road, up Troublesome Gulch trail and into Elk Meadow Open Space. In the park, I followed the Painter's Pause, Meadow View and Sleepy-S trails before cutting through a neighborhood and back to my house.

With the dense fog, everything was eerily quiet. The freezing rain and snow had left beautiful icy patterns on the trees and bent over grasses. All the trails were virtually snow-free, save for a slight dusting here and there.

Bergen Peak was hidden behind a think veil of fog that began at about 8,000 feet. Everything was socked in...and no one but me was out and about on the trails of this 1,600-acre park. It was nice to have the place to myself.