Distance: 5.10 miles
Effort: Moderate
Body: Good
Weather: Sunny & cool
Work got away from me today, so only had time to squeeze in a run at the end of the day before driving home from Boulder. But, now that the days are getting longer, starting a run up Green Mountain at 4:30 p.m. is no longer a recipe for descending in the dark.
I ran up the Gregory-Ranger route, and descended via Green-Saddle-Ampi.
After five days in New Orleans at (or below) sea level, I was eager for a bit of vertical, so Green Mountain it was. Felt pretty good the whole way up. Messed up watch settings, so didn't get a split for the summit. Also, forgot traction devices, so I did a fair bit of slipping and sliding. It's funny how slipping when you're running steady up something steep immediately sends a momentary wave of fatigue through your legs. After a few steps, the wave dissipates and you continue on. Too much slipping on the ups, though, takes its toll. Fortunately, the snow today was in pretty good shape and the slipping was kept to a minimum, at least on the ups. The descent, however, was slow going. It seemed like I slid down a foot for every 20 I ran. I fell twice, once on my butt and once just down onto one knee when I slipped off the side of the trail.
Had a great time on the mountain today. Just glad to be out. Thought a lot about how fortunate we are to have virtually unfettered (undoubtedly some would take issue with my "unfettered" characterization) access to such splendid landscapes. I also recalled a brewery and beer I once had in Asheville, North Carolina, one of my all-time favorite towns in the East (and the place JP and I got married).
Maybe the mountain needs an official beer.
I am avoiding the luge runs on Green for the time being, but if you start dragging beer up there, I am pretty much ethically obliged to show up.
ReplyDeleteSo noted... Never know, it could happen. And, now you're on record.
ReplyDeleteThis post came up as a You Might Also Like after the last comment I made on your Blog - had to take a 2nd glance to see if someone in CO really knew about such a small brewery in Asheville! Green man makes some great ale, for sure. Cool that you were marries here as well.
ReplyDeleteRick - my father in law lives in Barardsville, NC - just a few miles from the national forest boundary. (I've run a bunch of the trails/roads in them hollows). We get there about every 18 months or so. We are due for another visit soon. Will drop you a line next time we head east to them thar hills.
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to come to run in the hollows you'll need to start callering them by there real name - hallers!!
ReplyDeleteSounds good, looking forward to it, definately let me know when you're headed this way. There's usually a race every weekend, but if you can ever get here the first saturday in November the Shut-In Ridge Trail Race would probably be the one for you.