Driven

I explored the new trail from the lowest bridge in Farmington Canyon, up to the Francis Peak trail. 

PM:

Ran from Lamb's Canyon to Bear Pass. Felt good to go over that segment of the Wasatch course feeling good and be able to run all the way up to the pass.

I did a nice evening run up to Gobbler's Knob and Mt Raymond - both 10,000 + foot peaks above Big Cottonwood and Millcreek canyons. I waned to see how quickly I could get to Gobbler's, with nearly 4 miles and lots and lots of climbing. I reached the summit in just under 1 hour 6 minutes. I then traversed over to Mt Raymond. Everybody loves Raymond. Oneof my favorite places in the Wasatch. These mountains are a temple.

So after the Bryce 100 attempt I had much stored energy in my legs. The week after I immediately went out and climbed steep trails, accumulating thousands of feet. On Thursday evening, after I ran down from a fast run up Gobblers Knob, I had an impulsive thought to make a Saturday run from Grandeur Peak, up and over Gobblers and Raymond, then down to the S curve in Big Cottonwood Canyon, up to Lake Blanch, then back to Millcreek and the car on the West side of Grandeur. I the process I would run trails new to me in Millcreek, and summit 3 major peaks. Also noteworthy is the massive number of vertical feet gain. The mileage was a mystery. I don't know of anyone else having done this route. Why this particular route? No particular reason. Prettymuch random but it is aestheticaly pleasing to me, and a sufficient challenge. I would be climbing a couple 10,000 foot peaks from the valley, plus double-crossing two canyons and the ridgeline that separate them. Plus a run up to a high mountain lake that is a day hike for most folks.

I met Eric Storheim at the Grandeur W Ridge trailhead, then we made an easy hike up to the summit. He told me about the segments of Millwood 100 that would be most challenging to route-find on. (Eric is the first of only two runners to finish all of Millwood 100.) From the summit we ran down the Grandeur trail to Church fork and then parted ways. I continued on to Burch Holliw TH, then crossed the skreet and ran a short way up to Bowman fork trailhead. Bowman was new to me and I've discovered it is very pretty, and nicely shaded. About three miles up I took the junction to a connector trail to the Alexander Basin trail. Alexander Basin is still full of snow so I kicked stepd to the top of the East ridge that comes down from Gobblers. I noticed a descending cougar track in the snow. From Gobblers I traversed down to Baker Pass, then up to summit of Raymond. I was there just two days previous so I made another entry in the summit log. I descended the SW face of Raymond, picked up the Deso trail, then connected to the Mill B North trail. It is a good 4 miles down to the S curve and the Canyon road from that point. Temperature was getting very warm.

As expected there were many hikers out at the S curve. I refilled my hydration bladder with clean, fast-flowing creek water, then began my ascent up to Lake Blanche. I was able to run a large portion of the trail up, but near the top I began to feel sick to my stomach. The heat was getting to me. I cooled my feet in the lake, then sat in shade for several minutes eating, drinking, and popping some pills. I felt well for the run down and quickly reached the parking area. I made an attempt to call my wife but was unable to get phone reception. Friend Nick Sourlos must have ben driving by and seen me out near the road holding my phone above me. He stopped to say hello and ask how my adventure was going. He knew I would be in the area, and he had gone up to try and beat my FKT up to Gobblers. He asked if I needed anything and I blurted "Cold pop!", which betrayed my state of overheated fatigue. Unfortunately he had none. He offered to drive me down to the 7-11 and back up but I declined. I need to keep moving. He also offered to just drive me back to my car. I was tempted by the offer but confident I could get back on my own power. I had been going for 26 miles and 10 hours at this point. Notwithstanding the heat and mild stomach discomfort, I felt terrific. I did not feel the climbs on my legs at all.

The most difficult part of the day was to be the hike up Mill B North.  Thehike went very well. I stopped in shade to cool down a few times but I made very good time. Near the top I stuffed some snow in my hydration bladder and enjoyed ice-cold water for the run down to Millcreek Canyon. The Porter Fork trail at the top is snowed over, and I worried about losing sight of the trail completely. Fortunately I followed a set of footprints over the snow and they followed the trail. I got onto the Porter Fork road and ran the length down to the canyon road. From there it was a 1.5 mile run down to Church Fork, then another .5 miles up to the Grandeur TH and the Pipeline. I was pleasantly surprised to discover I still had a very good running gear at that point, so I cruised to Rattlesnake Gulch, then made the turn up steep Bambi Hill. I ran down the other side, past the Water tank, then through residential streets to the school where I had parked, I immediately drove to Smiths and bought two chocolate milks.

I had been out for 14 hours, 40 minutes. I ran and hiked 40 miles, climbed about 18,000 feet. Did not see any snakes or moose. At no time during this adventure was I miserable. Generally I felt very good, and proved to myself I can go anywhere in the Wasatch. Anywhere I want, any distance, any height.

I am in love with Big Cottonwood Canyon. I want to marry it. If homos can marry each other, I want to marry a canyon.

I ran up to Lake Blanche, then continued up to the upper basin toward Mt Superior. There is a small hidden valley up there wherein sits the remains of a small stone cabin. Some old timer lived up there over 100 years ago. The terrain is rugged and gorgeous. I popped up over the ridge between Mill B South Fork and Mineral Fork and waaaahh got my first view into the top of Mineral. It is a wide bowl that has been glacially scoured on all sides. Snow on the headwall helped me make a quick descent - it is steep. There is an old mining road that connects to the canyon road 5 miles down. Then I ran a couple mile back to Mill B. Nice after-work run/hike, 3 hours and 4300 feet of climb.

 New trails

 I parked at Neffs Canyon trail head and ran/hiked up to the Thayne pass overlook to Big Cottonwood Canyon - one of the best views in all the Wasatch. Neffs Spring is wonderful - it is in a small clearing, and is one of those pipes flowing clear, cold spring water into an old metal tub. I crossed into MIllcreek canyon and descended the Desolation trail. I brought my trek poles and used them for power hiking and defense against stupid dogs. Late in the day I was descending Rattlesnake Gulch when a dog coming up the trail saw me, barked and ran full speed uphill in a show of aggression. I held my poles crossed low in front of me and yelled at the dog to back off. The animal came close but I felt defended. Freaking dogs.

Speaking of rattlesnakes, from the canyon road I crossed the skreet to Church Fork, then jogged up to Burch and continued up Burch Hollow trail, which climbs to Millcreek Ridge. From the ridge to the Mt Aire saddle is a horrible shwack on a faint trail. With my poles I beat the foliage in front of me to alert any snakes. Then I did come close to a rattler, a few feet in front of me, which slid off the trail quickly and wanted nothing to do with me.

From the saddle I ran up to Mt Aire, then down to Elbow Fork. Then cross the skreet again to jump on the Elbow Fork/Terraces trail. A lot of unexpected climbing on that one. At Terraces I ran down the road to Burch Hollow TH, then ran the Pipeline to aforementioned Rattlesnake Gulch, then got on the canyon road with intention of running down, then back up to my car at Neffs. Was not excited about having to go on road, back to the car. Then Erik Storheim stopped and gave me a ride as he was driving down canyon after a short run. Luck! Happened to be just over 26 miles. Got familiar with a lot of new trail today. The view from high up in Neffs is very good, including a unique view of Mt Olympus.

Lately I have phased out of the mileage counting thing and just have gone wherever I want to go, not really knowing the mileage beforehand. I have been getting tons of climbing and going to new places, and places I haven't been to in years. I am enjoying this approach to my activities.

Tonight I went after work to Broad's fork and climbed the Twins. They are the prominent twin peaks above Salt Lake valley. I enjoyed the solitude and meditation afforded me while alone in the mountains. I am to the point in my fitness where I do not feel 5500 feet of vertical climbing on my legs.

Up Big Cottonwood Canyon again (third time in 3 days) for a run up Days Fork. I have never before been up Days Fork. It is typical of BCC: Cliffs, meadows, pine trees, remnants of old timey mining operations, rushing creek. At the top of the fork I climbed to the Cottonwood ridge and over to the lower Flagstaff Peak. Then I back-tracked the ridge and traversed to the head of Silver fork, the next drainage East of Days. I visited the open mine shafts and heavy, rusted equipment that is half-buried in the white, chalky dirt. Then I descended into Silver fork, visited a few other mine locations, and ran down to Bog Cottonwood road.

I had been part-way up both drainages before, but no more recent than ten years ago. I have been enjoying re-visiting long-neglected places in the canyon, and discovering new trails and forks. This is for me a summer of B-sides and rarities.

I ran up to Gobbler's Knob 'smorning, from Bulter Fork on BCC. I met Nick S. at the TH and we ran started together. I had a specific goal in mind: Break 60 minutes to the top. My prior PR to the top was 1:05:47. Mission accomplished: Top in 59:22.

 Woo Hoo!

RAGNAR:

 I ran 3 legs officially. Ran a 4th leg unnoficially.

My first leg was a 5K (3.3 miles), and I was so goosed up to run Friday afternoon that I set my personal record 5k time of 18:50.

Second leg was 11.5 miles in the middle of then night from Morgan. Ran it very well. i think it is funny how the RAGNAR culture is into counting how many people a runner passes, calling them "kills". I passed at least 55 people on this leg, and was passed by only one guy. He was moving very swiftly. He was the only runner that passed me the entire day.

When I got in to the exchange where my sister took the next leg, I had planned to run it with her. I told her to go ahead while I drank a cold Pepsi and went to the toilet. I started 10 minutes behind her, then ran hard to catch up. I never caught up to her. She finished the 7.5 miles about 5 minutes ahead of me. I was getting tired and sore. That was one 19 mile run for me.

My last (official) leg was from Homestead, and the climb up toward Guardsman. I ran every step, completing the 4.4 mile leg in about 43 minutes. I was the only runner running the entire hill and I must have passed 40 people. After that I was done. Spent. I t was hot and I was tired. But, I got back out and ran/hiked another 1.5 miles with my sister as she took the next leg to complete the climb up toward Guardsman.

I enjoyed the running part of RAGNAR, but not the hours and hours of downtime and sleep deprivation. I woud probably never do RAGNAR again.

It may seem unintelligent to run 10 miles less than a day before I attempt to run/hike 100 miles through Millcreek, Big and Little Cottonwood canyons, with about 40,000 feet of vertical gain. I am combining yesterday's short 2+ mile run up to Willow Lake in BCC with m run this morning. It was necessary for me to go up Millcreek canyon today and run 4 miles up to Big Water trail head to leave water and a cold pop cooling in the creek. Tomorrow I will arrive at Big Water (mile 41) with Big Thirst, and a cold Pepsi will be MONEY. I have been purposely cryptic about what I am doing, but to anyone that reads this, I am attempting to run the length of MillWood 100. Do a search and you will see what that is. Only two guys have completed the entire distance in one event. I aim to be the third. I have food and water caches at critical points along the route. My fitness has never been better - in my entire life.I am a 42 year old man with a much younger body. I can, in fact, do this. If my knees and joints hold together, I will roll into Millcreek Canyon at the Desolation Trailhead sometime Saturday morning to Saturday afternoon. I will certainly be out there for 35+ hours.

MillWood 100

This is not an in-depth report. That will come later. I want to get the thing down on digital paper.

First, do a Google search of Millwood 100. The two best links are to The MRC blog and Erik Storheim's report on the first one "day" finish of Millwood, and Jared Campbell's blog describing his invention of the unmarked course and his completion of it last Fall 2012.

Then follow links to the route map to see what MillWood is. Jared designed it to be the most challenging, difficult 100 mile route in the Wasatch, short of sending runners out onto rugged and exposed ridges. I think he suceeded.

I was the third to finish MillWood in one single event. It was not easy. The main stats are these: 100 miles; 40,000 feet of vertical (I think it is closer to 45,000); 100 degree summer temperature; very little flat miles. Total time: 48 hours, 26 minutes. That is not a typo.

I am recalling how much running I did and it was quite a lot. A sub-50 hour finish must have a lot of running. But the heat made the running time less than it could have been under cooler weather. That's why I recommend for anyone considering a shot at MillWood to plan for a later summer or Fall date.

How do I feel? Terrific, actually. My feet hurt from blistering, but legs are mechanically sound. Not sure if I would do it again. I hope to inspire others to add their names next to mine, Erik and Jared as people who have accepted the challenge and completed the MillWood 100.