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.
| 