Coyote Two Moon training run

On Sunday, six of us ran the 18+ mile Lion Canyon - Topa Topa - Chip Seal loop on the C2M course...  in a bit of SNOW!   We began by running all the way up Lion Canyon from Rose Valley.   Wild Bill has tagged me to run the C2M 100 miler (help), and I have challenged myself to a little goal of running UP all the side trails to the Ridge Road in training.  (Of course, I use the word "run" in the ultraunner's sense of the word, and rest breaks are allowed... but no walking!)   I am now three trails down (the easy ones--Lion Canyon, Howard Creek, Gridley), with four to go (Horn Canyon, Sisar/White Ledge, Chip Seal, Pratt).  During C2M I will most likely run up none of these trails; it's just a fun little goal to have set for myself. 

In Southern California the presence of snow doesn't necessarily require the covering of one's legs (yesss!) although it was a bit chilly if we stopped for very long.  These beautiful grasses on Topa Topa were frozen stiff.  A highlight of the day was coming across fresh bear tracks on the LCT!

Seven miles on the Ridge Road...  Topa as backdrop...  then a knee & quad pounder down Chip Seal.  A nice run with great company.  :)

(All photos by H'ard.)

A Week in Shenandoah National Park

Tuesday:  Austin Mtn., AT, Blackrock, Paine Run, Trayfoot, Furnace Mtn. - 21 miles

Wednesday:  Big Run, Madison Run, AT, Jones & Doyles Falls - 11 miles

Thursday:  Big Run, Big Run Portal, Brown Mtn., AT - 21 miles
Friday:  Wildcat Ridge, AT, Riprap - 12 miles

Saturday:  Patterson Ridge, Rocky Top, AT - 15.5 miles

Sunday:  Catlett Spur, Hazel Mtn., AT, Byrds Nest #3 - 7.5 miles

Monday:  Knob Mtn., AT, Neighbor Mtn. - 18 miles

Lots of leaves, one bear, a few deer, & an unintentional big mileage week.

Congratulations to my Sweetie for getting in >100 miles during his 100k b'day week!!  So proud.  :)

Knobstone Trail

I spent Halloween running 50 miles through southeastern Indiana on the Knobstone Trail.  With an Indianapolis business trip in store this week, we arrived a day early in order to traverse what Backpacker magazine has dubbed the Hoosier state's best hiking trail.  From what I'd read about this trail, I realized the need to rethink any misconceptions I had about Indiana and flat cornfields.  This trail is gnarly, with somewhere between 10,000 to 11,000 feet of climb!  But here's the thing:  the highest ridges top out at just over 1000 feet, so you are constantly roller coastering 100 to 400 feet over and over and over again.  Take a look at the profile:

Looks like fun, eh?    IT WAS!!  :)
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With temps hovering around 40 degrees, we started at the southerly Deam Lake Trailhead at 5 a.m.  The first 3 hours were done by headlamp; sunrise comes very late to the area this time of year.  Chris again selflessly crewed--thanks Honey!--and was able to meet me a bunch, at roughly miles 5, 9, 11, 17, 24, 31, 37, 39, and 47.  Plus, he ran back to intercept me on the trail a few times, getting in about 17 miles himself.  The day was bright and sunny, but since the temps struggled to reach 60 degrees, I was able to go light with just one water bottle.  Perfect running weather!
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Impeding progress a bit was the leafy trail surface--would've made better time a few weeks ago before the leaves fell!  However, the footing was pretty good, with few rocks to maneuver, and almost totally singletrack.  Woohoo!  I met about a dozen other hikers this day, including a few backpackers.  The Indiana DNR puts out a nice map for a whopping $4 and does a superb job with trail signage, blazing, and marking; in fact, there are mile markers for every mile.  To say, there were absolutely no confusing, "oh sh*t" moments as I've found on some other, less well marked trails.
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Throughout the day the Knobstone Trail triggered memories of other trails:
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-- Ouachita Trail (Oklahoma & Arkansas) probably the most because of the overall feel, the views, and the lack of water.  In fact, thru-hikers are advised to cache water along the way.
-- Wild Oak Trail (Virginia) because of the solitude, quiet, and gnarly steep climbs--admittedly not nearly as long but a lot more of 'em.
-- Appalachian Trail because of the many so-called PUDs (pointless ups & downs)
-- Laurel Highlands Trail (Pennsylvania) because of the mile markers.
-- Massanutten (Virginia) because the pre-sunrise views of twinkling lights in the valleys reminded me of the Edinburg-to-Woodstock Tower section of MMT.
-- Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway (southern New Hampshire) because of the 3 lakes the trail skirts.
-- Barkley (Tennessee) because there were oodles of sawbriars on the sides of the trail (thankfully, unlike the Barkley course, none of which required maneuvering through).
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Nearing the northerly terminus of the KT around mile 40.5, you can elect to go directly to Spurgeon Lake for a total of ~43.5 miles or Delaney Lake for 45.5; you can take the Spurgeon Hollow Loop for a couple miles more; OR you can take the Delaney Park Loop to Delaney Lake, then Spurgeon Lake for a full 50.  I chose the latter and got in at 7 p.m.  50 miles in 14 hours??  See, told ya it was gnarly!  (And, okay, maybe I still felt last week's 115 miles...)
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This Knobstone Trail surpassed my expectations:  I loved it and highly recommend the KT if ever you get the opportunity.