Appreciation

It was 10:00 am with a temperature of around 15 degrees as I made slow progress along the Ridge Line trail in American Fork Canyon.  The trees were still covered with snow from the weekends storm and seemed more like a post card to me.  The sky was a brilliant blue with nothing but the sun to keep it company.  Except for a solitary set of snowshoe footprints the trail was not as packed as before.

Ridgeline Trail - American Fork Canyon

It happened, much as it had the first 20 times before. The technical term for it is called "post holing". The snow had given way beneath my feet as I stood, only a torso above the snow line.  I was laughing, enjoying the moment.  The sun glowed, the the cold enveloped, and I was happy, an avalanche of wonder and joy. I had missed this.  That specific moment when a run envelops you, and everything stands still.

The moments in your life that define you can be so poignant.  As a husband and father you get many of those moments that are personal and sacred, shared between loved ones.  Those moments trump all and embed themselves in your heart, forever cherished.  Still others take on a different and yet very personal meaning.  Ultra and trail running has been the teacher that I never expected.

Trail 047 - American Fork Canyon

The Bear 100 was one of those moments that I learned so much. As Kendall said it "It's now permanently etched in your soul. " Yet there were so much more, so many times that I see and feel so vividly in my mind.  Humanity.  Not the type where you give money to someone on the street or donate you clothes to a shelter. Those are all worthy causes, but the humanity that reaches out and touches someone so personally it leaves a permanent mark.  That is what I believe is at the core of this community.  I have seen and experienced it too many times to count. Some of these still move me so much that its hard to talk about them let alone relate them to anyone else.  When you part your lips but only the sound of a whisper comes out, almost a hushed reverence.  Myst from your breath on a cold morning.

Friends: People you share moments with.  Here are just a few moments that I happen to have photographs of.  But yet its only a small sample of some of the people I have been privileged to run with.  To anyone else not mentioned, thank you for letting me share the trail with you. 

Zann, Tim, Scott - Sunset Peak

Me, Chris, Steve - Utah Tripple Crown

Me, Chris, Same, Ben, Jeremy, Jeff - Pfeifferhorn & White Baldy 

Kendall, Jen, Leslie - Deseret Peak 

Me, Ben, Jennilyn, Aaron - Jennilyn's WURL

Thank you everyone, for making this year possible.  Without your support, generosity and encouragement it would not have been possible. As for 2015, I look forward to making new memories, adventures and stories to tell. And lastly...

A Prayer

Quest for Kings

Kings Peak in the morning sun

Last weekend was the annual Quest for Kings marathon put on by Craig. This is the second time that I have come on this weekend outing.  I look forward to it every year.  When driving in from Evanston you can see Kings looming to the south.  For me it sets an attitude of adventure and exploration that lasts the entire time.  There is just something about the beauty and ruggedness of this county that I just eat up.

Earlier this year I thought that it would be interesting to try the Utah Triple Crown.  The Triple Crown is a run combining 3 of the tallest peaks in Utah for a total length of 30 miles and over 6000 feet in elevation gain.  The goal is to summit all three peaks from the Henrys Fork trail head in as fast as time as possible.  Well as it turned out I wasn't the only one thinking about doing the Triple Crown.  The Orange Trail Monkeys also known as Sam and Steve were wanting to go for it as well.  When all was said and done there were 9 people total that started in our group.

Sleeping Arrangements 

That night at the trail head I slept in my hammock.  The view of the stars was just amazing and there was also flashes of lighting from a storm off to the east.  I even got to see a number of shooting stars. This has to be my favorite ways of camping by far.  The morning seemed to come way too quick and everyone in camp was buzzing by 4:00 am. After shivering in the pre-dawn morning we headed out from the trail head at 5:00 am.

After heading out I knew I wasn't feeling all that great which had me in somewhat of a panic mode. My stomach and guts were fighting me and I quickly fell away from the lead group.  After having some "alone" time in the wilderness I was able to get past the morning blues and press on.  On my way to Elk Horn Crossing I heard something moving off of the trail.  It turned out to be a moose and it was only about 10 feet away, just off the trail.  I was said I couldn't get a picture of it, but we managed to see it on the way back as well.

The moose

Chris Pope

Steve and I on the ascent to Gilbert w/ Gilbert in the background (Courtesy Chris)

After catching up with the group at Elk Horn Crossing we ventured off to Dollar Lake and turn off and the accent to Gilbert peak.  The climb up to Gilbert was hard but it wasn't the last of it.  The initial climb gets you up the shelf where you can then turn and see Gilbert.  There isn't much of a trail and most of the way was defined by sheep trails. At the top of the shelf we ran into a herd of sheep just as the sun was starting to come over Gilbert.  Chris, Steve and I reached the summit of Gilbert just in time to enjoy the morning sun rising over the valley.  The view was simply amazing.

Peak 1:  Gilbert Peak @ 13,442 feet

Next we started descending the peak to the shelf on our way to Gunsight Pass.  On the way down Chris was bounding from boulder to boulder like the Night Fox from Oceans 12.  I was some what envious.  We eventually made our way to the southern shoot to make our way back down to the Henrys Fork Trail.  It was hard not to just want to sit and stare at the valley below.

The "Shoot"

The shelf between Gunsight and Anderson.  (South Kings and Kings in the background) (Courtesy Chris)

After reaching the shelf between Gunsight and Anderson we were back on familiar ground.  The one thing I was noticing as that being at altitude was beginning to take a toll on my energy level.  I was feeling tired.  Coming to the spring at Anderson I soon began to run into several familiar faces from the group of Wranglers that started later in the day.  The trail up Kings is much more defined that Gilbert or South Kings.  Even with that it still amounts to a lot of boulder hopping.  See the picture below.

Trail to Kings (Courtesy Chris)

Peak 2: Kings Peak @ 13,528 feet

Getting to Kings I felt much better knowing I only had one more peak to go for.  South Kings looked so close but as I was soon to find out would take forever to get to because of the boulders.  It was also getting hot and the wind was blowing hard in the pass.  By the time I reached the base of South Kings I just wanted to be done.  I was bruised and bleeding from the boulders and I needed a huge pick me up.

Peak 3: South Kings @ 13,512

After reaching the summit of Souths Kings I felt elated to know that I had accomplished my goal.  Its one of those things that you can only celebrate by yourself, because there is no finish line, no family waiting for you.  Chris soon was on the summit and celebrating with a Mtn Dew.  Something that I was insanely jealous of.  When heading down South Kings we headed around Kings trying to save some elevation gain. Steve was down at the pass for South Kings feeling very sick from the elevation.  We soon headed back down to Gunsight.  When we got to the bottom of Gunsight we saw some familiar faces with some awesome Wrangler Ladies, completing an epic 40 mile fast pack from Red Castle.   The rest of the trip flew by.  We ran the last 5.5 miles from Elk Horn back to the trail head hard.  It felt good to be moving and approaching the finish.  Chris and I crossed the trail head in 10:47.  It was a very hard but rewarding day in the mountains. One that I will surely have to try again.