Going home

As I sit here on the plane in Juneau, waiting to take off, I reflect on the past week and it puts me in a state of total gratitude.

I ran roughly 55 miles, and 20 hours these past four days. A few sore muscles and a bruised ankle.

I will post many many photos soon.

“There are two kinds of tired. There is good tired and bad tired. Bad tired ironically can be a day that won. But you fought other peoples battles. Lived other peoples days, other peoples agendas, and at the end of the day there was very little ‘you’ in there. So when you go to bed at night somehow you toss and turn, and don’t rest easy. Good tired, ironically enough can be a day that you lost. But you don’t have to tell yourself because you knew that you fought your battles, chased your dreams, lived your days, and when you hit the hay at night you settle easy and sleep the sleep of the just, and you can say take me away. ” (Harry Chapin)

I am good tired!!!!

Scott

Saving the best for last

Woke up the morning of our last day feeling very tired. After finishing what was probably four meals worth of food, packing my lunch, and putting the gear together, I was ready for my final day of running.

Today we would meet 7 local runners at the trailhead. Glenn, Guy, Rosie, Brian, Dan, John, and Klaus were all waiting for us in the rain.

As we stood in the rain we discussed the plan for the day. 1 mile up perseverance trail, with parallels basin road (the oldest gold mining route in Alaska) the trail would split. Those interested in climbing Mt Juneau and completing the ridge trail, and those wishing for a easier day would go separate ways at this junction.

The group who climbed Mt Jumbo the previous day walked much of this first easy mile climb. All of our legs felt like lead. I heavily debated taking the easy route, but couldn’t resist the offer to climb again.

Geoff, John lead the group made up of Andreas, Liam, Damien, Donna and Carl. Three other locals would join us. The

Last day

Morning of the last day here. Fog is low but air seems like it will clear high again. Legs are tired for sure this morning. Mixed emotions, ready to be home again with my family.

More on Jumbo…

The fog at the cabin was so deep we couldn’t see more than a couple hundred yards. Geoff made the well experienced decision that peaks were out of the question today and that we’d take a nice recovery run down Treadwell Ditch. A Doable run that should have been about 6 miles along an old gold mining flume that carried water to the mines. (hidden in the “ditch”).

However as soon as we left the cabin and we noticed that the sky seemed to be opening. I was sitting shot gun listening to Geoff’s cell phone blow up with texts from all the locals. Weather report from town was that the peaks were clear. Immediately Geoff’s mind begin to spin as he tried to construct a plan that would work for all. After all most of us in the van had not planned for this type of run.

When we met up with Glenn and the other locals, Geoff had devised a plan. Those who wanted to stick with the original plan could , but those who wanted to climb would stay in the car. The was a junction between the Treadwell path and the trailhead to Mt Jumbo where we were to meet up later that morning.

I had only 200 calories, a small water bottle but my mind was set, I wanted to go up. We dropped off three runners and headed the van to the trailhead. By this time it was raining again.

The trail up Mt Jumbo was single track, and straight up. It was roughly 4 miles to the top, and we would climb about 3500 ft. During the ascent it continued to rain, which left us with little to no visibility. It wasn’t until we hit the tree line that we found we’d climbed above the rain, and the sky again opened.

One runner decided to turn back, but the rest of us made it the top. I can’t put into words how effortlessly Geoff worked his way up that mountain. I felt like we moved well, but it was clear Geoff had two or three more gears.

Mt Jumbo sits on Douglas island, and over looks Juneau to the east. The views from all sides were remarkable.

Becca and I moved down the mountain together ahead of the others. I love picking out the downhill paths. Finding steps, and making stairs out of the landscape.

We met up with the others at Sandy beach. They had already started the fire and had all of the food laid out. We grilled out over the fire and ate and shared the two stories of the day.

This was also laundry day, and a day to hang around Juneau again.

Dinner was again, out of this world. And we finished the day with our usual “high and Low” conversation, a after dinner walk, a round of “The Greatest Game Ever” and some hoola hooping.

Need to rest, tomorrow will be a 5 hour effort.

Mt Jumbo!!

We were supposed to be doing a easy run today. Jumbo took a three hour solid effort. Outstanding!!!!

Quick shot of Geoff sitting at the peak.

Raindrops and a Solid Soaking

It has been raining now for nearly 16 hours straight. Rain started when we finished our run. Visibility remains very poor, so we are headed toward more lower elevations today (sub 2000) Really hoping to climb a few of the peaks tomorrow or Wednesday, but still looking forward to another adventure today.

We started out at the John Muir trail head this morning. Three locals, Glenn, Carlyn, and Guy met us at the trail head. The hours if driving rain had made for a more of a stream than a trail. So between the rain, dripping Trees and trail it didn’t take more than 20 minutes before we were all soaking wet. The trail was a 4 mile climb up to the John Muir Cabin where we met up with a few campers. At that point Guy and Carlyn headed back to the cars, but Glenn stayed with us. He is the only one that knows how to navigate the meadows. Glenn is 73 years old. T

The meadows we’re something out of this world. Endless miles of soggy, spongy meadows full of colors, thousands of interlocking streams and water holes all settled between the shadowed peaks just barel visa le in the skyline around us.

We finished todays point to point run on the Montana Creek trail, whose trailhead spits out into the same lot we finished yesterday.

I had the pleasure of running ahead of the group with Liam today. We ran so fast the final six miles. Most of which we did side by side in what I would describe as a comfortable silence. For sure one of those rare runner high moments.

After logging another 17 miles, and some soaking in the glacier lake we headed back to camp to warm up, eat and reflect on another spectacular day in Alaska.

Pictures unavailable right now- sorry!

S

East Glacier & Nugget Creek trails

A day that begins with two breakfasts is a good day. Geoff and his girlfriend, Corle continue to produce great food and a ton of it. During breakfast ( 2nd one) we learned of plans for the day. Since the clouds were low and covering most of the higher summits and ridge lines we headed toward Mendenhall lake. The lake is a result of the massive receding glacier sitting in the north eastern valley/corner of the lake.

The first mile was on pavement but we were soon on well used trails. We quickly learned why, when we arrived at the visitor center where we ran by many cruise shippers tourists. All of whom gave us strange looks as we ran by, barely dressed in the days cold rain. We did see a bear cub here, about 20 feet away up in a tree.

There was a new addition to our group this morning. Her name is Becca and I learned today that she is a local Juneau resident and a recent widower. She’s hoping to find some peace this week. I know to some peace and running seem like an odd combination. To me, somewhere beyond your physical and mental limits the perspective you’ve been searching for can be discovered.

Two more locals had been waiting at the trail head for us. Both of whom are part of this very well knit mountain running community.

Once we the group of us passed by the visitor center we hit a steep climb made up of about 12 switchbacks. This took us to a great overlook of the waterfall filling the lake, as well as a great view of the glacier. This was where we left east glacier trail and picked up the lessor used nugget creek trail.

As we ran on, the trail continued to climb and become more and more technical. The trail was all single track, very wet, and filled with roots rocks and creeks. I absolutely loved this part of the run. Felt very good considering the limited amount of sleep.

The forest here is a rain forest. The water is strangely clear and drinkable ( filled my water bottle 2x)

We finished the day with roughly 17 miles completed and a wonderfully cold dip in Mendenhall lake (ice bath).

Dinner again was amazing, with freshly picked wild blueberry muffins for dessert.

It is remarkable how well this group ran together today. I think everyone was a little worried about the abilities of our camp mates but all of that quickly melted away today and everyone worked hard and well with each other.

Looking forward to tomorrow and hoping the weather allows for some higher elevation.

(sorry – no pics from the run today didn’t bring my iphone due to the rain)

Jubilee!

By the time Geoff picked us all up at the airport there was six of us. Rich, Damien, Jenny, Andreas, Liam and I. Since we had to wait for two more, Donna and Carl to come in late from Anchorage, we decided to make a run to the liquor store for some supplies. Timing was perfect. On the way back thru Donna and Carl had arrived, and we were a rounded team of 8. San Diego, Seattle, Dublin, Austria, & San Francisco, would make me the only person in the group that had been awake nearly 24 hours by the time we arrived at the cabin, settled into our rooms and eat dinner. At dinner we learned about each camp member, what our plans were for the week ahead and what do in the likely event we see bears. Apparently I am in no real danger! The cabin is amazing, as well as the grounds it sits on and the view from its front porch. I was the first to retire, and it didn’t take long before I was asleep. It’s now 5:30am Sunday morning and I am sitting at mouth of a small stream watching Salmon trying to make their struggle out of the ocean and to their spawning grounds. Can’t wait to see what is in store for today.
(Note the two bald eagles perched outside the cabin this morning)

A walk around town and a beer

Arrived in Juneau safe in sound. I was half right. The guy in the Altra’s is part of our crew. His name is Andreas and he’s from Austria. He spent the last week in Colorado before coming up to Alaska. We decided to split a cab to town and find a few places to kill the next few hours.

Had a great time getting to know my new friend. I am now back at the airport where I met two other campers. We’re getting ready to go out to the cabin and pick out a place to crash. Not to mention eating some food! Have a feeling I need the calories.

Ps. I was right about the guy in the Montrail shoes too.

By the light of the moon

Started the day by moonlight. Long day of traveling. 1 car, 3 planes, and 12 hours to go and I will be in Juneau, Ak.

Sitting it Detroit now. Headed to Seattle. Walked off on plane and onto this one.

From my seat in 17a.