Boulder from a snowy Bear Peak

I believe am not alone in the quest for starting off the year in the right direction, setting expectations through my initial run.

Recovering from a late New Year’s Eve and spending time with my family all morning, it wasnt till after three in the afternoon when I headed out with no real plans on a course except to just head up to the trails. With YakTrax in hand, I started slowly up to Bear Creek Trail below NCAR. The dirt service road was packed with snow but was easy going even without the trax. The sun was already beginning to recede behind the mountain tops and casting the valley in long blue shadows. At 8,461′ Bear Peak loomed above me. It would be an arduous trek in this snow, but somehow I felt like I should make journey. Attempt something I had not set out to do initially.

Just before the meadow the rocks glow from the last light

Moving up Bear Creek to Fern Canyon, I had caught and passed another runner and a few hikers. When I got to Fern Canyon, the steepness of the snowy slope was too much not to move forward without some help. So I slipped on the Yaktrax and climbed onward. The entire path was tracked out snow but was manageable until I started heading up the steeper climb under Seal Rock. This section of switchbacks is tough enough for me to run when the trails are clear but today slowed me to a quick hike for most of it. I still managed to catch a hiker before the saddle. The section of outcropped rocks glowed with the last light.

Now comes the real test. The Ridge Trail gains 1,031′ in the remaining .5 miles. I use trees and rocks to help pull me up the slippery passage as the footing is slick and keeps me from making quick progress. Lets be clear, there is no running what so ever at this point, I am in full out hike mode.

tree

Sorry to say that I have only done the Bear Peak Ascent a handful of times in my 17 years in Boulder. For the un-initiated its one of those trails where you think you are close to the top, then it turns out you are wrong. The trip allows for many glimpses of the amazing views out to the valleys on either side. I couldn’t help but comparing this to my life in 2009. At times putting my head down, buried in the trees, fighting my way up, not knowing where the end is. But from time to time able to catch a glimpse of the wonder of life and see just how far I have gone.

Finally, the trees open up to the final scramble up the rock scree to the summit and it all becomes justifiable. At the top I chatted with a fellow adventurer as we shared stories about running, careers and the new year. Careful about footing at first on the descent I quickly realized that a controlled slide would be quicker than the steps down. This proved much more fun than the ascent and made quick work of the 1.75 miles back down the West Ridge Trail. I followed the same path down Fern to Bear Creek for the return home. Even as I got to the bottom of the hill the sunlight continued to provide inspiration above my gloomy path.

final ascent

Today’s run, though not all that epic, reminded me that in 2010 the mountains I have in front of me, are obtainable with a just little hard work and determination.

sun in clouds

Map

Also in this post: Running in the snow tips | Great places for running in the snow

First Big Snow at Chautauqua looking up at Saddle Rock

It seems in Boulder we have been waiting all year for it to snow. There have several false starts to our snowy season, but its been light at best. Until now. The social network has been all a twitter with updates about the snow. All the locals had photos posted of snow piling high on back patio furniture, trees and front yards or what they saw on their commute.

All the discussion was getting me pumped to get out. See, I love running in the snow.

Well, let me clarify that: Freshly fallen snow.

When a bike path or trail have a nice 3 to 6 inches on it, it is the best feeling. Just enough cushion to soften the stride, not too deep in which to work really hard at lifting the legs. (when the snow gets tracked out, footing gets a bit more wobbly and your legs are working harder to keep you upright). The big plus: everything is bright, calm and quiet. What you mostly hear is your breath and the soft “crunching” of snow underfoot. Running Nirvana.

Trying something different

I saw two videos from @runswithspirit, a local barefoot runner,  running through the snow and icy water.

After shoveling the walkway and drive I figured I would go give it a spin at the park adjacent to my house. I have to admit I was a bit giddy with what I was about to attempt. I haven’t been running barefoot much at all. A football field, or park on occasion. But running in the snow, seemed intriguing.

Barefoot Newbie

The air was relatively warm as it tends to be on socked in days. Transitioning from my warm Sorrels into the snow was not as jarring as I expected. I snapped a photo of my naked soles and took off for a jog around the circumference of the park. Actually it was exactly as I had expected, soft cushy and yes a bit cold. A few hundred yards to the other side of the park my feet began to feel the sting of the cold and I started wondering how long the toes would take it. But as I ran through the foot and a half of snow I enjoyed the ease of my step and the brush of the snow against my legs.

When I got back to the start I attempted to put the boots back on and start the warming process. It was at this point I realized how numb my foot had gotten. I was unable to put my left foot back into the woolen liner of the boot, so I had to sort of jog/hobble back to the house with one bare foot.

Surprisingly, the toes warmed up nicely within minutes of being back inside. But it made me ponder, how long I really could have stayed out there. I just got back from a broken foot, last thing I needed were frost bitten piggies. Perhaps the Vibrams would be a better idea for me.

Later in the afternoon I got out for a real run, after all I couldn’t let my tweeps down. Shoes and all. I was reading a blog post of a local runner Jeff Vallierev in which he had already been up Green Mountain, Bear Peak and South Boulder Peak, in this much snow!! So I decided I would at least give the lower trails a try and get a few photos along the way.

Bear Canyon – Mesa Trail – Bluebell Baird – Chautauqua

Mesa Trail to NCAR, Eldorado Springs or back to Bear Mtn Drive

This time with shoes.

For my warmup, I followed a few streets up to the Bear Creek Trailhead just off of Bear Mtn Drive. The trail is narrow for a few hundred yards until it joins with the access road which is Bear Creek. The snow had been well traveled at this point with hikers, runners and even skiers. The snow was soft, but uneven as I climbed. My legs working extra duty to keep stable up the steady climb. I took a few opportunities for photos as my reprieve enjoying listening to other soft sounds that were previously muted by my breathing.

At the trail juncture with Mesa, I headed north behind NCAR. I was glad to have others find the way before me, as I could just concentrate on the now well marked path. At this point I am still climbing although it is rolling under normal conditions. Back behind NCAR, the trail decends for a short while before climbing again, but its just enough time to give me a preview of how fun the decents will be later. The trail then climbs up a steep switchback then finally opening to a view of the valley. Along this stretch I pass a hiker and a skier and we briefly comment on how wonderful the snow is as we pass by.

Bear Peak lost in the cover

Now the Mesa Trail lets out into the road down to Chautauqua. I take a right as I head up a short steeper section that leads to the Bluebell-Baird trail. I follow this trail up and over to towards the Gregory Canyon Trailhead. As I descend, I notice a few tracks that meander down the slope.

Now this looks like too much fun to pass up. So I head straight down the hillside bounding, gliding, landing softly with each stride. That was worth the whole trip right there!!

Following the trail just above the Baseline trail I crossed underneath skiers and snowboarders hiking up further to catch some fresh tracks. Closer to the park, there are many families up on the hill with sleds taking advantage of the massive run-out with nothing but tall grass and 2 feet of snow to pad their slide.

Now being an hour into the run, I figure I needed to get home. So I took the streets straight down from the park to get to Broadway. This was actually really fun as well. There was just enough left over snow in the street where they hadn’t plowed to leave about 8 inches of soft/slushy snow in which I could land my steps and provided some great cushion.

All in all the trip was 8 miles and took about 1:22 to complete, but so glad I was able to get out and renew my mind.

Snow Tips

Dress Warmly

Kristen at Run-Faster has a great post on Winter Running Gear

Shorten Your Stride

High Altitude Spine and Sport Twitter update: Runs on snow/ice force inner & outer thigh muscles 2 work 2x’s as hard 2 keep ur body stable: shorten ur stride 2 help minimize over activity. @Artsportchiro

Get Traction

YakTrax, Grip-ons, or STABILicers – are traction cleats you wear over your shoes if you are concerned about slipping.

Instep Boulder has a video of how to modify your running shoes. Shop owner RL has been doing this for years and many of the trail runners have adapted this method.

Great places for running in the light snow

• Any of Boulder’s bike paths ( they are the first on the list to be plowed when it snows)
• Boulder Creek Path
• Wonderland Lake
• South Boulder Creek Trail (Bobolink Trailhead)
• Around the Boulder Rez
• Teller Farm

Marshall Valley Trail

Well of course it is. It just snowed enough to gunk up the dirt on the trail. What I always seem to forget is how sticky the trails get along Marshall Mesa Trail, Community Ditch and Dowdy Draw. Its that wonderful soil that just like to build to a nice girth on the bottom of your shoe, making it very awkward to keep a decent stride. It was a chilly October afternoon with misty cloud cover but the landscape was fantastic, speckled with evergreens, reds, golds, sienna and white.

proof

View from Community Ditch

Coal Seam Trail, Marshall Mesa, Boulder, CO

In the past few days we have had drizzly snow, then warm again and today meets with snow. There was enough of the white stuff to get everyone excited and lead to many great photo opportunities.

Early Winter Snow Chautauqua