Singletrack Minds #4 - 'The Group Run'

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Any resemblance to runners past or present, real or imaginary, fast or slow, is purely coincidence

Annals of Summer: Photo of the Week - "Steri-Pen Meditation"

"Steri-Pen Meditation"
90 mindful seconds at Pot Creek, filling up and sterilizing ahead of the climb up Box Canyon

Annals of Summer: Photos of the Week - "The Long View" and "Miner Thoughts"

Travis, AJW, and Brad dropping like stones toward Miner Lake

A little HDR work, as the trio overlooks Miner Lake

Annals of Summer: When M9's in Town, We Run.

Summer's been much kinder to me than I would ever have predicted in spring.  Though my weekly miles haven't been that big, I've been able to get a nice string of runs in the 3 - 6 hour range and in some astounding backcountry. That said, my knee was ready for a rest this weekend - a preemptive strike before forced time off came to the fore.

Ahhhh, the best laid plans.

The Sun Valley crew got the word mid-week that our prodigal son, AJW, was making a 36 hour trip back to the Northern Rockies, so there was nothing we could do but break out the maps, exchange some proposals, and set the 4:00am alarms for a Saturday run.   And that's just what we did, with a great dawn patrol outing around Prairie Lake, Norton Lakes (lower & upper), and Miner Lake.

It was as fun as always - rehashing storied runs and sharing new rumors, all while trying unsuccessfully to keep pace with a peak fitness Brad Mitchell. And the knee wound up performing like a champ.

There's always time to rest after good times with fast friends.  

AJW (aka M9) at Prairie Lake

Miner thoughts: Brad, AJW, and Travis ruminating on the steep drop down to Miner Lake

Dropping in

Singletrack Minds #3 - 'Running'

Annals of Summer: Photos of the Week - "The Twins" & "Water Over Rock"

Coming off of Snowyside Pass looking through the ages at Twin Lakes in the Sawtooth National Forest; Idaho.

Nearing Snowyside Pass from Toxaway Lake; Sawtooth National Forrest; Idaho.

Annals of Summer: Photo of the Week - "The Pass"

So, how does trail running differ from road running?  A picture's worth a thousand words.  Closing out 19 backcountry miles with a grunt up from Box Canyon to Johnstone Pass (elev 10,000 ft); Pioneer Mountains, Idaho.