Trail Running Time

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Macchiarini Art

Pieces by Peter Macchiarini [my grandfather].

Friday, May 01, 2009

A terrific hike / trail run is the main trail up to Mt San Jacinto, which is located just outside of Palm Springs.
You take a tram a few miles up the side of the mountain.
It took me from the 90 degree April heat to a cool 55 degrees and snow!

I went about a quarter mile and snow covered the trail. A couple coming down the trail told me the trail disappeared and that I had little chance of getting to the top. I nodded and continued on. I figured even if I didn't make it I was where I wanted to be and ready to keep going. Although, I then realizes that I had forgotten my long sleeve shirt, jacket and cap. Whoops! Was in too much of a hurry to catch the tram, which only runs every 20 minutes. Oh well, glad I had bought a long sleeve San Jacinto t-shirt at the gift shop before I hit the trail.

Oh yes, there is snow. Where is the trail?

Love it!
The snow pack was hard enough that I didn't fall in.
I met a guy along the way who told me the peak was to the left. I take his word for it. But, alas, the peak really was to the right.

After a long traverse I got into a small cul-de-sac valley and the trail completely disappears. I decide to head straight up a snow slope.
I get to a saddle and go left.

Beautiful. I'm made it. What a view. Wait. What is that peak over there? It's higher than the one I am on. I'm on the wrong peak!

I headed back down to saddle and through large boulders and snow. I finally reached the true summit of Mt San Jacinto.

I looked back at the first peak I climbed. Okay, I was definitely on the higher peak now.
Beautiful.

Way, way down in the valley below [back and to the right] it was 95 degrees and Coachella was going on.

I'm sure it was cool but I was hearing the music of the mountains.

Total Time: Around 4 hours

Monday, November 10, 2008

Lime Creek Road October

Early October in Colorado

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Ice Lake Basin July 08

The beginning of the Ice Lake trail a 3.5 mile trail [7 mile round trip] that is located just north of Silverton Colorado and off on an easily accesible dirt road toward South Mineral Campground. The starting altitude is about 9,200 feet.

Less than a mile from the start is a flowing waterfall and creek.

View from the lower valley. In the distance are the mountains that surround Ice Lake Basin.

Interesting foliage grows along the trail at high altitude - [above 10,000 feet].

Coming out of the valley the trail sort of disappears amid snow and rock.

At about 12,000 feet and almost there....

Here it is. After an hour-and-a-half of hike/running here is the main lake in Ice Lake Basin. Yes, there really is ice in the lake during July.

A few minutes more of snow hiking leads to this view above two lakes. The main one is the further lake.

Many creeks flow throughout this high altitude basin.

The third lake is called Fuller Lake and it has an old cabin [or hut] on its shore.

A closer look at the old hut. It had a note on the wall that read: "Those who are lost want to be found, those who wander are not lost."
[In the midground to the right is a marmot].

Heading back and looking into the valley right below Ice Lake Basin.

Distance: 7 to 8 miles.
Total Time: Around 4 hours. Hung around on top for an hour.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Canyon & Field

A canyon and field in the Santa Monica mountains that shall remain unnamed.

Toward the start of the hike [or run].

Their is water running along and across the trail from January to May.

The field stretches for a long way up toward that rock formation.

The trail continues in a zig zag of sorts.

A piece of...well something cool and old.

If you're running the trail [I was] this is the view you get back over your shoulder at about 30 minutes.

Distance: 6 to 7 miles
Total Time: 75 minutes