Kings Peak

I had all of Thursday off so I figured I better try to do something that would make me uncomfortable.  Mission accomplished.  

While chatting with one of my coworkers last week she mentioned that she ran Kings Peak on her day off.  She said it was beautiful and highly recommended.  Since I had never been and it fit my idea of a long day, I went.  I wanted to run hard and had a few goal splits going in.  1:30 for the first 10 miles, under 2:30 to the summit, and 4:30 round trip.  I knew this would be a little fast but decided to try anyway.  

I made decent time to Gunsight pass 1:40.  From there I intended to head directly to Anderson Pass via a boulder hopping short cut.  I heard this trail breaks off to the hikers right about 600 meters past Gunsight, so that's what I did.  By the time I had run downhill for 5-10 mins I realized I was not on the shortcut, instead, I was on a connector that met up with the standard trail leading into Painter Basin.  The shorter trail breaks off to the right about 20 feet after you crest the pass, not 600m.  Now I know. The longer way added about a mile and was the start of hard afternoon.  

View into Painter Basin

Once I realized I missed the shortcut the psych for running hard was lost.  At that point I was over being in the Unitas and just wanted to get back to SLC so it turned into a "I just better keep moving type of attitude" instead of wanting to go hard.  This was not very fun.  Turns out a good attitude goes a long way.  On the summit ridge I was sick of running and asked some boy scouts if I was getting close.  They said, "Um, no man, there are like three more fake summits.  You've got a ways to go." Humiliating. I topped out at 2:45 and turned around without chatting too much to any of the 20 people who were hanging out.

From the Summit

The rest of the way went as expected (minus the superman fall onto my face).  There was loose footing until Gunsight pass and then a great gradual down the rest of the way out of Henry's Fork. I was 5:05 at the car and tired.  Not quite what I had planned but a good day nonetheless.  I drank a sip of water, stretched for a few minutes and was back in the car.  The best moment of the day was pulling into the driveway 10 hours and 15 mins after I left.  Plenty of time for a swim, dinner and a full nights rest.

Stats
Car to Car: 5:05
Elevation: 4700'
Distance: 27.3 miles
Food Carried: 3 L gatorade (Why so much? 3 L is heavy!), 10 gels, 1 pack juicy oozers
Food still in the bag: 1.5 liters gatorade, 4 gels, 1 pack juicy oozers
SLC to SLC: 10:15

Mt. Timpanogos, GO NOW!

Chris Cawley and Sarah Evans were planning on running Timp on Thursday and were nice enough to let me tag along.  I'm glad they did.  I've been up there quite a bit and never seen it like it is now.  The wild flowers are in!  Not that I'm hugely into wild flowers but the upper meadows were absolutely amazing.  We went up from the Timpanooke trailhead but I'm sure the Aspen Grove side is just as nice.  If you have time, make the trip! A few too many pics from the day...

New Pfeifferhorn FKT?

Winter, 2010

Last year I time trialed the Pfeifferhorn and thought I came away with a fastest known time (FKT).  Turns our faster times were known.  I ran a time of 1:07 from the White Pine parking lot to the summit but Karl Meltzer had run 1:06:10, I just didn't know that. When I heard this I figured I better go up there and give it another go.

I had Wednesday afternoon off and decided to make an attempt after eating Indian buffet for lunch and taking a 2 hour nap.  This might sound like a bad idea but it was one of the few afternoons I had free and earlier in the day I just couldn't say no to Katmandu.

Jared next to Red Pine Lake, 2011

Starting at the White Pine parking lot I made the first bridge in 7:30, the Maybird turn off in mid 23, the lake in 35, the ridge in 53 and the summit in 1:05:01. Toward the summit, I looked at my watch and saw 1:04.  Thinking I could make it in under 65 mins I blew myself up over the last little bit only to stop the watch at 65:01.  As I sat up there breathing hard, hurting, tired, without water, kind of cold,  and without a shirt I couldn't help but chuckle a little.  Seemed like a pretty stupid thing to be doing.  


A minute later I kept thinking about the few seconds/minutes here or there that were wasted, how someone out there should be able to summit in under an hour, and how maybe I need to try again. I'm guessing I'll find myself doing "stupid" things for quite some time.        

Gear:

Dynafit Varial Loose Shorts

Dynafit MS Feline Superlight

Classic Alpine Run - Owen Spalding, The Grand Teton

Chris Cawley and I both had Thursday off so we decided to head up to Jackson for a quick go at the Grand.  Chris got off work Wednesday evening and we had hoped to head up to the best Motel 6 in the country.  Unfortunately this fell through (expensive in the summer!).  Lucky for us, Nate F. Brown was kind enough to let us intrude on him and his family.  

A full 8 hours of sleep and we were out the door by 7:30.  One benefit of jogging the majority of the way is the "lazy alpine start."  Another is the lack of gear needed for a short outing. We left the trailhead with a liter and a half of drink, a hand full of gels and a light wind breaker.  The plan was to keep it conversational, take a few pictures, and enjoy running in the mountains.  Apart from a few moments of heavy mouth breathing, I think this was achieved.  

Heading up the switchbacks

Entering Garnet

The fixed lines below the Lower Saddle

From http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/51618736.jpg

We hit the Lower Saddle at 1:48 and kept moving at a relaxed pace.  I'm still not sure of the fastest way to the Upper Saddle but we found a pretty good line that avoided most of the loose trail.  From the Upper Saddle we followed the traditional OS route (Belly Roll to Double Chimney to Cat Walk and up Sargent's Chimney) and topped out in 2:49. 

Approaching the Upper Saddle

Chris looking down the Black Ice

Starting the Owen Spalding

The Belly Roll in fine style

The "crux" Double Chimney move

Chris summiting

We spent 10 or so minutes on the summit enjoying the warm weather and light breeze and then were off jogging back down.  Down climbing the OS felt easier than climbing.  Reversing the Double Chimney move consisted of grabbing the jug from between your feet and lowering out. There's also a nice flat landing which makes it feel pretty safe.

Working our way down

Leaving the Upper Saddle

There's still a bit of snow coming off the Lower Saddle which was steep and firm enough to keep us from a standing glissade. We both thought we may have tore something after the sit glissade but were happy to find no blood in the snow.  Running shorts/half tights don't make the best sleds.   From there it was a quick exit running down hill for the last few miles.  We hit the car in just over 4:40.  Plenty of time to jump in the river and drive back home in time for dinner.

Leaving the Lower Saddle

Meadows

Gear:

Dynafit Effex Tee 

Dynafit React Dry Short Tights

Dynafit X4 Dy.N.A. Pack

Outdoor Research Helium 2 Jacket

Outdoor Research Radar Visor

8 gels

1.5 liters Gatorade/Gu roctane drink mix