July 22nd 2016

Part I

Time to move south. I can't just keep throwing myself at Ben Lomond and Lewis Peak. I'll work my way down the Wasatch and learn the mountains as I go. So that brings me to Mt Ogden. Sure you can drive up Snowbasin almost to the top, but that's not my style. I hear Beus Canyon is the way to go, and I'm going by 0515. I've done a good job with my checklist and try to pace myself as I follow my headlamp up the trail. Little bright specs of blue shine back at me as the wolf spiders survey their unexpected visitor. The trail closely follows the creek and the air is cool, but then I stop dead. 10ft in front of me is a much larger amber glow. After my experience last week, rattlesnakes are on my mind and I almost walked right on one. The glow of the eye makes it hard to see the rest of the snake, but it looks coiled, with possibly the rattle sticking up. The head is pointed and slowly moving side to side. I kick a bit of dirt to see if I can get it to move on, but no response. It's dark, but I survey my possibilities. Steep, overgrown hillside to the left, and flowing creek to the right. Just then the snake jumps into the air!! Startled, I look over to see a grouse or something fly off above the trees. Ok. Glowing amber eyes is not so bad. (I have since done the research and snake eyes do not glow) I continue up the trail and dawn overtakes me as I reach the "field of ferns." I didn't make that up, that's what all the trail guides call it. Almost a mile through very thick ferns, usually taller than me. Fortunately with the light of day coming I can stick with the trail and get through it to move on to 3 miles through scrub oak on the side of the ridge. Between the two I am not able to pick up my pace much and never really best 2mph on the whole ascent. 

I gain the ridge and early morning clouds mute the sunrise. The saddle before the summit you join up with the road from Snowbasin and then a pretty steep climb to the top. It's nice, even with the towers and helipad. But especially nice to have finally made a summit.

Part II

I made the summit later than hoped at just after 0800. Return time is supposed to be 1000, which is disappointing because Allen Peak is really what intrigues me. A fun ridgeline to the north, and respectable cliffs on the north side I have been scoping from my hikes further up the range. Running late prevents much consideration of a side trip and I head down intent on making good time. They say that when you return to sports your technique will improve before your fitness improves. I have been hiking with my poles for over a month, but finally today I really feel it come together and they are extensions of me once again. Running down the trail my pole work was really on point, smoothly sailing up, down, or over large, rough rocks.

The difficulty comes as I return to the side of the ridge. The scrub oak is so thick that it inhibits the use of poles. Between that and the rough, often obscured trail I am not able to run the descent very much at all. I do find open sections and take advantage, but overall the pace is way down. With the later time of day I also become concerned about my water supply. Barely a mile into the descent my yummy water is gone, and I'm not sure how much is left in the camelback. The trail switches back on a spring that has good flowing water 100' from the source. I decide to fill my water bottle as a backup. As I round the ridge to the field of ferns I still have water and am feeling good and running again. Then I kick a root point that was hidden under a large leaf. I gracefully come to a stop (really I did) and take a moment to process some new hazards from trail running. In my head I think about how my kids would say they broke their foot if something like this happened. I smile and press on, painfully hitting my toe on rocks and roots at least 10 more times, even after I stop running. I get to the car at 1030. Late. I take off my sock and see the end of my toe is completely purple. I broke my toe. The price you pay to make a summit. At this point I say screw it, and drink my spring water.

I think I'll take a break from hiking for a little bit.