Mt. Adams

Skipping ahead a bit, we were soon on our way to spend a week in Oregon in mid-June. Prior to that, on Memorial Day weekend, we had run the Pocatello 50 mile, a beautiful race that once again was affected by weather. Race day conditions were much better than in 2010 when the race was cancelled due to heavy snow and 50mph+ winds on the peaks that produced blizzard-like conditions and forced many runners inadvertently and sometimes dangerously off course (One group of lost runners that chose to stay together found themselves running through a bull pasture. One of them was wearing a bright red jacket.) Although this year's race did contain alot of snow, it was in the form of a still-lingering, record-setting snowpack from the prior winter that prevented access to the last big loop up and over 8,500ft Scout Mountain. The course was altered and we even got in a few extra miles.

The beginning of June also marked my biggest push of ascents up Snow King, regularly logging 2 or 3 ascents/day and once even 4.

But then, finally, we were headed west to Oregon stopping to climb Mt. Adams before rolling into our home base in Portland.





This is as far as we could we drive on the road up the the standard TH at Cold Springs on the south side of the mountain. Again, lingering winter snow was the culprit, but we would have a nice 4-5 miles extra to get warmed up the next morning before getting onto the actual peak.

These were going to be great conditions for skinning. Even better conditions for a beer.

Just above the Cold Springs TH which was still buried under 6 feet of snow.

Looking south across the Columbia River at Mt. Hood in Oregon and the setting moon.

Our shadow to the west with Mt. St. Helens in the distance.

There had better be a good reason for there to be snowmobile tracks all the way to the summit. As this was a wilderness area, these machines are not allowed anywhere on the mountain.

Almost crampon worthy, but still just soft enough to allow for kicking steps.

Approaching the summit

Mt. Hood from the summit

Mt. St. Helens

Mt. Rainier

Liz and Trevor

The descent was frozen concrete for the first 1,000 ft...

...And then it transitioned into 2,500 ft of some of the best spring snow we'd even skiied. Wide open. Soft corn. Bliss.

Hardrock Training

After taking a work position in Jackson back in March, I began a consistent and fairly rigorous program of running up Snow King before or after work or on my lunch hour or sometimes all three. This is when my Hardrock training ultimately began in earnest. It was time to start building up my downhill running legs.

Here are a few photos of an early morning ascent up Snow King on May 18th via the Rosie's Ridge trail, the only trail at that time to have melted out (mostly). I have fond memories of these early morning runs, breathing the cold spring air and generally having the whole mountain to myself.

Spring Cycling in Yellowstone - South Entrance

We parked in Flagg Ranch and rode the 1 mile north to the South Entrance. From there, it was approximately 25 miles to West Thumb where we would turn and head east around the north shore of Lake Yellowstone for another 25 miles to Lake Village before turning around and riding back. The lake was still very much frozen.

There may have been a wolf walking out on the ice 100 yards off shore. Didn't get a real good look at it, but that's what the 20 people were saying who had stopped there to take pictures.

I'd never ridden on a road with 5-10 foot high snowbanks on either side. Created a bit of concern over not having any escape routes at all when cars would pass by. I don't like the feeling of being trapped. Unless it's dark. And I have a blanket.

Running in Pocatello, Cycling in Teton Nat'l Park

May 14th & 15th-


That Saturday, we drove to Pocatello to do some recon work of the Pocatello 50 course. Beginning at the Gibson Jack TH, we followed the course route up over Kinport Peak to the City Creek TH, then back up and over Kinport to Midnight Creek and back to Gibson Jack. Other than a 4 mile stretch of 2 foot deep post-holing and a panic-stricken 4 minute bout of deer chasing by the dogs, everything went well.

Then on Sunday, it was over to Jackson for an 80 mile loop ride up to the Jackson Lake dam and back.

It was really amazing to see the volume of water being released from the lake in preparation for the record-setting snowpack to melt and flow into the lake. Thankfully, the preparation worked and mother nature brought very gradual warming which allowed for much of the water to be released controllably downstream without any major flooding.

Record Spring Snowpack: Approaching 700 Inches

May 7th-


Another spring weekend. Another snowstorm. More powder skiing on Mount Glory.





This is a couple hundred feet below the summit of Mt. Glory where the bootpack trail goes under the Big Grey Square.