Ski Towers!

 

Towers Road Ski Hill

1600'+ vertical gain

I've had my eye on this one for a long time: the snaking, La Tour Couloir that threads it's way 1800' down the burly West Ridge of Horsetooth Mountain.  But I knew conditions had to be just right for a summit bid and ski: mostly, that it had sufficient snow and wasn't plowed for maintenance, which would lead to dangerously thin conditions and rock exposure. On very rare occasions, there's a shot in December or January, but due to a late snowstorm this year, I knew we had something special going on.  If I were able to pull it off, it likely would have been the latest in the season that anyone has been able to make this attempt.  I owed it to myself, and to the long history of Fort Collins ski mountaineers, to at least try.

Arriving at the parking lot late in the afternoon, I was heartened to see that, indeed, there was enough snow for an attempt.  No more excuses.

Having survived the initially dicey, horizontal Soderberg Traverse, which involved a bit of tricky routefinding due to the conditions, I began the steady and challenging climb upward.  There were some tracks ahead of me, which buoyed my spirits, but as I rounded the corner, I realized I was chasing a ghost.

Indeed, a 4WD truck with chains had abandoned the attempt fairly early in the game.  Fortunately, notes on the window hinted of survivors.  I pressed on.

Still, I followed a snowshoe track, and what looked like human footprints.  My next sign of life was an orange, "Tough Mudder" headband on the Stout and Towers intersection.

It was some sort of message...but what could it mean?  Was it a sign that "Towers" is the "Stoutest" of trails; a veritable "Tough Mudder" among lesser trails?  Did it mean that only "Tough Mudders" should even think of attempting the summit, and I should abandon hope now?  Or did it mean that somebody dropped a "Tough Mudder" bandana?

I was pretty sure it was one of the first two.  I continued on, in the darkening, sunless sky, with a grim and sober respect for the trail.

Finally, I heard what sounded like voices...and saw two runners bounding down the trail.  One of them wore an orange headband, while the other did not.  Shortly after, I saw where the footprints ended.  The mystery, and the snow, deepened.  Indeed, the summit was inaccessible without flotation.



But the snowshoe tracks continued.  And then, in the last mile, I saw him, surveying the surroundings.  I introduced myself to the fellow mountaineer, Luis, and asked if he wanted to press on together for the summit bid.

"I can't," he replied, with a deep sense of regret.  "I'm already late for dinner with my wife."

I nodded a sympathetically wistful nod.  I knew he had difficulty making the choice, and could tell he matured beyond the usual string of disappointments that are part of the game.  I thought of my own wife, nervously awaiting news of my latest folly.  It's the ones who are left behind that suffer.

But I had to press on.  Worse, I now had to break my own trail.  I pushed up the final hills, with some grades exceeding 10 degrees -- dangerously close to the 38 degree critical angle of slope stability.  

But I did it.  And it felt like standing on top of the world.

Now, it was time for the descent.  The moment of truth, literally.

*
And in all seriousness...
The spring snow was sticky enough to scrub off speed.  All speed, or semblance of it.  And clump up on my skis, repeatedly.
I did not see any wildlife on the way down, but I did think about mountain lions every time I bent down to clean or clip into my skis (the same way I do if on the ground working on my bike), generally trying to stay upright, move around, watch my back, and make noise.  Paranoia? I remember reading about a ski encounter when a skier was on the ground with her skis...and then we got an email that a trail runner so 3 mountain lions(!) on the same trail the very next night!  Be safe out there and stay upright!

Anyway, I took some video of the descent, but haven't really edited it, mostly out of disdain and abject boredom.  In all but the steepest hills, I had to double-pole to keep moving, and the best hill is probably the first one closest to the trailhead.  It still took an hour to descend.  It was pretty boring and only deepens my feelings towards Towers Road in general.  But now I know.

Guess my VO2max, win some beer

I had my VO2max tested today.  As an exercise physiology data geek, this was pretty exciting.
Normally you pay for something like this, but I'm actually getting paid to do this as part of a research study.  And the best part is always the reward of participating in useful research.

VO2max is a useful measure of cardiovascular fitness, and correlates with aerobic performance.
VO2max is a terrible measure of cardiovascular fitness, and is only loosely correlated with performance, at best.

Both statements are correct to a varying degree.  Here's a chart of Vo2max ranges, in ml/kg/min.

Of course, the upper end of the range is populated with cyclists, runners, rowers, and cross-country skiers, with elite athletes in the 70s, 80s, and even 90s.  Kilian Jornet, at 92 kg/l/min, wasn't the highest ever recorded...but I'll give you a hint in that I did not exceed his value.
Likewise, I'll tell you that I'm at least average for my age (41.0 or above).

So the number is somewhere between 41.0 and 92.0 kg/l/min.
I'll offer some beer (6-pack, growler, bombers, or a mix) to the closest guess (absolute difference; tiebreaker goes to lower number) of my tested VO2max in kg/l/min, with your only primary valid guess being at least 0.2 away from all previous guesses, so early guesses have a different advantage than later guesses.  Possible delivery during Quad Rock or other social shenanigan run, but I'll either ship beer or substituted breweriana to non-local winner.

To make it fun and draw attention to myself and my non-monetized, mediocre Blog, all you have to do is leave a 3-digit guess in the comments between now and 24 hours before the start of Quad Rock (Quad Rock starts May 11th at 5:30 AM).
Seriously, I've had fun with other guessing contests based on training and physiology data, so I hope this is fun.

* You should have enough information (e.g. my gender and age, to start) for reasonable guesses
* I'll add a couple on the study itself: this was a cycling test; I ran a fairly 'normal' speed interval workout the day before; I wasn't absolutely wasted at the very end, but it was about holding steady for the last 30 seconds.
That is, I wasn't "optimized" for maxing out this cycling test, but it's a reasonable data point right in the middle of a running training cycle.

* Bonus beer (in-person only) if you can guess which particular physiological anomaly was suggested to me for the first time during this test study visit.  Anything goes!

If nobody guesses or if I'm feeling particularly cheap, I'll just make up some names and guesses myself.  Cheers!

Local Patrol

If it's been quiet on the Blog, it's possible because I've been logging mega-mileage, 20k+ vertical weeks every week, slogging through the snow and dark, maybe even secretly bagging local peaks every day before breakfast.

Alternatively, I've been busy with school/work, and running boring road loops around the town.

More frequently the past, I've generally tried to find new places on weekends, often involving a drive, and I've mostly exhausted all the interesting options within 90 minutes or so.  Sticking closer to home reminds me of something Brandon said awhile back on his sparse Blog, about the familiar loop being a sort of "patrol" around the neighbourhood.  I like that observation, and I'm cool with that.

So while my routes may have an aspect of repetitiveness on the surface, the boring routine provides a deeper relationship and better contrasting backdrop for noticing change.  The seasonal changes are more obvious, so that each "new" phenomenon provides an extra incentive and motivation to run.  The first shirtless and sunburn runs are worth a small cheer and asterisk on the calendar, but after the weeks pile up into months and years and thousands of miles, the appreciation of subtle gradations expands.  That is, you appreciate not only the first snow run, but also the first "fat flake" snow, horizontal snow, drifted powder, slushy slop, and full moon reflecting on snow cover on a clear night run.  Rain has its own list as well, with the first seasonal appearance being notable for the smell of it; perhaps combined on warmer days with the electricity of an honest thunderstorm.
Of course, the birds and animals and insects (such as the plague of shin-bashing grasshoppers each summer) come and leave and change size and colour in different waves throughout the year as well, and throughout the day: sometimes when I'm chagrinned at "only" getting in a short run in the early evening, a coyote or owl reminds me of the benefit of procrastination.

Finally, there's the human element, of seeing familiar and new faces without names, but also plenty of friends along the trail, worth a quick, full stop and conversation.  This is truly a great community with world-class paths, trails, and people that enjoy them.  And whether we realize it or not, every time we're out jogging in town, we're part of the advertisement and image of what the town is about; likely, some tourist or visitor is seeing us out on the trails, and then deciding that this would be a pretty cool place to live.  (At least that's what happened with me, when I went for a jog on the Spring Creek trail in February, 7 years ago, and enjoyed the views of the foothills as well as the semi-rural feel of the open spaces).

And part of the "patrol," then, is seeing the other changes around town: new housing and business developments, but also new parks, trails, and infrastructure.  Running up along the Mason trail gives an inside view of the Max rapid transit being developed along the north-south spine of Fort Collins.

The linkage to the future can also be appreciated bi-directionally.  Over time, I've appreciated learning about the history of running in Fort Collins.  The Horsetooth Half Marathon is now in its 40th year, and although I've only run it once, I've run or biked hundreds of miles on the course, which has changed over time from rolling dirt roads to pavement and bike paths of today.  What will the history of Quad Rock be 10...20 years from now?
I recently read Kim Jones's autobiography:

Among an appreciation for the trials that she overcame throughout life, I very much enjoyed the "local" parts of the book, after she moved to Mountain Avenue (home of the annual "Mountain Avenue Mile" race in August) in Fort Collins.  There's mention of Centennial and Bingham Hill workouts, as well as City Park and Grandview Cemetery, the latter of which are still enjoyed as group workouts with Colorado Hall of Fame runner Jane Welzel.

So you have this town with roads and trails that were good enough for Jane and Kim, and Jon and Kent, and now Nick Clark and Ryan Burch on the trails.  But it's also "good enough" for any of us to jog or ride or push a stroller or rollerblade (which never goes out of style!)  Everybody that is out there is defining the landscape of the community itself.  Similar to a race, it doesn't matter if you're 5th or 50th or last place in terms of the importance of being out there, for everybody adds a bit to the greater good.

And then, you have random events where, say, Scott Jurek shows up at your local running store on a Wednesday:

But it's not the same thing as spotting a "celebrity" at the checkout line in an L.A. department store; when Jurek and a group of folks takes a leisurely group run on the "boring" trails and roads around your very neighbourhood, it gives you a bit of pride that some guy you read about years ago is now enjoying the same run that you've done countless times.

So I guess the "local patrol" isn't so bad.

*

As far as "local trails" are concerned, we've got Quad Rock coming up in less than a couple weeks. We've had a snowy and fiery and then snowy again winter, but last weekend many folks were out on the trail.  It looks like we're awaiting news on some final bridges getting repaired, in terms of following the planned course, but they'll figure out one of several options with only minor detour that will give us a great 50M course.
As for conditions, we're supposed to get a bit more snow tomorrow, but that will make things only greener by next week (as the temperatures return to normal).  Already, the low parts of the valley, which I usually associate with being a treeless, hot, and dry trudge in the summer, are absolutely stunning right now, with short, green grass growing right on top of the previously blackened soil.  Some of the remaining trees are blackened, in an area among the Timber Trail switchbacks I've dubbed the "Black Forest", yet stand out starkly against the mint-green valley floor and red rock walls.  It's going to be great, and it looks like lots of fast people are showing up to run fast -- let them!  I'm looking forward to sharing a nice day on the trails with friends on our town trails, although I'll still try to get the running part done as soon as possible so as to enjoy more Pateros Creek beer.

Winter Park Ski - Jim Creek Trail

Winter Park "Springtopia" Downhill Ski

Jim Creek Trail - Winter Park

~6 Miles RT, XC Ski

This winter was a rude guest that showed up late, and then looked like it would never leave.  On a vague personal note, it felt like it also pushed us down, and gave us a few kidney punches for good measure.  But you know what?  It's almost over, I think.  For the first time in months, I feel rested and recovered mentally, so with the return of Spring, I expect and insist my energy, enthusiasm, and optimism to return as well.

The biggest part of that, metaphorically, is not fighting what you don't have, or perhaps expected -- but making the most of what you're given.  This year, we were given lots of snow, late.  So why not have some fun with it?

With that, J and I headed up to Winter Park for a quick weekend of skiing.

First up was a day of downhill on the closing weekend: $40 lift tickets.  This was only our second weekend skiing for the year, but we enjoyed some pretty great conditions for Spring, including a fresh dusting of snow each day.  The slopes were surprisingly uncrowded, so that we never had to wait in a lift line.

I also got a jog in, on the dirt roads along Elk Creek, with the sun being delightfully warm and high in the sky for a late afternoon ramble.  We didn't go to the free 4/20 Julian Marley concert, but instead chose to beat the expected rush of hungry ski bum rastafarians by heading to Hernando's Pizza Pub,  then returned to the condo to make a new wood fire in the fireplace while light snow fell:  an awesome date with my wife. 

Next day, with a fresh dusting on the ground, we clipped into our cross-country skis instead for a mellow tour up the Jim Creek trail.  This out-and-back is an easy hike or snowshoe up a moderate grade, that ends up being perfect for a worry-free ski glide on the way back down, with no real steep sections or rocks to contend with.

Starting at the "Bonfils Discovery Center" parking lot right across from the WP ski area, the trail heads into the James Peak Wilderness, in the shadow of the eponymous 13k foot mountain, making one (or at least me) wonder if "Jim" Creek is also named for famed botanist Edwin James, who may have gone by the nickname "Eddie Jim."  Or maybe not.

We only saw 3 or 4 other people, otherwise enjoying a quiet couple hours in the woods.  

Getting closer to James Peak, it was nice to "connect the dots" on the other side of the Divide, directly across from a February ski tour to Rogers Pass.  Once warmer weather arrives, I'll look to finish it up with a jog to the summit, hopefully garnering some interested company for the highly aesthetic Berthoud-Rollins Pass run.

We did fight a bit of sticky snow in some open areas, but continued upward until taking a break at an open, sunny-sloped meadow, somewhere between 2.5-3 miles in.
Returning, we had just enough speed to keep the skis free of clumping snow.

Another great day on the trails with the wife and on the skis.  But also very much ready for Spring!

Carpenter Peak at Roxborough State Park

Roxborough State Park

Carpenter Peak Trail

~6 miles RT

J and I had found ourselves down in Lonetree a couple weekends ago, so we looked for an easy, nearby hike -- preferably staying out of the forecasted high winds.

After a nice breakfast at Cafe Terracotta in Littleton, we headed south to Roxborough State Park.

I'd been to Roxborough before, when we lived in Denver, and ran a nice loop involving nearby DougCo Open Space trails that drop into the park.  I figured J would enjoy the best part of the trail up to Carpenter Peak.

The trail climbs steadily and gently through a scrubby, elfin forest.

The summit has decent, but not spectacular views to the west.  The views to the east, over Chatfield Reservoir and towards Denver, are probably more unique and interesting for the area.

 This is a pleasant, leisurely hike (and an easily-runnable grade) near the Denver area, and another Colorado State Park worth checking out.

Easter Sunrise Hike to Kruger Rock

Kruger Rock (9355')

Hermit Park near Estes Park, CO ($6/car or Larimer Co Park Pass)

4 miles RT, 1000' gain

Easter Sunday was predicted to be a nice, clear morning, so it seemed like a good idea to get outside.  I recall that we had done something similar the previous year with our friend DJ, giving us the makings of a pleasant tradition.  (Separately, I also heard of some friends that have a tradition of jogging up in the hills near sunrise -- Easter seems like a nice draw to celebrate a beautiful morning and the coming of Spring).

This year, we added DJ's dog, and decided to head out to Estes for an easy hike up Kruger Rock.

As advertised, it's an easy trail, full of great views for less effort than most alternatives.

Even the meadows and Park below are worth a leisurely walk at any time of year.

It was a bit blustery at times, but felt great in the sun, and we had the entire place to ourselves for a couple hours.  We forewent the opportunity for exploring the connector trail to Homestead Meadows, but instead hung out at Kind Coffee, being grateful that they were indeed open on Easter while also serving their consistently-excellent Dark Roast 422, always with a smile and a great bring-your-own mug refill price, and it was the right time to finally pick up a copy of Lisa Foster's RMNP hiking guide.

*

Hope everyone was able to get outside and enjoy a pleasant Easter weekend!

Panorama Peak: An Estes Park "Must-Do!"

Panorama Peak (9284')

~8-8.5 miles, 3.5 hours, 2000' gain

"It just seemed like a ListsOfJohn sort of day." -- DPage, and wife Karin, at the summit of Panorama Peak; the only other people we saw all day after beginning our hike.

"This was the best day ever in Colorado"

"The view from the old lookout tower made for a lastiing memory. This trip is a must when in EstesPark."

"Everyone in the family agreed this was one of the best things we did while in Colorado."

-- Various online tourist reviews, after paying $60/piece to rumble through the woods in a Hummer

 *

It was indeed a ListsofJohn of sort of day: blustery, high winds above treeline, some trails on fire, some trails under snow, some trails under avalanche warning.  J and I were looking for a mellow Sunday morning hike, one that keep us mainly in the trees and sheltered from the wind, and gave us an easy walk so J could recover from a solid 5k effort the day before.
Panorama Peak and "The Notch," reached via a series of Forest Roads off of Pole Hill Road and Hwy 36 outside of Estes, fit these criteria nicely.

"It was an exciting ride in a Hummer H1 along Pole Hill Rd in the Roosevelt National Forest."

This area is popular with off-roaders and organized tours.  For able-bodied folks, one advantage of hiking here between December 1 and May is the NFS gated closure which keeps motorized traffic out.  This would also be a fantastic ski or snowshoe immediately after a snowfall, as well as a fun mountain bike loop (could combine with other nearby areas like Piersen Park).  Motorized traffic notwithstanding, there are enough aspen groves here that would make it a great autumn destination as well.

As it was, it was a pleasant walk for us, through quickly-changing blue skies; clouds and snow and socked-in views; and then sunshine up in the higher mountains again.  Shaded aspects of the road had boot-deep snow, while sunny areas were either dry or had spots of mud.

"We did the spicy roller coaster Land Cruiser tour and I would say it is a must see and do!"

There are also short opportunities for bouldering and scrambling, which led to better views.

On the way up, we stayed on the southernmost roads, eventually losing one on a dead-end spur, but following the terrain upward through sparse brush and along bundled piles of timber.
Generally, the best scenery is on the northernmost roads, which circle around parks and meadows, which was our return route.

The summit itself, though, is ironically devoid of views.  I knew this going in, as the views are actually named from the top of a private observation tower on the summit.  I hoped there might be an easy way around this, but there's a locked gate preventing passage up the stairs.  In addition to trespassing, some 4th/low-5th class moves on the side of the rickety tower could surpass this, but this would also be non-wife and non-Mom approved.

As it is, then, the private tower on NFS land is reserved for those who pay for one of the tours.  Fair enough.

After meeting Derek and Karin, we headed back down to the meadow; up and down the wrong spur of the NFS road to the east; and then around the loop to the North that leads up to "The Notch," which is a rock cut in the road.

"Everyone agreed that it was the most fun we've had in Colorado."

The terrain near the notch was the best of the day, with minor scrambling and great views.

In that regard, an even shorter family-style hike that just did the notch loop would be well worth it, while the Notch plus Panorama peak nets 7+ miles of hiking on easy terrain.

Or you can combine with a few other nearby peaks, although my suggestion is checking out the views from the Notch as well.

As it is, I'll put it down on the list as another easy "alternative" hike not bogged down by the masses.  Although I can't clean all the rock scrapes and undo the wide swaths around puddles and makeshift turnarounds, I did pick up a few relics, including a couple minor car parts, soda cans, shotgun shell, and a Colorado Rockies hat.  It actually wasn't that bad, just that I'm fairly certain it wasn't a hiker or cyclist that left those things.  So if you're into that sort of anthropology, bring a container for easy collection.

"That off road Land Cruiser could go places we thought weren't possible!" 

My slight disdain towards the rumble machines isn't a reflection on the tour guides, which do generally seem enthusiastic toward sharing the scenery with tourists.  I appreciate the enthusiasm for this fantastic scenery we live in.  Mostly, I have a bit of melancholic sorrow towards someone a a decade or two older than myself is absolutely blown away with what they saw through a windshield.  A slight improvement over a TV screen, sure, but what could have been!  

For the kids, though, let it be a gateway:  we promise you, your legs and heart and lungs can really take you places you never thought possible!

And it's not like I walked all the way from my house, or don't use electricity.

"If you are ever in Estes Park, make sure to fit this one in."