With Teton National Park 30 minutes up the road from my house, this usually gets most of my attention for running. But this Fall I decided to change things up and look to create some run projects that are even closer to home and focus on exploring more vertical gain, peaks, and off-trail ridge line link ups (My Training). So I have spent the last month exploring to develop some of these adventures for the future, either leaving directly from home or after a very short drive approach.
My first reconnaissance project was to run Cache Peak. The trail head is a five mile drive from home, with a 5 mile dirt road/double track trail approach to the Gros Ventre Wilderness Boundary. So I decided to ride my snow bike up this 5 mile, 1,000 ft elevation gain, section and ditch the bike at the start of the Wilderness line that marks the beginning of the climb to Cache Peak.
I am very blessed to live here in the Jackson Hole area, but it is a choice and more importantly, I feel adventures begin with a mindset and rely on originality and creativity.
creative: characterized by originality and imagination.
creator: one that creates.
We all have this ability, regardless of where we live. Any location can provide stimulus for doing something different and creating something original for your running.
Here is my adventure, Five Mile Drive from Home. What can you create, five miles from your home?
Ditching the bike at The Gros Ventre Wilderness Boundary
Cache Peak in the distance: The Start of the Run
Heading towards the Divide Looking back at the trail
Cache Peak Approach: right side ridge
The Ridge line Route to Cache Peak - 10,167 ft
Western view of Jackson Hole heading up the Ridge
View from south end of Cache Peak Summit: looking at the next project
Stats:
Date - October 25, 2014
Mtn Bike Ride Approach/return - 10 miles total, 994 ft elevation gain, 80 min total
Run Moving time - 2:30
Run Distance - 8.7 miles
Run Elevation Gain - 2,992 ft
Kit:
Shorts/shirt - Marmot
Shoes - older pair of La Sportiva X Country. Great sticky rubber good for rock scramble.
Snow Bike - Surley Pugsley
Compression Socks - CEP
Hydration Pack - Marmot Kompressor
Hydration - 1 bottle SOS Hydration + 1 bottle water
Fuel - Coconut Taos Mountain Energy Bar
Comments
Good question Robert. On days like this I first focus on a good pre-run meal which gets me through the majority if this run. I had a few nibbles of the bar after descending the peak and a few more at the bike. And then finished the bar at the truck.
I really like the Taos bars because most of them contain no oats, only nuts, dried fruit, chia seeds, molasses, etc. On a longer run I might bring more of a home made mix, but I love these bars for shorter days - too easy just to grab and go.
Great Stuff Eric, thank you for sharing.
Question; How much of your fuel do you still make, or are the quality of the energy bars such that you use them all the time now? This wekend I plan to make "Mother Isley's Energy Bar" that Ben Brewer details in his book "Ben On Foot"