trail running: Pass Mountain

 

Yesterday Dan McKay, Robert McKay and went trail running the Pass Mountain trail in Usery.  Dad and I had just hiked it last month so I had a good feel for what to expect.  The guys let me lead the way and set the pace which was great, apart from the last mile when I ran out of steam.

We went around the mountain clockwise just like Dad and I did last month.  It gives a more gradual uphill and because we had an early start we didn't get any sun in our eyes until just after the halfway point and even then it was just a short while because we headed west soon after.

We took a five minute rest for some food and water at the saddle about halfway.  Such a pretty spot in the shade.  Dan and  brought backpacks with food and water and Robert brought nothing.  This was a good learning experience.  We are all on the same team for the ragnar trail in three weeks so this was really good training.  Neither of them have done the ragnar trail before and this is my second time.  I did one with Charity (Shepherd) Peterson, a friends from high school, and her brother Jacob Shepherd.

This is actually my second time trail running Pass Mountain.  I remember doing it years ago with Rachel Willis, her aunt Karen, Luke Johnson and maybe Emily Dial.  I think it was to train for the Ragnar Del Sol.  I remember we went counter clockwise that time.

Dad and I hiked it in 2 hours and 38 minutes so I thought we could trail run it in under 2 hours and we did!  It took us 1 hour and 50 minutes!  We weren't doing it for time but not bad.

Over halfway I looked up at two ladies coming in the opposite direction and ended up tripping and falling down hard.  My arm stung so bad.  The longer I go the more conscious I need to be to lift my feet high enough.  It could have been worse though.  Thankfully cactus wasn't involved.

Pretty sure I'll be back at this trail before long.  I like how there are always people on it, hikers, runners, and mountain bikers, and everyone is so polite.

Hackberry Springs hike with family

A couple days ago I got a group together to hike Hackberry Springs in the north Superstition area.  Two days before this hike I got the news that my Grand Canyon rim to rim group needed to be postponed to April.  One of the couple's mom's fractured her foot so their babysitter was out and it just fell apart from there.  Honestly, this is for the better since no one in my group trained except me.  I'm a little disappointed and a little relieved too.  It'll be great in April because the group will be more prepared and we'll have more people since Sara and Chris want to join.

I was planning on hiking Miner's Needle with Dad but since the rim to rim got postponed we went with a more family friendly hike.  This was a new trail for Dad and DJ (and Bea) so it was fin showing it off. :)

We hiked this trail in February with friends for our first time.  It was definitely greener this time.  It was steeper than I remembered but then again I didn't have Bea last time.  Honestly he did so good.  Beatrix has a great attitude when hiking and I planned on holding her at times so it was no surprise.  DJ carried her a but too at the end which was much appreciated since I had also ran 4 miles wit Sara that morning.

We took a picture at this "hugging" cactus last time too. :)

This is the actually spring.  The water comes out of the pipe Avery's foot is on.  There's a puddle of water behind dad where you can see little minnows.  Bea just loved this area.

Dad and DJ enjoyed exploring this area for the first time.  There's a campsite or two here, and hiking to the springs a scout group was just hiking out that had backpacked in the day before and camped near the spring.  DJ is interested in possibly taking his scouts there too.  Some elevation on the trail but not too far with a pack.

They had to get on the big boulders just like last time too.  This made me so nervous with the girls helping Bea but it worked out.

DJ helped Zara when she had a melt down about not turning around and going back the way we came.  I wanted to follow the wash back like we did last time because it's so pretty and a really cool hike.  Seeing the little toad (below) helped Zara cheer up.  There were also several puddles of water that were fun to find along the way.  Near the end there's a broken windmill and horse stalls.  It feels like a real adventure.

Dad had just gotten those hiking poles fora  good price at Seagull Book for those longer hikes (like Miner's Needle) so he wanted to give them a go.  There's a bit of a learning curve.  I also got a pair when he told me about them, thinking I'd bring them to the Grand Canyon, but that'll have to wait.

Bea gave me those cute flowers. :)

Love this area of the Superstition!  I can see us making this hike an annual thing.  Maybe more?  It was our second time this year.

Second Water trail w/Chris

Chris tool that photo.  Can you believe that sunrise?  I love watching the sun rise on a trail.  We have a beautiful state and stunning deserts here in Arizona.  I picked Chris up around 5:30am and we started hiking a quarter after 6:00.  I love how close the trails are in the north side on the Superstition.  It really was a great day for a hike.  Nice cool breeze, not too hot.

The trails starts as First water, i believe?  I actually hiked this trail with the kids (minus Bea) and Dad, and Rachel Willis and some of her family earlier this year.  It was much greener this time!  Chris and I saw probably 10 or more desert toads and those black stink bugs.  I don't remember seeing any of those last year.  It's amazing what a good monsoon season can do to the desert.

Here's the turn around point that we saw the week before at Boulder Canyon!  That hike was harder than Second Water (a little further and more elevation) so I'll switch those two hikes training for the Grand Canyon next time.

Coming back we accidentally got off trail a bit.  You can see it in the map above.  Thankfully I was able too check my phone in the RunKeeper app and get back on trail.  After that I was surprised to see a huge tarantula on the trial.  We saw one at Boulder Canyon last week but this one was bigger.  Thankfully they're harmless.

After that I was shocked to hear a rattlesnake right next top the trail on my left side.  I screamed and ran but Chris was still behind me.  With the snake all coiled up and head up Chris took it slow and took a wide sweep off the trail to get back to the trail where I was.  That shook us both up!  Thankfully nothing bad come of it and we made it back in good time. 

I really like that trail.  Second water also loops back to Hackberry which would be fun to do some time.  It crosses with another trail early on, I don't remember which, so it's a great starting point.

The Alltrails app said the Second Water to Boulder Canyon should be 8.8 miles but we did it well under 8 miles, so good to know. :)

Bounder Canyon trail

A couple weeks ago on conference weekend Chris, Dillon, and Dad joined me on a hike.  This was a new one to all of them.  It was my second time since I hike Boulder Canyon a year ago training for the Grand Canyon.  Last year was a difficult and learning experience.  This time was much better.  Great company and I knew how far I wanted to go.

Chris and I took the lead and turned around around the 4 mile mark.  We made it all the way to the sign that meets up with Second Water trail.  Dillon and Dad weren't far behind.

The trail head is at the Canyon Lake marina parking.  Those lake views are just stunning.

Hiked through canyons the second half and crossed the empty wash a couple times.  The desert was very green this year.  We were surprised by how much shade we had.  It pays to have an early start.

There was an old mine that was filled in near the turn around we took this picture at.  I didn't put it here but Chris rested on an old metal spring bed there.  So random. :)

Tough trail, but that wasn't a surprise to me.  Quite a bit of elevation change. ^ ^ My phone said 1,932.  The All trails app said about 1,800 feet.  Of course the trail does keep going south towards Piralta if you wanted to keep going.  Or you could turn on Second Water trail.

As far as training for the Grand Canyon this is a good one and I'm sure I'll be back again.  Maybe wear leggings/pants for this one.  It can get pokey and less traveled further out.

Mesa Sprint Triathlon & Splash & Dash

Last Saturday was race day for the Freeman family!  Elliot and I did triathlons for Elliot's first time, and the other three did the splash & dash.  This was Rupert's first time too.  Avery was cute to braid my hair so I could be like her and Zara.

My cousin, Elizabeth Curtis, was there at my first triathlon in 2007 when she did her first duathlon just like she did on this day.

Andrew and the kids cheered me on for the swim and heading out on the bike.  Having family there is the best!  This was my first triathlon in 9 years so I felt a little rusty, even though I trained pretty well.  It was my first time doing this location at Skyline High School.

The splash and dash group!  They swim a 100m and run a mile.  The kids start oldest to youngest, so Avery started first.

Breanne Johnson, a friend and neighbor, was volunteering near the finish and snapped a couple photos of Elliot and me when we passed.  So good to see a friend right before the finish when I was so tired!  Two of her daughters were near as well.

Look at that strong finish!

^ ^ pic by Breanne ^ ^

Almost done!

My cousin Liz Curtis got this one of Zara.  Her foot was hurting so she walked a bit.

Avery's friend Neva did the bike portion of a relay.

Liz took this one too.  Rupert did pretty well considering he had stitches taken out of his foot less than two weeks before the race and we couldn't find his right shoes.

Flying in!!

Rupert's summer swim team buddy, Jonathon Millet, also did the splash and dash.

Katie Willis also did the splash & dash.  Our kids trained with her at the Opie's pool and neighborhood  a month ago.  Rachel, her mom, is my running buddy that I haven't run with since February since she's due in November.  Running while pregnant is hard.

Had to get the classic #1 pose.  Andrew was worn out after the race too.  It hard work being an amazing cheerleader.

My time goal was under 1:45 (an hour & 45 minutes) and I crushed it in exactly 1:31!  Elliot's goal was to beat me and he finished in 1:19:07.  Avery raced in 14:37 (4th place in her age group), Zara did great at 17:05 (9 out of 20 for her age group), and Rupert got 2nd in his age group at 15:52.

So proud of all of us!