| | After
discussing with my husband and friend Josh how 9 more miles (not 12,
like I originally thought), wasn't really all that much when you've
already done 31, we decided to go for the Ultimate Dash! 
On Sunday morning, we got up at 4am, had our breakfast and coffee, and
headed to Logan Pass. Hit the trail about 5:45, headlamps on, voices
warning the grizz we were coming... The temps were cool, and the
sunrise was gorgeous on the mountains.
 McDonald Valley from the Highline
We made it to the chalet in time
to wake up those staying there - much to their surprise. Through the
Trapper Creek Fire area (from 2003) - saw some deer, a few hawks... Not
much else. We took a side trail up to Ahern Pass - had a great view
down to Elizabeth Lake and the backside of the Ptarmigan Wall - worth
the extra effort!
 View from Ahern Pass
Came to a snowfield crossing that had been undercut
by a stream - quite the obstacle to get around, as someone before us
had obviously broken through. 
Finally made it over, but Josh slipped on some wet rock and tweaked a
knee - nothing major, but we did slow a bit. Then it was up Fifty
Mountain pass - really cool boulder field at the top.
 Fifty Mountain Pass
Stopped for
another big snack, sock change (we were soaked from the last stream
crossing), pictures... Then it was down into the Fifty Mountain
meadows. Lots of bear diggings here - it had been posted for a bear in
the area, but we never saw one 
More pictures, pumped some water, had a snack... Then into the trees
again. We were a little behind schedule at this point, since we had
made so many stops, but not too far. Cruised downhill, through some
really thick thimbleberry bushes that had been trampled - lots of noise
when we passed scat on the trail (piles of both bear and cougar scat -
but still none spotted)... Hit the Goat Haunt ranger station with
plenty of time to catch the boat, but we all still had some miles in
our legs so we went for it! We got about 3 miles from the ranger
station when Josh got sick to his stomach - not sure what hit him, but
there was a lot of wretching over the last few miles.
 Delirium sets in at the Swath - Mile 37ish
We slowed a lot
at this point, and had to make quite a few stops, but we still made it
into Waterton before dark! Stops included, we finished in about 15
hours. Grabbed some pizza, and made it to the border with 5 minutes
until the crossing closed! I'm a little sore today, but really not all
that bad. I have one hip that seems like I may have pulled something,
and (as usual) some blisters on the feet, but I'm feeling pretty good! 
Things
that may have helped me not get tummy problems this time around: I
drank nothing but water, kept a slower pace, temps were nice, and it
wasn't a race so I didn't have nervous jitters.
So, hopefully, the next long race I do goes as smoothly as this! What a great end to summer at Glacier!  |
| | Posted 8/28/2006 9:29 PM - 1 View - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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