November 16, 2002 – 16 miles
My end-to-end Paria adventure left me with a bad case of ITBS in my right knee. I clearly was not in shape for that amount of milage in one stretach. It had been killing me, not being able to do any trail running. I decided to do a solo-hike, down in the north end of Zion National Park, to Kolob Arch. My backpacking group had done that hike a year before I joined up with them. They took three days, I would try to do it in a few hours. I left home very early, at 3 a.m. and arrived at the Lees Pass trailhead at about 7:00 a.m. I was very worried about my knee. The first part of the hike was downhill and I knew it might hurt. The scenery was stunning! The trail was soft and very nice red dirt. My knee felt fine until about four miles into the run. I had hoped that it had healed, but not so. I rested a little and then it felt fine.
Me running on the trail near LaVerkin Creek
(This is actually on a return trip 2.5 years later…in much better shape)
As I reached LaVerkin Creek, the trail turned slightly up-hill, causing my knee to feel great. The run up banks of the stream was a blast. I felt great. My camelback sprung a leak and I had Gatorade all over me. I had to empty it out and hope to find the spring ahead. I turned up the trail to the arch and soon arrived at the arch. I hiked up closer and took some pictures, then ran back and searched for a spring.
Kolob Arch
At the spring, I filled it with water, hoping it would last for a while and then I turned around to head back. After a couple miles I was completely soaked so I had to empty it out and hope that I wouldn’t really need any more drinks. The run back was nice. The sun rose and was warm against my back as I headed back up toward Lees Pass. I hiked up the steepest part and was almost back to the car when I realized that I had dropped my camera about a mile down the steep hill. I decided to turn back and find it. I did, but then again I had to hike up the steepest part. I arrived back at the car about 11:30 a.m. I was tired, but felt great and was pleased that my knee held up pretty good. I was back in action again!! I iced my knee and downed Advil on the way home. That seemed to work wonders.