Menu Close

Grand Canyon West Tonto Trail Run – 78 miles

North Kaibab to Boucher Creek and back

November 23-24, 2007

I had another spectacular run in the Grand Canyon on Thanksgiving weekend.  Last year, I ran an 87-mile double-crossing to Hermit’s Rest and back from the North Rim.   This year I planned to do a similar run but with the difference being a climb up the rugged Boucher Trail to the South Rim.  I didn’t quite reach that goal, skipping the tough climb up the South Rim, but I did have an amazing adventure running on the West Tonto Trail, running all the way to Boucher Creek from the North Rim and back, over 78 miles.  I ran 40 miles on the remote West Tonto Trail.

More →

Pony Express Trail 100 Endurance Run

October 26-27, 2007 

“You guys are craaaaaazy!  100 miles!”

– what a guy yelled at us from a truck at mile 33

Back on December 29-30, 2006, I hosted the first running of the Pony Express Trail 100.  Three of us completed a 100-mile run on the historic trail in western Utah, competing against frigid winter temperatures.  I completed that initial run in 25:29.  In March 2007, three of us tried it again.  I was the only finisher in 23:26.   The Pony Express would run yet again!   Eight brave souls showed up to test their endurance against the remote, desolate, lonely west desert in Utah.   Our 2007 course started on the historic Pony Express Trail about two miles west of the tiny town of Faust (just a few ranches).  After a short six miles of pavement, we would run west on dirt roads for a total of 100 miles and end up north of the remote town of Callao, near the Nevada/Utah border.

More →

Grand Canyon Double – North Kaibab to Grandview – 83 miles

October 12-13, 2007

North Kaibab to Grandview Point and back

You are the first person I’ve seen in two days

— Comment from a backpacker on the Tonto Trail

It had almost been a year since I had run in the Grand Canyon.   I was anxious to return and accomplish my 11th double crossing (rim-to-rim-to-rim).   Now somewhat bored with the usual route using the mule-torn corridor trails, I wanted to do something new, something that probably nobody had accomplished before.

More →

Bear 100 Endurance Run – 2007 – ID

September 28-29, 2007

 

“I think they are running some sort of marathon in the mountains”

Overheard at a restaurant in Smithfield

Its 1:30 a.m., at about mile 73, on the 5th climb of the famed Bear “roller coaster.” I’m lying down on the side of the trail, breathing hard, out of gas. My first-time pacer brother, Bob, is leaning over me, “Should I get help?” “No”, is my quick reply. “This is just a bad bonk, part of this crazy sport.” Earlier, Bob was talking about the possibility of trying a 100-miler of his own. Now, looking down at my agony, he’s having lots of second thoughts about that crazy idea. Bob drapes a jacket over me and wonders if I’m going to croak. After five minutes, I feel a little better, and struggle back to my feet. I eat and drink and do the only thing I know how to do at that point – push forward. I lose my lunch several times and I hear Bob exclaim, “Oh boy!” I grin to myself and push forward even harder, feeling a little better. If the stomach doesn’t work, start it over. In another mile Bob starts to complement my strong pace. I was back in the race. How did I get here?

More →

Plain 100 – WA

 September 8-9, 2007

“Now I look tough.”

My comment after I was covered in dirt after my first trip and fall 

When the luck of the Wasatch 100 lottery rejected me, friend Tom Jackson from Washington suggested that we run in the very tough Plain 100 in the Cascade Mountains, near Plain, Washington.   I was bummed out that my local race (Wasatch) rejected me, but I felt up to the challenge and quickly signed up for Plain.   The Plain 100 is one of the toughest 100-mile races in the country.   I believe it is tougher than Wasatch 100 for these reasons:   1. The race is actually about 106 miles.  2. There are no course markings.  Racers must use maps, directions, and navigation skills. 3. There are no aid stations, it is a self-supported race.  4. The trail conditions can be very challenging because of dust that permeates shoes and socks.  5. Three massive climbs (and descents) of nearly 5,000 feet and a total of 21,000 feet elevation gain. 6. The very high DNF rate (only 18 finishes in the first nine years of the race – 15% success).

More →

Leadville Trails 100 – CO

 August 18-19, 2007

“Oh sure, we could run that fast if we had a green light too!”

Comment from a runner I passed at about 2:00 a.m.

The Leadville Trails 100, in Leadville Colorado, was my focus race for 2007.   Of all the 100s I would run during the year, I wanted to do the best at Leadville.   Leadville Trails 100 is one of the four “majors” of the ultra marathon sport, one of the four grandslam races.  My main reason for wanting to perform well is that I wanted revenge! 

More →

Uinta Highline Trail – UT

August 4-5, 2007 – 70 miles

The Uinta mountain range in Utah is one of the few ranges in North America that runs east to west.  The highest continuous established trail in the Uintas is the Highline Trail (#025) that runs the length of the mountain range.   This very remote trail is one of the most remarkable trails in the nation.   In its entirety, the trail is more than 100 miles long, however the most easterly section is not maintained, very difficult to navigate and less impressive.   Most highline trail end-to-end hikers start at Chepeta Lake and end at Hayden Pass, a distance of about 65-70 miles.

More →

Triple Mount Timpanogos – UT

June 29-30, 2007

“Now, you have no more excuses for whining about going up only once.”

Overheard — a scout leader to young scouts 

Timpanogos rises above BYU campus during the winter

I again went out to do another crazy training run on Mount Timpanogos (11,749 feet), the most popular hiking destination in Utah.  During the summer months, thousands of hikers make the strenuous trek up the mountain, usually taking all day, a 10-12 hour adventure.   Tales of my recent exploits of doing repeat summits of this beautiful mountain have been spreading locally.  On more than one occasion during a conversation about the outdoors, I have been asked, “Did you hear about a guy who hiked ‘Timp’ five times in a row?”   Sheepishly than I have to admit that I’m that crazy dude.

More →

Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run – VT

July 21-22, 2007

“Should we check his pulse?”

Comment from a runner or pacer seeing me laying on the trail at mile 93

During my first ultrarunning year, I ran in the 2005 Vermont 100.   It was my third 100-mile race attempt.  I was trying to do too much, too fast.  After a hot and humid day, I quit the race around mile 80 at 2 a.m.  My recovery was very tough and I was sick for a week.  I knew that one of these years I would return for revenge.   2007 was the year to get revenge.

More →

Seven Utah 13er Summits – UT

July 7, 2007

Seven summits in one day (Scott Patterson photo)

1 = Mount Emmons 2 = “North Emmons”
3 = “Roberts Peak” 4 = “Trail Rider Peak”
5 = “Painter Peak” 6 = South Kings Peak
7 = Kings Peak 

The highest peak in Utah is Kings Peak, with an elevation of 13,528.   In Utah there are 17 peaks that qualify as 13ers (over 13,000 feet).  Utah has no peaks over 14,000 feet.   All of these peaks are found in the Uinta Mountain range, one of the few ranges in North America that runs east to west.  One thing that makes summiting Utah’s 13ers very difficult, is the distances from the nearest roads to the peaks – 20-40 miles round trip. 

More →

Bighorn Mountain 100-mile Trail Run – WY

June 15-16, 2007

  

I again ran in the Bighorn Mountain 100 Trail Run near Sheridan, Wyoming.   This event is extremely challenging due to the rugged terrain of the Bighorn Mountains.  The course is an out and back with elevation gains of 18,300 feet.   The course features three major climbs and goes in and out of forests and fields full of wildflowers.  As for its beauty, I believe it is probably one of the most scenic 100-milers in the country.   Also a very unique feature is that the race directors run concurrently 100-mile, 52-mile, 50K, and 30K races.    They schedule the races to all finish on Saturday afternoon.   In the final 17 miles of the 100-mile race, depending on your speed, you can be running with participants in the other races.  By 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, there can be over 500 runners on the trails at the same time.

More →

Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run – UT

June 2, 2007

The Squaw Peak 50 is held in the mountains above Provo, Utah, only about 45 minutes from my home.  The course it tough, and I believe it is one of the top three toughest 50-mile ultras in the country in addition to Zane Grey and San Juan Solstice.  Among the features that make it tough is:  over 10,000 of elevation climb, a likelihood of snow to run through, and a very tough steep climb at the 39-mile point.

More →