Winter in Plain

As winter rolls in many of the Entiat-area roads close to vehicles and turn into nordic/snowmobile trails. We only saw five snowmobiles and mostly had the entire day to ourselves. It was fun to see the Plain area in a new season and I'd love to get back there again during another clear spell.

Road 6101 is bermed at the junction with 6102 (just past Deep Creek), so we parked there and went up to Maverick Saddle where Ethan and I made a quick trip south on the Sugarloaf road and then did a little schwack up to the top of the ridge. We were aiming for point 5260' but didn't quite make it far enough south before heading up. The top of the ridge was an old burn, so there were too many downed trees to try moving south on the ridge top. With Kate waiting at the saddle, we headed back down and it was off to The Diner...

Kate skinning; Enchantment area with Cashmere in the background

Chiwawa Ridge and Glacier Peak, I think, getting some sun

Ethan and Kate

Enchantment area, Cashmere and Stuart in back

Ethan @ Beyond the Ranges

On the ridge above Sugarloaf road

Heading back to Maverick Saddle

Whittier Peak (l) and Mt. David (r)

The Chiwaukum Range

Maverick Saddle

Chiwaukum (r) to the Enchantments, with Big Jim and Cashmere prominent in between

Looking over the Glacier Peak Wilderness 100 route

Pearl Izumi

It's no secret: I've really enjoyed the Pearl Izumi Trail N2 since I got my first pair in April, 2013. I've purchased at least six pairs since then as well as a good selection of their Ultra clothing line which I wear regularly.  

So, back in October, I mailed in an old-school paper application to be a brand ambassador. I emailed some of their (now former) elites and also the individual who was in charge of the team/ambassadors. Dylan Bowman was very kind in his encouraging response, but alas, I never heard anything back and then was quite surprised when they announced their "ChamPIon" program in November while disbanding their Ultra Team. Without any concrete information as to why they made that decision, and since I really like their products, I took my letter and cut it down to fit the new online application and hit submit.

I have no illusions about becoming "fast" or trying to beat people and win a race. Those are not the reasons why I got into mountain-ultra-trail running.

A majority of the runs I am most proud to have completed were not races. Champion, even spelled with a "PI," is not a word I feel is very applicable to me. That is one of the things I love about the ultra community: a true sense of kinship.

While personally the terminology may not describe me very well, I am very happy to be part of the Pearl Izumi program for 2015. A quick Twitter search showed that many, many others also were selected and I hope Pearl Izumi will support us each contributing what we can to this broadly-defined sport.

For me, that means hopefully experiencing a lot of fun, scenic and challenging mountain outings and sharing them on this blog. It's been almost two years since I started writing this little site, before I'd even run my first ultra. I hope at least a few of you are enjoying reading it and that my trip reports are useful in planning and, most importantly, getting out there yourself.

Happy New Year and thanks for reading.

-Luke

On Devil's Dome, North Cascades; Dave's photo

    

Mount Defiance with Sir-Hikes-a-Lot

The weather window was not to be missed.

Sir-Hikes-a-Lot and I decided to stay local when we saw on the webcams that Newhalem and Diablo were getting snow. Mount Defiance (5,584') was a great choice and we went up via the Mason Creek trail (old route). Snow was fine up the creek trail and only 6-12" around the lake, starting to get deep above 4,200' (past the trail junction). Knee/thigh deep for the final vertical 200-300' to the summit.

We were treated to a calm and perfect summit...

Took the new trail back from the lake which is very well packed down, though not icy as of today.

Old Mason Creek Trail

Defiance on the way to Mason Lake

Mason Lake outlet crossing

15F, elevation was actually about 4,250'

Kaleetan and Chair from the SE ridge of Defiance

Rainier and a faraway Adams

Sir-Hikes-a-Lot doing the tough stuff

I just got to lollygag and enjoy the views

Final section to the summit; SHaL rocks the runners

Obligatory Big Mountain shot...

SHaL enjoying the summit

Kaleetan, Chair and Chikamin-Lema area beyond

Ever-recognizable Mt. Stuart

Full east (right) to west pano; Glacier and Baker both visible

Bellevue, Seattle, the sound and the Olympics

Descending around 5,300' with Mason Lake and Little Bandera

The new trail, heading down

Favorites of 2014

I'm very fortunate and thankful that 2014 was another safe and fun year of outdoor adventures. New trails, new friends, a lot of wonderful memories... My mileage and gain stats aren't very interesting, but here are a few of the things I enjoyed most this year:


Favorite trails (new to me)

Stetattle Ridge, North Cascades

Looking south down Stetattle Ridge, September 2014

Boundary Trail, Pasayten Wilderness

Southern Bauerman Ridge on the Boundary Trail, June 2014

High Pass, Glacier Peak Wilderness

Sir-Hikes-a-Lot at High Pass, October 2014; also one of my favorite pictures of the year

Favorite trail (repeat)

Copper Ridge, North Cascades

Whether it's a day hike to the lookout, the 55km loop including the ridge and Chilliwack River, or during a point-to-point outing, it's just a wonderful place to be.

Copper Ridge, August 2014

Uncle Pete on Copper Ridge, October 2012

Favorite pieces of gear (new)

Patagonia Strider Pro shorts and Meister Compression Sleeves

Thanks be to Dave for the shorts tip: nice lightweight material, large stretchy pockets and the drawcord on the outside! Every pair of shorts should be like that. I did remove the liner, but otherwise I wore these shorts on almost every long mountain run. Paul turned me onto the sleeves: half the price of some trail running brands and with better compression. Of course, who knows if they actually work, but I still wear them a lot and at the least my legs don't get too scratched up from PNW brush.

With all of my favorite gear, Spider Meadows, October 2014; Ethan's photo

Favorite pieces of gear (old)

Salomon S-Lab 12L vest and Pearl Izumi Trail N2 shoes

Two pieces of gear I wear on every long run. At least three other people I run with ended up buying the same pack; it's simply very solid and versatile. The N2s also are still working for me and a couple of contest-won pairs from Phil at 7 Hills helped out.

Shameless, I know...

Favorite post-run meal

'59er Diner, Coles Corner

This has to be a new ritual when headed to the Entiat-Leavenworth area. Ethan, Kate and I had two memorable meals there: me sleeping on the table; Ethan being quizzed by a server why he would order a beer and a milkshake; "Flo" giving us a Washington State Recreation Guide for Disabled Persons; and breakfast with milkshakes for dinner.


Favorite race

Has to be Plain. Though Gorge Waterfalls 100km is a very close second.

Me, Paul and TimG in Mad Meadow during Plain, September 2014; Will Thomas photo 

The finish line amenities

Favorite moment

"YEAH SON, GET IT!"

Approaching Beaver Pass around 9am and 20 miles into my day, two grizzled characters were coming down the switchbacks toward me. The guy in front looked like an outdoor, bearded version of Johnny Depp as Hunter S. Thompson, glasses included. With paddles sticking out of their hefty packs they were either doing some awesome pack rafting or were planning on going self-powered across Ross. As I got close to him, he emphatically said, "YEAH SON, GET IT!" It was not what I was expecting to hear, but it gave me a great shot of excitement that without exchanging any words, I felt like he understood what I was trying to do that day.


Favorite animal sighting

Spawning sockeye salmon, Indian Creek

I've seen spawning salmon before, but this was really special; August 2014

Winter Solstice group night run 2014

Today is longer than yesterday!

Not only do I appreciate the fact that every day we'll be getting a little more light, but also that I have friends who honestly enjoy getting outdoors year-round. The second annual Winter Solstice group night run was an excellent time to get together for some night miles, in the rain of course, to unabashedly talk trail and ultra running for hours in the woods. Nothing like running Chuckanut Ridge in the dark!

Thank you to Kevin and Dave for taking pictures, Graham for choosing the route and the rest of the guys for coming out, ten in total: Paul, Justin, Will, Matthew, Richard and Ray.

Dave, Will, Luke, Paul, Graham, Justin, Richard, Ray, Matthew and Kevin

Chinscraper has totally been rerouted! The upper half is all banked switchbacks like a downhill MTB trail, sadly...

Swoish

Chuckanut Ridge "views"

Deciding which trails to take for the last few miles

White Walkers Ultrarunners are coming...

Everyone survived, ankles intact