Saturday, June 28, 2008

High Alpine Teaser


A Beautiful Day in the Sunshine!

What an incredible day to be running in the mountains. We enjoyed a perfect day of blue skys, warm temperatures and sunshine. We also got to venture to a little bit higher elevation, to check out some fantastic panoramic views. This high alpine teaser got me dreaming of future run possibilities, as the snow continues to melt and we welcome the return of summer with open arms.

The day started with a car drop, so we could enjoy a point-to-point run past some very special places. Our day started at Red Earth Creek and we climbed the fire road, taking care to make lots of noise as there was plenty of bear scat marking the way. We dove into the forest of the Pharoah Creek Trail and the bear scat was quickly replaced by some mutant moose prints. We followed the creek as it wound its way quite steeply through a mix of forest, canyon and rock. The creek was running pretty high and we got to stomp through our share of puddles! It was really pretty and quite noisy with the raging white water. When we finally broke away from the creek, the valley opened up in front of us to reveal some fantastic views.


Time to Get Your Feet Wet!

Pharoah Creek and.......


Pharoah Peak!!!


Mike in His Happy Place

Near Egypt Lake/Healy Pass Junction

Lilies!!

After the quick lunch stop we began the 3km climb to the top of Healy Pass. Normally, it is a tough climb, but it is quite runnable. Today, we got off the hook and got to enjoy a power-walk because the trail got a wee bit snowbound. The trail was punctuated with patches of deep snow and meadows full of Glacier Lilies. The flowers were amazing!! There are still only the two early season varieties out in full bloom, the Lilies and the Alpine Anenomes. The density that they carpeted the ground was unbelievable!





The water was running over this little bridge!!


Up, Up, UP!!

The top of Healy Pass on a clear day is quite a special place to be! There was still a fair amount of snow, but totally safe and totally passable. After hardly seeing any people for the last 20km's, we were greeted by a whole bunch of people up on the pass. This is a popular day hike from Sunshine Village. We made a new friend in the form of an adorable Border Collie. She was sooooo sweet! But she kept trying to look up my skirt.








The Healy Pass Juggling Festival!!


From the top of the pass, we flew down the other side. We snapped some more photos of the awesome scenery before we hit treeline and jumped back into the forest. We flew down the last 8km to the finish line, feeling strong, stoked and solar powered after another fine day on the trails. I love to run!

Down, Down, DOWN.


What HOT day is complete without a soak of the legs and back in an ice COLD creek? This is my cold creek face.

6 comments:

  1. Beautiful!!!

    I like your new friend... I love boarder collies! I'd totally get one but I think my cats would freak.

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  2. Saw your post on Deanna's blog, Run Dude Run .... have been watching and looking and reading your blog. After living in Alberta for 21 years makes me somewhat homesick to see the Banff photos etc etc. BEAUTIFUL. Oh did i fail to mention I'm Deanna's mother. Update, they are on their way to Vermont and called from Ohio today, along with 2 trailers, 2 dogs and lots of stuff! I have a blog but nothing like you girls! Anyway have a look if you have time or want :o) .... My topography is so totally different then yours. Keep on bloggin' as they say! Oh yeah, I walk, can't run, I look like a cow and fall down half the time HAHAHA ...

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  3. Super fun! Have you decided on a name for your team for Transrockies? I would like to suggest the following:

    Blogger Trail Trash

    Have you seen my quads?

    Chicked-by-Two

    Feel free to help yourself. HA

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  4. Oh that border collie is so very cute! And, that's exactly what border collies do! They nose themselves up against whatever is there, skirts, shorts, etc. I have no idea why they do this. However, if you and your hubby come to Yellowstone, you will see that my border collie does the same embarassing thing! But it's all love! ;)

    Another set of gorgeous photos from a great day!

    Holly's suggestions are funny.

    Meghan

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  5. This is my cold creek face.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    haha ahhhh now that is a great get flock out of my way face :-)

    U and Meghan are going to have such a good time, she is funny, great laugh and ummm not a bad runner :-) ...going to be such a blast!!

    LOVE ur PICS!!!

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  6. Hi CG...I love Border Collies, too. But she was perving up my skirt. I swear.

    Meghan-
    So that's what they do?? Nose?? Herd and nose? Nose and Herd?? They are adorable...

    Sandra-
    Hi and welcome to Deannas' mom! Thanks for the report on the girl. Alberta is the wonderland. I am a born and raised Calgary girl, now a Banff girrrrrrl. It was a natural fit for me.

    Holly-
    Yeeeeeeah, those are GREAT team names....we'll work on it...

    Bob-
    Good to know I have picked a good one, I expect her to entertain me for all 6 days...

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