Training Log Archive: Torino

Urs and I were driving from Moab to the Great Sand Dunes in 2 days to meet with Molly and Christoph. We wanted to go on a "climb" up the Sand Dunes when the weather turned and very dark clouds and a gusty, nasty wind set in. We fought our way up as much as possible when really dark clouds were shooting over the highest dunes and we knew we had to turn back. A severe thunder-hail-wind storm set in just before we could save ourself to the visitor center. Whew, what a sight that storm was.
Later, the San Luis Valley was covered with a duststorm that looked scary.

But had lots of fun to camp out with Molly and Christoph on their first week-wedding-anniversary ;-).

Bike ride on the Klondike Bluffs like last year. Temps above 95 degrees.
Started from the North and did different trails first (Agate and Jasper, then part of Dino) before heading up the Klondike Trail up for 2 km over beautiful slick rock. Went over part of Baby Steps to hit the UFO trail. Had to rest in the shade of a tree for sandwiches and recover some. Going down UFO then Salt Line. Urs took another part of Dino and we went back towards the car then decided to go see the Dinosaur tracks some 1 km away. When we had to climb another 150 m from there, we really debated, it seemed almost too much of an effort in the heat and we were beat at that point. But the tracks were enormous and well worth those 150 m uphille. So impressive to imagine that those animals were roaming the earth. There were 4 very large footprints and about 3 smaller imprints. There was also a print from a 3-toed dinosaur.

Arrived in Moab and set up tent high up on Sand Flats Road on the most beautiful camp spot overlooking the valley of Moab and having the La Sal Mtns as backdrop. We were the only ones on that camp ground.
Even though it was 3 pm, the hottest time of the day, and over 90 degrees, I wanted to go and do the run I did here last September in rain and lots of mud. Tokk two sips of water every km and I did well. Beautiful scenery. Towards the end I met Urs who had come my way.
Saw some pretty and very delicate desert columbine or larkspur? And the cactii were blooming too.

Stopped by the Hanging Lakes on our meandering trip through the Western part of Colorado. Hiking up to the lakes. Beautiful place.
Enjoying those leisure days, had also stopped at the M Lazy C Ranch where I will be staying for the US Champs. And di a side trip to Leadville. Colorado Rockies are so beautiful in spring with the snow still capping the peaks and the water run-off so high.