Training Log Archive: maprunner

We were supposed to have a local meet tomorrow, but the forecast is for freezing rain tonight, and lots of snow and single digit temps. So we postponed it. Gene had sent us his courses, so I decided to run the middle course. I don't know if it was the effect of living at altitude for the last 8 days, or the light aerobic activity recently, but running felt great. I felt like I was flying over the frozen trails in the beginning. (But I was also running fast in a effort to warm up. It was in the low 20s and I wasn't dressed as warm as I should have). It was fun to orienteer, and nice to find tapes at each location (Thanks, meangene!).

I've added notes and training for our Yellowstone trip. Can't believe this was a 10 hour week; I think that's a record for me.

Now it's time to hunker down and relax, catch up on AP and the Olympics, maybe watch a few movies, and then the Oscars tomorrow night, while letting the snow fall where it may.

Our last day in the park. We saved the easiest ski for last. It's straight up a road to the Tower Falls, then a nice easy glide down. We get beautiful views of the Yellowstone canyon, and some cool basalt cliffs. We didn't make it all the way to the Tower parking lot (another bison in the road). But we had the place to ourselves, which is a first. This trail is usually full of skiers. We asked at the ski shop, and they confirmed that fewer and fewer visitors are skiing, while more and more are snowshoeing. Wonder why?

But we did see a whole big bunch of people who were starting up just as we were finishing. Unfortunately, we "trapped" a group of bison between us and them, and confused the poor creatures. They moved very slowly, then stood still. Finally they figured out the option of going off the road and up the hill, which allowed both groups to ski on.

And so ended another fabulous trip to Yellowstone. There's something to be said about visiting the same place over and over. It's an easy vacation, where we know what to expect and how to manage all the arrangements. But fortunately the place is so cool and so large, that we always find something new and different on each trip. And get great photos: check out www.instagram.com/okansas or Mike's log at http://www.attackpoint.org/log.jsp/user_29

Our last day at OF, so we skied up to Mallard Lake. Temp was -15 when we started, but the sun (no clouds!!) warmed things up quickly. It was really hard to ski on the very cold snow; there was no glide.

Mike and I both noticed an improvement in our skiing technique going up and down the hills today, thanks to our lesson.

Then an uneventful snow coach ride back to Mammoth. saw the porcupine again (at the same location) and lots of bison. Beautiful warm day, could see for miles.

Another long day, to Biscuit and Black Sands geyser basins (we finally made it to Black Sands, on our third try). More beautiful scenery, and lots of cool thermal features. At Black Sands, we also saw bald eagles, ravens and coyotes fighting over a caracas.

The end of the trip was marred a bit, when a tour group walked all over our ski tracks. When we caught up to them, I complained to their guide, who should know the rule about not walking in the tracks. He said he doesn't "unless it's necessary". No! If the snow's too deep to walk, either don't walk there, or put on some skis. I got his first name and company and told him I would write and complain.

Another nice dinner in the dinning room, a quick view of the stars on this frigid clear evening, followed by watching an episode of Orphan Black on my Kindle. I love that Yellowstone has no TVs and limited internet coverage. So peaceful and quiet.

Our easy day. Started with a leisurely hike around the lower geyser basin. We saw a beautiful fox, and he came very close to us and he was following a scent trail. He looked much healthier than the foxes we see at home.

That afternoon, we took a ski lesson. I took a PE class in college to learn to ski, and I haven't had any training since. So this was great, to improve our technique and efficiency. We also worked, especially, on herring-boning (on the hills I avoided yesterday), and making the transition at the bottom of a hill. It was just Mike and I with the instructor, so we got lots of personalized instruction, It was great. I finally understood what I was doing wrong with herring-boning, and learned how to deal with transitions much better. I felt much more confident after this lesson.

After our lesson, we skied towards the Black Sand basin. We couldn't get there, because a bison was blocking our way. Before our trip, Pink Socks asked if the wolves are an issue for us. No. They are skittish of people and stay away. The biggest safety risk are the bison. More visitors are injured by bison every year than any other animal in Yellowstone. They are dumb and skittish and unpredictable. Yet they weigh a ton, can jump 6 feet in the air, and run 30 miles an hour. And they have horns. Definitely do not want to mess with a bison.

Our long day, to Mike's favorite geyser: Lone Star. I thought Swampfox and Imstillhungry would get a kick out of this name. In our past two visits, we were lucky to see it erupt; not this time.

In the past, I have been afraid of the beginning and end of this trip, which is steep (the middle is groomed trail on a flat road :) I did really well on the way up. Mike had commented that my skiing is much better. Some of it was due to the recent practice in Kansas. But most of it is better fitness, and especially, better balance. All that core work is paying off!

On the way back, I wimped out about going up the last two hills, and we came back on the road instead.

Later that night, we went on a "Starscapes and Soundscapes" tour, which was a dud. Cloudy, which couldn't be helped. But our guide spent too much time driving, and not enough time showing us stuff. Oh well, we don't have to do that tour ever again.

Lone Star trail is really beautiful, as it follows the Firehole Hole River

From Yellowstone 2014