Training Log Archive: Bash

Carbon's Offset led us on another adventure, this time to Wind Ridge near Canmore. We did more running today but hiked all the uphills. We started out running on double track through the trees and crossed West Wind Creek.



We eventually emerged into open meadows filled with mountain wildflowers. Some of the climbing was quite steep.





There was even a cliff to scramble up.



The scenery was all fantastic once we got above the tree line and the ridge running was great.





We got to the end of the official trail at a viewpoint where we could see the backs of the Three Sisters.



Our main view was the back side of yesterday's route. From the Spray Lakes, we had climbed up to West Wind Pass in the centre of the photo. Windtower peak, where we had lunch, is just to the left of it.



No, we didn't call each other in the morning to plan our outfits.





It is possible to continue on an unofficial route by bypassing the cliff through the trees to get down to the next part of the ridge that eventually turns into scree and arrives at a massive headwall. We got down the cliff but the dark skies to the west reminded me of my lightning experiences in the mountains.

After a check of weather radar, we turned back. As it turned out, we got hail, rain and gusty winds but no thunderstorm.



We put on raincoats and bombed down the steep hills. 'Bent took some video. At one point after reviewing video, we were surprised that CO hadn't arrived. We thought he was running behind 'Bent while he filmed me. After allowing a little time, we realized something must be wrong. We went back to the start of a steep slope that we had all descended together. I started looking off the trail down the hillside. Did he fall? 'Bent headed up the hill. Then we heard his voice from far above. "I lost my phone!"

Thus began a very 2017 outdoor emergency that involved hiking back up to the area where we thought it might have fallen out. Also, we could get cell signal there. Long story but it involved lots of action on our remaining phones, Carbon doing detective work on her computer at home, Find My iPhone, and Find My Friends.

Turns out it fell out close to the place where CO noticed it missing. It was off-trail in the grass but it made a little peeping noise after Find My iPhone was used. Some hikers heard the peep and noticed that I had been phoning. They returned my call and we ran down to meet them in the parking lot. Yay!



Time deducted for major stops.

Windtower peak in Kananaskis Country with Carbon's Offset and 'Bent. (So wonderful to see CO!) There was a steep, well-traveled trail to West Wind Pass, then it was a mix of trail and scree scramble up to the peak, which offered spectacular views in all directions.

We hiked up and ran slowly down. In spite of the caution, I managed to crank my gimpy ankle - hopefully mildly. Time deducted for our long summit stop but there were many photo breaks along the way.

On the trail





At the summit







We figured out why they call it Windtower.

Busy week but it's about to get better! We kicked the weekend off with dinner on a sunny Canmore patio with Flight and Greg.

UPDATE: Sounds like they're now OK for pacers until the end of the run - although anyone is welcome to come to Queenston and run out on the trail to meet her for the final kilometres! See the SPOT tracker for her position. http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots...
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Just got this request for trail runners to help pace Chantal Warriner around Hamilton on one of the final days of her Bruce Trail end-to-end run:

"PACERS NEEDED Wed. July 12 for Chantal from 11am-2pm and 2pm-5pm (approx). No need to be fast, we go 10min/km pace. Chantal would love some company as she is in the final stretch to set the womens FKT on the Bruce Trail. Approximate location at that time is Hamilton. Will pay in foot massages and brownies :). If you can help please email aspirebrucecelerity@gmail.com"

I met up with Chantal Warriner as she passed through Inglewood during her attempt to set a new female record for the Bruce Trail. I tried to imagine what she might crave in the early afternoon of Day 10 and my guess of ice cream seemed to work out OK. :)



The current and previous female record holders, Virginia and Charlotte, have helped to pace Chantal. Mrs. Gally, who managed Virginia's run, took a pacing shift too. It's nice that members of the running community support one another, regardless of who ends up holding the record.

Chantal is on pace to beat Virginia's time but it will be close since Virginia put on such a big push at the end. She is aiming to finish before dark on Thursday but she has until Friday at 12:28 p.m.

Here is her SPOT tracker in case she's passing through your neighbourhood and you want to say hi. I have the cell phone # of Craig Kingston, one of her support crew chiefs, if anyone wants to find out where aid stations are planned.
<http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots...>

Her daily blog, currently written by Cait Foisy.
<https://aspirebrucecelerity.wixsite.com/mysite>

There are some updates on Facebook too.
<https://www.facebook.com/trailrunningchantal/>