What Days!

I may have had a few slack days from my time in Kaktovik, but I'm making up for it. Friday I went for a 3.5 mile run at lunch and followed that up by a very nice, just what I needed, nearly two hour, 18 mile mountain bike ride. Here in interior Alaska autumn is in full swing and the colors are glowing. When the evening light strikes the tree tops but doesn't pierce to the forest floor, it feels as though you are riding under a golden sky.


On Saturday, insufficiently tired from my previous day's exercise I took a ten mile run from my cabin to the top of Ester Dome (climbing 2300 vertical feet) and back home. I ran in the evening, I must have a thing for that sweet light and long shadows.


Atop the dome the views opened up in all directions, showing the yellow landscape of birches and aspens. After a few moments of admiration, I trotted down the dome through a tunnel of leaves.


As I descended through the forest, small views would show themselves through the trees. Goldstream Valley, the fields, tiny houses and roads seemed so far away. I continued down the trail, one step in front of the other. Running down is very hard on my knees so I took it easy through the steep sections. Throughout I enjoyed the sensation of my muscles working as they took my weight, lowered my bulk then relaxed as that foot left the ground and the other struck. I was tired when I finally climbed the stairs onto the porch, and yet felt great, like the weight of inactivity from the past several day had lifted.


Today my partner and I, with a friend, drove up Chena Hot Springs Road. After dropping my bike at the Hot Springs themselves, we backtracked to the Angel Rocks Trail and started up. The trail between the Rocks and the Hot Springs has been on our "to do" list for years and today we finally got around to it. I'm baffled why it took so long. The trail climbs steeply for about a thousand feet, levels out for a brief distance before climbing another several hundred to an alpine ridge. The highpoint is hit at about the third mile and from there, minus a few rolling stretches the trail descends gradually for another 5.5 miles to the Hot Springs. The ridge walk was fantastic with views open in all directions. I was stunned by the mountains I didn't even know existed. Tall peaks, much higher then the surrounding mountains stood up to the East in the distance, and much closer to the southeast. I couldn't (and still can't) place exactly where those mountains are. But I do know this: I want to get there. For every trip I do in Alaska, I find another dozen that need to be explored. Why is it, that I never seem to have enough time? There is a frustration in the end of summer, buffered by the thoughts of winter adventures, and more by the potential of next year.


Finally, as a last note, a great big congratulations to Geoff Roes of Juneau for his first place finish in the grueling Wasatch 100 foot race. You blow my mind Geoff.

Mileage
5 August
Running: 3.5 Miles
Biking: 18 miles

6 August:
Running: 9.5 miles

7 August
Hiking: 8.5 miles
Biking: 8 miles

August Totals:
On foot: 21.5
By Bike: 26