Fueled by Gushers, Pop Tarts, Snickers bars (sponsor me, @grocery_outlet?) and Vitamin I (you too, Ibuprofen), Alden and I ran/walked/hobbled/shuffled our way around the 48-mile Three Sisters loop yesterday (longest distance to date for both of us)! Playing with the trails around these close-to-home mountains is really fun, and it helps that they’re so darn runable. Now if only the Stehekin Bakery would open up shop somewhere out there...
1. Demonstrating my newest downhill running technique, which involves relaxing every part of my body and dropping down the trail (you should see my face).
2. Alden cooling down at mile 31. He’s washing his face, not drinking the water - don’t @ him. But before this his longest ever run was 16 miles, so you can @ him about that... 😉
3. Running to the gates of Mordor on the foggy west side of the mountains. It was fun to see not only the plants change from west side to east side, but also the weather.
It’s a weird one, but this is my favorite photo I took in Alaska. The light perfectly cast on our pilot’s finger, Alden’s eagerness, and the absolute mindblow it was to see the entirety of the 10-day journey we were about to undertake pass under us looking more complex and intimidating than I ever imagined. Lots of anticipation. Anyways, Alaska’s been on my mind since 1) it’s the coolest place I’ve ever been and 2) some stories from our trip have at long last emerged into the online ether. If you’re curious, check out our takeover on the @outdoorresearch page (woot woot OR!!) or follow the link in my bio to read some reflections I wrote for the wonderful @switchback_travel. 🥳
And the tour de fast-and-easy just keeps getting harder! The Tantalus Traverse in a day: 26 miles, 12,000+ feet of elevation gain, and one really purdy ridgeline. @sarahleannehart might have a sack of frozen peas on her knee right now, but we were trucking yesterday, and completed the traverse car-to-car in 14 hours, 38 minutes. Apparently it’s the female FKT (and the only all-female c2c FKT 😂), but knowing we could have easily shaved an hour off our time makes me think it’s pretty low-hanging fruit. Ladies, go get it!!! Seriously. It’s fun to set the bar so that now it can get raised (or in this case, lowered).
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Also, for those in the know: yes, crossing the cable over the Squamish River was definitely the most challenging part of my day.
Swimming hole, 5 stars. ⭐️ 10/10 would recommend. Hike is long but worth it. Walk 14 miles and cross a river (depending on water levels, you might need to rappel across). Say hi to friendly bear. Ascend steep slope for 2,000 feet, staying close to waterways for minimal bushwhacking. Access glacier where it looks most mellow—try to avoid moats and thin snow bridges, especially when transitioning to the rock buttress. Climb 2,500 feet, staying on the ridge proper for the best rock. Beware of hungry packrat on summit. Descend onto backside via a series of rappels and downclimbing. Drop over 2,000 feet through wildflower meadows, avoiding hidden cliff bands. Once near the base of the valley, look for a trail. Walk 9 more miles, looking for the swimming hole on your right before crossing a bridge. Clothing optional; crowds are minimal if not nonexistent. Enjoy!!!!!
