Last weekend we went to Silverton for the Kendall Mountain Run. Cory is trying to get some points in the Sky distance races (marathon and shorter) for the US Skyrunning series and I am trying to do the Ultra distance races. Unfortunately because of my injury I wasn't able to compete at the Power of Four 50k on Sunday. Having an extra day to hang out in the San Juans was even better.
We left on Thursday after work and camped in Salida. On Friday we hung out in Ouray and did a shakeout run with the pups. Now I want to live there. We headed over to Silverton for packet pickup and camped for free on South Mineral Creek Rd. Cory got 11th place man (12th overall) at the race and felt pretty good about his effort.
On Sunday it was rainy but I suckered him into hiking up to Island Lake. I don't really have words to describe how beautiful this hike was. Instead, here's an anecdote. As a kid I would go to my grandma's house and, being a good Swiss woman, she would let me watch the movie Heidi. In the movie Heidi, my doppelganger, lived in this picturesque cabin in the mountains where she could roam free and breath the fresh mountain air. Well it's Grandma's fault that I moved to Colorado because Heidi's living situation always seemed pretty great to me. When I got up to the basin that contained Island Lake, Ice Lake, and many other lakes, I realized that this is where I want my cabin in the mountains. When I got my first view of Grant Swamp Pass over Island Lake, I screamed. The Hardrock course was right in front of me!
We were sad when we had to drive home but fortunately we will be back next weekend to vacation with my parents and get Cory through the Ouray 100 course.
Fair warning, the rest of this post is going to be pictures.
Sunset over the collegiate peaks as we camped in Salida
Pinnacles around Blue Mesa
Playing ball with the pups at the park in Ouray
Mayla looks really happy
Shakeout run in Ouray
Exploring Ouray
My new tiny house
I mean, how would you not want to live here?
My future swiss chalet
FJ Summit in Ouray... check out this sweet setup!
The race finish with Kendall Mt in the background
Neither of us felt it was ok to pose next to the rock until we run the race
Our campsite the first night on Mineral Creek
Pre-race jitters
Fast start
Kendall Mt looms over the town
Blue bird skies in the morning
Sage got first... big surprise
Timmy Parr in 2nd place
Andrew Benford cruising in for 3rd
Stevie Kremer was the women's champion!
Cory sprints it in
The view from Molas Lake Campground where you can buy a hot shower
Silverton to Durango
The view from our campsite the second night
Cadi in her cave
Snuggly Mayla
Rainbow over our camp site
Sunday hike up the Ice Lake Trail
Happy puppy!
Llamas
First view of Grant Swamp Pass!
I asked this girl if it was weird to take a picture of her puppy and she said, "How could you not take a picture?"
