Trail Thursday Has Gone Missing & My Legs Feel Like Lead.

Trail Thursday has gone missing this week (or well in reality —> I need to take some new adventures to share with you guys). BUT I will definitely have a new Trail Thursday next week because on Saturday we’re heading to Rocky Mountain National Park to go backpacking!!! This will be my first wilderness backpacking experience where we get a permit and had to reserve a site ahead of time. We reserved the site here and will pick up our permit on Saturday at the Vistors Center.

TBT to visiting RMNP last year with Stella. She won’t be joining us for this trip (too much wildlife out there!), but she’ll be happy that she’s staying with Uncle Jeremy and her cousin Waylon (dog) ;)

We’ll be staying at Timber Lake at one of the two Snowbird Sites and will be around 11, 010 feet where we camp! It’s been pretty warm here, so it shouldn’t be as chilly as we were originally thinking when we booked it which is GOOD! We’ll bring lots of layers still and our warmest camping gear. Campfires aren’t allowed at the site which is a bit of bummer, but at least we know there is less of a risk of a wildfire!

I’m hoping my legs feel better than they have earlier this week because they have felt like LEAD. I’m sure it’s got something to do with my crazy hormones and all-nighter last Friday and crazy intense Pilates Jumpboard class on Monday, but I’m really trying to stay optimistic. I’m getting my long run in tomorrow morning before our trip (still trying to decide whether I’m going to do it on the treadmill (to hit my 5 x HMP miles) or do it outside) and undecided whether I’ll get in any miles before or after our trip. It will be around 5 miles of hiking on Saturday and 5 miles of hiking on Sunday (which is quite a bit) so I may just do an easy 3 each day to shake out my legs.

Felt like I was running an 8:00 min/mile. ha.

Also on an unrelated note- I booked my annual Dentist cleaning ON HALLOWEEN. This is the second year in a row that I’ve had my cleaning scheduled on October 31st…I’m thinking this is a very unpopular date for visiting the dentist!

SOURCE

Ever gone backpacking in a National Park?

Dentist —> do you enjoy going or meh not so much?

Help me decide… should I do ANY runs this weekend or do a few short easy miles or take it off?!?!

Trail Thursday: Stagecoach State Park

Happy Thursday! I was brainstorming last night what I should write about today and realized that I’ve yet to do a review of the Colorado State Park that’s in our backyard- Stagecoach! Also I’ve had to re-type this same thing four different times because Maple is extra lovey right now and continues to delete my typing! Ha. Good thing she’s so cute. I’ve got 7 miles on the schedule this morning with 8 x 30 second strides at the end. Then it’s all about carbo-loading and getting a lot of sleep to prep for my Run Rabbit Run pacing tomorrow night!

I may be a bit biased, but Stagecoach is definitely one of my favorite State Parks. It has 10 MILES of runnable (and bikeable!) trails around the entire lake, ample spots to fish, a beach to relax, and three different campgrounds!

I’m not entirely sure when exactly the campgrounds close, but it will be relatively soon (thinking October?). The park still remains open in the winter and they do a GREAT job of grooming a bunch of trails around the lake for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

We’ve lived within 5 minutes of the park for the past year and a half and I still haven’t gotten tired of all that it offers. You can boat on the lake and ice fish in the winter - so there really is something for everyone!

Visiting the Dam is also another fun activity to do if you are visiting from out of town and you can access the trail around the lake very easily from that parking lot.

Ever been to Stagecoach State Park?

What is YOUR favorite State Park? What’s so special about it?

What do you have on the workout front today?

Trail Thursday: Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is my top-two favorite National Parks. I love the shear beauty of the valley, the crisp air that surrounds you, the amount of trails that you can explore with (or without) a dog, and the variety in their campgrounds. We visited Yosemite on our roadtrip out west a few years ago in the beginning of October and stayed at two of the campgrounds there. The first night, we stayed at the Crane Flat Campground (we had planned to stay there two nights). The second night (after our sleeping bag zipper broke) we ended up booking a hotel because we were so.cold.! It dropped down to the upper 20s at night and with no properly working sleeping bag, it was just too chilly.

Driving into the Park!

Stella vs. Deer

First night camping in Yosemite. It.Was.Freezing (hence the giant mittens)

Even Stella was cold....

I had managed to book just one night at the Lower Pines Campground (I booked it back in June and there was only one night available!). It was the perfect temperature there (maybe 40s at night?) and we loved this campground. I cannot say enough good things about it! It was in a great location (right next to the river), we could see Half Dome right from our tent. I'd recommend planning your trip 6 months in advance and bookmarking when your reservation date will be available (~5 months in advance). 

Stella leading the way!

There were several paved trails along the park that we could walk Stella (one of the most dog-friendly National Parks we've been to!) and I also got to run in the park once (highly recommend)! Because the speed limits are slower, you can feel safer than you would running on a backcountry road (or at least I did). I also ran during the mid-afternoon where there were ample people around (to be safer). 

Hi Stella!

We did a few shorter hikes (where Stella had to stay in the car), which we started by ~6am so it would be cool enough in the car for her. I'd definitely recommend planning ahead if you want to do a lot of hiking and research places to board your furry pets for a day or two (it's worth it!). 

I'd also recommend doing the drive up to Glacier Point at sunset. We brought our dinner up there and enjoyed it with a view (cannot recommend this enough). It was so beautiful and we got so many great photos as the sun was setting among the valley. 

Ever been to Yosemite? 

Favorite part of the park? --> We REALLY want to go back, so let me know if you have any recommendations!

Trail Thursday: 10 Hiking Essentials For A Day Out On The Trails

Happy Friday-eve! Wow this went by so fast. Too bad I haven't been feeling so great. Boo. Hoping it clears itself up before the long weekend! What do you have planned? We're not really sure yet, but I'm sure it will be something fun. Anyone racing over Labor Day? We have one 10k/5k trail race there is here in town, but it's almost always sold out (and we've always been backpacking on that day) so I've YET to participate. Maybe one year...

I wanted to share with you 10 TOP Hiking Essentials that I always take with me on a Day Hike. 

I try to keep my pack lighter (since the mileage typically isn't as long), but still make sure that I have plenty of water, snacks, and a few things incase something goes wrong during the hike. 

• 1. Enough water to last me 24-48 HOURS. This may seem a bit excessive, but if you do end up staying out much longer than you intended water is imperative. I normally judge it by how long the hike is, how remote the hike is (if it will take longer for someone to find/rescue me I take more water), and how many water crossings there are (if there are NONE, I take extra water). 
• 2. Snacks to last me 2 DAYS. I'm a bit of a overpacker in the essentials (food/water), but if I were stuck outside for longer than I anticipated then I would be thankful for my overly excessive packing skills. I mainly pack lighter, but nutrient dense foods. Granola Bars, Honey Stinger Chews, Apples, Dried Fruit, PB&J Sandwich, Trail Mixes, Beef Jerkey, Dry Cereal, Tuna in To-Go Packets are some of my favorites. 
• 3. First Aid Kit with waterproof matches, band-aids, emergency blanket, small thing of wool (works great for blisters), whistle. I bought a small, light-weight first aid kit that includes all of the above (besides the wool). I also carry bear spray with me. 
• 4. Rain Jacket
• 5. Extra pair of socks. Because if there is even the smallest stream, you better believe that I will most likely get my feet wet. 

• 6. One extra layer for both bottoms & tops. Something light like leggings and a fleece are fairly light but will keep you warm if anything were to happen. 
• 7. Camera. Something to capture all those beautiful lakes, views, and mountains you're bound to come across!
• 8. Map & Compass. So helpful and necessary. Especially if you get mixed-up or need to take a detour at some point. KNOW how to use a compass as well before you go.
• 9. Headlamp or flashlight. If you were to spend the night somewhere, you'll be thankful you brought something to help you see through the darkness.
• 10. Book. Whether it's a book about wildflowers, pleasure read, book about hikes in the area something for you to stop and appreciate along the way or once you get to your destination lake or summit. 

Anything else that's on your must-have hiking list?!?

Trail Thursday: Grand Teton National Park

I've been fortunate enough to visit the Grand Teton National Park twice. The first time was in 2015 when we did an impromptu trip to Yellowstone and drove through the Tetons enroute to Yellowstone. The second time we did get to spend a bit more time in the Tetons (last Summer, 2017), but still never quite enough time (in my point of view). I always feel as though Yellowstone's close proximity to the Tetons overshadows it.

The Tetons are absolutely spectacular and I'd really love to plan an entire trip just visiting it (without Yellowstone).  We've driven through several of the side roads in the National Park (one was just before my Jackson Hole Half Marathon start and it was zero dark thirty...yeah I don't recommend doing that) and there is just so much to see. 

I really do not think that the photos do it justice. I'd also really love to backpack in the park. I know that there are several backcountry options to hike to and that sounds amazing. With having Stella (our pup), it's always a little challenging planning these types of trips (dogs aren't allowed in the backcountry in both Grand Teton & Yellowstone Nat'l Parks), so we aren't able to do them as often as we would prefer. 

Jenny Lake is absolutely beautiful and I'd recommend planning to spend a day just admiring her beauty (if you have the time)! 

Also plan to camp directly in the park. We ended up camping just outside of the park last Summer (we stayed here) because we arrived later over Labor Day weekend and all of the campsites were previously booked. Still a beautiful site and only ~25 minutes outside of the Park/ Jackson Hole Ski Resort area, but I wish we could have gotten a site in the actual park. 

Ever been to Grand Teton National Park?

Camping or backpacking?