Cecil Rhodes Mt.

Monday I needed to get out in the mountains after running on the pavement Sunday. Cecil Rhodes is a great mountain just south of the highway as you pass through Cooper Landing and it offers great views of the surrounding area, especially with the sun we have been enjoying! The access is a bit tricky, but Bob Summer was nice enough to give away the route a few years back. I came across a family of Goats, and threw in a picture of the repeater station and radio towers on the back ridge. They used to leave the doors open on the buildings, one has a microwave and phone in it, but they have since locked them. ohh well....

Shadow Mountain

Last week I did the annual fall hike up Shadow mountain. The trail start is hidden and only a few know of it. Wasps attacked a couple of separate times, making speed a necessity. What great fall weather!

Crescent Lake

It was super windy on the flats today so I struck out for the mountains to see if I could duck the wind. Luckily I guessed right and found respite from the wind up Quartz Creek on Crescent Lake Trail. I ran up to the big bridge and grabbed a few photo's. It was perfect fall day up there, crisp, but no wind at all and amazing fall colors. I love Alaska Autumn's, but I wish they would last a bit longer.

Alyeska Climbathon

On Sunday Justin, Jessica and I gave the climbathon a go, we were all first timers and only had a slight hint of what it might be like from friends who have done it. The event isn't very old, maybe 5 years or so and usually doesnt draw the huge crowds that the other mountain running circuit races draw. The Climbathon involves climbing the north face of mt. Alyeska to the top of the tram, riding the tram down, and doing it all over again as many times as you can from 9am to 7pm. It is a lot more fun when you are done with it. Justin and I had set rough goals of 8 laps a piece, figuring it would take us about 50 minutes a lap untill we got super tired. I ended up finishing with 7, Jessica 7 and Justin killed it with 9. At 2k feet a lap that 14k, 14k and 18k in a day. The weather was perfect and the company was even better!
The winners set new records of 12 laps. They are animals...
ADN story HERE

Tiehacker

Went up Tiehacker Mountain with Zack today to scout a few lines to ski this winter. More pics tomorrow. I'm pooped.

Flowers

The front yard is peaking right now, starting it's downhill slide into a long cold winter. I grabbed a few images for my mom so she could see the fruits of her annual 2 week pilgrimage to Alaska to maintain the flower beds. My carrots, onions and potatoes and berries are doing well.

Wet and Muddy

This has been the state of my running shoes for about 2 months. As I type this the sun has broken out for the first time in a LONG time. Peninsula residents are becoming unruly. This upcoming Saturday is the Lost Lake Race which benefits Cystic Fibrosis. The race course starts at the Primrose trailhead and ends at the Firehouse just outside of Seward. During a training run on the course the other day it rained the entire time and seemed like it was nearly snowing at lost lake. I enjoyed ankle deep mud in many spots, hence the state of my shoes. Hope your weather is better.....

Josh