Training Log Archive: maprunner

We got a snow coach drop-off to Indian Creek today. The snow was much better up here. It was 26 degrees but full sun, so I was plenty warm all day.

We decided to ski out and back on the Sheepeater trail. We had done this trail (one way) a few years ago. We were afraid to start at the far end in case the trail was icy. But conditions today were great. The only difficulty was following the trail, because some sections are very open and wind blown, and we were the first ones on the trail today. After a while, we figured out that the coyotes (tracks) always stayed on the trail, so we would follow them whenever we temporarily lost the trail.

We had a tail wind going out and we didn't want to risk being late for our 3:00 pick up, so we turned around just before we hit the Bunsen Peak Road (stopped and ate lunch first). But we came back much faster, probably because we didn't have to search for the trail any more.

Only saw one bison while we were on the trail.

We had some time to kill at the end, so we skied up to see the basalt Sheepeater cliffs. Very pretty, right by the flowing (!) creek.

I was tired at the end, and I just waited by the warming hut while Mike did a bit of extra skiing in the campground. A very nice day.

As usual, Mike got up to watch the sun rise while I slept in. He tried to ski the upper terrace loop but it was either all ice or bare pavement. Not an option this year.

After breakfast, we drove to the far east edge of the park to ski at Bannock. Saw big horn sheep in the usual places, plus lots of bison. There was lots more snow at this end, but it hadn't snowed recently.

The trail had warmed up and re-frozen over a few days, and hence, it was very icy. It was a real slog going out, as one kept sliding backwards with every step. It was tough and rough.

We were the first ones on the trail that morning and I was leading. As I came around one corner, I saw a dark shape moving through the woods and recognized the big hump: a moose! I immediately stopped and looked closer; you could barely see a mama moose and her yearling, maybe 30 feet off the trail! Very exciting, but a bit nerve wracking to ski past. But they just sat down and ignored us as we moved on.

After while, the sun started to really warm us up, as well as the trail. Now it was turning from ice to slush. Plus there were a lot more people on the trail now, but they helped make the trail easier to ski back.

When we came back, the moose were still there, but pretty hard to see (just could recognize the ears sticking up, if you knew where to look).

We were tired at the end (out for 2 and a half hours). Once again, I forgot to save my track, but I'm estimating our time and distance based on last year.

Never thought I would log hiking in Yellowstone in winter, but it was definitely possible this year. We took our time driving back from Bannock, stopping at many pullouts to look at the view and search for animals. Saw big horn sheep and coyotes this afternoon.

And then decided to hike to Wraith Falls, which we had never done before. It had now warmed up to 46 degrees!

This time I did remember to save my track, but I didn't stop the watch until we were back at the hotel. I tried to cut off the excess in Quickroute, but I can't seem to get it to work. So you'll just have to zoom in to the earliest part of the track! :)

Awoke at 3 am to catch an early flight. Made it to Yellowstone by 1 pm. Hardly recognized the place! Not a drop of snow at Mammoth and temps in the 40s. It was unreal. It looked like fall, not winter.

But we rented some skis and headed out to ski at Tower (must not have saved my track; bummer).

Saw bison, deer, elk and pronghorn on the drive, but not a single animal during the ski. Lots of tracks, so the animals were out and about at some time. For my Yellowstone entries, I will only record our moving time. We stop often to take pictures, admire the view, look at tracks and make sound recordings. Definitely a leisurely pace.

It was 41 degrees and sunny when we started. I skied without hat and gloves, which is definitely a first. Stopped at Calcite Springs, then headed back for an early dinner and early bedtime

Heading to Yellowstone tomorrow. We'll be off the grid for a few days (yeah!) so no updates till we return.

Sandy and I planned a campus sprint practice. It was another beautiful warm day. And I felt lousy. Definitely have a small cold and I'm doing everything I can to make it disappear before we leave for Yellowstone on Thursday. Spent most of the day lying down, and popping zinc tablets.

When I met Sandy, she was happy to join me at a walking pace. We used an old control picking course, and alternated picking which control to go to next. Along the way, we talked about map features and mapping styles, interspersed with fun conversations about drumming, working at home and reading glasses.