Training Log Archive: maprunner

Updated my log with Yellowstone notes. Photos can be seen at instagram.com/okansas (can view without an Instagram account)

C • Thanks for the review 1

Set 1
10X sitting pulley pull, 40 lbs each side
12X leg press, 90 lbs
10X TRX row

Set 2
10X incline pushup
10X quad extension, 25 lbs
10X overhead press, 12 lb dumbbells

at the dog park with Sandy and Siri. Some topics of conversation: Mardi Gras parade, wolves, HS track team.

pronghorn

Mike drew us a course on the Mammoth Terraces map. We wore YakTrax and were all alone on the icy trails. Although the lower trails were completely bare, which I had never seen before. It was fun navigation, dealing with closed trails and unusual map symbols for the thermal features. Lots of fun!

We stopped at the visitor's center on the way back and enjoyed the new exhibits. Then saw our first pronghorn antelopes (for this trip) on the way out of the park.

moving 1:30; total 1:57
Bald eagle, Moose, Wolf, Bison, Elk, Deer

Back to Bannock. Overcast and -6C were much better conditions for Mike to ski. I took it slower but felt OK overall. No moose on the trail this time, but I did see one from the car (it was a distance away, Mike was driving and he couldn't see it). We also saw a bunch of wolf watchers looking through scopes, so that was a clear sign to stop. The lone wolf was dark black against a light background, so we could see him with bare eyes (but the view was better through the binoculars).

We ate lunch at the trail head, then drove to the rest stop in Lamar. I took a nap while Mike went for a short walk.

Moving 1:08, total 1:24

Back to Tower. It's a beautiful ski. And very easy. Usually.
Today there was a huge ice field across the road right near Calcite Springs overlook. I decide to turn around after the requisite stop at the overlook, and asked Mike to watch me walk across the ice safely before he moved on.

After that I enjoyed a solo ski down. I stopped once or twice to listen to the nothingness and appreciate the view and acknowledge that I was all alone in a national park. Glorious!

Since it was our last night, I asked Mike if we could sit in the map room and enjoy a glass of wine (for me) before dinner. Another glorious location.

I have a cold :(
Ducks, Dippers, Bison, Elk, Raven that stalked Mike

All I did today was walk around the geyser basin with Mike. We were out for about 2 hours. Then we got on the shuttle back to Mammoth and I promptly fell asleep. Our driver was Don and he was probably the worst driver we ever had. He barely spoke at all. At least I was finally dressed warm enough for a walk at Fountain Paint Pots (I'm usually freezing at this stop). The rest of the trip was uneventful with almost no animals until some elk near Mammoth.

Moving 3:00; total 5:00
Coyote, bison, ducks

Skied to Biscuit Basin. Yesterday's ski lesson made me more confident on the uphills and they weren't nearly as bad as I remembered from past years.
We came back through Daisy geyser, with a side trip to Black sand pool. It wasn't as spectacular as it has been in the past.

After a nap, we went to a ranger program on volcanoes (not as good) then dinner to celebrate Mike's 60th birthday. We finished with the highlight: dessert and drinks with Boris, Alli, Jackie and Craig. Inara was also there but she wasn't drinking :)

Finished the evening by listening to the radio coverage of the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl.

Moving and map reading 1:45
Total 2:30
dippers, ducks, bison

It was colder, so I put on lots of clothes to walk/orienteer around the geyser basin. I had set a course but we didn't go for the most direct routes. But we did find all my controls, eventually.

Ski lesson with Marilegh

Followed by a ranger program on amphibians (she was really into them!) and a quick dinner.

Moving 3:30; total 5:00
Dippers, ducks, bison, stars

Left from cabin at 9:30 towards Lone Star. We usually get a ski drop at the top of the hill, but this year we started from our cabin. It wasn't as bad as I feared going up, only 2 steep hills after the park water tower road.

We were alone at first bit then other skiers and lots of snow-shoers joined the trail. Some kids were from Jackson WY.
It was a beautiful day, partly sunny and -5C.

We had lunch at Lone Star. I got cold and started to move. But then the geyser went off so we stayed to watch it.
We explored a side trail on the way back, new and fun. It was the remnants of an old road, which was visible on Mike's O maps (lidar data).
I was really enjoying Mike's O maps of our ski areas. The park maps are larger scale and very generalized. I now could see the whole trail and the details of hills and turns. This allowed me to appreciate and understand the trails we have been skiing on for years.

Took road from Kepler back to our cabin because I was afraid of the downhills. I shouldn't have been, we should take the trail next time.

After showers and relaxing, we went to the visitor center and talked to a ranger.

Clear skies, could see the stars on the walk back to our cabin after dinner.