The days before Hardrock were filled with friends and fun. I was on the waitlist for the race, so we went to the area just in case. It was a great delight to have other adventures to keep us entertained and to work on my altitude acclimation.
We got there early enough to score a lovely campsite at South Mineral Creek:
I noticed a nearby FKT (because of course I did), and was surprised that it overlapped with the first section in our recent John Cappis peakbagging day. We had a few days before our next set of friends arrived, so John and I decided to go for it.
Setting off from Little Molas Lake campground:
It was another beautiful day to climb up high:
On top of Spencer Peak, at almost 13,000 feet:
It was peak #1 of our quest (and apologies for the occasional less-than-stellar picture from my little camera):
Pointing toward the valley with the dark and red areas, where we had climbed up at the start of the Cappis route:
Grand Turk was peak #2 (13,150'), and we hit the easternmost point of the ridge to be certain to reach the actual highest point:
Squeaky pika! Good morning, oh adorable little one:
And a marmot for good measure:
I was trying to maintain a solid uphill push, while John kept up seemingly effortlessly. He suggested we might get to the turnaround spot within 2.5 hours, so I pushed the last climb and we just made it. The final summit, Sultan Mountain at 13,327' (good time for a snack):
Checking out the view down toward Silverton:
John captured the moment when I started back (we were still on the clock, gotta go):
John bounded down the hill after me:
Pretty flowers (we weren't in so much of a rush that we couldn't enjoy these):
Lovely lake that might be worth a closer visit someday:
The traverse below Grand Turk was surprisingly interesting, so we took a moment to look back at that pseudo-trail. Somewhere in here we heard elk bugling far below us in the valley to the west, super cool.
I had noticed these colorful ovals embedded in the rocks a couple times now, and I finally decided I needed a photo of them:
We found a decent way down along Molas Creek (there isn't a trail through this section) and soon John was suggesting that we could break 4 hours to the finish. Sure, I'm up for running! It took a bit of effort, worth it because we just made it within our newfound and arbitrary goal.
It's Party Time again, baby!
Llamas at the trailhead:
Since this FKT already had fast times set for the female and male categories, we needed each other to set the mixed gender time. Basically we were each other's token male and female (commemorated by our shower "tokens" we just happened to have in the truck):
The webpage for this effort:
Andrew and Squid came over from Flagstaff to play in Colorado for a few days, nice! John had a hankering to see more of the Cappis course, and Andrew was interested as well. I was not so curious, so I dropped them off near where our group had finished at checkpoint 2 and they climbed up toward Beattie, Vermillion, and Fuller. I'm glad they took pictures so I (and you) can see all the spectacular colors and rocks:
Andrew loved learning how to glissade, and Squid is a natural in the snow:
A beautiful shot of Island Lake, near the Hardrock course:
Meanwhile I spent some time in Silverton for the July 4th celebrations. I was most excited about the duck race. People buy stakes in the plastic ducks, and whichever duck crosses the line first wins money for their associated human.
But first, the mascot leads off down the creek:
And the race is on!
The finish line net, where all of the ducks are carefully scooped out of the water (after recording 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place). It's hard to see in the picture, but the finish line people are tossing ducks to everyone on the bridge and on the bank. Ducks everywhere!
I saw a pink one with the number 520 on it, and since that's the area code in Tucson I took it as a sign that I should adopt it. Duckie came with me as I continued my run around town:
Admiring the old Hardrock rock (in worse shape then ever):
One of the tourist trains from Durango:
This appears to be a residence now? Certainly is unique:
The new Hardrock rock, where I happened to be walking when I got a call from Dale - would I like to run Hardrock this year? Why yes I certainly would!! That's what we came for. Just a little shocked and surprised to get in one week before the start of the race:
That didn't change too many things - I had been planning in case I got in - but it did add some urgency to figuring out my drop bags and race plans. Hey friends and family, I'm in Hardrock!
The next day John and Andrew headed up for the next Cappis section, accompanied partway by friends Steve and David from Denver. I came a short way up the Ice Lake trail to check out the creek crossing for the race (it didn't look too challenging). Also got a photo of some flowers:
The guys went up to Grant Swamp Pass (yes, the north side is indeed part of Hardrock) and then over to a saddle to the Clear Lake basin. We were in this area during Primal Quest in 2002, so it was interesting to see their pictures:
Steve and David went down the road from the lake while John and Andrew continued on the Cappis course up to V5 peak. John's shoes amid more wildflowers:
Their view of the avalanche gully descent route (free of snow, no avalanche danger) plus some scenic peaks across the valley:
They eventually got down to the road, and Andrew was suitably impressed with the Cappis course. John later finished it out with a climb of Bear Mountain, with possibly the slowest (and most unofficial) finish of the John Cappis 50K ever.
Finally a calmer day, heading over to Ouray to wander around town. Strolling up to check out the via ferrata course (no pictures of that, will try again next time):
A water spigot for creating a winter ice climbing wall (someday we'll come see this spectacle in the winter, maybe):
Another part of the Hardrock course - a bridge and a tunnel through the rock:
Thank you all for some excellent early July days around Silverton and Ouray!
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