Summer Summary

It's raining in Truckee!! Hallelujah. (Okay, it was raining when I started this post. That was last weekend. But the sentiment is the same.)

I'm not just grateful for rain because of this insidious drought, but also because of that nasty King Fire. The smoke in Tahoe has been stifling the last two weeks, and folks down the hill have had to evacuate. 

Fall feels a bit in the air, and with that happy fact, I am reminded to make my usual summer wrap-up post. I may be a complete bloggging slacker, but at least I have my traditions.

Unfortunately, the short summary for this summer goes like this:

It was completely shitty.

An accurate and succinct summary, if a bit lacking on details. But truthfully, I'm tired of giving the details. 

Last weekend, my husband and I visited with some friends we hadn't seen in four or five months. I came straight out and told the wife in the couple that I was tired of updating people on the upsetting events of my life, so could we just skip the "What's been happening in your life?" question? 

She replied, "Let's just talk about trail running!"

Now that is a good friend.

So for this post, I'm going to skip all the shitty parts. I can't ignore them, but I guess I don't have to relive them here. Instead, I thought I would take this opportunity to focus on all the awesome parts of this summer.

Because you know what? Even among all the challenges - the feelings of betrayal, the injustices, the immense grief - there were still some pretty awesome things that happened this summer. Reminding myself of these things is one good way of dealing with the challenges - keeping perspective, and realizing that even a shit sandwich doesn't taste as bad when you're sitting by a mountain lake with a cocktail in hand. (Okay, I'm sorry, I will stop swearing now. Terribly embarrassing, my crassness.)

So. Awesome parts of this summer, in chronological order:



Hangin' at Western States


For the first time in several years, I was neither volunteer, runner, nor pacer. I thoroughly enjoyed geeking out as a fan.

Gary Gellin nears the top of the Escarpment.

And the finish line especially. Always a social, and very emotional place to spend time.

The Trent girls await the leader at Placer High.

See what I mean about emotions? (Pictured: Rob Krar)

More emotions! Yay! (Pictured: Max King)

Fourth of July!

The fourth is always awesome in Truckee, and this year was no different. Good friends, perfect weather, parades, swimming, barbecues, bike rides, tubing down the river. Fun!

The Dream Team at the Truckee Parade.

Family Visits

Fishing day with the boys!

Game time: "I am a Pig." "I am a Camel." (Not the most flattering pic, but certainly the funniest!)

TRT 50K

Due to the fact that I spent most of June and the first part of July injured, I dropped down from the 50M distance I'd signed up for and ran the 50K (actually 55K) at TRT for the first time since 2003. Oh wow! I think I like the 50K. No Diamond Peak climb, and it's over so fast! Plus, I won. Total bonus.

And I will tell you that staying up all night to volunteer at the Tunnel Creek AS is much easier with only 55K on your legs vs. 50M. Just as much fun though!

Pre-race with the RD

TRT 173

It seems like a lot of my adventures involve the Tahoe Rim Trail, but this one was truly unique. Five runners, four days, and 173 miles of jaw-dropping scenery. 

I don't want to say too much about this one, since I SWEAR I AM GOING TO WRITE A REAL POST ABOUT IT. I promise. I am.

But the summary is that it kind of turned out to be the gem of the summer. Two of our really big challenges were already upon me and my husband, and a third was just hitting the fan when this adventure began. I didn't know if I should even be out there on the trail for so many reasons, but it turned out to be the best decision I could have made.

I am massively grateful for the friends who put in all of the work to plan this adventure and who turned out to be amazing people with whom to share the trail!

173 Miles that looked something like this

Triumphant at the end of our journey: Me, Chris, Tyler, Curt, and Joe. (And Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.)

A New Kitchen

This is another one that I am not going to give all the details on because I really want to do a full post with before and after pictures. There was quite a process, and it looks amazing, but of course, it's still not done. (Started in April, why would we be done by October?) As soon as the back splash and trim are in, there will be lots of pictures! Pinky swear.

Here's Andrew on concrete day. This doesn't show you anything about our kitchen, does it? But just wait until you see the killer concrete counter tops he made me!!

Other Adventures

Of course there were plenty of beautiful trail miles shared with friends, (several times getting caught out in hail and lightning), and other "daily" adventures. In completely non-chronological order:


Hoover Wilderness and Yosemite with Jamie:

Jamie

Happy in the mountains

Alpine lake in the Hoover Wilderness

Running near home:

Castle Peak, Donner Summit

Desolation Wilderness with Betsy

Aloha Lake/Desolation Wilderness with Jamie and Caren

Jason's wedding with the college track crew (no running involved).

I know this was mostly a post in pictures. I don't have a lot of words these days. Honestly though, I'm hoping to find some. I miss writing.

Last summer, my sister declared it to be The Summer of Joy. We did so many wonderful things with family, knowing that with my mom's ALS diagnosis, it would be the last summer with her in good health. It truly was wonderful - three full months of family time up and down the coast.

This one was declared The Summer of Sadness. Aptly named, and thankfully in the rearview mirror.

My sister has already declared next summer to be The Summer of Healing. I'm assuming that means more family trips, and I'm all for that! In fact, I'm pretty much ready for summer right now.

Pacific Crest Trail: Old 40 to I-80

Trail: Technical Singletrack

Distance: 8 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Trailhead: From Truckee, head west on Donner Pass Road, past Donner Lake, and up the switchbacks of Old Highway 40 (also Donner Pass Road). At the top of the climb, look for the Sugar Bowl Academy on your left. You can park in the dirt area adjacent to the paved lot of the Academy.

From Sacramento, take I-80 east and exit Soda Springs. Turn right (east) on Donner Pass Rd. and follow it to the Sugar Bowl Academy. Park in the dirt lot. If you start heading downhill and can see Donner Lake, you've missed it.

The northbound trailhead leaves from the north side of the road.

Season: June to October

Water: There are a few mosquito-ridden ponds along the trail, but you're best advised to bring what water you think you'll need. One hand held bottle is usually sufficient for runners.

Notes: Please avoid parking in the paved lot of the Sugar Bowl Academy, as this is private property.

Trail Description: This 8 mile round trip run is a pleasant alternative to the more popular southbound section of the PCT that begins from this same trailhead. The rolling terrain, while often technical, does not have long, sustained climbs and thus is typically quite runnable.

The Trailhead

Start by crossing the street onto the singletrack marked with a PCT sign. You'll have views of Donner Lake below to your right. In this first mile, it is common to see climbers crowding the cliff faces to your left.

Rainbow Bridge and Donner Lake

There are a number of smaller, unmarked trails that climbers use. You want to stay on the main trail. If you feel like you are no longer on the main trail at any point, just back track until you find where you made a wrong turn.

You'll go up and over several small rises. Once you are about 1-2 miles from the trailhead, you can often have the trail all to yourself. Enjoy the wildflowers, the shady pines, and the rocky granite outcroppings.

When you come the junction with this sign ...

... continue toward Summit Lake for about a half mile to the tunnel under I-80. From there, turn around and head back to your starting point at Donner Pass for an 8 mile out-and-back. Of course, if you want to go farther, you can go under the freeway and make this run as long as you want!

Donner Lake Rim Trail - PCT Loop

Trail: 75% Technical singletrack, 25% dirt road.

Distance: 28 1/2 miles (partial loop)

Difficulty: Challenging

Trailhead: This "loop" requires a short shuttle, so you'll want to leave a car at the finish. From I-80, exit Donner Pass Rd. in Truckee. For westbound traffic, turn left across the freeway and left at the blinking light. For eastbound traffic, go straight through the blinking light. Park on Coldstream Rd. near the 76 station and the Truckee Donner Lodge.

To reach the Teton Way trailhead in Tahoe Donner to start the run, head east on Donner Pass Rd., then turn left on Northwoods Blvd. Turn left at the blinking light (Northwoods) and left again on Ski Slope Way. Look for the trailhead on your left after you cross under the power lines. 

You can download a map of the roads and trails in Tahoe Donner here. 

Season: July to October

Water: In early season, there are creeks along the DLRT and always at Summit Lake (~mile 9). There is typically little or no water on the PCT. In summer (mid-June through late August) you may be able to fill up from the spigot at the Sugar Bowl Academy on Donner Summit (mile 16). There are creeks along the Coldstream Trail (~mile 24 to 26) all season.

Notes: If you want a more scenic finish than Coldstream Canyon and don't mind a slightly longer shuttle, leave a car parked at Squaw Valley (behind OVI and next to the fire station) and skip the Coldstream trail. Continue past Tinker's on the PCT and drop down on the Granite Chief Trail for 3 miles into Squaw.

Looking out at Anderson Ridge and Tinker's Knob, 2 miles into my run.

Trail Description:

I ran this route as a loop, since I am lucky enough to live in the forested area between the two trailheads. By connecting three miles of unofficial trail and about two miles of pavement, I got in 33 miles right out my door.

Running through Tahoe Donner from the Teton Way trailhead, I kept my eye on the map at the well-marked trail junctures. When I hit the Donner Lake Rim Trail on Donner Ridge, I dropped down into Negro Canyon toward Castle Peak.

Looking down into Negro Canyon from Donner Ridge with Castle Peak in the background.

On this Monday in August, the DLRT was blissfully deserted. I had it all to myself.

Water can be had at several streams through Negro Canyon, but most are usually dry by late July. (This year was quite an exception!)

The next water source is Summit Lake, about nine miles in from Teton Way.

Summit Lake

After the rocky, exposed granite near Summit Lake, the path again becomes forested. Upon reaching the trail junction with Warren Lake, I headed south on the PCT (the opposite direction from Warren Lake).

In less than two miles, I crossed under I-80 via two easy tunnels.

Running under semi's!

I had taken this day as a solo effort because my weekend was full, and no one could join me on a Monday. I couldn't recall the last time I had done a long run by myself, and it seemed a beautiful way to celebrate summer's near end.

There was a time when I did all on my training alone because I simply didn't know anyone who wanted to run so far. Now I am blessed with many wonderful training partners, and I feel truly lucky. But it was nice, on this day, to remember the girl who always used to be alone, and to revel in the joy that I still find in my wilderness solitude. I know and love these trails. I feel safe here. And even though 33 miles was a tall order for me on this day, I had not a shred of concern that I wouldn't make it.

Looking back at Castle Peak from near Donner Summit.

Donner Lake and Old Hwy 40 at Donner Summit.

After crossing Old 40, I stopped at the Sugar Bowl Academy to refill my water from their spigot, located on the east side of the parking lot. This is fine during summer months, when school is not in session, but be respectful at other times and stay off campus.

I followed the road behind to school to where the trail again resumed it's rocky, singletrack personality. Here, the trail climbs up Mt. Judah through the Sugar Bowl ski area.

This trail can be quite crowded on summer weekends, but I saw only a handful of people.

Climbing over the shoulder of Mt. Lincoln, I looked across Anderson Ridge to see my destination, Tinker's Knob, where I would leave the PCT.

Anderson Ridge

Looking toward the back side of Squaw.

The wildflowers, still thick along the trail, were a testament to the big winter and late summer!

At Anderson Peak, I took a short detour on a side trail to the Benson Hut. This Sierra Club hut is a great ski touring destination in winter!

The Benson Hut

Tinker's Knob, viewed from Anderson Peak.

The trail around Anderson and Tinker's is quite rocky!

At Tinker's, I left the PCT to follow the Coldstream Trail back down to Truckee.

A quick glimpse of Tahoe before leaving the ridge.

The Coldstream Trail was a new one for me, and I was pleasantly surprised at its beauty. It was clearly little-used, but the singletrack followed the spine of a ridge with excellent views for the first three miles.

Soon, I was down in the canyon and back into familiar territory near the Lost Trail Lodge.

The Coldstream Trail

The Lost Trail Lodge

Crossing over the tracks at horseshoe bend, I knew I was almost home.

The last few miles were a slog, as I knew they would be. That's what happens when you run all your miles for the week in a single day. I'd taken it quite easy and enjoyed myself immensely, but was definitely pushing the limits of my fitness.

The last two miles were on hot, flat, hardpacked, dirt road. I let myself take walking breaks because, what the heck. Why not?

Self-portrait on Coldstream Road

'Twas the Night Before

Before I get to the merriment, one quick reminder: You have until midnight tonight to comment on this post and help me raise money for Heifer International. If you haven't commented yet, I'm here to tell you that Santa is watching!

And now, for your holiday reading pleasure ... a couple of stories I truly enjoyed this week:

*Via Janet Reid, Bill Cameron's Practical Christmas. Simply awesome. Just click on the link and go read it, please. In fact, I think I'm going to go read it again.

*The Year Kenny Loggins Ruined Christmas, from Allie at Hyperbole and a Half. If you haven't seen this one yet, you're missing out. Laugh-out-loud, tears-streaming-down-the-face hilarious.

Happy Holidays!

Sunrise from the top of Mt. Lincoln, Sugar Bowl resort, California.

Tahoe Races Calling Your Name

Ah, Autumn in Tahoe. The crowds are gone - the kids long since torn from their wakeboards and BMX bikes and forced into desks, noses in their textbooks. The caboose on the long train of playa-dust-covered motor homes, strapped to the hilt with bikes and costumes and pieces of art-car scraps, has finally rolled through town on its way back to 'real life.' The first rain has soaked up the moon dust, but also kept the mountain bikers safely home sipping Sierra until the clouds clear. The sky is enormous, and the trails are empty.

And they're calling your name.

The beautiful, quiet, and nearly perfect trail running conditions alone should be enough to get you up to the mountains before the first snow flies. Additionally, I'd like to tempt you with some of my favorite local races. I've run them all, and I adore them. I'll be missing most of them this year due to schedule conflicts, but I'd love for all of you to go, have fun, run your hearts out in the mountains, and then tell me all about it. Please!


Lake of the Sky Trail Runs (9/11/10)

Taking place on the Tahoe Rim Trail between Tahoe City and Brockaway Summit, LOTS offers distances of 8 miles, 18 miles, a marathon, and 36.4 miles, plus 2-person relay categories for the marathon and 36.4-miler. You get a laid-back atmosphere with beautiful trails and great aid stations. I've always had a great time here!



Race Website
My 2009 race report



Emerald Bay Trail Run (9/19/10)


This was, without a doubt, my favorite new race of last year. Short, flat, fast and with incredible lake views. What more can I say? This 7-mile course blew me away. I'm pretty heartbroken that I'll miss it this year.




Race Website
My 2009 race report



Lake Tahoe Marathon (9/26/10)




The Tahoe Marathon puts on an entire week of events from which to choose. There is quite honestly something for everyone. From multi-day ultras, to biking around the lake, to speed golf, you will definitely find an event to suit you (or any member of your family). I've run the Triple and the Marathon, and this year I think I'll be trying my hand at the half. If you haven't yet registered, you can get a 10% discount with the coupon code 'brugmanblog'. Pretty cool, huh? As far as I'm concerned, that's the best benefit of a 2009 win. That discount is good right up until the day before race day.



Race Website
My 2009 race report




Frog Creek Benefit Run (10/2/10)

2009 was the first year of the Frog Creek Benefit Run, a 10-mile trail run that is a benefit for the OHF foundation for medical research. This race is put on by a friend of mine and Truckee local who hosts the start/finish at the family-owned Frog Creek Lodge. The race features a beautiful setting and a laid-back atmosphere, along with unbeatable single-track on the PCT near Donner Summit.


Race Website
Turi's 2009 Race Report


Autumn in the mountains is its own special bliss. Aside from the LTM Half, I'll be busy with other adventures and miss these races. But I'm loving the cool-weather trail running right now. Smooth, damp trails, and the only people I run into out there are friends, whether I knew them before or not. Given the fact that the kids are trapped in their desks, and therefore, I am as well, it's a sweet release.