Mt. Tallac Trail, Desolation Wilderness

Trail: Technical Singletrack

Distance: 22 miles, 6500' elevation gain (trailhead to Lake Aloha and back)

Difficulty: Challenging

Trailhead: The Mt. Tallac trailhead is reached via Highway 89 near South Lake Tahoe. Traveling from the west shore, look fir the brown trailhead sign on the right, just past Camp Richardson. Follow the paved road to the parking area for Mt. Tallac.There are no bathrooms or water available at this trailhead.

Season: July to October

Water: The upper slopes of Mt. Tallac are dry, but otherwise, streams and lakes are abundant throughout the run.

Notes: Wilderness permits are required. There is no fee, and permits can be filled out at the trailhead.

Trail Description: The climbing on this trail doesn't mess around, and we began gaining altitude immediately. I set off on the forested trail with Betsy, Jamie, Caren, Jenelle and three dogs. We were layered up on this crisp fall morning, but soon stopped to shed jackets and sleeves as the exercise and sunshine brought color to our cheeks. 

We didn't get into Desolation Wilderness until early August this year because of all the snow, and I think somehow that's given me a greater appreciation for these incredible autumn days on the trail. Every mile before the snow flies feels like a gift. 

If you sniff deep into the cracks of the bark, it smells like sweet vanilla. Mmmmm!

As we climbed higher, we finally left treeline behind. Following the switchbacks up, we were treated with expanding views of the lake below.

 

 Upon reaching the shoulder of Mt. Tallac, you can look out to see the granite ridge that rises above Lake Aloha, our eventual destination.

 At the spur trail, we headed towards the summit for a quick trip to the top.

Cap is not afraid to stand near the edge.

At the top: Caren, Jamie, Jenelle, me, with Betsy behind the camera.

Tallac is one of the tallest peaks around, and we spent a few minutes enjoying the views and snapping photos. It was surprisingly warm for late October, and we all felt lucky to be out on such a beautiful day.

After returning along the spur trail, we rejoined the main trail and continued down the other side of the mountain toward Gilmore Lake.

Betsy and Caren head down towards Gilmore Lake.

At Gilmore, we joined the Pacific Crest Trail and headed south towards Aloha. Jamie and Caren were doing a one-way run to the Glen Alpine trail, so we soon bid them farewell.

We skirted Susie and Heather lakes, where I decided to skip the final mile to Aloha in lieu of a rest. I hadn't been feeling well all morning, and a mental break seemed like just the thing I needed. Cap and I stretched out in the sunshine by the lake while Betsy and Jenelle ran off to tag Aloha. It seemed I had the entire wilderness to myself, and the stillness in both my body and my environment did wonders to soothe my mind.

The return trip over the mountain was somehow even more glorious. I felt better, stronger. There were more hikers out now that we again neared the trailhead, and they all kindly yielded to us. The downhill felt easy, in spite of the long day, and the miles back to the car seemed to melt away.

We drove back to Truckee, three tired and happy runners.

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.

Fall is Here, Hear the Yell

This past Saturday I made a last minute decision to add one more little race to my schedule, and drove down the hill for the Jenkinsen Lake Fall Trail Run. This was to be the last race in Ultrarunner.net’s race series, and I was aware that I would probably need to pick up a few more points if I wanted to hang on to my second place standing. I let Peter do the math that convinced me, (Remember when you said I’d thank you later Peter? Well, thanks!) and signed up on race day for the shortest distance that would still score points, 16 miles.

It was a small group that gathered on the shores of Jenkinson Lake near Pollock Pines. It was primarily the usual suspects (i.e. the top contenders in the series standings) and we did a quick countdown before heading off on an 8-mile trail around the lake.

On my first lap I shared a few early miles with Jeff Barbier as we trotted along in the early morning chill. He had just acquired a new border collie puppy, so I talked his ear off about my own border collie and what a great running partner he is. We parted ways when I headed off toward the outhouse at the first aid station.

The trail was mostly wooded, and I appreciated the differences of autumn in the foothills versus the high country of Tahoe. Aspen, maple and oak leaves carpeted the trail in a warm palette of yellows and browns, while the surrounding dogwoods were just beginning to turn a soft shade of pink. I ran easy, utterly relaxed in the surrounding beauty.

Kim, whom I had met just prior to the start, caught up to me and shortly thereafter we found Lainie. She was completely distraught, having just spent a fair amount of time in the past few miles running around in circles. It wasn’t until we came upon her that she finally got back on track, and the three of us ran into the start/finish aid station together while Lainie tried to recover from the stress of being lost and get her mind back in the race.

Lainie and I left the aid station together and it was fun to have someone to run with for a while. We chatted up a storm for several miles until I eventually ran ahead. (I only had a few miles left until the end of my 16 mile race, but Lainie would run two more laps for a total of 32 miles.)

I felt good and relaxed all morning, and I was glad I had decided to run. All month I had been sick and running poorly. My overbuilt expectations for my upcoming 50 miler were quickly plummeting. So, I ran two decent speed workouts on Thursday and Friday, followed by this mellow 16. It was a good final tune-up before the last stretch of what has been a forced, extended taper. I’m not in the same shape I was in at the end of September, but I feel far better than I did three weeks ago.

I finished out the ultrarunner.net series in second place overall and second in my age group, which garnered me some nice prizes, including a couple pairs of Innov-8s and a fat gift certificate to the Fleet Feet in Fair Oaks. In the final standings, Lainie Callahan-Matoon won the women’s division, followed by me, then Jenny Dicus. In the men’s division, Peter Lubbers held off Jethro Smith (second) and Matt Thau (third) for the win.

Thanks to Robert, Linda and the crew for putting on all these races. I wasn’t really planning on competing in the series, but after finding myself in second place after Lake of the Sky, it seemed silly not to. The best part about the series, I think, is getting to see some of the same faces at every race and getting to know them. Have I mentioned before that I love runners?

Jenny Dicus rehydrates at the 16 mile mark.

Jeff Barbier relaxes after the 16 mile run.

Peter Lubbers checks the clock after 24 miles.

Lainie Callahan-Mattoon pauses to be "Mom" at the 24-mile mark.

The drive home was another reason I had gotten out of bed in the morning. I knew it would be beautiful. Autumn is the golden season in Lake Tahoe. The trails and temperatures are perfect for running, the crowds have dwindled, and the scenery is mercilessly breathtaking. Driving these days is a serious hazard because I can’t stop looking around, mouth agape. The colors are my favorite shades of yellows, oranges, reds and browns. Earthy—just the way I like things.

I indulged myself in pulling over to watch the Kokanee salmon swim up Taylor Creek, and take a few pictures of the fall foliage. The drive was almost as good as the run.

Crowds gather at the bridge over Taylor Creek to watch the salmon run.The Tahoe Marathon course goes over this bridge, and that fleeting glimpse as I run by is usually all I ever see of these guys. I thought it was time for a closer look.

Kokanee Salmon

Ward Creek

I followed it all up Sunday by joining Amber for a run through Donner State Park and Coldstream Canyon. I was definitely feeling tired, but as usual, running with great company through beautiful trails takes the pain away. Or at least, it makes it more than worth it!

Recovery and Inspiration

As the air cools and days shorten here in the Sierra, it’s the perfect season for trail running. The leaves are just starting to turn, some clouds dot the sky for the first time in months creating patterns of light and shadow across the landscape, and the crowds have all gone back to San Francisco for the season. Ah, yes. Perfect for running.

Unfortunately, I’m still not running. Not really, anyway.

I had many a philosophical discussion with fellow runners regarding post-race depression after my 100. I understand it. It’s not so much physical recovery that I needed as mental recovery. (Still need maybe.) It's still a little depressing though. And at this point, we can also add into the mix the fact that I am just plain out of shape. I did a ten miler last week, and it was brutal!

For the last five weeks I kept thinking I would be inspired to start running again. My plan had been to take some time off after TRT and then start running in August to train for the HK50 in November.
I certainly had no shortage of sources for inspiration. Donald ran his first 100 miler. Claire did her first Ironman. Peter Lubbers ran the entire 168 mile Tahoe rim Trail. I even got to pace Peter for 20 miles, which is still the only long run I’ve done since the 100. I think having first hand knowledge of what running 100 miles was like, made Peter’s run that much more impressive to me. When I joined him at 7 am on Sunday morning, he had already spent his second night without sleep, and was moving along well at mile 110. I was more than inspired; I was in awe. (Especially when, after topping out on Relay Peak at mile 126, Peter took the downhill at a pace I had to push myself to match!)

Rory, Peter and me

Peter moves at a steady pace through the Mt. Rose Wilderness

Peter at the summit of Relay peak, the highest point on the TRT

Further inspiration could be found with the events of the Beijing Olympics, but with no TV, I witnessed exactly zero track and field events. More recently, Truckee local Betsy Nye won the Wasatch Front 100.

Clearly it’s not inspiration I am lacking. Just motivation.

On the other hand, I have had more time for other things in my life. I visited family in southern California, where I withered in the warm coastal humidity, went to a baseball game (Go Angles!) and enjoyed some play time with my nephews. Andrew and I spent a weekend in Pt. Reyes surfing, kayaking, playing with the dogs on the beach, and stuffing ourselves with oysters. I even found time for a little climbing on Donner Summit, which was one of the reasons we moved to Truckee in the first place.

Swimming at the Yuba River

Dorky baseball fans

Andrew sucks down oysters from Tomales Bay

Heidi's oyster bar at The Marshall Store

I downgraded my racing schedule from the Lake Tahoe Marathon and the HK50, to the Kokanee Half Marathon and the Fall Colors Trail Half Marathon. I figured these would be some fun, but not-too-hard fall events, and they would also complete the Trail Half-Marathon Series, that I had begun in the spring. When I realized that I would be in San Francisco for a music festival on the same weekend as the Kokanee race, I again lost motivation.

In the end, it seems it actually is the change in the weather that has me itching to hit the trails again. Of course, I haven’t actually done it yet. Perhaps, like that first cold of the season, the urge will just be a lingering annoyance before it eventually passes.

*sigh*

Last night however, I did run into a colorful local runner at a bar on Donner Summit. Stay tuned next week for my exclusive interview with Reno renegade Lynyrd Skynrod. (It may not be motivational, but it will certainly inspire something!)