Beating the heat on Mount Rosa!

The last couple weeks have seemed busy! Overall, my summer training has been going well - a fair mix of weights, rowing, running, and working on the yard and house.

Here's a few photos from my training the last couple weeks in town. The flowers in the city are in full summer mode.

Clouds quickly building over Palmer Point Trail, on my way out versus on my way back, on a 9 mile run.

Wildflowers of a variety of colors in Palmer Park. Stunning!

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The town runs and gym training have been consistent. But as you all know, I love nothing more than putting my training to use in the mountains.

Originally, I wanted to do a mountain run on Monday, but it was going to be 95 degrees and it was already fairly hazy in the morning.

Since I knew the haze would make it harder to see the distant 14ers from the mountain summits, I decided to put the mountains off until later in the week. Hopefully a cold front will at least clear the haze, and I'll go on a day with temps only in the 80s instead of 90s!

Instead, on Monday, I did a pre-planning run for this mountain run.

Austin Bluffs was the perfect location for this. I really enjoy how I live close to the bluffs and can top them out for a good view of the mountains and trails.

It was super hot out, and the sun was beating down already even though it was really early. I ran up and over Palmer Park first, trying to stick to the shady canyon trails.

There was nothing I could do to avoid the sun and heat once I went up Marconi Heights.

Soon I arrived at my overlook for the day, up above UCCS. And a set of pull-up bars, too!

Similar pull-up bars are found throughout the parks in the local area.

I found a nice shade tree and observed the mountains for a few minutes. There's almost no snow remaining anywhere in the Pikes Peak region. Full on summer trail conditions everywhere. Of course, that's expected with 95 degree temperatures in town today! 

Pullups and panoramas on the bluffs.

I did a few pullups before returning home and planning out a few routes.

I will try to do my next mountain run on Thursday or Friday this week.

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On Tuesday, I had a great heavy lifting gym day. Barbell deadlifts were called for, and I'm glad I did them. What a great overall strengthening exercise! Followed up by standing curls, for some supplemental upper-body work.

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On Thursday, we took the family and visited Clear Creek Canyon, outside of Golden. They've made a number of improvements to the trail in recent years.

It was a lovely day for a walk along the creek in this steep, jagged canyon. And then just hanging out by the water with the kids! 

Our day in Clear Creek Canyon. 

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Finally, it was Friday - and time to hit the mountains for a long trail run! 

It was still somewhat hazy in the morning, but better than it was earlier in the week. Also, it was going to be another very hot day. Not ideal, but I was hoping that I could beat the heat.

I had looked at several routes for the day but ultimately settled on ascending Mount Rosa. I would start from the base of North Cheyenne Cañon (not the top), just as I had almost a year ago on my 2021 summer solstice run. Last year, I didn't make the summit on that day, so I had extra motivation to top out today!

I started out on Columbine Trail this time. I enjoyed some of the classic views and rock formations that I haven't seen in a little while. 

Views from Columbine Trail. 

I connected to Gold Camp Road and kept jogging up the St. Mary's Falls standard route. 

Ascending the St. Mary's Falls Trail. 

It was already warm in the morning, but the heat was beginning to catch up with me. It was the kind of day when the heat was so extreme that it even gathered in the valleys and normally cool canyons in the forest.

After the final St. Mary's Falls junction (500 feet from the base of the falls), the trail begins to climb much more steeply. This part of the trail was HOT! All I could do is keep putting one foot in front of the other. 

I contemplated reaching the junction on the saddle and just descending towards Frosty's Park without attempting the summit. I felt overheated. I knew I had to go at least as far as the saddle, since I was planning on running the road down instead of descending the same way I'd come up.

It was slow going for a while. Even the wind was hot. I felt like I was in an oven!

Thankfully, when I finally arrived at the saddle, a cooler breeze blew over me. Some distant clouds were forming over Pikes Peak and the other mountains to the west.

Scenes from the saddle to Mount Rosa. 

The cool breeze was just enough to convince me that going to the summit would be worthwhile. My final climb was enjoyable, as the trail twists through the pine trees after the saddle. A last few switchbacks near the peak, and finally the trail breaks out onto the open summit.

I enjoyed the summit view for a moment. But out in the open, the sun was quickly roasting me.

I had to find some shade and rest before heading down.

I scrambled down a few meters from the top, onto the boulders on the summit's west flank. Here, I found a shady spot with a great view to the southwest.

The view to the southwest from Mount Rosa's west flank, just a few meters below the summit. 

I could see Penrose-Rosemont Reservoir down below, and a superb view of Mount Big Chief to the west.

Unfortunately, the day was too hazy to be able to see the distant 14ers that are normally visible from the summit block. Nonetheless, I sat and relaxed for a while and enjoyed looking at the Gold Camp area, where I'd soon be headed on my downhill return to town.

As I left the summit and returned to the heat, I took some photos of the barren dead tree trunks that litter the saddle. It really felt like a high altitude desert!

I reached the junction with the 672 trail and descended to the west, to Frosty's Park. It was all easy downhill road running from here.

I'm always surprised by how far away Mount Rosa looks while descending Old Stage Road. It feels way more distant than the few downhill miles I'd put in.

Between the heat and the mileage I'd already put into the day, I was reduced to walking for a while.

But once I reached Devil's Slide, and then the St. Peter's Dome area, the road began to descend sharply, and I felt up to jogging again. Or more like, I felt like I had to jog or I'd never be done.

After the steep descent, the road began to climb again for a short mile before it makes its final exit from the National Forest. On this section, I was worried about being late to meet my ride, so I just kept jogging and pushing onward. Happily, I think this is the best I've ever done on this section. When I was feeling burnt out and tired earlier, I didn't think I was going to make it through this part AT ALL and I'd have to have my husband come get me. Instead, it was actually my fastest mile all day! It goes to show that we can actually do much more than we think, and that running long distances is often mostly mental rather than physical. 

I did take a brief look back at the distant mountains from where I'd come.

The mountains were beginning to cloud over now. That would have been nice earlier, ha!

I made it out to the paved part of the road, and by the time Alex had come with the kids to get me, I'd made almost 27 miles on the day. And 6600 feet of climbing, according to my app (accuracy is questionable 😅). Still, whew! What a day! A full marathon with over a mile of ascent. I'll take that.

And I did actually make the summit all the way from the bottom of the canyon - the run I was unable to complete a year ago. What a great adventure on this last weekend before the summer solstice. 

After meeting with my family, we decided to take a short walk. I loved having my family join me for a little cool-down hike at the base of the canyon.

What a great way to wrap up the day!

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I'm now home and resting on Sunday evening, enjoying this father's day at home. Yesterday, my left shoulder was very sore. I think I overdid the exercise, between the heavy lifting on Tuesday and the marathon on Friday. But I feel much better today already. It's not a bad thing to be forced to take a break for a few days in a row!

Mainly, I did too many deadlifts, and aggravated my shoulder by running so far with my pack on and bouncing around. Next time I'll be careful to not overdo it in my lifting session.

However, as I enjoy this lovely day, I can't help but be thankful for all I've been able to experience lately, and for the support of my family ❤. And summer hasn't even officially started!! So much to be glad about, and even more to look forward to.