Fossil Creek, AZ

Fossil Creek is located in north-central Arizona near the towns of Payson and Strawberry. The creek originates from springs that gush out a million gallons per hour! We hiked to the source but were thwarted by high water and a washed out trail. The area was very crowded being Memorial Day weekend. Even though, we managed to camp creekside with great swimming. The water was perfect. Our friend Craig was stung by a white scorpian 4 times! It crawled up his pants while sitting next to the fire and started going off on his calf. Turns out scorps are not that bad and you are fine even if stung 4 times. He drove up to the top of the rim tp get cell coverage and call poison control to get that info. Good to know...

The Payson area is also home to one of the hardest 50 mile runs in the country called the Zane Grey Highline Trail 50, held in late April. The trail traverses the famous Mogollon Rim.

Bouldering in Joshua Tree National Park - Aiguille de Joshua Tree

A fun little route in the Park. Rated 5.6 X.

Wiley Javalina, Table Dome, Mendoza Canyon, Coyote Mountains

Trevor and I climbed a super fun 5.9, 6 pitch face climb on Table Dome in Mendoza Canyon about 1 hour southwest of Tucson. The climb featured semi-runout face climbing on exfoliating granite. It was somewhat well protected at the cruxes and then 20-30 foot between bolts on the easier stuff. The summit was very nice and views amazing. 5 rappells down the route to the right called Table for Two 5.10b (which I climbed a week after Wiley Javalina), deposited us on terra firma. Overall, a highly recommended climb in a somewhat backcountry setting. Here are the pics:

Forty foot runout to the first bolt. I had Trevor lead that :) Further up P1. It's a long way to the top.

P2. Fun adventure sport climbing.

P2 climbs up sweet chocolate granite that has good edges with the occasional friable flake.

P3.

Grass tuffs dot the cliff. Very beautiful. The line zigs and zags so bring long runners.

P4. We climb through different aged granite so the color and type of holds change as the route progresses. Here we are climbing knobs as opposed to edges down below.

Longer runouts up high on P5.

P5 is turning into plate and rib climbing. Further up on P6 I'll be slinging chickenheads with shoulder runners. Edging, flakes, ribs, knobs, chickenheads...all in a day of climbing on Table Dome.

P6. Topping out on the climb and Trevor is looking at about 800 feet of air below his feet. The hike and drive out to the east is obvious across the awesome desert landscape.

A quick ropeless scramble finds us at the summit and the register. Elephant Dome looms behind Trevor with the 7 pitch 5.7 Elephant's Trunk climbing the ridge. More desperate free and aid routes ply the chocolate vertical face. Thanks for joining us on the climb!

Peppersauce Cave Recon

Welcome to Peppersauce Cave. This last weekend I took a solo trip around the backside of Mt Lemon, through the town of Oracle and up the Fire Control Road to the hair pin curve where you park and begin the short approach hike to the cave. This sign marks the spot where Hope Cave is and a bit further up you can see the entrance to Peppersauce.

I entered Peppersauce. A bit of graffiti marks the entrance. It gets tight quick, but never very desperate. These are called the "Fins" and they allow access to the larger rooms.

The Peppersauce Cave has been vandalized and many formations have been stolen or ruined but there are some neat features still if you can find them. These are cool Draperies, or Curtains, sometimes called Flows. The cave is living, so these are growing.

You must crawl through a small hole to get to the Fins. I took my rucksack off and slid it through in front of me to get through. Bring old jeans and a t-shirt...you will get sweaty and dirty.


This is a cool Stalagmite that reached the ceiling. I think it is called the Grand Tower or something to that effect. I turned back here but I know it goes much deeper to an underground lake, some ladders and a register book to sign if you make it that far. I only had one light and a lighter so I only went about a quarter mile in. It goes about a half mile deeper from what I've heard. Next time I'm going back with three lights, more water and a partner. Who's in?

Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run - Second half

It gets lonely out on the trail sometimes. Truth be told, there are runners a few minutes behind and in front of me. Mile 27 here and feeling good. This is entering into Box Canyon, a very pretty drive and a nice uphill for 4 miles.


This is aid station 29 and the next time I see Kirsten it will be at mile 40! She scored me an ice cold berry smoothie that really hits the spot. At this point I'm feeling pretty strong and reeling people slowly. My slower pace at the beginning is paying off now. A few runners tried to run up Box Canyon and that proved to be pretty taxing. Unless you are very strong, running up Box Canyon will take its toll later on for sure.


Coming into mile 40 aid station! Only 10 to go. This is Gene and I. We both run in the Tucson Trail Runs group on Sundays. Smiles are good at mile 40!!!

A few advil, lots of electrolytes and 46 miles from the start. Coming into the 46 mile aid station, the last of the race. Turns out mile 40 to 46 was one of the hardest sections with a big climb and a big descent. I passed a runner who had fell earlier and had a really bloody knee and a bad limp. I thought she wouldn't finish but she crossed the finish line only about 30 minuntes after me. Wow! Ross Zimmerman is here taking pictures. He's the director of Tucson Trail Runs and a really nice guy. Kirsten is here, of course. She was crucial for my success in getting this far and although I'm very emotional at this point, I manage not to shed a tear. From here out its a long 4 miles to the finish.


Here are some shananigans! Paul and I race to the finish at 10 hours and 31 minutes. The race director later told us we provided the only photo finish of the race! Too funny.


The best part of having a crew is the beer aftewards! Thanks Kirsten!
A good time was had by all.
Here are the results:
http://www.oldpueblo50.com/Results_files/op50results09.htm

Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run

I finally lived the dream that had consumed my mind, on and off, for the last 3 years; running a true ultra-marathon. The Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run is a classic desert southwest event. The race was put on my Lynda and was executed in grand style. Thanks to all the volunteers that made it possible....that includes you too Tom! The race went very well. I let everyone get out in front of me, and settled on the pace that I thought would carry me through. I walked most of the hills and ran much of the rest.


The runners line up with all sorts of thoughts running through their heads. All the training miles are in the banks and earning interest.


Here I say good-bye to Kirsten, my faithful crewer, and look forward to seeing her a mere 7 miles down the trail at aid station #2.


I have head lamp for the early morning darkness but it soon becomes dead weight as the sun rises over the distant Dragoon Mountains, home of Cochise's Stronghold.


This is aid station #2 at mile 7. Kirsten's here ready with a new shirt, sunscreen, snacks and other stuff I might need for the next long section of 18 miles. I'm nervous leaving this station because the next time I see Kirsten this race will be half way over and I may or may not be in such good shape by then.

Running fever

I have no aspirations to run a marathon. Running for 26.2 miles seems like a painful endeavor, even when I watch Adrian sail through the finish line all smiles. I enjoy watching marathoners, so I was looking forward to Adrian's participation in the P.F. Chang's Rock n' Roll Marathon in Phoenix this past weekend. We walked through the expo in downtown Phoenix to pick up his race packet and checkout the vendors.

Somewhere around the registration table, Adrian turned to me and asked, "So, are you going to sign up for the half?" He's talking about the half-marathon, which would mean running for 13 miles.

Maybe it was the free shots of Cytomax or the thousands of giddy participants parading around the expo. Whatever it was, I found myself signing up for the half marathon within 15 minutes of Adrian's question.

Long story short, I did OK. Considering that I have never run more than eight miles in a single stretch, I did fantastic. My time was 2 hours and 31 minutes. Adrian ran the marathon in 3 hours 39 minutes. Clearly, he is the runner in the family.