Perfect trail for lazy runners and 9/11 run

I miss MY mountains. I keep getting JMT reports from people who are either still out there or have just returned from the trail and whether they finished or not, I am green with envy because I want to be there, in the mountains, now.

This weekend did not look promising for any longer trips and what's more the weather forecast for the Sierras was not that great. So I managed to shuffle a few things around and went to Tahoe area on Friday. I had to settle only for a half a day in the mountains but I stretched that to the limit by leaving the house super duper early. The benefit of that was that for most of the time I had the trail all to myself. This time I explored trails on Carson Pass, a very beautiful area between Hope Valley and Kirkwood.

Notes from the trail: 

- My brain thinks that trail is rather flat; my legs totally disagree.

-Brining a camera on the trail as a perfect excuse for stopping is a must;  now you know why trail runners always carry one with them. 

- Love rocky parts where I have to hop. Strangely enough my knees do not complain the next day. Good knees, good knees.

- I wish there was a bit more oxygen there. C'mon, 8,600ft (2860m give or take) is not that high.

- Little lakes here and there are lovely

I am already planning a snowshoeing trip there this winter

- People who complain that there are not enough wild flowers there must be totally blind

- Finding a perfect camping spot makes me already itch for a longer stay there for training purposes of course :-). Now if I could only find a couple of free days...

On a more somber note. I signed up for Daily Mile 9/11 11-mile run virtual event. At this point in my training, 11 miles of pounding pavement is pushing it a bit but I felt I needed to do it.


Ten years ago I was exploring Mesa Verde with my friend and our kids. We were annoyed to no end by all those people sitting in their cars and playing their radios very loud and then we listened...


I don't have anything new to say. All has been already said many times over. As I ran today, I focused on gratitude for all the things that allow me to live and enjoy my life despite so many tragedies in the world, especially those caused by us. I can only hope we have learned some important lessons from that day. For me the lesson is that no matter what, we need to talk to each other, listen to each other and see humanity in all of us. The price for not learning this lesson is just too high.