Lake Tahoe, Day 1

27 Jun 2013              Lake Tahoe

            Here we are.  It took 2 days to cross Nevada.  Over the last 2 days we survived a huge rainstorm in Lake Tahoe and it is finally pleasant enough to write a blog entry.  I recapped the Ragnar race in the middle of Nevada, and then we took another day to get to Carson City.  From there, we headed up the giant mountain to Lake Tahoe.  The weather was horrible.  Windy, rainy, dark, and nasty.  We knew that we wanted to camp in the national forest, but we didn’t know where.  The only campsite in the area said that they were closed for another few days.  We drove for a while on the north end of the lake and found out that the campsite was open, but in a rainstorm.  Oh well.  We went for it and camped anyway.  It was drizzling when we arrived, and as soon as we completed our camp set up, it started.  The wind was insane, coming up from the lake and in full force!  We hunkered in the tent and rode it out.

            Once morning came, we thought we would be in the clear.  Nope.  We forced ourselves to sleep, and this worked until 1:30 pm.  Sleeping for over 15 hours was something I never thought imaginable.  When the weather is bad, I guess I can sleep.  Once we got up, we had a bagel and went into the truck for a change of pace.  I tried a little ham radio with no success.  Luckily, there was a slight break in the weather, and we cooked dinner and went back to bed.

            Now today, as I write this, the weather has broken and the wait has paid off.  We got up, had a marvelous breakfast, dried everything out, and went for a run.  The clouds were still coming in, but the sun was out warming things up nicely. 

           

            Our run took us out of the campsite to the TRT (Tahoe Rim Trail).  This trail encompasses the lake and is a gem of the West.  It was like nothing I have run before.  There were views of the lake and the mountains, some still with snow.  The smells were fresh and energizing and the altitude took its toll. The campsite is at 8,700 feet.  We only touched the surface of this trail, and I can’t wait to get on more of it.  Tomorrow we plan to run up Mt. Rose which will take us on more on the TRT.

            When the weather is bad just ride it out.  It would have been easier to go down to Reno , get a hotel room, and make it nice.  But, today’s blue skies would not be as valuable unless we held it out though this storm.  It wasn’t comfortable, but it made today worth that much more. 

Ragnar "Wasatch Back" 2103

24 Jun 2013              Ragnar “Wasatch Back” 2013

            This will be the first ever blog entry written from my Clark Jungle Hammock.  We left Park City today at about 10:00 am and headed to Ely, Nevada.  Our camp is past Ely by about 75 miles, next to the Illipah Reservoir.  More on the campsite later, I want to tell you about the Ragnar Race.

            Racing through the night is tough stuff.  Even though you are not racing the entire time, running and then sitting in a vehicle for the next several hours and not sleeping at all takes a toll on your body.  Each racer completes 3 legs of the race and then has to “rest” until their next turn arises.  During that time you are preparing another runner, cleaning, eating, trying to sleep, cheering, using the bathroom, navigating the road, joking with friends, all while being cramped inside a GMC Suburban.  It is tough.  Then, you have to run again.  There is no recovery, only more mayhem as listed earlier. 

            Our truck was VAN 2 of the “Vegas Zombie Flowers” team.  We were decked out with matching shirts and our vehicles had wonderful murals on the outside representing our Zombie Flowers.  Katherine and I did not participate in the van decorating, but when we saw the artistic talent of our team mates we knew we had not been missed!  I mounted one of our Thule roof boxes on the top on the Suburban for some extra room.  It mostly carried sleeping gear, which we knew would probably not be used, but we began with a positive attitude.  The rear was chock full of 3 coolers and lots of eats provided by our team mate Able.  Tony drove most of the time, except for when he was running.  He and Mary Kay, his wife, got us to every exchange on time and efficiently.  It was like clockwork. 

            I can’t really speak for the others, but I have to tell you about my 3 legs in the race.  The first one was only 4 miles on pretty much flat terrain along a lake. The views were beautiful and the pace was fast.  I went out trying to save a little for the next two, but that didn’t happen.  I finished, giving the bracelet to Able, barely able to breathe.  The temperature was about 90 degrees, and it took me a while to get back to normal.  The second leg was quite strange feeling.  I had to start at 4 am.  Ok, cool.  That is when I start running at home during the work week.  Hey, but I usually get 8+ hours of sleep before.  This was messed up!  After a little confusion finding Josh at the exchange (we were both there, but couldn’t find each other) my 7.2 mile run was along some railroad grade next to the highway, pretty flat and on dirt.  I had to run with a headlamp to see and every time that I looked up, a passing truck would blind me with its headlights.  Then I couldn’t see the trail.  I just never looked up from then on.  It was the coldest part of the night with temps in the upper 30’s.  I had on tights and a long sleeved shirt with gloves.  Then came the freezing cold sweat.  I just kept looking at my watch to be sure I was not going faster that 8:20min/mile.  That would keep me fine until the last leg.  Then I saw Able for the hand off of the bracelet at the exchange and all was good.  I got into the truck with the heat blasting since Josh needed to warm up. He ran before me and the chill was setting in.  I was hot as Hell and I just sat with my shirt off.  Then came my chills.  The human body is quite comical how it handles work, temperature, and comfort!  My last leg was insane to say the least.  It gained 2k vertical feet over 3.8 miles.  For a runner, this is not good.  I wanted to run the whole thing, but some of the switch backs were so steep, power walking with a giant stride was much faster.  Stomp, stomp, stomp, there I went.  Josh was before me with just as difficult a leg.  The two of us were responsible for gaining the altitude to the ridge of Park City.  I finished at 9,000 feet above sea level, handed off to Able, wiped down, got in the truck, and was done.  It wasn’t the distance of a marathon, or like finishing and Ironman, but in a way it was worse.  The sleep deprivation is what kills you, and riding in a cramped vehicle is just icing on that cake.  Your friends and team is what keeps you going.  Somewhere in the middle of the night everyone starts cursing the decision to enter this race, and to be honest, both Katherine and I swore during the Las Vegas and Wasatch races that we would never do another one.  Then for some insane reason, you start planning which one you want to do next less than 24 hours later.

            The drive today from Park City to Ely was totally spectacular.  We drove around the west side of Utah Lake on the way out of Salt Lake City, and then west towards Great Basin National Park.  Passing by the park reminded us of all the great memories of our trip there with Katherine’s brother Charles, and our friend Richard.  We did a few nights up there with them and really enjoyed the place.  West of Great Basin was all new ground for me.  I wanted to take highway 50 out of Ely, also called “The Loneliest Highway.”  Most people take I-80 across the Nevada, and this is a slightly southern route which has NO ONE!  Too bad it is cloudy out tonight, I thought the star gazing would be surreal, but we get what we get. 

            Ragnar was an experience, and to do it in such beautiful country was a delight.  I would do another race like this again for sure.  Now, it’s off to Lake Tahoe.  Let’s see what this highway is like and what the next few days will bring us.  Our legs are sore, and it will be nice to take it easy for a while.

Park City, Day 2

20 Jun 2013              Park City, Day 2

            There was no running today.  Our legs need a rest for the Ragnar race tomorrow. 

Let me tell you a little about this race.   Ragnar is a 12 person running relay race totaling about 200 miles.  Each runner takes 3 sections of the race which can total 12-20 miles.  We split into 2 vans and go through the night to cover the distance.  Ragnar is the name of the company that started this race series.  It started in Utah with the “Wasatch Back” 10 years ago, which we are running.  They have since expanded all over the country.  We were part of the Las Vegas Ragnar race 2 years ago with almost the same team.  Tony, a kindergarten teacher from my school got us involved back then, and it was so much fun, we decided to do another.  I was reluctant at first to enter a race with such a large team, and run through the night for no other reason than just fun.  I am glad that I gave it a try.  It turned out to be a giant running party.  Each 12 person team comes up with a name and dresses up for the event.  No this is not Portland, but something like all that!  Katherine and I are in van 2 that gets started a little later in the day on Friday (tomorrow).  We will not finish till Saturday in the afternoon or early evening, if all goes well.  I will run with my camera and try to get some good shots. 

The radio event of the day was not the one contact I made in New Hampshire, but Tony saying that his doctor said to stay away from the radios.  He had a pacemaker put in to keep his heart in line, but has to stay away from crazies like me with high power radios.  Actually, I am not very powerful with only 100W, but some guys will run up to 1,500Watts through their antennas.  That might just stop Tony in his tracks.   We surely don’t need that!  I will be safe around him.  Maybe the ham radio transmission would make him run faster? 

It will be an early night.  Tomorrow will be a long day running into the next on with little or no sleep.  The Wasatch Mountains are beautiful, and running a long race through them will surely be a delight.  I will keep you informed. ~G

Park City, Day 1

19 Jun 2013              Park City, Day 1

            The first night at the RV campground went well.  We are totally secluded down at tent site number one.  No one is talking loudly.  There are no loud children.  No one is playing music at night.  Life is good.  But, there is the road noise.  You can’t do much about it, but at night it kind of puts me to sleep.

            We started the morning off with a quick breakfast and prepared for a morning run.  The campground is on the north side of I-80, and there is a trailhead right off the grounds.  Once our gear was packed, we headed down the trail.  It ended up meeting with another trail that we had previously ridden with our friend John on mountain bikes.  At the 2.5 mile mark we reached the crest of the mountain,  and then headed back down to the campsite.  The wind was whipping making for a fun descent. 

            Once back, we headed the grocery store in Jeremy Ranch.  We needed a few items for the evening’s dutch oven meal.  More on that later.  I was amazed at all the homes for sale in the area that John used to live.  If you need a place close to 10 ski resorts, look here!  I’m sure a million dollars will get you one of these beauties.

            Dinner was cooked in the Dutch oven in high winds.  I had to dig quite a bit out the fire pit to lower the cooking area beneath the wind level.  Luckily, it worked.  The meal had the right amount of coals and in 45min…  shazzam!!!  The glorious potato, green apple, onion, carrot, pork dish was complete.

            I did everything I wanted to do this day.  I did a 5 mile trail run, played the ukulele, played the alto trombone, made 3 contacts on the ham radio, ate a great dinner, and enjoyed the RV resort’s hot tub and pool.  This is some summer vacation! 

18 Jun 2013              Las Vegas, NV to Park City, UT

           

            Today we departed late from Las Vegas.  We had to drop off items that Jimbo let us borrow, and then we got out of town.  The checklist took longer to complete than expected because going on a trip for two months where we will be living out of the truck just seems so daunting.  It’s one thing to go to Europe or Southeast Asia and only have a backpack.  This time we have the truck.  You can bring a lot more, but it makes the trip that much more demanding.  The truck needs tools, air compressor, navigation equipment, ham radio stuff, food, music instruments, and camping gear.  Traveling out of a backpack is looking really good right now. 

           

            We are camping next to a creek in the Wasatch mountains.  Yes, we are right next to Interstate 80, but the sound of the stream is drowning out the noise, and the price is right.  The temperature is pretty cool, in the upper 50’s, and the moon is illuminating everything nicely.  The tent is set up and the car camping facilities at the Park City RV resort are very nice.  There is not only running water and showers, but a pool and hot tub, pinball, pool table and exercise equipment.

            On the road, we traveled 450 miles from Las Vegas.  We stopped twice, once for gas, and the other for dinner and gas.  I drove first, and Katherine navigated the middle section, then I took over again at BYU and drove us through Salt Lake City and up the hill to Park City.  While Katherine was driving, I enthusiastically fired up the newly installed ham radio mobile unit.  I made a few contacts on 20 meters and listened to people all over the US.  Mostly in Florida and Texas.  When I was getting tired of spinning the radio knobs a yellow Nissan Xterra flew past us on the I-15 with a few antennas and a vanity ham plate.  I immediately turned my radio from 14.250 MHz to 146.520 (national calling frequency) and gave a shout out.  Yes, this guy was monitoring, and came right back.  In the process, another guy farther down the road came on and the three of us chatted traveling northbound on the I-15 for a good hour.  We discussed the usual ham radio talk, you know the weather, road conditions, gear, mobile installations, and when you heard each other before.  It is quite the cult phenomenon.  I had my headset on while Katherine was driving and she only heard half of the conversation.  When we finished the QSO (ham for a conversation) she said I sound really weird and different on the radio (aka dorky.)  I must do something to sound cooler. 

            All that talking on the radio has made me really enjoy the evening.  That is… not being on the radio.  Normally when we pull  into campsite, I set up the radio and talk for an hour or so.  But now, we are just chilling out and I and working on the first blog entry of the summer.  I have been looking forward to starting the blog again for the summer months.  The blog has been going strong for a few summers and while leaving on this trip, a few friends have asked, “Are you going to be blogging this summer?”.   I said, “Of course!”.  Then I thought about it.  It’s a lot of work, but it anchors down what your summer was and how it felt, and when you come back in a year or two you are REALLY glad that you did it.  So, this summer will be thoroughly blogged and I will be documenting our travels through the Pacific Northwest and hopefully giving an insight to tent car camping.  By car camping I mean the lush easy National Park style with chairs and pillows, the opposite extreme of wilderness camping far from any paved road with whatever you carry on your back.  Stay along for  the ride this summer and hopefully we will come across some interesting things.