September Running

 We had a great September of running and hiking!

Women's Runs:

Plogging:

Our first Women's Run of September was plogging. We cleaned up the Henry Creek area and it was very much needed. We get so frustrated with the people who go out there to shoot. They leave big messes behind. It looks way better now though!

So much trash in such a small area.

We filled Sheila with so much trash!

We had a beautiful sunset while we were running back to the cars.

So pretty!

Harvest Moon Run:

We had the full harvest moon run up Kelly Mountain. It was awesome! We had amazing fall colors, and saw an awesome sunset on one side of us, while the full harvest moon was rising on the other side. So cool! I wish phones could really capture the moon, because it was huge and bright as it came up over the mountains.

Climbing Kelly Mountain.

Fall was really coming out!

It was such a pretty night!

Sunset!

Moon rise!

Pizza Run:

At the end of September we had our end of the summer celebration. We ran the canal road along the river across from Heise, and then went and got pizza afterwards. We even saw a moose! We keep running through the fall and winter, but we move the runs back into town.

Pretty sun along the river.

A moose!

We had a big, fun group!

We finished in the dark, and most of us forgot headlamps.

Pizza!

IFTR Early Morning Runs:

Dan's been down working at his family's pumpkin farm in Utah, so there haven't been as many early morning runs. Jeff and Nate each organized good ones that I was able to go to.

Jeff organized a HIIT workout up Blacktail. Ugh, I'm not used to that, and basically got my butt handed to me. I love this kind of workout though! We also got to see the sun start to rise over the reservoir, so that was cool.

Nate organized a good run up Buck Road and around a little loop that I had never done before. I really liked it!

This is the first week I've really had to break out the warm clothes.

The Butte X2:

We were in the midst of Grand Canyon training, so we did the Butte a couple times to get the elevation. Steph and I climbed up the face and back down 3 times one evening. Mark couldn't go, so I went back with him the next day and climbed the face once, and the service road twice. 

Steph and I pretending we're having a good time! 😂 That's a hard climb once, let alone three times!

Mark and I finished in the dark. I actually love doing the Butte when it's dark.

Paintbrush/Cascade Loop:

On Patriot's Day, Mark and I organized a run in Grand Teton Park. It's one of my all time favorites. We went up Paintbrush Canyon to the Divide, down to Lake Solitude, and down Cascade Canyon. It's one of the most beautiful loops! We all carried flags in remembrance of 9/11. It was a great fall day!

Going around Leigh Lake at the beginning.

The fall colors were amazing!

A great view looking back down toward the lakes in the park.

The clouds were so pretty!

Some of my favorite people!
Michelle-Amanda-Mat-Steph-Jen

This is probably my favorite picture from the day. First there is Steph looking back, then there is Mat at the edge of the lake covering his eyes, and then there is a naked man across the lake. 😂 You don't really expect to see that in such a remote area, but he had just finished taking a very frigid swim. Sorry sir, for the ten of us disturbing naked hour at the lake. 😁

This is one of my favorite spots on the loop. 
Meredith-Amanda-Ashley-Mat-Steve-Michelle-Jen-Steph-Tricia-Mark

Happy Patriot's Day!

Almost to the Paintbrush Divide.

Gorgeous!

It was cold and windy at the top!

The clouds covered the Grand on our way to Lake Solitude.

I love this picture of amanda.

Lake Solitude

The Tetons peeking through on our way down Cascade Canyon.

So fallish!

Finishing up around Jenny Lake.

We stopped for pizza on the way home to end a great fall day, with a great group of people, in one of the most beautiful places! 

Taylor Mountain Peak X2:

More Grand Canyon training! We climbed Taylor Mountain peak two times in a row to get in a good amount of vertical training. I think the four of us our ready to tackle the Grand Canyon!

Tricia-Mark-Michelle-Steph

We had a pretty sunset on our final time down.

It was our friendiversary with Steph, and this was the perfect way to celebrate!

Kelly Canyon Loop:

Mark and I did a fun loop in Kelly Canyon, and had a standoff with two bulls. That's always fun!

Here is bull number one who didn't want to get off the trail.

Here's big daddy number two. He even came walking at us when we tried to scare him off the trail.

The leaves were just starting to change.

Sawtooth 30 Mile Loop:

Mark, Michelle, Steph, and I did one final long run before our Grand Canyon adventure. We did a 30 mile loop in the Sawtooths that was AMAZING! We went by so many beautiful mountain lakes, and over three of the coolest passes. We loved it all!

We slept in our cars at the Tin Cup Trailhead the night before, so we could get an early start.

We took a short detour off our loop to see Yellow Belly Lake. We got there right as the sun was coming up. So pretty!

We detoured again to see McDonald Lake. It was a small one with a great back drop.

We crossed creeks...

and saw waterfalls.

Farley Lake

Next, we went by Edith Lake. This was one of my favorites!

Edith Lake from up above.

Climbing up the pass to the view of Imogene Lake.

Imogene Lake

We went down to the lake, and had to climb all the way back up and over again.

At the top of the second pass. It was so windy up there!

You just can't beat these rugged mountains!

Our first glimpse of Toxaway Lake.

Working our way down to the lake.

Getting closer!

We made it!

This was the perfect spot for lunch.

We left Toxaway Lake and headed up the final pass. We found a few of these HUGE ant hills along the way. 

This was the view behind us as we were climbing the final pass. 😍

This was one of my favorite views...until we got to the top of the pass and looked down at the other side!

Sorry for the picture overload coming up, but this was my favorite pass, favorite lake, and favorite spot of the whole hike!

Twin Lakes! 😍

It was so windy! This was Steph and I coming over the pass, hoping we didn't blow right off the edge.

Working our way down to Twin Lakes.

We walked across the little jetty thing that separated Twin lakes.

Shadow people!

Twin Lakes

Alice lake

The Shore of Alice Lake

Once we started dropping lower toward the valley, we got the fall colors.

This is Timmy. We met him on our way down, and now I'm pretty sure I need a little pack goat. He kept trying to run ahead of his people, because he wanted to come with us. 😁 

More fall colors on the way down.

We loved every bit of this run! We'll be back to do it again for sure!

Big Elk Creek:

Becky and I hiked Big Elk Creek, and we hit it right at the perfect time for the fall colors. It was so pretty! It was Becky's first time on this trail, so I'm glad it put on a good show for us.

Becky

Tricia

I love this trail!

The state line.

I hope we go on lots more hikes!

Sardine Peak:

We spent a weekend in Utah to watch Mason do the Xterra Mountain Triathlon. On Friday we met with Alison to hike Sardine Peak. The fall colors at Snow Basin were amazing! Fun hike!

So many colors!

That little hill is Sardine Peak.

Such a pretty trail.

We didn't realize it when we planned this hike, but it ended up being the same trail Mason mountain biked for his race.

That's a wrap for Septembers running and hiking! It was a great month outdoors!