Lap 1: Up Front/Down Back 42:20up/22:49 down
Lap 2: Up Back/Down Front 48:43up/18:58 down
9.32 miles/4,589 vert./2:12:51/153 avg. HR Garmin Data
Got out this afternoon for a bit of a longer run than normal. Considered Bear/SoBo, but knew how the trail was setting up on Green and went with the better tracked option. Did not start until 2:03pm (a little later than hoped) and headed up the front at a moderate pace.
Instead of Microspikes, I decided instead to use my Kahtoola running crampons and for the first 13 minutes or so, I was patting myself on the back for the smart decision, as footing was velcro like and there was no slippage whatsoever. Unfortunately though, there was a bit of an inversion today and as I passed the 1st Flatiron access trail, the temp literally jumped 10 degrees or more in an instant (or so it felt). Suddenly, the snow became very sticky and it was balling up under my crampons severely and each step from there to the summit, involved a forward scuff/kick/scrape which was very inefficient and a bit frustrating. In retrospect, I should have just removed the crampons, as I probably would have made more efficient progress without them.
Not wanting to go through that again, I headed down the backside in hopes of better conditions. I am not sure that the snow was better, but there was a fair bit of unconsolidated drifting along the ridge and I think just the act of running downhill also helped keep them mostly clear of snow. Went fairly easy on the down, spent a moment at the car grabbing a gel and some water. I enjoyed the backside so much, I decided to head back up it since I have been neglecting that way lately.
I felt decent for the second lap, again went a moderate effort, but the unconsolidated snow above the ranger cabin made for slow(er) progress. Headed down the front side and flailed as usual on the upper section, even though I was going pretty easy.
Had I been able to get out a little earlier or had a bit more time, I would have certainly banged out a third lap, it was just so great to be out.
