Skagit flats, including Chuckanut Drive, from the hang glider launch-
I did a five hour tour of the Chuckanuts Friday night, starting from Fairhaven around 6 PM. The stars were breathtaking, as were the hills in the chill. No moon to be seen. The stars felt like they were dropping from the sky--I wish I knew them better. There’s a supercomet around here somewhere, sometime, right now, but did I know this? No....The temperature was somewhere around freezing, the air was still, and my two shirts left me cold after a while. Bad planning there---I didn’t intend on going that long, or starting that late, but that's how it went. I was slow, particularly going up the hills, but I ran ok, especially since it was so dark. I bonked at about hour four, probably because I didn’t have any water left and I was cold. Did I mention--it was cold?
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Adventures with wildlife. About 1.5 hours in, I heard a pack of coyotes somewhere off to the west side of the Lost Lake trail. They were a loud bunch, scary at first, in the pitch black cold. “Ayyyye ayyye ayyeya!” (Go away!, I think.) “Ayyyae ayyyae ayy aee!” (Stop! Where are you, anyway?? Idiots.) I stood and listened to them for a while—they seemed to be up on a ridge above the trail. I thought about turning back, because I didn’t want to be eaten, and they were pretty near. Then I figured, no way, whatever. There are critters all over the place at HR, and I need to train for them. If I get attacked by a pack, I need to learn how to deal with it. Coyotes are no big deal anyway, just scary. Years ago, camping in Yellowstone, I had a pack yelping up a storm really nearby, as I tried to sleep in the back of my uncovered pickup. And then, when I was in my teens, my cousin and I were hiking a canyon in eastern Washington, and as the sun set, they started barking at us from the canyon walls. Still, I haven’t heard much talk about coyotes up in the Chuckanuts.
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And, it gets better. I left that party behind, and went over the shoulder above Lost Lake, wrapping around to Chinscraper. Right as I start up the Chin, I hear a coyote bark at me from no more than 50 feet. Really really near. AYYYE WEYYYE YAAY YEEE!! It was pitch black under the trees, except for my headlamp. I barked back, really loud and mean like. I probably could have just yelled, but I lost it a bit, and went FERAL. Then I started growling like a bear for the next ten minutes up the trail. Nice little shot of adrenaline to push me up the hill. This is one way to get past the work week.
I did a five hour tour of the Chuckanuts Friday night, starting from Fairhaven around 6 PM. The stars were breathtaking, as were the hills in the chill. No moon to be seen. The stars felt like they were dropping from the sky--I wish I knew them better. There’s a supercomet around here somewhere, sometime, right now, but did I know this? No....The temperature was somewhere around freezing, the air was still, and my two shirts left me cold after a while. Bad planning there---I didn’t intend on going that long, or starting that late, but that's how it went. I was slow, particularly going up the hills, but I ran ok, especially since it was so dark. I bonked at about hour four, probably because I didn’t have any water left and I was cold. Did I mention--it was cold?
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Adventures with wildlife. About 1.5 hours in, I heard a pack of coyotes somewhere off to the west side of the Lost Lake trail. They were a loud bunch, scary at first, in the pitch black cold. “Ayyyye ayyye ayyeya!” (Go away!, I think.) “Ayyyae ayyyae ayy aee!” (Stop! Where are you, anyway?? Idiots.) I stood and listened to them for a while—they seemed to be up on a ridge above the trail. I thought about turning back, because I didn’t want to be eaten, and they were pretty near. Then I figured, no way, whatever. There are critters all over the place at HR, and I need to train for them. If I get attacked by a pack, I need to learn how to deal with it. Coyotes are no big deal anyway, just scary. Years ago, camping in Yellowstone, I had a pack yelping up a storm really nearby, as I tried to sleep in the back of my uncovered pickup. And then, when I was in my teens, my cousin and I were hiking a canyon in eastern Washington, and as the sun set, they started barking at us from the canyon walls. Still, I haven’t heard much talk about coyotes up in the Chuckanuts.
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And, it gets better. I left that party behind, and went over the shoulder above Lost Lake, wrapping around to Chinscraper. Right as I start up the Chin, I hear a coyote bark at me from no more than 50 feet. Really really near. AYYYE WEYYYE YAAY YEEE!! It was pitch black under the trees, except for my headlamp. I barked back, really loud and mean like. I probably could have just yelled, but I lost it a bit, and went FERAL. Then I started growling like a bear for the next ten minutes up the trail. Nice little shot of adrenaline to push me up the hill. This is one way to get past the work week.
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So, night running like this…maybe a bit sketchy, I know. But the coyotes, the stars, standing on top of Raptor Ridge, watching a satellite arc across the sky, trying to pick out Orion---on the right night, it’s an amazing experience. And, the fact is, HR has TWO FULL nights of running, and so I need to put in some night time running. There's no better prep than experience. From this Friday night run, I realize I should’ve carried more, like one more layer, and probably water treatment and supplement pills. And company, of course, that would be best--but it's tough finding someone who's going to do this, at my pace.
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Saturday I was pretty lame, but on Sunday I did my favorite 11 mile loop of Blanchard Mountain. Pictures here. Lilly and Lizard Lakes are frozen. Also, there’s a new outhouse up by hang-glider launch. I ran pretty well—better than on Friday night. I was tall in the saddle, very casual, and my pace was steady. I stopped a bunch for pics, goofing off, but it was a nice run to cap the weekend.
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Last week I wrote about mantras--I think I have one now. "This is the way to Hardrock." I think its important to have phrases and mental imagery that help with visualizing goals. "Successful people see what they want to have happen, and unsuccessful people see what they don't want to have happen," says Coach Vernacchia. And this is the way...
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So, night running like this…maybe a bit sketchy, I know. But the coyotes, the stars, standing on top of Raptor Ridge, watching a satellite arc across the sky, trying to pick out Orion---on the right night, it’s an amazing experience. And, the fact is, HR has TWO FULL nights of running, and so I need to put in some night time running. There's no better prep than experience. From this Friday night run, I realize I should’ve carried more, like one more layer, and probably water treatment and supplement pills. And company, of course, that would be best--but it's tough finding someone who's going to do this, at my pace.
-
Saturday I was pretty lame, but on Sunday I did my favorite 11 mile loop of Blanchard Mountain. Pictures here. Lilly and Lizard Lakes are frozen. Also, there’s a new outhouse up by hang-glider launch. I ran pretty well—better than on Friday night. I was tall in the saddle, very casual, and my pace was steady. I stopped a bunch for pics, goofing off, but it was a nice run to cap the weekend.
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Last week I wrote about mantras--I think I have one now. "This is the way to Hardrock." I think its important to have phrases and mental imagery that help with visualizing goals. "Successful people see what they want to have happen, and unsuccessful people see what they don't want to have happen," says Coach Vernacchia. And this is the way...
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Lizard Lake, On Ice 
Samish Island
Trail Near Lilly Lake
New Facilities
Lilly Lake 
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