The positive side to this run was that even though an estimated 7 hour run turned into just over 10 hours, we completed the loop and it was good training to bank that many hours on my feet, run with wet feet and run in compression socks (I'd never tried this before).
Pawnee Pass sits at 12,541' (and is the initial picture at the top of my blog) - Buchanan Pass sits at 11,837'. We did a counter-clockwise route, tackling Buchanan Pass first and then Pawnee, our preferred route. On a normal, clear summer day the Pawnee/Buchanan loop is gnarly sick in terms of elevation gain (~6,900), altitude (average 10,700) and mileage (roughly 26 miles, it took us over 27 miles, but I'll get to that). We ran this together a few years ago and were caught in a thunderstorm ascending Pawnee Pass on the way back to the car...not fun. This time though we had clear, blue skies and sun the whole way, but the trail was not as we remembered it.
Leaving Mitchell Lake just before 8am, we encountered snow an hour or so in and lost the trail, found the trail and lost it again and again until reaching the treeline on Buchanan Pass (some 5 miles later). This kind of traversing is mentally and emotionally frustrating. Stephen is an expert in orienteering and the three of us helped locate and relocate the trail time and time again. We'd hit a snow field and spread out in three directions across it to the other side trying to locate the trail. If no trail was found, we'd pull out the map and compass and make our own trail. It was comical at times, like the Three Stooges. By the time we reached Buchanan Pass we were exhausted from all the start/stops and navigation. We descended the backside and were grateful for the absence of snow over the trail, but soon found other obstacles.
Half-way through we had a few deep creek crossings that were pretty treacherous, Stephen took this as opportunity to teach Clint and me the proper way to cross as a team; form a triangle, interlock arms, each take turns taking a step and securing footing. On that crossing, there was a small waterfall just below us, so I was grateful for the care and attention to this crossing and Stephen's knowledge and experience.
Long sections of the trail, all the way up to Pawnee Lake were blocked with trees that had fallen due to late snow and strong winds, an insane amount of trees. We reached one section in the valley below Pawnee Lake where it was as if the hand of God had swept through the valley decimating the forest leaving a wake of destruction. I've never seen anything like it in my life, to be there when it happened would have been soul shuttering.
The backside of Pawnee Pass is stupid steep, it's so steep as you traverse the switchbacks it's like you are scaling the side of building, one wrong move, one miscalculated step on the large, loose boulders and the whole thing, with you trying to surf it, is going down the nearly 3,000 foot vertical face. On the last few switchbacks the steepness prevents you from seeing the mid-section switchbacks below.
We took some relief on top of the pass, played hide and seek with a marmot and continued the descent. We were over 7 hours in at this point and getting punchy...we hit some snow fields and decided to have some fun, sledding on our butts down the incline. We rounded Lake Isabelle's north side and arrived in the parking lot after 6pm, we'd been out all day, it was unbelievable.
Both Stephen and Clint are really good sports, always positive and up for anything. If you've got to be out on a run that takes over 3 hours longer than you expected (or doing anything else for that matter), these are the guys you want to be with. They were a good balance to my sometimes quick move to frustration in some of our situations.
In the end, we conquered our goal, had some fun in the sun (and snow) and most of all supported one another through a very arduous day in the mountains. We were witness to nature's treasures and destruction, together. I'm grateful to call Stephen and Clint friends.
They'll be with me again next weekend in Leadville for my final big push.
All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man... the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports. - Chief Seattle
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