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Tag: Avenue Twin Peaks

Morning Trails with Jed

Morning Trails with Jed

I recently discovered that a fellow Western historian here in SLC trail runs and immediately set to planning a time to hit the dirt together. On a couple Tuesday mornings recently we have met at 6:00 AM and put in a few miles, talking about trails, races, and history. The company has been great and he hasn’t even seemed too perturbed by how slow I have taken some of the climbs. Seriously – I just can’t seem to muster much energy that early in the AM.

A couple weeks ago we started at City Creek, ran the BST west and north, then looped up to the 3 towers, down the backside to City Creek and back to the car.  7.7 miles @ 13:31 min/mile. Slow, but nice.

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Super grainy picture, early morning light on SLC. Swapped to b/w since the color looked bad in any case.

This week we started at Dry Canyon, followed it up to the very aptly named “Uncle F***er” trail climb to the ridge that leads up east to Black Mountain. We, however, turned west and followed it down, hitting the avenue Twin Peaks, then following the ridge to the BST. From there, Jed continued west to run back to his house. I turned east and followed the zig-zaggy BST back down to my car. I almost ran over a deer at one point (came around a blind corner and sent it and 2 others bounding up a hill). I have decided that I really like those stretches of the BST.  8.4 miles @ 13:32 min/mile. Slow, but nice. I also tried out a new higher capacity race vest that I plan to use for long self-supported runs. Nathan VaporWrap. So far, so good.

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Here’s a little better light. Good morning SLC!

 

Avenue Twins in the Morning

Avenue Twins in the Morning

I would like to do this once a week or so – waking up around 5:00 and getting in a good trail run before work. This morning I drove down to City Creek, parked at the Morris Reservoir, and ran the Avenue Twins.  I ran part of the BST up to the back ridge that overlooks City Creek to the north, and then followed that ridge around, East, and up to both of the Avenue Twin Peaks.

It was a beautiful morning.

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On the ridge, looking west towards SLC and Ensign Peak on the other side of City Creek

 

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Panorama looking north from the ridge down into City Creek Canyon

 

From the southern Twin Peak, I bushwhacked straight down south to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  There appeared to be remnants of trails going down, and it got me back on the BST fast. I think took the BST NW back to the north ridge, ran that NW to the overlook into City Creek Canyon where it ends, and then skidded down a small trail to the trail that hook up with Morris Creek. My left IT band was hurting by the end, but more distressing was that about 1/2way through, a large knot/muscle spasm developed in my left lower back. Incredibly painful throughout the day.

5.9 miles in 1:18:00 @ 13:07 min/mile and 1,719 ft. elevation

Twin Peaks in the Dark

Twin Peaks in the Dark

Following on the smashing success of last weeks pre-dawn run up City Creek Canyon to Ensign Peak, I thought I’d go for a repeat.  This time I took the trail on the SE side of the canyon, following it to the East and up to both of the Avenue Twin Peaks.  Aside from a dog who brushed against my leg and freaked me out, the run up was uneventful.  On the way back, I followed the north ridgeline (which looks down into City Creek Canyon on the backside) as far as I could.  I reached the end of the ridge at a knoll and the trail kind of just stopped.  I thought I might be able to descend and find something down on the City Creek Canyon side.  Mistake.  I ended up bushwacking back SW until I hit a small gulch which I followed back up to the main trail system.

7.5 miles @ 14.01 min/mile and 2,148 ft. elevation

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In the gulch I did find these though.  There are apparently quite a few spots up there with wrecked cars.

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I was another fun run, but the last AM one I was able to do before winter set in.

SLC from the Avenues Twin Peaks

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