Mr. Consistency had some trouble being consistent in June. I had 2 work trips, got sick on the second one and missed my running weekly mileage goal. So annoying when “life” gets in the way of training. When I realized Friday the 4th was a holiday I checked in with the fam and asked if I could disappear for a couple of days in order to prep for my Chamonix trip in August. Shore leave granted so I packed my bags.

When my last work call ended on Thursday at 3, I threw my pack in the car and headed to Timberline Lodge for a smash and grab of the Timberline Trail. I started my watch at 5pm and took a right on the PCT Southbound. I kept the pedal to the metal until I got to Newton Creek and set up my tent to crash for the night.

Only one sketch moment crossing some steep snow chutes down into Clark Creek – which I think is part of Meadows / Heather Canyon? I’m not sure but I think this area is part of the Private Reserve. I had one more drainage to cross before looking for a campsite. The trail crossed a snow chute (I call it that because it ran for about 600 feet down to the bottom of the canyon). The crossing was about 15 feet to reach the other side of the trail. I paused and did a quick risk assessment – stop and put on the microspikes for added security or YOLO it and run/jump to the trail on the other side. I didn’t feel like taking my pack off to pull out the microspikes so I started to go and … the incident detection alarm on my watch started buzzing. I think because my heart rate may have spiked? That spooked me – and I realized discretion is the better part of valor and I thought it would be all over but the crying if I slipped and yeeted down the canyon into a rock. My body would be found with my microspikes in my pack. I backed it up, took of my pack and put on the microspikes and gingerly stepped across (not looking down of course).

I camped on the south side of Newton Creek and put off crossing it until the morning. There is massive erosion on the south side of the creek and the route across is not obvious. In the morning I ended up downclimbing holding on to tree roots while kicking boulders loose and finally squeezing between some large boulders to reach the creek.

There was another solo run/hiker/fastpacker that I was swapping places with all day on Friday. I saw him leaving Newton Creek, then passed him near Gnarl Ridge, then he passed me when I stopped to address a hotspot issue, he stayed ahead of me until crossing the Eliot, where I found him sitting in his UL chair on the side of the trail mixing up some electrolyte drink. He passed me again when I stopped to get water in Elk Cove and then I never saw him again.

I shuffled, ran, climbed, hiked from Newton Creek to Ramona Falls – taking the Timberline cutoff trail. The snow between Gnarl Ridge and the Cooper Spur Shelter made for slow going. I got to Ramona Falls at dusk, beat up and really hungry after 23 miles and nearly 5k of vert for the day. It was eerie seeing the evidence of so many people – trails everywhere, flattened open space, but no people. I was the only person there. It was like the Langoliers were about to come through – those monstrous creatures that devour the past. I filled up my water bladder, made dinner, popped in my ear plugs and promptly fell asleep.

I was up at 5:20 on Saturday, made breakfast, packed up and was on the trail just before 7. I missed the sharp U-turn to the PCT southbound and added an extra mile downhill toward the Top Spur trailhead. So glad I checked the GPS and realized my error.

I took the Paradise Park Loop and lingered in that special place for a little bit just enjoying the sunshine and views. I rolled into the Timberline Lodge parking lot at noon and stopped my watch.

By the numbers:

• Thursday night (5pm – 7:30pm): 7.89 miles, 1,864 vertical.
• Friday (8am – 7pm): 23.17 miles. 4,715 vertical
• Saturday (7am – 12pm): 11.82. 4,304 vertical.

Total distance: 42.88 miles in ~2 days

A solid 4th of July weekend adventure 🇺🇸