Fall is the Wasatch is a great time.  Cool temps, the overgrown trails start to die back for good running, quick desert trips to remember what summer is like,  and a huge drop in running miles in favor of duck and elk hunting. By October my body is ready for a break from running so the relaxed pace of hunting is a perfect transition season for recovery before ski season starts.  With any luck, the seasons transition perfectly with hunting ending at the end of October and skiing starting the first of November. If the snow doesn’t come early, by November Emily and I are usually both ready for an long weekend of running in the desert.

While not racing much this year, I had some great runs and other fun times (and a few not so fun times with my uncle’s death). As I was looking through photos from the summer, I thought a summer photo recap would be a great seasonal transition.

I spent several months working 1 mile from Valley Forge National Park and was able to do some great training (even on dirt) for Jemez 50.

 

I suffered through Jemez 50 as much as it looked like in the photo.

 

 

I burned up in the ND Bad Lands trying to run the new section of the Maah Daah Hey Trail in hopes of connecting the entire 140+ miles in a single push in the near future.

July in ND and seeing if I can still ski

The 4th of July at Lake Metigoshe is one of the few true traditions we have. It is always hard to miss it.

Helping Tom Diegel train for his first 100 was fun.  We got in some great vert  and technical scrambling on a Mt Nebo Traverse.

Not much more needs to be said about these 2 girls.

 

Probably the most amazing run I have ever done through wildflowers was Mill B in July.

We took up fast packing and had 2 fun trips to the Wind River Range (our first time ever visiting the range)

The Uintas is my favorite place in Utah.  I didn’t get there enough this year, but was at least able to get a little trail time out there.

 

My first ascent of the South Ridge of Mt Superior with Nina, Pete, and Dom

After 13 years in Utah, I finally climbed the South Ridge of Mt Superior.  It was a first for Nina, Pete, Dom, and I.  Sticking to the ridge like we did definitely increases the pucker factor.

 

Chad & Ryan McDermott Relaxing in Titcomb Basin in the Wind River Range

Chad & Ryan McDermott on the Dinwoody Glacier During out Gannett Peak attempt (Wind River Range)

An amazing trip to the Winds with a failed Gannett Peak attempt.

We had a hard 2 weeks in late August and early September as Gary passed away.  The night after his passing we honored and toasted him with an amazing bottle of bubbles.

I was honored to pace Chip Duross for just over 30 miles of his first 100 (Bear 100)

Proud parents (Galen and Ashley) and God parents (Emily and Chad) with Ben and Emma

And to wrapped up summer (or at least this got us to 05 October) celebrating Maddison Ashley Selzler’s baptism in Steamboat.  We were honored and thrilled to be asked to be her God Parents.

With the middle of October having started, we are running the Corner Canyon 50K which is benefiting our best friend Christian Bacasa from his 4+ year ordeal with lymphoma, then directly after the race I am off to the airport for a 2 week work trip in Europe from which I get home and 16 hours later head to Indianapolis for a 4 day work trip. So, it is only 16 October, but I miss the best season in the Wasatch and hopefully it will be ski season when I return.