Kirkwood 5K & 10K Trail Adventure

Today was the 5K & 10K race. The drive was a beautiful one, about 45 minutes. We got there in plenty of time to pick up our numbers and get ready to race. We watched the kids races and then it was time for both the 5K & 10K to start.

Nancy and Marsha ready to run.

The 5K duo, Nancy & Jan.

We are ready for our Kirkwood adventure.

This was a benefit run for the
Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department.

My race path.

The pictures below are the scenery I enjoyed on my run.

The only aide station, we did an out and back here so we
visited it twice.

Here I am at the top, it was mostly downhill from here.

These wildflowers were so thick I could smell them.

At the end of the race my cheering section consisting of Jan, Nancy, Glitter, Chip, Gizmo, Aiden and Tinkerbell greeted me.

In the home stretch.

Making good time. 

Crossing the finish line.

All the Camp W racers finished! We now each have our "unique ceramic medals."


5K
Nancy Berry  50:04
Jan Monson  52:27  Age group 3rd!


10K
Marsha Monson  1:38.20  Age group 3rd!


Stats for the run: Mile1: 18:11 Mile2: 18:21 Mile3: 15:56 Mile4: 17:14 Mile5: 14:23 Mile6: 15:04


Elevation Gain:1,047 ft
Elevation Loss:1,028 ft
Min Elevation:7,790 ft
Max Elevation:8,569 ft


Running at a Higher Level

Come join us for the 31st anniversary of the Kirkwood 5K and 10K Trail Adventure Run on Saturday, September 3, 2011. Unique ceramic medals to all finishers.

5K Course

The course is on single track trail and dirt roads with only a small portion of pavement at the Start and Finish line. This is a multi-use trail and is used by mountain bikers, hikers, and runners. If you are a slow runner, be aware of bikers sharing the trails. Be sure to wear trail shoes and bring a camera.

10K Course Map

The 5K and 10K will now start together across from the swimming pool. The first ¾ mile of the 10K race is fairly steep and rocky. Watch your footing, but be sure to enjoy the wildflowers and terrific mountain views of Kirkwood. Bear left onto Whiskey trail to Caples Crest dirt road. If you have anything left at this point, you have space to open the throttle and pass other runners. This is a grueling climb to Iron Horse Road where you will find the aid station. Iron Horse Road is the out and back portion of the course. You catch a glimpse of Caples Lake and mountain peaks on the descent to the turn around. When you come back up Iron Horse Road to the aid station for the second time, you will be halfway through the course. 

Only a few more small hills up Caples Crest Road brings you to the single track Vista trail which is just short of the top of Chair 2. This is the TOP of the course! The Vista trail is well named with its gorgeous views of all of Kirkwood where you are actually running down the ski slope. This is where you might feel like you are in the “Sound of Music” with the majestic views.

From this point on, the course is mostly descending, but can be treacherous with loose rocks and shale. Watch your footing in this section as you cross under the chair lift and enter a woodsy section. You will make a left turn onto Lower Corral trail and then a right to stay on Lower Corral. This is a meadow with wildflowers, dry creek beds, rocky cliffs, and maybe a waterfall if it is not dried up by race day. Watch your footing on the small bridges.

Another woodsy area brings you to Snowkirk Road, another dirt road to the right. This brings you back to Caples Crest Road at the bottom of Chair 2. Ascending Caples Crest Road, you cross under Chair 2 then turn left on Red Cliffs trail. This is a rocky trail with a few small streams to cross. Bear left on Whiskey trail.  On the way back to the finish line the crowd will cheer you on from the deck of the lodge. 
You will see the finish line but you still have to loop around under several of the chair lifts at the bottom of Kirkwood Mountain Resort. You finally come to pavement for a short sprint to the finish line.

This 10K course is now truly a trail adventure with a little bit of everything to give you a feel for the essence of Kirkwood Mountain Resort. The first half of this race is a real challenge as you climb from 7800 ft. at the bottom to 8500 ft. while sucking air! Enjoy the awesome views and the natural beauty of Kirkwood.


Website: http://www.tahoemtnmilers.org/kirkwood/KWindex.html

ONLINE REGISTRATION
Go to www.race360.com /15171 to register online.

Down Day - Rest Day

Today was a rest day. The dogs need it before camp. Jan and Nancy say I'm wearing them out, luckily I need a rest day before race day. So today we went to craft fairs and flea markets.

First stop, a flea market on Ski Run Blvd. This is the
street I ran up earlier in the week. We each bought
something here.

Then it was back in the car and we headed for our next stop, a craft fair at the American Legion. This one was small also. Nancy and I bought something we thought would be nice at a gift exchange.

Nancy and Jan reading some fun signs.

Then we were off the the Outlet Stores at the "Y" where we knew they were having some sales, especially the big Addias outlet sale. We each found a shirt or two, and Nancy and I found some water shoes for the lake fun. At one of the outlet stores Jan was able to get some new shorts and also water shoes.
For our only meal out since we got here, we stopped at IHOP where I had chicken, potatoes & broccoli and Nancy and Jan both had breakfast. I am the only one who didn't suffer from what I ate later. And I had to be so good because of the race. It paid off.

Our last craft fair. Pretty small compared to last year.

Jan and Marsha ready for shopping.

After the craft shopping it was on to do a little shopping at the outdoor mall at Heavenly Ski Resort, which is quite near our cabin. After that we made a quick trip to the grocery store for our last minute items, then it was home to cook dinner and spend some time with the dogs at the cabin.
We decide we should capitalize on our cabin backyard photo opportunities - with dogs of course.

Enjoying the backyard swing.

L-R: Glitter, Tink, Chip, Aiden and Gizmo.

Tinkerbell

Nancy, don't look now but there is a
bear behind you.

Tink says, "Mom isn't that a bear behind us?"

Sign on back door "Wipe Yer Paws."

North Shore Bike Ride

Today our bike ride took us to the Tahoe Trailways West Shore bike path. We started at the very beginning of the path and rode our bikes to Homewood. It took us a little longer than we expected getting started because most of the bike tires and some of the trailer tires needed air. We wanted things to go good and we were excited about our afternoon with the Garcia's and we wanted to be on time.

Nancy riding with Marsha and dogs close behind.

Nancy

Marsha

Marsha taking a break.

When we got to Homewood we had run out of time to go further. We'd put our picnic lunch in a cooler on the back of my bike so we enjoyed it at the picnic tables you see in the background. Everything tastes good after a ride.

Jan at our only rest stop in Homewood.

Time for a little "out" work for Aiden.

Sick and tired of riding in the carts the dogs had other ideas. Group lessons. We found them here at the ticket office signing up for group snowboard lessons. We let them down easy as we explained there had to be snow.

Shelties want to go to snowboard school.

L-R: Chip, Tink, Glitter, Aiden and Gizmo.

After the photo shoot it was off to head back down the bike trail. Here we are just before leaving.

Dogs wanted to take one last look at those snowboard
trails they were missing out on.

It was a nice ride back to to van. The hills weren't as bad as I thought they would be, although some places my gears were at 1 & 1. When I am pulling that much dog load sometimes I need to be in my lowest gear.
I had one little accident. We were going down the trail, I stopped at the stop sign because of a FEDX truck. Well the stop went well until I put down my foot and the because the asphalt was smooth my clip slid and that quick I was down. Luckily I had on some longer pants, so my knee did get scraped, but cleanly because my pants ran interference.

Meeks Bay Hike with Tom & Dianne

Dianne feeding some getting to know you treats.

Sometimes the dogs will change positions so they are
in a better spot as she goes around the circle.

We've been excited for today because we are spending some time with Nancy's friends who have a cabin on the west shore of Lake Tahoe in Tahoma.

Tom and Dianne's cabin.

We arrived at 2pm and we were warmly greeted by Tom and Diane and their three Shelties. After introductions, get to know you dog treats and some shoe changing for hiking, we were off on another new adventure.

Meeks Bay Trailhead sign.

Today I was trying something a little different with my dogs by giving them Zukes Power Bones frequently during the hike. They are not use to constant exercise and lack of daytime sleep, I was trying to help their energy level similar to what I do with GU.

Hiking with Tom and Dianne. 

It was nice on this hike to be going down this dirt road, the forest was still beautiful and remote feeling and the wide path made it so we could walk side by side and visit.

View during the hike.

Beautiful meadow we hiked past.

When we came to the beginning of another trailhead into Desolation Wilderness we turned back. Our older dogs had hiked enough for the day. Stats: 3 miles

Tom holding "Paul Newman", Basie, Diane and Shelby.

Our gang.

By now you've noticed one of the things we love to do is line all the Shelties up for group pictures. Since our dogs for the most part have pretty good stays, then the challenge is to get them all looking at the camera at the same time. Sometimes we use treats, words, noises or movement. Or all of the above!

L-R: Glitter, Chip, Tinkerbell, Aiden, Shelby
and Basie. Laying in front, Gizmo.

Glitter makes an unexpected stop to rest in the wildflowers.

Driving Directions:  From the cabin take Hwy 89 to the Meeks Bay Resort. (498 Log Cabin Road marks the location of the Meeks Bay Trail Head). Parking is located across the highway from the resort in a small dirt parking lot.

Hike Summary: Meeks Bay is more than just the trail head for the classic Tahoe to Yosemite backpacking trip; it also stands on its own as a excellent trail head into the beauties of the Desolation Wilderness for shorter moderate day hikes. A much quieter, less trafficked hike this trail and builds to its summit slowly and leisurely. The hike takes you along the northern most part of the unofficial Tahoe-Yosemite Trail. A day use permit is required and available at the self-service station at the trailhead.

Hiking Directions:  The Meeks Bay trail head is to the right of the seasonal permit cabin and the information board. After following a road for approximately 1.3 miles, the trail passes a small spring, parallels Meeks Creek which flows through Meeks Meadow and continues upward into a forested valley. 

Special Features: Meeks Meadow is spectacular and brimming with many different kinds of beautiful wildflowers. Mallow, iris, meadow aster, buckwheat, wandering daisy, yarrow, yampah, phlox, scarlet gilia, monkshood, flax, and lupine fill the meadow and are just some of the variety you can see in full bloom (peak bloom is in late June to July).

Geocaching:

"Mile Marker # 61" GCW3TA

N 39° 02.202 W 120° 07.567

Hint:  Zig zag, lets go down to the borderline.

"Meekly Speaking" GC1ZZEC

N 39° 02.177 W 120° 07.766

Hint: At the heart of the matter. 

"Magestic Giant" GCR2DQ

N 39° 01.463 W 120° 08.719

Hint: When you arrive at the location, you will understand the name.