Full Moon Running at the Grand Canyon

The thought hadn't even occurred to me until Evan Reimondo suggested it:  A full moon waltz to the river and back.  The timing couldn't have been better.  Karl Jarvis and Evan piled in my truck and we headed to the Canyon for this 14 mile jaunt.

The South Rim faintly backlit by the full moon.

With the most difficult part of trip over, getting through the entrance station, we were ready to hit it!

Happy to be diving in again!

The first steps off the South Kaibab Trail.

Using the last few rays of sunlight to our advantage.

Coming...

...and going.

The South Kaibab's tight switchbacks are enough to scare away any of those with vertigo.

Sunset at Ooh Aah Point.

Shadows and definition.

The full moon shows itself.

Darkness surrounded as we crossed the Black Bridge and the Colorado River.

The lights of Phantom Ranch's meal hall light up the night.

Step inside for cooler temps, some lemonade and Snickers.

These folks were partying!

Now you know exactly what you can get at Phantom:  Get a bed for the night for as much as a steak dinner, lotions but no raisins and tasty sack lunches.

Back out into the night, through the tunnel and up, up, up!

One step at a time.

Following Evan and Karl back out the South Kaibab.

Deer in the headlights at Tip Off.

Next up, Skeleton Point.

Cedar Ridge indicates the last mile and a half to the top.

The crew back on top at 12:30am.  (l to r) Karl Jarvis, Torrence, Evan Reimondo.

Your Moment Of Zen

The Canyon is difficult no matter how you cut it!

24 Hours on the Square

Last weekend Team Run Flagstaff hosted a 24 Hour Run on Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff, AZ.  They assembled two treadmills on the Square and kept them moving for 24 hours straight.  Treadmills were powered by club members and other guests from the community.  Each runner had a 20-minute window to do their part.  The Run started at 10am on Saturday, July 9th and ran until 10am on Sunday, July 10th.  It was great exposure for the club, an excellent way to fund-raise, promote running and a healthy Flagstaff lifestyle.  Here's a great article about the Run.  Thanks to Neil Weintraub for some of the following photos and video footage.

The Masterminds (left to right):  Chris Budwig, Sara Wagner & Mike Smith

Big names & special guests highlighted the day...

...night and following morning.

The entire matrix set out in 20 minute increments.

The scene on Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff, AZ.

Coach Jack Daniels, author of the Daniels' Running Formula, followed the Mayor of Flagstaff, Sara Presler, as the first two runners to kick things off.

Chris Budwig looks on as his daughter, Allie, is interviewed by Smith.

Ireland's Olympian and 1:00:57 half-marathoner Martin Fagan takes his turn.

Scotland's Olympic steepler and 2:13 marathoner Andrew Lemoncello steps up.

Team Run Flagstaff club member Mark Williams joins in.

Kellyn Johnson, a member of Team USA Arizona, and her family came to support.

I squeezed my 20 minutes in too.

Smith interviews NATRA's Neil Weintraub during his spin on the wheel.

Tony Mangine feeds Neil as he tires!

As the sun set, the rain, thunder, lightning and wind began.  It was of no matter as the treadmills continued to roll.

Video footage of the event.

Your Moment of Zen

Tip of the Day:  If you lack opposable thumbs eat your way into the center.

The Land of Rims

No.  I'm not talking about these kinds of rims.

Northern Arizona is known for its rim littered topography.  It is here where the southern extent of the great Colorado Plateau reluctantly and abruptly gives way to the low lying Mojave and Sonoran Deserts.

The Grand Canyon from Grandview Point:  Perhaps the most well known Arizona rim feature.

Further south, the Mogollon Rim (Zane Grey country) also comes to mind.

However, here are two much smaller, but just as enjoyable rim options that are often over looked and well hidden from the crowds.

The Coconino Rim runs north-south between the Grand Canyon and Mount Humphreys.  It defiantly splits the cooler ponderosa forests of the Coconino National Forest from the Painted Desert of northeastern Arizona's four corner country.  For roughly ten miles, a section of the Arizona Trail runs along the rim affording some great single track running (and biking) and views eastward towards the Little Colorado River and Cameron, AZ.

The well marked start of the Coconino Rim Trail section of the Arizona Trail.  You can use the trail and Forest Service Road 310 to make a great 14 mile loop.

A view back towards the Grand Canyon from the rim.

Typical Coconino Rim Trail single track.

Also a popular mountain biking route.

  

The tall and still active Grandview Fire Tower sits atop the Coconino Rim.

Looking north towards the Grand Canyon from the fire tower.  This photo was taken about half-way up.  I had had all of the high winds and vertigo I could handle.

  

On the Kaibab National Forest, southwest of Flagstaff, one can find the well hidden Sycamore Rim Trail.  Though not a smooth as the Coconino Rim Trail, this diverse 11-mile loop takes you to water holes, climbing areas, rim edges and mountain tops.

Sycamore Rim Trail single track.

Surprisingly this trail criss-crossed some very verdant wash bottoms.

Looking into Sycamore Canyon in its infancy.  Lots of water running today.

Sycamore Canyon, now more adult-like, from the rim as it widens, deepens and heads south.

Emily Harrison and her dog, Bee, join in for this fun run.

One of many bolting Yucca.

The first of Pomeroy Tanks, a series of perennial "ponds" that support fish and amphibian life all year round.

More of Pomeroy Tanks and their unique surrounding rock formations.

The view of Humphreys from atop KA Hill; the high point of the loop trail.

Your Moment of Zen

Looking for water in a desert-like environment?  Hire a thirsty border collie mix.  They will sniff it out!