Happy Monday...

Well, although I don't have any pictures to post from the trail runs this weekend, I definitely have a story to share. Yesterday I ran on the lower Hermosa Creek Trail, heading 5 miles north up the trail before turning around at the bridge over Dutch Creek. Both Sherpa and Shrek took a quick dip in the river, then followed me back up the steep climb out of the canyon, retracing our steps to the lower trail head. However, they diverged from the trail investigating something or other, and I waited several minutes for them, hollering and huffing from the 500 foot climb over the last mile. After waiting a couple moments, I continued running south down the trail to the truck, convinced they were behind me like they always are. But, the dogs never caught up with me, so I retraced my steps calling for them, backtracking at least 2 miles. A pair of runners and then a pair of mountain bikers coming from the upper trailhead, 20 miles distant, told me that they had seen the dogs, absorbed in their own world moving at high speed up the trail together into unfamiliar territory and wilderness. These people suggested we look for the dogs at upper Hermosa... So, I retraced me steps again, my 10 mile run morphing into 14 miles, and hopped into the truck, driving 40 miles into the mountains to purgatory, then takinga rough 4x4 road into the backcountry. Surprise, surprise - as I rolled into the trailhead, fording the river in my truck, two familiar faces came prancing around, excited with tails wagging. Both dogs were there, none the worse for wear, but very tired. I'm still amazed at this episode. The dogs wound up running at least 21 miles from the lower trailhead to the upper trailhead - combined with the 9 mile run that we did on Dry Fork on Saturday, the dogs ran at least 30 miles this weekend. I only ran 23 miles this weekend, putting me at 53 miles for the week, my second consecutive week above 50. Anyways, the dog incident yesterday was initially frustrating, then alarming, and finally a happy reunion. At least they stayed on the trail - they just ran 15 miles in the wrong direction!

In other news the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is still snow-free and thus still open. If this beautiful weather continues to hold it's looking like my Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Run will become a reality on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Should be exciting...