+ Thursday night run: Chimney Gulch/Lookout Mtn (T=3, P=3, N=2)**
+ Saturday Evergreen Runners Circle run: O'Fallon Park (T=2, P=3, N=4)**
+ Tuesday morning runs: South Table Mtn (T=3, P=2, N=4)**
+ Races, clinics and other upcoming events
+ Carpool to Winter Park race


I'm sorry for any confusion about last week's run location. Just after
I sent out the weekly message, I got a reliable report that South
Valley Park was too muddy to run. It was very muddy the last time we
ran there. We try to avoid running on muddy trails because it damages
the trails. I sent the change message out as soon as I could.

++++++++++

This Thursday evening's run is at Chimney Gulch/Lookout Mtn (T=3, P=3,
N=2)**. The main group will start at 6:15pm. An early group usually
starts around 5:30pm; look for Scott, Ray, Connie or Kim. We will run
here rain or shine.

Directions: Meet at the dirt turnout, at the first hairpin turn, just
above the pillars. Take hwy 6 to Golden. Turn west at Lookout Mtn/19th
ave. The turnout is about 3/4-mile up, just above the pillars. From
Boulder, take hwy 93 south, and continue south on hwy 6. From the east
on I70, take hwy 58 west, through Golden, to hwy 6; turn left at hwy
6, up the hill, to Lookout. From the south, take C470 to the end; just
past I70, it will let you off onto hwy 6. Take hwy 6 west for about
1.5mi to Lookout. There's a porta-potty in the small park on the left,
below the pillars.

Run description: The main route is out and back (with some additional
options for faster runners). Please keep your run to about 1:00-1:10.
In other words, you should turn around in ~35+ minutes.

There are both road and trail options. The road may be a good choice
for those without good lights. The hill gives a good workout and
traffic is pretty light. We will stay on the road if the trail is
muddy. Note: The road is longer than the trails, both in time and
distance. Please judge your time accordingly.

Road Route: Run up and back along Lookout Mtn Road. It's ~4.5mi and
1,500' to the park. Or, turn around at ~35+ minutes.

Trail Route: Start up the road ~1/2-mi. Go left onto the trail at the
small dirt turnout. Head up the trail for another ~1.5 mi to Windy
Saddle.* If you have lights, cross the road, jog left, then pick up
the Beaver Brook trail on the other side. If you don't have lights, go
left and head up the road until you've been out ~30-35 minutes, then
return on the road. The road, from Windy Saddle to the bottom, takes
several minutes longer than the trail.

Continuing on the trail, in another 1/4-mi, at the next trail
junction, make a sharp left. Climb another mile, first through a
series of switchbacks, then a straight section, to the next junction.
Intermediate runners should stay left and continue to a park* in
another ¼ mi. Return either back on the trail, or go left on the road
and take it down.

Faster runners should take a sharp right at the last junction and
continue another ~1/3-mi to the Boettcher Mansion.*

There are several options for faster runners from there:

1) Go left on the road at the mansion, for ~3/4 mi down the hill. Go
left again at Lookout Mtn Rd, then look for a park on the left. Enter
the park and look for a trail on the far left. This will merge back
with the trail we took up at the last junction before the mansion.
Stay right, and continue down the same way you came up. 2) For an even
longer route, go right and follow the trail (or road) along the west
side of the mansion, outside the fence for ~1mi. Go left at Lookout
Mtn Rd for another 1.1 mile to the park. Then, either go left and look
for the trail in the park, or continue down the road.

*Regrouping places:
+ At the Windy Saddle road crossing, both ways;
+ At the park, if you continue up the trail.
+ At Boettcher Mansion, for the faster runners.

++++++++++

This Saturday's Evergreen Runners Circle (ERC) run is at O'Fallon Park
(T=2, P=3, N=4)**. The run starts promptly at 8:30am.
http://www.co.jefferson.co.us/ext/dpt/comm_res/openspac/alderfer.htm

Take C-470 to the Morrison exit, hwy 74. Go west, through Morrison,
and continue about 6mi to the park. The park entrance is on the left,
just before the town of Kittredge.

The ERC runs are usually 60-90 minutes long. Occasionally, some people
will start early, or run longer, to get in more mileage. They usually
go out for coffee/breakfast afterwards. Several of us do the ERC runs,
but I don't organize them. Please forward your questions to Dave via
the ERC link below. For more info about the ERC schedules, go to:
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Lodge/7018/index.html

Schedule:
2/5: Chief Hosa
2/12: Evergreen Lake House
2/19: Upper Bear Creek - 5-mile marker. Some may start from the Lake
House, 16 miles. Check w/Dave
2/26: Genesee overlook. Mt. Vernon trails

++++++++++

Leigh Singleton and Ray Grundmeyer are leading runs every Tue morning
at South Table Mtn (T=3, P=2, N=4). They meet at 5:15am, and run into
the sunrise. The pace is casual. They welcome some company. Look for
Leigh in a yellow Nissan XTerra, often with a standard poodle, or Ray
in a burgundy pickup. These runs will continue every week as long as
people show up. Please contact Leigh for more info:
inclinerunner@.... It's also helpful if you let her know if you
plan to show up, though it's OK to just show up.

Directions: Meet at the NREL visitors' lot. Take I-70 to Denver West
Blvd. Go north to the first street. Turn left. Go 2 blocks to the NREL
lot. From 6th ave, exit at Indiana. Go north to Colfax. Turn right and
continue past the shopping center on the left. Turn left at Denver
West Marriott Blvd. Go over I-70 and follow the directions above.
There are no bathrooms or changing facilities at this site.

++++++++++

1/26, 5:30pm; Nighthawks Nordic Series, ski & snowshoe races; Eldora
Mtn, Nederland; 303-440-8700 x267

* 1/29; Winter Park Snowshoe Race; 5km (officially, but more like
4mi); 800-903-7275;
http://winterpark-info.com/events/index.html?event=1455

1/29; Cordillera Snowshoe Adventure; 5K/10K; Edwards; 970-581-5254;
http://www.altituderacing.com/cordillera_snowshoe_races.html

1/29; Snowshoe Marathon; 15 & 27 mi; Leadville; Bill Perkins, 719-486-9455

1/30; Snowshoe cross-training for runners, cyclists and triathletes;
Nederland; www.racingunderground.com/snowindex.html; 303-642-7917

2/5; Snowshoe and Ski Orienteering; Frisco Nordic Center; www.rmoc.org

2/5, 7pm; Cordillera Moonlight Snowshoe Adventure; 5K/10K; Edwards;
970-581-5254; http://www.altituderacing.com/cordillera_snowshoe_races.html

2/6; Gold Rush; snowshoe and ski races; Frisco Nordic Center;
www.emgcolorado.com, 970-668-0866

2/12; Beaver Creek Snowshoe Series #3; www.bcsnowshoe.com;
970-476-6797 x107

* 2/13; Screamin Snowman Snowshoe Race; 5k/10k; Eldora Mtn Resort,
Nederland; http://www.racingunderground.com/sssnowman.html

2/19; Winter Trails, Estes Park. FREE demos from many of the major
manufacturers. Guided hikes, food, and stuff for kids.
http://wintertrails.org/wintertrails.php?section=event&page=co

2/19; FREE snowshoe race; Salida area; tsobal@..., 719-539-4112

2/19; Mt. Taylor Quadrathlon (bike, run, ski, snowshoe); Grant, NM;
http://www.mttaylorquad.org/

2/27; FREE snowshoe race; Echo Lake; http://www.runuphillracing.com,
info@...; 303-870-0487

3/5; Beaver Creek Snowshoe Series #4; www.bcsnowshoe.com; 970-476-6797
x107

3/5, 6:30 pm; Billy's Island Grill Vail Mtn 5 miler; Lionshead
Gondola, Vail,CO; 970-845-0931

3/6; Steamboat Pentathlon (alpine ski, snowshoe, nordic ski, mtn bike,
run);
http://www.ci.steamboat.co.us/recreation/sports/pentathlon/pentathlon_info.htm

3/19; The Swift Skedaddle snowshoe race; 3K/10K; Frisco; 970-389-4838;
http://www.racingunderground.com/skedaddle.html

3/20; AARP Snowshoe Festival; Devil's Thumb Resort, near Fraser; (303)
764-5987; http://www.aarp.org/co/Articles/a2004-02-06-co-snowshoes.html

++++++++++

* Let me know if you are interested in carpooling to the race in
Winter Park this Saturday. Depending on interest, we will meet at the
Cold Spring park-n-ride lot, on Simms, just S of 6th ave., at 6:50am.

We will also try to carpool to the Screamin' Snowman race at Eldora,
2/13. Let me know if you are interested. Also, let me know if you are
interested in sharing a ride to a Sunday Incline Club
(http://www.inclineclub.com) run or any other event.

++++++++++

** Trail Rating - 1-5 scale, 1 being the easiest.
T = technical difficulty (rocks, narrow, curves, etc.)
P = physical difficulty (length, steepness and number of climbs)
N = navigational difficulty (ease of following the routes)

If this is your first time on the trail, please print out the route
description and map (if available).