+ Thursday evening run: Chimney Gulch/Lookout Mtn (T=3, P=3, N=2)**
+ Saturday Evergreen Runners Circle run: Genesee overlook. Mt. Vernon
trails (T=4, P=3, N=4)**
+ Free Snowshoe Race - Feb. 27, Echo Lake
+ Tuesday morning runs: South Table Mtn (T=3, P=2, N=4)**
+ Races, clinics and other upcoming events


This Thursday'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.

This is a good run for beginners (i.e., new to the trails and without
lights) and in wet weather. The route is easy to follow and is an
out-and-back, so you can turn whenever you want. If it is wet, or you
don't have a good light, you can run the road. It's a good climb with
very little traffic. Some people will go up on the trail, then down via
the road.

If you plan to run the trail, you might want to consider using screw
shoes. It's a simple, inexpensive (much less than buying YakTrax) way
to be able to run on ice. No it doesn't ruin your shoes. I'll bring
some extra screws and tools with me.
http://skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm

If you are unfamiliar with this trail, please print out the route
description (below).

Directions (see attached map): 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 about 35 minutes. If you are
taking the road down, it takes about 5 min longer than the trail from
the top to Windy Saddle, and another 5 min longer from Windy Saddle to
the bottom.

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.

Continuing on the trail, in another 1/4-mi, at the next trail junction,
make a sharp left. At the next junction, about a mile further up,
intermediate runners should stay left. This takes you 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.

Road Route: Run up and back along Lookout Mtn Road. It's ~4.5mi and
1,500' to the park, if you make it that far.

++++++++++

This Saturday's Evergreen Runners Circle (ERC) run is at the Genesee
overlook. Mt. Vernon trails (T=4, P=3, N=4)**.

Meet at the park-n-ride lot, on the north side of I-70, at the Genesee
exit (#254), by the buffalo overlook.

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:

++++++++++

I am putting on a FREE snowshoe race on Sun., 2/27, at Echo Lake. There
will be two courses, ~2mi & ~5-6mi. Both courses will be primarily in
the trees (protected from the wind) and through powder. The longer
course will have a lot of climbing. Both courses will be well marked.
Echo Lake is at the base of Mt. Evans, just 13.5 mi from Idaho Springs,
and 18mi from Evergreen.

I could use help setting the courses on Sat, 2/26. I'll go up after the
ERC run. It'll take 2-3 hours to set and mark the courses. We should
return to Genesee between 2-3pm. Let me know if you are interested.
We'll leave from the Genesee park-n-ride lot (see ERC directions above)
at 10am, and carpool up.

For start time, directions and course map, go to
www.runuphillracing.com

++++++++++

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 see the message posted on Mondays for directions. Or, contact
Leigh for more info: inclinerunner@.... It's helpful if you let her
know if you plan to show up, so they know to look for you.

++++++++++

2/27; FREE snowshoe race; 2mi & 5mi; 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; Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer; 3k race, 3k/5k walk; Frisco
Nordic; http://www.tubbsromptostomp.com/

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

3/5; 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

3/26; Snowshoe Shuffle; Vail; 10k/5k, 1mi fun run;
http://www.snowshoeshuffle.com/

++++++++++

** 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)




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