Green

From Chautauqua, Mesa, Bear Canyon, Green Bear, West Ridge, Green; down Greenman, Saddle Rock, Amph, Baseline.

Don't know if I've run this route before. Started at 6:22 pm. Felt a little hungry driving up to Chautauqua. Overcast and cool so I decided I didn't need to carry water. Started out and felt decent so decided to keep a somewhat hard yet comfortable effort going and see if I could run all the way up Green. Running up the "road" section below the Bear Canyon trail junction, three guys pointed out a bear just off the trail. I stopped briefly to check it out, then continued on. Running up Bear Canyon, I saw that part of the trail is being re-routed away from the stream to the north. Looks like a nice new section. Just past the steep steps near the bottom of the Green Bear, I spooked three grouse (?). Kept the run going up Green Bear and saw three deer just below the West Ridge junction. I was amazed at how comfortable I felt running everything. Legs and breathing both were reasonable, although I started feeling it near the top of Green Bear. Tried to not ease off too much on the flattish section of the West Ridge before the big steps begin. Managed to keep the run going without really doing any "sissy stepping." Made the last left turn and still had power to kick it up a notch to the summit boulder, which I ran/scrambled quickly. Was elated with how the run up went.

Hung out on top for about 10 minutes enjoying the sunset and some quiet time. Perfect evening up there. Started down and decided to take it easy. Well, my legs had some say in the matter. I guess I really had worked pretty hard on the climb. Jogged easy down to Greenman Spring, pushed a bit more on the smooth, flatter section over to the Saddle Rock junction. From here, it was getting quite dark, and I started walking. And I started feeling wasted. Hands started tingling. I was still moving fine, but my legs were really feeling fatigued. Descending the section below the First Flatiron trail junction, I sort of rolled my left ankle (no pain or injury) and went down in a heap on my right side. Sort of a slow motion fall with no damage done, except that I was a filthy mess. Got up, dusted off, and continued down, feeling even more trashed. Gimped my way down to the Amphitheater trail. A short ways down, I had to sit down. Legs were miserable. My balance was occasionally off. Walked a bit further and stopped to sit again just above the Amphitheater. Continued down, made the turn onto the Baseline trail, and stumbled my way back to Chautauqua. Hopped in the car and called Lori to tell her why I was running late and that I needed to get some water from the ranger station and sit for a bit to recover. Just stopping moving, then getting a little bit of water, had me feeling much better. A mini-epic on Green Mountain!

Wildlife: 1 bear, 3 grouse (?), 3 deer

0:00 - Chautauqua
19:28 - Skunk Creek
54:55 - Bear Canyon/Green Bear
1:09:03 - Green Bear/West Ridge
1:13:33 - Green
1:22:50 - started down
2:14:29 - Chautauqua

StreakBlueB