Mountain Therapy

 I wasn't sure if I wanted to run or hike.  Running is over faster, leaving more time to do nothing.  Nothing is something I require an exceptional amount of these days.  Quietly hanging with the cats, on my couch, reading, in the silence.  However, mountain therapy is also required to keep the chaos in my brain down and it had been too long since I had hiked.   

An inversion from a hike last summer

When the alarm went off, I was tightly snuggled up between Lando and Nova and almost considered taking an extra rest day and just staying cocooned between 2/3 of my heart.  But Lando quickly noticed I was awake jumped up because he couldn't risk delaying breakfast.  I got up as well, and decided a hike would be the best use of the morning.  

I really wanted to do South Boulder Peak but my left knee has been chirpy since my 12 mile run last weekend and I figured 3k+ vertical wouldn't be doing it any favors so I headed to an old standby, Mount Galbraith.  I missed sunrise while getting ready but the clouds decided to keep the colors coming

I did decide to at least get some cardio in by pushing pace for the uphill.  I started at Nightbird gulch, a trail I have a love hate relationship with.  The love is for the uphill.  The morning was stunning - there was a light breeze to start, it was in the low 40s, and the sunrise just didn't want to end.

I was theoretically trying to go for a zone 2 heart rate, which I accomplished for about half of the uphill, but even with all the running the fact I haven't been climbing many mountains could be felt.  

The rock hopping felt really good and I could almost feel my brain sink into the place where there is less existential dread.  When I hit the loop I decided to go counter clockwise.  This is the far better direction when there is now, but alas for CO, we are so very dry right now.  It feels like a sturdy sneeze could start a fire.  

I wasn't moving super quickly, but I was definitely dripping sweat by this point.  All of the working out does pay off though, my legs and cardio both felt great.  I accidentally scared this fellow, I wish I could have told him he was safe

Around mile 2.75 my knee started chirping a little bit but it ended quickly and that was all.  I hit the summit trail - I am so happy they finally created a summit trail for this mountain - having only seen a few other humans.  Most of those humans had off leash dogs which is irritating, but at least they were all well behaved.  

The lack of snow is very concerning

Hit the summit at about 73 minutes, no idea if that is faster than usual for me.  How was there still color remaining from that sunrise??  Freaking beautiful

Finishing out the loop was a delight, just a nice stroll down the side of the mountain overlooking Golden, and then it was back to the "stick" part of this lollipop trail.  This is where I start to get rock fatigue.  It's over a mile and a half back to the car and it's mostly a narrow rocky trail with loose sand.  It never bothers me on the way up but I do get very sick on it on the way back to the car.  

Luckily the sky kept me company

I finished up in about 2 hours 15 minutes, 5.3 miles and 1500 vertical total.  

I never regret taking a hike after the fact and my brain chemistry absolutely needed this.  

Finished up with a cream cheese heavy bagel, and I didn't ask for extra cream cheese, this is just how it came.

Luckily this still left plenty of time to relax with the cats and finish up one book.  It was called Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross and I thought it was solidly mediocre.  I haven't thoroughly enjoyed many  books lately despite reading 2-3 every week.  So I am probably the problem.  It hasn't slowed my consumption though.  Fantasy worlds are so much more alluring than the real one.