Top row left to right: Iona Park, BC, Rockingham Recreation Trail, NH, Mount Seymour BC, Clydes Pond, NH, Jade Lake, BC Middle row left to right: Mount Revelstoke BC, Salmon Arm BC, Abbott Ridge, BC, Image Lake, WA, Eva Lake, BC Bottom Row left to right: Miller Lake, BC, Miners Ridge LO WA, Pemi Loop Appalachian Trail NH, Cypress Proviccial Park, BC

It was another great Hike-a-thon!

Miles on BC’s Hollyburn Mountain

Wow! I’m always so physically and emotionally drained come September 1 after putting some serious miles on the trail in August and spending two months trying to convince you all why you should make a donation to my Hike-a-thon benefiting the Washington Trails Association. Since 2012 I have participated in Washington Trails Association’s annual Hike-a-thon as a way to have a little fun and help give back to the trails that have enhanced my life and contribute to my career. And trails have not only helped me with my livelihood as a guidebook author and outdoors writer, but as a refuge from the previous pandemic’s fallout, political rancor, inflation, despair, and my own personal challenges.

Since being diagnosed with PMR in 2020 during a time when I was questioning if my best days were over—I have been managing my condition (through medication, diet, and intense physical activity) as best I can and trying to do as much as I can realizing that tomorrow may bring an end. I continue to push myself and set new goals. And while this was not my best hike-a-thon in terms of mileage, I was able to put some incredibly intense days on the trail as part of my training for my upcoming challenge. In June I committed to run my first 100K (62 miles) race as a way to celebrate turning 62. So my 62 for 62 challenge has been my recent focus and hike-a-thon fit in nicely. I have run four challenging 50Ks in the previous 2 months and hope to do one more before my big race day on October 7^th.

And you my wonderful friends and readers once again came through and opened up your wallets and made generous donations. Donations came in a little slower this year and I really had to work it the last week in which nearly $3000 came in helping me once again make my $10,000 fundraising goal. This marks three years in a row that we have raised more than $10,000 for our trails! Thank you! You all rock!

Me and Miles on the Windham (NH) Rail Trail, a gem in the town I grew up

This year’s hike-a-thon was a little different for me too in which I spent half my time on the trail not in Washington! I’ve been working on a book in British Columbia this year so Miles (the marmot mascot) and I put some serious kilometers in there as well as back in my home state of New Hampshire. And my three biggest trail highlights of the month cover all three of my favorite places to hike (only California is missing from this list—but that is where I am doing my 100K next month!). My highlights include four days of hikes in BC’s Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks, the incredibly challenging Pemi Loop in NH’s White Mountains in one day, and Image Lake and Miners Ridge in the heart of the Glacier Peak Wilderness in one day. Those were my highlight days. But every day was grand whether I was hitting the trail near my home in Skagit County or near my home where I grew up in southern New Hampshire. Time on the trail is always time well spent!

Miles packing the bear spray for our hikes in grizzly county in BC’s Columbia Mountains

And this whole process has once again recharged me and has given me reasons to stay hopeful while the outside world remains gloomy. I empathize with my fellow hikers and runners who are stressed, anxious, and depressed. These are indeed challenging times. I hope you consider setting some goals for a greater good for yourself and community. It will help you stay positive and focused. We will persevere —and I believe that ultimately it will make us better people.

So a big thanks to all of you who donated to my hike-a-thon, accompanied me on the trail, and provided support. And a big thanks once again to Oboz Footwear, Brown’s Outdoors in Port Angeles, and Green Trails Maps for their generous donations of great gear that I was able to give away to help motivate you all to donate! And a big thanks to my fellow talented guidebook author friends, Stephen Huy, Adam Sawyer, Bryan Schaeffer, Brandon Fralic, Rachel Wood and Matt Reeder for donating some of your books as donation incentives. I hope many of my readers have discovered the great work that you all do. And thanks too to John D’Onofrio of Adventures Northwest magazine for donating a backcountry cook set as a donation incentive!

And congrats to the following drawing winners:

Oboz Footwear goes to Megan Austin!

Altra Trail shoes (thanks to Browns Outdoors) goes to Eric Quinn!

And the person who will get to appear in one of my future guidebooks is Tim Mahoney

I am looking forward to spending some trail time with you!

And thanks to the 124 of you who donated!

1. Stephanie Blakey
2. Anonymous
3. Sylvia Stanley
4. Joan Amero
5. Mary Fulton Campbell
6. Megan Austin
7. Judy Grandstrand
8. Warren Scott
9. Keri Sprenger
10. Liz McNett Crowl
11. Dean Wingfield
12. Sandi Hill
13. Leah O’Brien
14. Julie Love
15. Doug and Susan DuBois
16. Shannon Weldy
17. Vanessa Stanley
18. Aleta Mueller
19. Jennifer Bradwin
20. Gregory Barnes
21. Ed Ledger
22. Becky Hendrick
23. Genevie Roguski
24. Mary Rolfe
25. Jodi Broughton
26. Bob Wismer
27. Ute Collins
28. Virginia Scott
29. Freda Sherburne
30. Eric Quinn
31. Clark Allworth
32. Chuck Nordhoff
33. Anonymous
34. Anonymous
35. Ben Bergstrom
36. Timothy Manns
37. Marlene Groening
38. Megan Thompson
39. Carl and Candy Berner
40. Alyssa Jones
41. Wendy Wheeler-Jacobs
42. Scotty Railton
43. Mary Beth McNair
44. Kristen Simerson
45. Mark Kenney
46. Petra Wilkenson
47. Jonathan Rogers
48. Michelle Haffner
49. Judy Romano
50. Di Hoffman
51. Marylyn Perkins
52. Jennifer Coleman
53. Bret Wirta
54. Kim Carson
55. Robert Shirk
56. Beth Liddell
57. Vicky de Monterey Richoux
58. John and Marie Erbstoeszer
59. Bryan Blount
60. Greg Myrick
61. Theresa Northcutt
62. Tom and Barb Irvine
63. Dana Kellison
64. Bruce Burger
65. Ann Taft
66. Skagit Runners
67. Laurie Jarolimek
68. Joan Durgin
69. Charles Howell
70. Hon-Wah Chan
71. Anonymous
72. Christy Smith
73. Craig Sosey
74. John Hale
75. Helen Robinson
76. Elyse Verstelle
77. Steven Yee
78. Jane Reynolds
79. Kelly Woolms
80. Kerry Lowry
81. Rod Sawyer
82. Wendy Wall
83. Linda Shigaki
84. Krista Hudson
85. Anonymous
86. Avra Cohen
87. Kristine Bitnes
88. Ginger Oppenheimer
89. Pam Crooks
90. Scott Wingate
91. Jodi Brautaset
92. Jan Hersey
93. Kimberly Scott
94. Reshma Patel
95. Anonymous
96. Catherine Lanning
97. Donna Ellenz
98. Austin Smith
99. Douglas Romano
100. Xabdra Copp
101. Ali Kingfisher
102. Peter Sonne
103. Anonymous
104. Anonymous
105. Crystal Gartner
106. Vicky de Monterey Richoux
107. Anonymous
108. Christine Smith
109. Tim Mahoney
110. Krista Chenoweth
111. Anonymous
112. Judith Roberts
113. Anonymous
114. Emily Graaf
115. Danielle Daskam
116. Erica Baker
117. Anonymous
118. Terry Wood
119. Rob Casey
120. Cheryl Perry
121. Katie McNett
122. Laura Spehar
123. Sallie Herling
124. Andrew Kelley

Thanks again and see you on the trail!!

The post 300.5 Miles Hiked and Run and $10,124 Raised appeared first on Craig Romano.

It was back in 2011 when I decided to take up ultra-running. I was on the verge of turning 50 and had become fascinated with the annual and iconic White River 50 mile run held near Mount Rainier. White River had grew into one of the country’s biggest and most famous 50 mile races attracting incredible talent from across the country. The idea of running 50 miles on trails over challenging and gorgeous terrain in such an exciting event intrigued me. How does somebody run that? Could I do something like that?

It had been some time since I took on a big physical challenge. Yes, I ran and hiked on a regular basis, but life and in particular my career as a writer was taking up a lot of time and energy. I hadn’t given much thought to getting out of my comfort level and seeing how far I could run in a day. Approaching 50 jolted me. It was time to halt the slide into complacency and accept a challenge. And what better way to celebrate turning 5-0 than by running 50 miles? There were probably lots of better ways, but this was the one I was intent on doing!

I ran my first marathon in the summer of 1990 at the age of 29. Four months later I ran what would be my fastest marathon ever (3.03.19) which qualified me for the Boston Marathon. My third marathon was Boston and it was one of my proudest and most memorable moments. But after that I went back to college and really started to put some direction in my life after my turbulent 20s. My running training became less of a focus. I got injured and I fell out of marathon shape.

Me and race director James Varner at the start

On January 1, 2011 I was ready to commit to train for and run my first 50 miler. I had never run a race beyond a marathon, so I knew my training would be intense. In April I ran my first 50K, and followed it with several other 50K races and some challenging training trail runs. I committed myself to my goal by going public with it and turning it into a fundraiser for the Washington Trails Association. My friends and readers encouraged me. I wrote a monthly column in Northwest Runner about my training journey.

On July 30, 2011 I ran and completed my first (and to date only) 50 mile race. I had 14 hours to make the cutoff on the tough course which included more than 8,000 feet of elevation gain over two sustained climbs. I finished with 1 hour and 1 minute to spare. My wife, friends, followers, and many new acquaintances cheered me on all along the way. Ultra-running legend and race director Scott McCoubrey who hosted me the evening before was among the folks who provided me with incredible support. Coming over that finish line was (and still is) one of my proudest moments—and the first time I ever finished a run teary-eyed. I set out to do something that was unfathomable to me years earlier—and I did it!

I ran a few more ultras after that and ran trails on a continual basis, but for the most part began losing focus again on regularly running ultra-distances. In 2020 after a 6 year hiatus of ultra-marathoning I ran a 50k and immediately remembered how much I enjoyed the challenge. But by the end of 2020 in the height of the Covid Pandemic shockingly I was having a hard time completing a 10 mile run as my health was deteriorating.

Running along the Palisades is a race highlight

In February of 2021, I was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica PMR (an inflammation auto-immune disorder) and was immediately put on a prescription of prednisone. Within a couple of days I was able to regain full motion of my neck and move my legs and arms pain free. In essence I was born again and able to hike and run and live life as I have for years. But being on prednisone scared the hell out of me with its potential side effects of weight gain, decreased bone density and a slew of other problems. I overhauled my diet eliminating many processed foods and began to ultra-run again to keep my weight in check, strengthen my bones, keep my heart and lung strong and to celebrate life—especially after being in pain and thinking that my life of hiking and running was over at age 59.

I continued to run marathons and ultra-marathons and push myself to levels I didn’t even think I was capable of doing when I was much younger. At age 60 along with a friend we ran around Oregon’s Mount Hood on the Timberline Trail—covering the 41 mile trail with its treacherous creek crossings and 10,000 feet of cumulative elevation in just over 15 hours.

Even the terrain has changed since 2011, as witnessed here with a new burn zone

Earlier this year I decided to up the ante once again and launched my 62 for 62 challenge. I decided to run my first 100K (62 miles) to celebrate my 62^nd year of life! And in White River fashion, I targeted a race (the Cuyamaca 100K) that’s not an easy one—one that includes 8,800 feet of elevation gain over mountainous desert and chaparral with a 19 hour time limit. I am determined to complete that race successfully and I have been training hard to get there!

As part of my training plan I returned to White River this past July to run its 50K. As much as the 50 miler was tempting, I wanted to make sure I was staying on schedule for my training and not risking an injury; as I just came off of one earlier this year after completing a string of road marathons. I also wanted to run this race in race mode—that is hard and with the gear, food and liquids that I would be using at Cuyamaca. Sort of a trial run to see how things fall into place.

Running as a member of Team Potato and as an experienced ultra-runner this time around, White River was a little different. The magic I felt in 2011 was not there—the race is different now and in many ways so am I. But this year’s race had its own magic and I glowed upon coming over the finish line in 7 hour 54 minutes—completing a hard course of 6,400 feet of elevation gain complete with obstacles like downed trees. I was happy with my time, one that if I can keep that pace, will have no problem completing Cuyamaca in time. And I felt great after the finish too—not too sore, just tired—like I ran 50 kilometers of hard mountainous terrain at race pace. White River 2023 was a success.

Me in 2011 approaching Sun Top Mountain at Mile 37

It’s so inspiring to see so many new and young trail runners out there. I wished that I had started this pursuit earlier in my life to be able to run faster times and be more competitive. But that’s water under the bridge. You can’t go back into the past. But again I reminded myself to be incredibly content and grateful that at age 62, I could still run this event. I was the oldest race finisher and I had a stronger finish than many of my fellow participants decades younger than me. I also reminded myself that so many of my peers are dealing with ailments and diseases that don’t allow them to do many physical things—I can still run long and strong and at an age when most folks continue to slow down—a time when many folks think their best days and biggest achievements are in the past. I won’t have any of that! I’ve got too much life left to live and I am determined to go where I have never gone before—that 100K in October being one of them.

I made the cover of Northwest Runner!

I really missed racing during the Covid shutdowns because so much of being an ultra-runner is being part of a community that many folks just don’t understand. You run how many miles? It’s unfathomable to many folks. So being back in races among my tribe—a diverse group of people who share a love of trails and distance running is invigorating. And it’s great to be among the folks who make these events happen. New White River race director James Varner is one of them. I first met James in 2007 when I signed up for one of my very first trail runs. James was on the vanguard of trail running decades ago—a pioneer in the Northwest ultra-scene.

He welcomed me to the race and congratulated me (and all of the other runners) at the finish line. And it’s only fitting too that long time director Scott McCoubrey was at this year’s event volunteering at one of the aid stations. I hadn’t seen Scott since White River 2011, and it was so special for me to see him this year—as he was one of the main reasons I became an ultra-runner. White River will always have a warm spot in my heart. This event had changed my life and this year’s event gave me the encouragement and confidence to keep my eyes on the Cuyamaca prize!

Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I am proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement of potatoes as I attempt to run a marathon in all 50 states and continue my journey to run a 100K (62 miles) race to celebrate turning 62! I’ve got a tough journey and many miles to go—and lots of potatoes to consume and power me along the way.

The post White River 50K: Returning to where it all started appeared first on Craig Romano.

Celebrating what we can do, and not lamenting what we can’t

Running and hiking are my two biggest passions in life. They’ve done more for me than keep me physically healthy. They’ve also kept me mentally heathy and spiritually fulfilled. They’ve given me purpose, drive, and a desire to get out of my comfort zone. They’ve led me to a heathy outdoors lifestyle packed with countless adventures to new places, new races, and meeting new faces. Running and hiking are my life.

Dreaded results from a dreaded virus

So, naturally I love trails. Wilderness trails, urban trails, rail trails, any trail that allows me to move freely outside experiencing the world around me; while also allowing my mind to turn inward to discover a little bit more about myself. I thrive best when I move—and move I love to do, especially on long runs and hikes. I’m not about going fast (those days are in the past), although I still like to challenge myself on how much ground I can cover within a certain timespan.

I started running marathons when I was 28. It was a way for me to stay focused and positive while I dealt with a period of hurt, depression, and rejection. Becoming a marathon runner with all of its dedication and training required to get there gave me great self-confidence. Qualifying and running the Boston Marathon gave me great satisfaction; confirming what’s possible when you’re determined, dedicated, focused, and committed.

Three decades plus later I became compelled to recapture the glory I felt qualifying and running in the Boston Marathon. It was after emerging from the dark days of the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020 and 2021; and after starting treatments for an auto-immune condition (PMR) that rekindled my desire to go for Boston again. As racing events began to open up again, I excitingly entered a bunch. Some encouraging half marathon results gave me hope that I may still have it. I targeted the 2022 North Olympic Discovery Marathon (NODM) on the Olympic Peninsula as my Boston Qualifier.

Beautiful morning at the marathon start

Why this race? It’s a great one for a Boston Qualifier. A one way journey nearly all on rail trail across some pretty scenic terrain. It’s put on by a dedicated group of people who care for their participants, the communities the trail passes through, and the trail that the race takes place on—the 130 mile Port Townsend to La Push, Olympic Discovery Trail. The race has contributed thousands of dollars toward the trail’s development. More than 90 miles of it are currently in place. I’ve watched its remarkable growth over the past three decades. And I’ve watched the incredible growth of the NODM from its inception (I went for a recon run with the race’s founder, Larry Little way back in the day) to its current status as a major event on the Peninsula incorporating a half marathon, 10K, 5K, and relay, bringing so many diverse folks and interests together to make it a success.

Lining up at the start

I targeted the 2022 race, its 20^th annual and then trained with my eye on the prize. I ran a pretty decent marathon time on a tough course the month before—my first marathon in six years and thought that my goal was attainable. But life happens as it always does. My son contracted Covid at his school one week before the race. I quarantined myself from my son and wife who also tested positive, hoping that I could thwart the most contagious form of this dreaded virus to date. Two days in and I was still negative and running. On day three the virus got me. My NODM plans were over. I was devastated. But, you have to move on—adjust-and go forward. If the pandemic taught us anything—you build resilience through adaption. The race director Victoria Jones kindly rolled over my entry to 2023. I now had another year to train.

Thankfully my bout with Covid wasn’t too harsh and I was hiking and running again within two weeks. I started marathoning again too, and my times kept improving—until February of this year when I got sick at the Mesa (Arizona) Marathon. It was setback. But hey I’ll bounce back—which I did and then got injured by tearing a muscle in my right hamstring. This of course set me way back with many weeks of running missed and a slow recovery that doesn’t abide by your schedule. When the 2023 NODM came about I was running pain free, but still not strong and still worried that I would agitate my hamstring again.

That’s when you just have to adapt a new mode of thinking—there will be no Boston qualifier on this race. I won’t even try to get anywhere close. I need to fully recover and be able to run hard and strong again. I have plenty of time to do that. While running a race has its finish line as the destination—running in general for me is a journey. And I was going to enjoy the journey on this run without the pressure to perform at a certain level.

The race stated from the beautiful 7 Cedars Hotel on the Jamestown S’Klallam Reservation. I was booked at the hotel and loved the location (as well as the amenities and décor) and couldn’t have spent the night any closer to the start line. There would be no panic parking or long privy lines pre-race for me—just roll out of my room to the start line.

I had previously run this marathon back in 2014 on a hot day. That would not be the case this time, it was unseasonably cold. A head wind made it colder. It would be the first marathon I’ve done in years in which I didn’t pour water over my head at each water stop. Overheating was not an issue.

part of my marathon liquid recovery diet

We were off on the paved rail trail through Sequim Bay State Park and then through the city of Sequim. We crossed the Dungeness River on a beautiful trestle and traversed woodlands and fields granting beautiful views of the Olympic Mountains. And while the run is primarily on a rail trail, it still had some challenging spots where it did not follow the original rail grade. This included steep drops into and ascents out of gullies where original trestles were missing.

Along the way I passed and was passed by fellow marathoners. Each one of running our own race and for our own reasons and causes. Some runners display them. They’re running for Jesus, to beat cancer, to celebrate a milestone or a healthy transformation. Some are running as part of a team or a collective goal like completing a marathon in all 50 states. And then there’s me running for Team Potato, proudly wearing my team jersey attracting comments and making more than a few participants hunger for a baked potato or crispy French fries upon completion. On this race I had a conversation with an intrigued runner on where Washington ranked in potato production in the country. Number two I quickly rolled off—and responsible for 25% of the country’s total. Oh boy I quickly realized, I’ve become a potato geek!

Cheers to another completed marathon!

After a long descent at Mile 21 you reach the Strait of Juan de Fuca shoreline and immediately are recharged by its beauty. I zoned in on the crashing surf as I made my way to the finish line. And upon crossing it, my face as usual displayed anguish—but my inner feelings were that of pure joy and contentment. I finished another marathon! I pushed my body once again and was able to do something that most people will never do—never even consider doing—never know the feeling you get from accomplishing something that upon initial thoughts seems impossible. And while I had no Boston qualifier moment, I did have a revelation knowing that far too often I lament what I can’t do when I should be celebrating what I can do. So I celebrated completing another marathon—and at an age when many of my peers give up on seeing what they are still capable of doing.

I made my way to the post-race food station and commenced with my liquid recovery diet consisting of water, Gatorade, soup, chocolate milk, all washed down with a draft beer! The celebratory big meal would come a little later after my post-race nap. By that time I am ravenous, looking to replace some of the 3,500 calories I burned during the run. You can bet potatoes were part of my celebration dinner. While I certainly welcome some complex carbohydrate replenishment; potatoes also contain protein, vitamin C and more potassium than a banana. All good for helping my leg muscles recover. And recovery is important if I am to remain injury free and continue pushing my body to meet new physical fitness goals.

Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I am proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement of potatoes as I attempt to run a marathon in all 50 states and begin my journey to run a 100K (62 miles) race to celebrate turning 62! I’ve got a long journey and many miles to go—and lots of potatoes to consume along the way.

The post North Olympic Discovery Marathon 2023 appeared first on Craig Romano.

A spudtastic good time in Boise

Idaho and potatoes are synonymous. The Gem State is the number one producer of potatoes in America, responsible for growing one third of the country’s crop. But Washington’s production is no small potatoes. The Evergreen State ranks second in the US growing more than 20% of the nation’s spuds. As a proud member of Team Potato, sponsored by the Washington State Potato Commission—and a resident of Skagit County where potatoes rank as the county’s most valuable crop—how could I not be interested in running in the Famous Idaho Potato Marathon this past May 13th?!

There’s definitely a rivalry between Idaho and Washington when it comes to potatoes! How would I be received decked in my Washington State Potato Commission Team Potato running shirt while running 26.2 miles in a race sponsored by the Idaho State Potato Commission? Would I be cut down to size? Was I about to step foot in a potato landmine or would I just blend in among the other potato runners? Well, if you’ve seen my race shirt, you know there’s no way I won’t stand out. It draws attention—and it definitely did its job in the marathon.

Starting with picking up my race number, folks noticed this Washington potato runner among the bushel of participants. I was mostly received with smiles, but there were the occasional short blurts of “Washington potatoes!?” But those too were followed with smiles. Idahoans are a friendly lot but they take their potatoes seriously. So as long as I didn’t denigrate their spuds (and why would I, they’re just as delicious as Washington potatoes!) we were all good.

The post race potato bar

The best acknowledgement of my presence however came right at mile 2 during the race. It was at this moment while running on the Greenbelt Trail along the roiling Boise River, that one of the Idaho Potato Commissioners himself—who happened to be a participant in the race noticed my shirt. He absolutely loved it. Pure potato love! After some friendly banter, he passed me, assuring that this Washington potato runner would come in second to an Idaho potato runner!

I wasn’t running my fastest. My race strategy was more like a slow cook, than a quick fry as I was not pushing hard after coming off a torn calf injury from a previous marathon. My goal was to just finish this race without pain and to feel good at the end. It was one of my slowest marathons, but one in which I was feeling pretty good. The support was wonderful with many energetic young folks volunteering at the aid stations. The race is a benefit for the Treasure Valley Family YMCA. This was the 45^th annual staging of this race which also includes a half marathon, 10K and 5K. And like so many races, the half marathon distance is the most popular with more than 700 participants. There were just 200 of us signed up to do the full marathon.

Boise Greenbelt Trail

It was a nice course with very little elevation gain. We were bussed out to the dam at Lucky Peak State Park for the start at 7 am. From there it was along the Boise River on a paved trail through a beautiful canyon for the first three miles. The course continued on the Greenbelt trail system crossing over the river a couple of times before briefly passing through Boise’s central area. It was then back on the trail and upriver through quiet tidy neighborhoods. We crossed the river again and ran out and back by a canal before heading back along the Greenbelt to the finish area at Albertsons’ corporate headquarters.

As with all of my races I compose a race specific soundtrack in my mind to keep me focuses and plodding along, This one consisted of the B-52’s “Private Idaho”, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “What’s Your Name” (well, it’s 8 o’clock in Boise Idaho) and a whole bunch of tracks from Boise’s Paul Revere and the Raiders! “Hungry” being a particular favorite and taking on a more literally than metaphorical meaning the more calories I burned along the way!

Marilyn Monroe in a potato sack

By the time I crossed the finish line I was feeling like a baked potato. The thermometer was pushing 80. A far cry from the chilly breezy 53 degree start near the dam. My friend and fellow 50 state marathoner Hanna who traveled from Massachusetts cheered me on at the finish. Those last few steps to the finish line are always so emotional. It’s the validation that all of your hard work and training has paid off. You’re a marathoner and damn proud of it. A whole bunch of strangers you’ve been running with are now bonded with you. There are high fives, fist bumps, hugs, stories to tell, and a medal to proudly wear. And it’s time to refuel a body that has been pushed hard.

It would only be fitting that the Famous Idaho Potato Marathon offered baked potatoes as post-race nourishment. Potatoes are a great recovery food with lots of potassium, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and many other essential vitamins and minerals. And after running 26.2 miles in the heat, and with my Garmin watch displaying that I burned more than 3300 calories, I had no problem slathering that potato with plenty of sour cream and cheddar cheese! And upon finishing, I had to pose in front of the giant potato before shuffling back to my hotel for much deserved shower and nap.

The following morning I took it easy with a 4.5 mile walk on the Greenbelt Trail and a stop at the wonderful Idaho State Museum. It was there that I learned that the potato was first brought to Idaho by the missionary Henry Spalding (who came to the Northwest with Marcus Whitman). I Learned about Jack Simplot and his potato empire (which got a big boost thanks to Ray Kroc and McDonalds) and learned that Marilyn Monroe posed in an Idaho Potato burlap sack! Well. No wonder Idaho’s potatoes are famous!

Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I am proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement of potatoes as I attempt to run a marathon in all 50 states. I started my journey last year with marathons in Washington (my home) and New Hampshire (my home state). Idaho makes state number 5. I’ve got a long journey and many miles to go—and lots of potatoes to consume along the way.

The post Famous Idaho Potato Marathon appeared first on Craig Romano.

Throughout the Golden State from the Redwoods to the Sierra to the Mojave Desert, Californians are growing tired of the influx of out-of-staters, particularly folks from Washington State on their trails. In fact increasing numbers of Californians are blaming many of the state’s trail problems and park incidents on these out-of-staters. “They compete with us for backcountry camping permits,” states longtime High Sierra trail hiker Mia Bakyord. “They come down here in their OR jackets and $50 water bottles and think they own our national park and forest lands,” she added.

Washington is flush with trails and public lands, leading many Californians perplexed as to why they want to come hike in their home state. “Sure we have something like nine national parks, the John Muir Trail, 10,000-foot peaks minutes away from L.A., huge wilderness areas especially in our deserts, and lovely hikes in our wine country,” says Sal Fichhyker. “Those darn Northwesterners just need to stay in their own lane and keep their lattes off our trails,” he angrily retorted.

In fact many Golden State hikers are at their breaking point when it comes to Washingtonians on their trails. They hike too slow, don’t know how to merge at trail junctions, and don’t know how to park their Subarus, Priuses and Teslas at the trailheads contend many local hikers. “And worse of all they come here for our weather,” adds Al Waisunny. “Don’t come down here in February enjoying our sunny and warm trails and beaches,” he implores. “Stay home and play in all of your rain.”

There has been so much disgruntlement over Washingtonians coming to California for better weather that many locals believe that a radical hiking organization is behind the massive amount of rain and lousy weather that has hit California over the past several months. “Wouldn’t surprise me if it isn’t somehow the works of the gate keeping hiking group, Stay off our Public Lands,” shrugs Parla Doxil. “Wouldn’t surprise me too if this isn’t one big April Fool’s joke!”

The post Californians blame influx of Washingtonians for Trail Crowding appeared first on Craig Romano.

“Walking in L.A. Nobody walks in L.A.,” Dale Bozzio of Missing Persons repeatedly belts out in their hit 1980s anthem. Yes, America’s second largest city is a sprawling megalopolis that favors cars over pedestrians. But if you’re wondering if people do in fact walk in L.A, just check out Griffith Park on any given day. And when it comes to running however, holy moly do people run in L.A.! On March 19^th at 6:30 am I stood among 22,000 folks at Dodger Stadium ready to run the 38^th annual Los Angeles Marathon! And run we did—26.2 pulsating miles through some of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods and down some of the most famous roads in America.

If you‘ve ever wanted to get a good feel for a city. Feel its pulse. Tap into its energy. Run it! I’ve run very few big city marathons, favoring smaller events in more rural and natural environments. I ran the Boston Marathon many years ago and the Calgary Stampede Marathon in the past—pretty much my resume when it comes to big city marathons. But in both of those events I had the amazing experience of getting to know and appreciate those cities—and to collectively tap into their pulse with thousands of fellow enthusiastic runners. Boston especially. There’s nothing like it. The entire course is lined from start to finish with screaming, enthusiastic supporters.

The Los Angeles Marathon however gives Boston, well, a run for your money! From the moment I attended the huge pre-race expo I quickly realized how grand this event was not only to the running community, but to L.A. itself. It’s a huge charity fundraiser bringing the city together. The city prides itself on this run which traces its origin to the 1984 Summer Olympics. It was in those games that Joan Benoit took home the gold for America in the Woman’s Marathon. The first L.A. Marathon was established two years later and its course has since been tweaked to its current manifestation starting at Dodger Stadium and ending at Century City. Today the L.A. Marathon ranks among the 10 largest marathons in the country drawing more than 20,000 participants.

At 7:00 am under overcast skies with a little humidity (more like the Northwest or Northeast than Southern California); and just after the newly elected mayor, Karen Bass gave her words of encouragement, we were off from Dodger stadium. I had joined my friend, fellow Washingtonian, ultra-runner and marathoner Grady Olson at the race. It was him who got me interested in this race after he told me about it during one of our ultra-trail runs last summer. And it was through the support of his L.A. based family members that I was able to have such a hassle free race day.

We started fast and downhill. I have been nursing a small calf injury and I held back not wanting to agitate it. Grady and I were in the third seeded corral putting us over the start line in just a minute. Being away from the masses behind us allowed us to run our paces and at no time were we crowded and dodging fellow runners. Yes, 22,000 is a large number. But the entire course was on wide 5 and 6 lane closed to traffic roads giving you plenty of room to breathe.

Many runners like to plug in when they’re running. I opted instead to put a playlist together in my head. For the first several miles “L.A. Women” by the Doors (one of my absolute favorite bands) was my earworm. And the course even passes by the Whisky a Go Go which helped the launched the Doors into stardom. We headed into Chinatown where we got our first big energy boost thanks to a riveting drum ensemble and dragon dancers. It felt surreal.

We next looped around and ran through downtown passing the historic 32-story art-deco city hall and towers of steel and glass. Being Sunday morning, aside from the runners and spectators the downtown streets were deserted—except for the homeless. This city of incredible wealth and opportunity contains the country’s largest population of unhoused people. We passed several proselytizers among them belting out on PA systems from overheads and sidewalks to repent or go to hell. Running a marathon can feel like hell at times. But for many of us it is spiritual event perhaps bringing us closer to our creators and redeeming us.  

After a good hill (the course is not flat with a cumulative elevation gain of more than 900 feet) we set into the groove on one of the most famous streets in America, Sunset Boulevard. We passed through Hollywood. Breaking my concentration I occasionally glanced up at the sign above in the hills and down at the celebrity stars along the sidewalks. We passed famous landmarks too like Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. No red carpet out front mind you; just a road of sweat, tossed cups, and discarded energy gel wrappers.

West Hollywood was next up. Its large LGBTQ community definitely added flair to the cheering sessions. By this point my leg was agitating me so I needed to stay focused on finishing and diverted from my discomfort. Confetti fell gently upon me as I ran through a tunnel of cheering and screaming spectators. And some spectators were blasting “Walking in L.A.” giving me a boost! We next entered opulent Beverly Hills and ran down Rodeo Drive to the opulent Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel, offering a sobering juxtaposition to the scenes of downtown LA.

As we exited Santa Monica Boulevard for the final out and back stretch in the Brentwood section of L.A., the crowds, noises and smells around me intensified. There was so much positive energy around and so much crowd support. And so much diversity in both the running field and the spectators. People from so many ethnic backgrounds and so many places. And for this moment we were all unified—all one sharing a common interest, love, and goal. If only the world could come together like this.

I pushed through my discomfort; focused on more drums banging, a riveting rock group, the scents of hot tamales being cooked along the streets. A runner came upon me and in Spanish asked me about my “papas” shirt. I was wearing my Team Potato shirt which always gets some recognition in my runs. And I was thinking about scarfing a bunch of potatoes after the race in the form of In-N-Out’s (when in California) French fries. The potassium and carbs will be a welcome after all of the calories (more than 3200) I burned on this run. But in the meanwhile, folks were handing out oranges, water, energy drinks and gels—one group was even handing out small cups of beer! Folks were running out on the course offering to spray Biofreeze on aching legs. I took advantage of that and saved my beer sipping for the finish line.

I counted the miles down in my head and by the time I hit 25 a familiar rejuvenating mantra swept me: “Oh my God I only have 1.2 miles left to go! Push through it. Get er done! Cross that line!” And cross it I did where total strangers hugged, high-fived and congratulated each other. We were all winners no matter our finishing time—a group of dedicated folks who accomplished running a marathon. By this time my mental playlist was on Sheryl Crow’s “All I wanna do.” It captured my feelings perfectly for the day. “This is LA… All I wanna do is have some fun until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard and I have a feeling I am not the only one!” Yep. I had 22,000 runners celebrating with me!

Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I am proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement of potatoes as I attempt to run a marathon in all 50 states. I started my journey last year with marathons in Washington (my home) and New Hampshire (my home state). California makes state number 4. I’ve got a long journey and many miles to go—and lots of potatoes to consume along the way.

The post <strong>Running in LA</strong> appeared first on Craig Romano.

The glow of finishing overpowers the pain and discomfort of the previous four and a half hours on the road.

Life happens. I’ve been looking forward to the Mesa Marathon in Mesa Arizona for months. Its fast downhill start and generally flat course along with its excellent support and vibes had me hooked. I trained hard and felt confident that Mesa would be my fastest marathon in sometime. Possibly even a Boston Qualifier. It turned out to be my slowest marathon—ever.

To say that I’m bummed is an understatement. Two days before the start of the marathon I came down with a cold. No! I had been so good at avoiding crowds, sleeping and eating well and wearing a mask at the airport and at a recent concert. But as we all know by now viruses have a way of getting to you and messing up your life.

I was drained the day before the race and was having a hard time getting pumped at the packet pickup at the Chicago Cubs’ spring training stadium at Sloan Park. There was so much energy and excitement around me as I worked my way through hundreds of volunteers and anxious participants while I picked up my race bib and pre-race goodies. My demeanor however was more subdued as I worried how I was going to feel race day morning.

And race day morning came early—way too early. I was up at 2.45 am gulping down coffee and fueling up on some calories including a breakfast burrito with potatoes. A runner knows how important potassium is to muscle performance and two of the best and easiest sources for that mineral are potatoes and bananas. They’re almost always part of my pre and post race meals. As I fueled up on calories and caffeine I kept hoping that my cold would be mild.  I was congested, warm and not feeling very energetic.

Feeling pretty wiped out at the finish

I made it to the staging area at 4:00 am and joined my 2200 fellow marathoners by hopping onto a bus that dumped us off in the desert 26.2 miles away from the finish line in Riverview Park near the stadium area. It was dark and chilly, but heat lamps, space blankets and layers ready to be tossed by start kept us warm. And at 6.30 in dawn’s emerging light we were off! It was a fast start indeed down a dark desert park road. The Superstition Mountains slowly came into view while the silhouettes of saguaro and cholla cactuses slowly revealed their prickly details. You definitely didn’t want to leave the road here where every plant doubles as a lethal weapon!

I started at a good pace but by mile three I knew I was in trouble as I was already overheating. Running a marathon is hard on a body. Colds are hard on a body. And running a marathon with a cold is really hard on a body. At mile 5 after a long uphill stretch I was hurting. And once the course eased I realized I was not going to have a strong finish. I actually doubted at times that I would finish at all. But I’ve spent years training my body for discomfort to achieve endurance challenges. Nothing satisfying in life is achieved without a lot of effort and a little pain.

By the half marathon mark I made peace with myself and accepted that this was going to be a slow and painful run. I began to thwart my negative thoughts into positive ones. Hey, even if I have to walk a little, that’s okay—I ‘m going to complete this run. I’m part of a large collective of folks pushing their bodies and limits and all of whom have had their share of pain and disappointment. Life happens and sometimes you just have to roll with it. Make the adjustments and persevere. Marathoning has taught me much about life and it has made it so much easier for me to face and accept setbacks in my day to day living. No matter how hard you plan and prepare, sometimes—many times, forces beyond your control get the last word—and if we’re going to stay in the race—be it the marathon or life—we have to accept, adjust and carry on.

Arizona-state number three in my quest to run 26.2 in all 50

At about mile 20 or so I passed a homeless person pushing his possessions in a cart in the 70-plus degree sun. My race day suffering and setbacks were quickly put into perspective. I have the means to live healthy and to travel to a distant state to participate in an event with other fortunate folks. Any disappointment and discomfort I feel today does not diminish my dignity and disposition nor leave me in a state of destitute and despair. There is a lot of real suffering out there and sometimes we need to hurt a little to notice it, feel empathy and perhaps feel motivated to help assuage it.

I made it to that finish, and as with all marathons my anguish slowly transformed into elation. And while I was not content with my time, I was with my accomplishment. And as I grow older and have now dealt with an auto-immune disorder for more than two years—the sense of accomplishment means much more to me than ever before. There is something about not letting age and ailments from keeping you from getting the most out of life. I slowly tapped into all of the surrounding feelings of joy from my fellow marathoners reveling in their own victories. Everyone runs for their own reasons. And there were many setbacks overcome, limits pushed, self-doubts discarded and self-affirmations made that day

Recovering from a marathon is always a slow process. And while my body may ache and feel the distance, my soul glows. Good rest and nutrition will help bring the body back. And the glow will last for some time—and eventually lead me to my next marathon. I already have it on my calendar and I am ready to overcome the setbacks of this one. Just like in life, we’re often given another chance. So I’m going to take it!

A Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I’m proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement capabilities of potatoes as I attempt to run a marathon in all 50 states. I started my journey last year with marathons in Washington (my home) and New Hampshire (my home state). Arizona was state number 3. I’ve got a long journey and many miles to go—and lots of potatoes to consume along the way!

The post Down but not out in the Desert appeared first on Craig Romano.

Suffering over the finish line.

Life happens. I have been looking forward to running in the Mesa Marathon in Mesa Arizona for months. Its fast downhill start and generally flat course along with its excellent support and vibes had me hooked. I trained hard and felt confident that Mesa would be my fastest marathon in sometime. Turned out to be my slowest—ever.

To say that I am bummed is an understatement. Two days before the start of the marathon I came down with a cold. No! I had been so good at avoiding crowds, sleeping and eating well and wearing a mask at the airport and at a recent concert. But as we all know by now viruses have a way of getting to you and messing up your life.

I was drained the day before the race and was having a hard time getting pumped at the packet pickup at the Chicago Cubs’ spring training stadium at Sloan Park. There was so much pent up energy and excitement around me as I worked my way through hundreds of volunteers and anxious participants while I picked up my race bib and pre-race goodies. My demeanor however was more subdued as I worried how I was going to feel race day morning.

And race day morning came early—way too early. I was up at 2.45 am sucking down coffee and fueling up on some calories and hoping that my cold would be a mild one. I made it to the staging area at 4:00 am and joined my 2200 fellow marathoners by hopping onto a bus dumping us off in the desert 26.2 miles away from the finish line in Riverview Park near the stadium area.

It was dark and chilly, but heat lamps, space blankets and layers ready to be tossed by start kept us warm. And at 6.30 in dawn’s emerging light we were off! It was a fast start indeed down a dark desert park road. The Superstition Mountains slowly came into view while the silhouettes of saguaro and cholla cactuses slowly revealed more details. You definitely didn’t want to leave the road here where every plant doubles as a lethal weapon!

I started at a good pace but by mile three I knew I was in trouble as I was already overheating. Running a marathon is hard on a body. Colds are hard on a body. And running a marathon with a cold is really hard on a body. At mile 5 after a long uphill I was hurting. And once the course eased I realized I was not going to have a strong finish. I actually doubted at times that I would finish at all. But I have spent years training my body for discomfort to achieve endurance challenges. Nothing satisfying in life is achieved without effort and a little pain.

By the half marathon mark I made peace with myself and accepted that this was going to be a slow and painful run. I began to thwart my negative thoughts into positive ones. Hey, even if I have to walk a little, that’s okay—I am going to complete this run. I’m part of a large collective of folks pushing their bodies and limits and all of whom have had their share of pain and disappointment. Life happens and sometimes you just have to roll with it. Make the adjustments and preserver. Marathoning has taught me much about life and it has made it so much easier for me to face and accept setbacks in my day to day living. No matter how hard you plan and prepare, sometimes—many times, forces beyond your control get the last word—and if we are going to stay in the race—be it the marathon or life—we have to accept, adjust and carry on.

At about mile 20 or so I passed a homeless person pushing his possessions in a cart in the 70-plus degree sun. My race day suffering and setbacks were quickly put into perspective. I have the means to live healthy and to travel to a distant state to participate in an event with other fortunate folks. Any disappointment and discomfort I feel today does not diminish my dignity and disposition nor leave me in a state of destitute and despair. There is a lot of real suffering out there and sometime we need to hurt a little to notice it, feel empathy and perhaps feel motivated to help assuage it.

Didn’t take long after finishing to start glowing!

I made it to that finish, and as with all marathons my anguish slowly transformed into elation. And while I was not content with my time, I was with my accomplishment. And as I grow older and have now dealt with an auto-immune disorder for more than two years—the sense of accomplishment means much more to me. There is something about not letting age and ailments from keeping you from getting the most out of life. I slowly tapped into all of the surrounding feelings of joy from my fellow marathoners reveling in their own victories. Everyone runs for their own reasons. And there were many setbacks overcome, limits pushed, self-doubts discarded and self-affirmations made that day

Recovering from a marathon is always a slow process. And while my body may ache and feel the distance, my soul glows. Good rest and nutrition will help bring the body back. And the glow will last for some time—and eventually lead me to my next marathon. I already have it on my calendar and I am ready to overcome the setbacks of this one. Just like in life, we are often given another chance. So I’m going to take it!

Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I am proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement of potatoes as I attempt to run a marathon in all 50 states. I started my journey last year with marathons in Washington (my home) and New Hampshire (my home state). Arizona was state number 3. I’ve got a long journey and many miles to go—and lots of potatoes to consume along the way.

The post Down but not out in the Desert appeared first on Craig Romano.

Life is good in BC’s Glacier National Park

Last year was a good year for me on the trail! I ended up amassing more than 2300 running and hiking miles which included some pretty memorable experiences. While I got hit with Covid (who hasn’t at this point?) in May, I thankfully was able to recover fairly fast and get back on the trail. I continue to reduce my prednisone dosage with the intent of putting my auto-immune condition Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) into remission. I had a couple of minor flair-ups but nothing that stopped me from running and hiking hard—well at least as hard as I can at this stage in my life!

I am welcoming my 60s as a time to go for it! And with that I have gotten back into marathon running and ultra-racing. I completed 4 marathons (Covid robbed me of number 5) and four 50Ks last year—something I was not capable of doing in my 20s. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t count my blessings that my body is allowing me to do these types of events. I participated in a grueling 50K –the Backcountry Rise at Mount St Helens in which I was just one of 6 over 60 to complete it!

Representing Team Potato in the Bellingham Bay Marathon!

Most of this year I will be focusing hard on my running with three goals I wish to attain. I hope to once again qualify for the Boston Marathon. I ran it in my 20s and would love to recapture the magic in my 60s. My fasted marathon last year was in Manchester NH in which I ran a 4.07-so I still have some work to do to run a sub 3.50—something I haven’t done since my 40s. My other goals are to run my first 100K-since I will turn 62-might as well run 62 miles—and to continue on my journey to run a marathon in all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces (I’ve got two new marathon states coming up!). Can’t think of a better way to see North America! And with Team Potato sponsoring me I hope to bring lots of Washington Potato love on the run! Carb up-refuel and run!

Heading down the South Kaibab Trail in one of the most incredible landscapes anywhere-the Grand Canyon!

My biggest hiking highlights this past year included hiking undeveloped barrier islands in Mississippi and Florida, hiking in BC’s Glacier National Park and California’s Joshua Tree National Park (one of my favorite national parks), doing Mount Rainier’s Northern Loop in a day (okay that was mostly a run), setting a personal hike-a-thon record for the month of August by doing 352 miles and doing some incredible hikes in Arizona including the state’s highest summit Humphreys Peak and hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and out in a day!

I got to spend some great time on trails in BC, WA, OR, CA, AL, MS, FL, VT, NH, ME, MA and CT! And I got to do some kayaking in Alabama in bayou country, I don’t do enough paddling and I plan on doing more in 2023 as well as hiking and running my culo off like there is no tomorrow—because life truly is too short and you have to seize as much as you possibly can! And of course I will have my family along on many of my hikes and runs, because spending time with them is as precious as the time I get to spend outdoors.

In 2023 I am going for it!

I hope you are too!

The post 2,321.1 miles! appeared first on Craig Romano.

Christmas is almost here. Last night of Hanukkah and Boxing Day closing in closely behind. If you celebrate Orthodox Christmas you have some time! So, if you are still looking for some good gift ideas for the hikers and outdoorspeople in your life, may I suggest these three great new books?

The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon:

Outdoor Adventures Accessible by Car, Wheelchair, and on Foot (Falcon Guides)

By Syren Nagakyrie

 Finally there’s a well-researched and reliable guide specifically written for disabled hikers for western Washington and Oregon. And what makes this book stand out among similar books that have been written in the past, is the author’s understanding of the diverse needs of disabled people in the outdoors. Nagakyrie is the founder of Disabled Hikers, an entirely Disabled-led nonprofit organization and has worked with many parks and organizations to improve access and inclusion for disabled people.

The book uses The Spoon Rating System as a way to identify how much effort a trail might take. The system is based in an understanding of Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino (a metaphor for the energy rationing that many disabled and chronically ill people have to do).  The rating offers a representation of the trail’s accessibility, the effort needed to embark on it, and how replenishing the experience may be. In essence it combines accessibility, difficulty and overall quality rating.

The book includes ADA paths, foot trails suitable for disabled hikers and drive up experiences such as the wildlife auto road in southwest Washington’s Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. In all there are 46 destinations ranging from Mount Baker, Portland and Seattle metro areas, to southwestern Oregon. The book is by no means comprehensive of the trails available to disabled hikers in the region. A Seattle or Portland based hiker looking for something more thorough for their region may be a little disappointed. But if you’re looking for a wide array of trails in some wonderful outdoor destination throughout the region (think travel getaways) then this book will more than satisfy and provide all of the information you need for a fulfilling outdoors experience.

Nature Swagger: Stories and Visions of Black Joy in the Outdoors  (Chronicle Books)

By Rue Mapp

Nature Swagger is a celebration of Black people in the outdoors and a testament to the powerful healing and revitalizing powers of nature for all people. Mapp chronicles her own journey discovering the therapeutic powers of nature through time at her father’s small ranch in rural Lake County California. As a college student she describes having a capstone experience mountaineering and summiting peals in the High Sierra with Outward Bound as the only Black woman in her group. The trip helped her understand the power of nature, but also accented her isolation being with a group who shared different cultural experiences. It would be the impetus to eventually lead her to find Outdoor Afro in 2009—first as a blog-and then as the nation’s leading organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature.

But Nature Swagger goes far beyond Mapp’s discovery of nature and her creation of Outdoor Afro. It shares stories from a wide array of Black Outdoors voices celebrating Nature and all its healing and inspiring attributes; and seeks to inspire others to connect with nature and each other. The collection of voices in this book is meant to inspire Black communities to reclaim their place in the natural world of hikers, urban farmers, fishers/hunters, surfers, beekeepers, campers, birdwatchers, kayakers, equestrians, and more.

Interspersed throughout this book of personal stories, and profiles, are essays from Mapp on the rich the rich history of Black involvement in the outdoors, activism, and conservation. This hardbound book is meant to empower Black people to rebuild their relationship with nature, highlight visual representations of Black people outdoors, and celebrate the rich history of Blackness in the outdoors. It’s also an inspirational and informative read to all people regardless of their ethnic background, and a testament that the outdoors belongs to all of us and that we can all share in its positive attributes and become part of a shared culture that covets a life outdoors.

52 Ways to Nature Washington:

Your Seasonal Guide to a Wilder Year (Mountaineers Books)

By Lauren Braden

 If you ever wondered what to do outdoors in the off season, this wonderful book will not only provide you with plenty of activities—but also quickly dispel any thoughts that there is an off season. Outdoors writer Braden who founded the local trip-planning website Northwest TripFinder has put together the perfect book to keep you and your family active outdoors all year-round. And she has found 52 ways to do it—one for every week of the year allowing for a lot of discovery and adventure along the way.

This book is organized by season and with each activity she introduces to you she provides plenty of natural and cultural history. She suggests places to partake in the introduced activities that collectively cover the entire state—therefore also introducing you to Washington’s diverse landscapes and historical, cultural and natural offerings. And the book encourages experiential learning promoting immersion activities that connect you with nature. While anyone of any age and background will find this book engaging and encouraging, it’s especially well-suited for families with children. The book has ample space throughout to add your own notes and observations.

The book is ideal for anyone new to the state, but also for those who have lived here for years—prompting them to discover a new activity and area. Go animal tracking, ice skating, camp in a yurt, gather wild edibles, bicycle on an island, go river rafting, explore a tide pool, drop a crab pot, hike to a glacier, saddle up a horse, be a lighthouse keeper, try geocaching, and so much more with this great book as your companion and prompt.

And of course, all of my books make great gifts, too! Thanks for supporting my works and the works of other hard working fine outdoors authors!

The post Three Great Outdoors Books—that I didn’t write! appeared first on Craig Romano.

On my way to Pumpkin Rock!

Thank the Ancient Celts for giving us this holiday—Irish and Scottish immigrants for bringing it to America—and Madison Avenue for helping to make it so bloody commercial! What used to be day of general mischief, scary tales, and warding off evil spirits has since been replaced with an excuse for adults to tap into an alter ego, kids to over consume sugar, and the neighborhood Griswolds to deck the house like it’s a twisted Christmas Season. No longer the scary holiday it once was (Election Day has now become our scariest holiday), Halloween still clings to some of its origins and roots. So why not seek out a trail to a place that harkens the darker side of Halloween. Yep, no Superheroes or sexy nurses (not that there is anything wrong with them) here-just good ole fashioned demons, goblins and the macabre.

Skull Rock

So if you’re looking for a hike to help burn off some of that excess sugar you’ve been or will soon be consuming—how about considering one of these with its sort of Halloween theme. Okay-there really aren’t too many true Halloween themed hikes out there, but there are enough with names and images to help set the mood of the spooky holiday. But let’s look beyond the usual suggested hikes that often involve ghost towns, old graveyard sites, massacre and murder scenes, and sites of supernatural convergences! I’ve put together a slew of suggested hikes that have names or destinations that make them festive for the time! Your job is to set out on them and let your imagination and chill factor take over. And if you want to hike them as a super hero or sexy nurse, power to you!

California

Joshua Tree National Park’s Skull Rock is perhaps one of the spookiest natural landmarks anywhere.

Pumpkin Rock, okay this large boulder on a ridge in Riverside County’s Norco, has been enhanced-but it does the trick and looks like it’s straight out of a Tim Burton movie.

Bumpass Hell- this geothermal area in Lassen National Park was a living hell for a Mr. Bumpass

Arizona

Skelton Point, no bones about it, this spot in the Grand Canyon will bring to life the most deadened soul

Pumpkin Trail- This lightly used trail carves a delightful route up Kendrick Mountain

Washington

Mesahchie Ridge- Take a hike on Easy Pass to view Mesachie Ridge, a Chinook Jargon that means wicked or evil, and the views are wicked amazing!

Deadmans Lake- This subalpine lake survived the blast of 1980 but must harbor a tale of demise somewhere along the line

Diablo Lake, hell of a nice hike, especially in the fall

Goblins Gate- hike to this spot in Olympic National Park, a portal on the Elwha River and beyond

Oregon

Devils Rest-and it rises above Angels Rest

Seven Devil Hills-take to this rugged stretch of the Oregon Coast for a hell of a hike

New Hampshire

Devils Hopyard, a rugged and remote ravine not far from a former WW II prisoner of war camp

Devils Slide- Not too far from his hopyard is his slide in his own state forest in a town named Stark!

Frankenstein Cliffs-not a monster of a hike, and not named for the monster, but a German immigrant artist

With more than 5 million annual visitors, the Grand Canyon is our 4^th most visited national park. And if you’ve ever experienced the grandeur of this amazing landmark, it’s not hard to understand why. Folks come from all over the country and world to see this stunning geological feature on the Colorado Plateau. The canyon is 278 miles long, 18 miles wide in spots and up to 6,000 feet deep. The National Park Service manages more than 1.2 million acres of the canyon. But most of those 5 million visitors never venture out on more than a couple hundred of those acres. And only 1% of them—about 50,000, hike or ride a mule to the bottom of the canyon. Most visitors don’t step foot at all into the canyon.

I recently returned from an October weekend trip to Grand Canyon National Park, and except for my short visit to the Visitors Center and Geology Museum, crowds were not an issue. I hiked down the South Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch at canyon’s bottom and enjoyed prolonged periods of solitude. I hiked out via the Bright Angel Trail and mainly shared it with a few handfuls of rim-to-rim hikers and a couple of backpackers. The trail got a little busier beyond Indian Gardens to the Rim, but it was never crowded.

And I had the same experience on the 13 mile long Rim Trail that runs from Hermit’s Point to the South Kaibab Trailhead. This is a great easy paved in places trail that runs along the rim passing amazing viewpoints. Except for the 2 mile stretch in Grand Canyon Village, you can roam it without crowds. Again most visitors don’t venture far from the easily accessible Mather Point. Some will take the shuttle to Hermits Rest and just get out at the viewpoints, take a few pictures and hop back on the bus. We took the shuttle all the way to Hermits Rest and hiked 9 miles back to the village and enjoyed long stretches of trail where we were alone.

Yes, our trails and national parks are experiencing record visitation. But peace and quiet is still possible. Go that extra mile, seek out that quiet stretch of trail and let the huddled masses continue to congregate at the easily accessible and popular spots. The Grand Canyon is a massive place, yet most of its millions of visitors don’t venture on more than a miniscule fraction of this amazing place. I can’t wait for a return visit. I have several trails new to me planned—and I am pretty much guaranteed that those trails will provide me with plenty of solitude even if another million visitors find their way to the Grand Canyon in the near future.

It was my most successful Hike-a-thon, ever!

Wow! I am still catching up on my rest and trying to catch up with my work after an amazing August. Since 2012 I have participated in the Washington Trails Association’s annual Hike-a-thon as a way to have a little fun and help give back to the trails that have enhanced my life. And trails have not only helped me with my livelihood as a guidebook author and outdoors writer, but as a refuge from the pandemic, political rancor, despair, and my own personal challenges.

Since being diagnosed with PMR in 2020 during a time when I was questioning if my best days were over—I have been managing my condition (through medication, diet, and intense physical activity) as best I can and trying to do as much as I can realizing that tomorrow may bring an end. This year I really pushed myself physically beating my monthly mileage record by 1 mile. I hiked or ran on the trail everyday but one in August and did three 30 mile days!

And you my wonderful friends and readers outdid yourselves again with donations that will directly benefit our trails and enhance our outdoors lifestyles! I am overwhelmed by your generosity-especially during the last two days of Hike a thon when $1700 came in helping me far exceed my fundraising goal of $10,000 by more than $1,000. Thanks so much to the 126 of you who made a donation! You all rock!

This whole process has once again recharged me and has given me reasons to stay hopeful while the outside world remains gloomy. I empathize with my fellow hikers and runners who are stressed, anxious, and depressed. These are indeed difficult times. Consider setting some goals for a greater good for yourself and community. It will help you stay positive and focused. We will persevere —and I believe that ultimately it will make many of us better people.

So a big thanks to all of you who donated to my hike-a-thon, accompanied me on the trail, and provided support. And big thanks once again Oboz Footwear, Browns Outdoors in Port Angeles, Green Trails Maps and From the Ground Up Socks for your generous donations of great gear that I was able to give away to help motivate you all to donate!.

Thanks again and see you on the trail!!

If you’re like me you probably just grudgingly accept that part of being in the great outdoors is sharing it with a slew of annoying and biting insects. I detest insect repellents (I don’t like applying toxic substances to my body and I hate being sticky afterward),so I try my hardest not to use them—which usually means I head into a run when I encounter an exceptionally buggy patch of wilderness. But what do you if a bunch of the buggers get to you and leave you with welts, bumps, and red dots that scream to be scratched!?

Well, you usually just give in and scratch which only provides temporary relief and often makes things worse. Fortunately I don’t react too badly to bug bites so I have never paid much attention to the various insect bite relief products that are on the market. When I was first made aware of a pair of new products—the Don’t Scratch that Pen and Don’t Scratch that Patches from the All Better Company I didn’t pay too much attention.

But then I read more deeply about these products using plant based products and thought-what the heck, let’s give it a try. Besides, these products were founded by two Moms who came up with this relief formula for their outdoor playing children.

This year in Northwest Washington was a good year to put these products to the test as we were having an exceptional outbreak of floodwater mosquitoes. After an afternoon being subjected to their constant attacks, I took the convenient Don’t Scratch That Pen (which fits easily in your pack or pocket) and applied the formula consisting of CBD, oat kernel, jojoba, and coconut oil to my bites. This combo of ingredients was designed to help reduce inflammation, ease itching, promote healing, and rehydrate the skin. And to my surprise I immediately felt relief. This stuff works! And I especially like that it is so easy to apply and so convenient to tote around and leaves no stickiness or odor on my skin.

For the patches, I summoned my Mother who is exceptionally sensitive to insect bites to give them a try. After a day on the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire she had amassed a good collection of welts. We applied the patches (which weren’t quite as easy to apply as the cream) on the bug bites and to her surprise, the formula of the patches which includes tea tree oil provided instant relief and hastened healing. The patches are touted for when you need a little extra strength for relief and they came through.

I now carry the Don’t Scratch that Pen in my pack when hiking in buggy terrain and its minimal dimensions adds virtually no weight to my pack nor does it take up much space. If you have tried other insect bite relief products or none at all and have resigned yourself to the fact that you are going to be itchy and scratching for a while after a bad bug encounter; I encourage you to check these excellent products out and give them a try. For more information, visit allbetterco.com

Nice review of Hiking Washington’s History, which I co-authored with Judy Bentley in the Cascadia Daily News. If you love history and hiking, and want to get so  much more out of your hikes in the Evergreen State, then this book should be in your pack. And if you don’t get out on the trail as much these days, this book makes a wonderful read by the fireplace as well. And if you missed Judy and my shoot on King 5 Evening on Hiking Washington’s History, check it out here! Hope it gets you interested in looking at our trails from a whole new perspective..

Approaching Mount Washington on a beautiful May Day-best birthday ever!

While Covid-19 ebbed and flowed and then raged on, 2021 wasn’t too bad of a year for me when it came to running and hiking! The year started out rough as I battled some heath issues that turned out to be an auto-immune condition called Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR). Years of stress and anxiety at taken its toll on me despite my lifestyle of intense physical fitness. I began medication in late February with the hope of putting my condition into remission. The medication allowed me to once again to enjoy full range of motion in my arms, legs, and neck and to run and hike generally pain free.

With this rebirth, I modified my diet and decided to ramp up my activity and do as much as I can—for time is short and my new condition, life during this pandemic and turning 60 in May all reminded me so. The result? I hiked and ran my culo off tallying just under 2300 miles for the year. I began ultra-running again after taking a break from it and have found a new love for endurance hiking and running. And in general I had a blast hitting the trail and moving!

My biggest highlights of the year were doing the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire’s White Mountains on my 60^th birthday—19.5 miles and 8,700 vertical feet over 7 rocky peaks in a day—and in August running around Mount Hood on the Timberline Trail-41 miles and 10,000 vertical feet in a day! I also won my first race- a half marathon cross country trail run- and at age 60! I spent some great time on the trail with family and friends and deeply cherish their company and companionship.

Besides spending a lot of great trail time in Washington’s Cascades, I hit the trail in Oregon, California, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. I went back to California’s Humboldt County—one of my favorite places on the West Coast-after a long absence from running and hiking in the redwoods. And I returned to an area of Vermont where I once lived and knew well and left with much emotional pain 32 years ago. Returning there was cathartic and healing. Instead of remorse and pain I felt nostalgia and contentment. I look forward to returning again—and I look forward to a wonderful 2022. I am ready to face the challenges and obstacles that life will throw at me and continue to hike and run my culo off like there is no tomorrow!

Hope you have a great year, too!

Raging glacial melt wasn’t going to stop me from circumnavigating Mount Hood! Bring it on!

In February of 2021 I was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), an auto-immune disease. I am determined to put it into remission and keep living an active lifestyle including hiking more than 2,000 miles a year and participating in 50K trail running events.

Terry Wood of the Seattle Times wrote a feature on how I am dealing with this condition. I hope my story inspires others with auto-immune disorders to stay positive and try to live a healthy life.

Read the Full Story Here.

350.9 Miles Hiked and More than $10,200 Raised

It was my successful Hike-a-thon, ever!

Wow! I am still catching up on my rest and trying to catch up with my work after an amazing August. Since 2012 I have participated in the Washington Trails Association’s annual Hike-a-thon as a way to have a little fun and help give back to the trails that have enhanced my life. And trails have not only helped me with my livelihood as a guidebook author and outdoors writer, but as a refuge from the pandemic, political rancor, despair, and my own personal challenges.

And this year was especially challenging with my recent PMR diagnosis. I am managing my condition as best I can and pushed myself farther and harder than ever before. And you my wonderful friends and readers outdid yourselves with donations that will directly benefit our trails and enhance our outdoors lifestyles! Thanks!

For this Hike-a-thon I set three goals for myself. Three goals that I knew would have me working hard this to achieve. They were:

• Raise $8,000 (beating my previous best)
• Hike or run every day on a trail in the month of August (taking no days off)
• And tally more than 325 miles for the month (to beating my previous best of 325 miles)

And I am ecstatic to announce that I met and/or exceeded every one of my goals! As of this writing because of the generosity of 118 of you (my record amount of donors to date) I have raised more than $10,200!

I did indeed hike or run a trail every day of the month alternating easy “rest” days on some of my local trails with hardcore mileage days in the backcountry. And I not only exceeded my 325 mile goal for the month-I exceeded it big time by completing 350.9 miles. This included a kick off day of 41 miles on the trail (my second longest day on the trail ever) and a grand finale on the trail with a 27.6 mile day! I did a handful of 20 milers in the mix too! This all averaged out to 11.3 miles a day. I’m beat!

While all of this was incredibly satisfying, one of my underlying motivators was trying to live my life to the maximum with my new health condition. I was in severe discomfort with limited range of motion just 8 months ago and thought that I would never be able to do high intensity days on the trail anymore. This summer and Hike-a-thon has helped recharged me and continue my path to trying to put my condition into remission.

And with the Pandemic still raging and all of the social unrest, political madness, natural disasters, and awful news–It was refreshing and recharging to become totally absorbed in my Hike-a-thon and so deeply satisfying to challenge myself—and exceed my expectations—and have such positive results to show afterward.

This whole process has recharged me and has given me reasons to stay hopeful while the outside world remains gloomy. I empathize with my fellow hikers and runners who are stressed, anxious, and depressed. These are indeed difficult times. Consider setting some goals for a greater good for yourself and community. It will help you stay positive and focused. We will persevere —and I believe that ultimately it will make many of us better people.

So a big thanks to all of you who donated to my hike-a-thon, accompanied me on the trail, and provided support. My hike-a-thon would not have been as successful without all of you. And if you donated, stay tuned for September 7^th when I announce the winners of the Oboz Footwear hiking shoes (Thanks once again Oboz for donating them) and the Osprey Talon 11 Backpack (Big thanks to Brown’s Outdoor in Port Angeles for their donation).

And if you haven’t donated, you still have a few days to do so. You will automatically be entered into the Oboz drawing and become a WTA member. Just click here and make your donation! And to all Happy Hiking as we move into my favorite time of year to hit the trail!

And if you need some great suggestions to find excellent autumn hiking destinations, my books are packed with detailed info—including on many trails less traveled!

Check them out and Happy Hiking!

I am coming for you Mount Hood! Looking forward to experiencing your full grandeur in one long kick-butt journey!

It’s that time again!

I am once again participating in the annual Hike-a-Thon for the Washington Trails Association! Last year we raised more than $7700 for our trails! WOW! If you were among my donors-a big thanks once again for your generosity! If you weren’t, please consider helping out this year! And of course if you were a donor, I hope I can count on you once again.

This year I’d like to top last year’s total and raise $8000 for our trails. And as of today on the eve of the start of Hike-a-thon, due to an overwhelming amount of support from y’all, we are at more than $7000! We are on track not only to beat $8,000 but to have an amazing record fundraising event. So please keep up the momentum!

And I will be hiking and running my culo off during the month of August. Last year I tallied 325 miles for the month, spreading the good word about WTA and raising money for our trails. It was my best month ever! This year, despite some new health challenges I am going to try to beat that number (hey, won’t let a little auto immune disease get in my way!). I will be kicking off the event tomorrow with an easy day–then on August 2nd, I along with friend Peter Clitherow will be attempting to complete the 40 mile Timberline Trail around Mount Hood in ONE DAY! If we are successful, it will be my second longest day on the trail. I have been training hard and not letting my polymyalgia rheumatica (which I was diagnosed with this past winter) stop me.

You know how important trails are to our healthy outdoor lives-and you know how underfunded our trails are. And now more than ever during this time of COVID-19 we need trails and open spaces for our mental and spiritual health as well as our physical health. The Washington Trails Association (WTA) is responsible for keeping so many of our trails open and in excellent shape. I am proud to support them, and I hope you are, too.

And I want to REWARD you for helping me—so I am in the process of lining up several opportunities for you to WIN some great PRIZES! Thanks to the great folks at Mountaineers Books, Green Trails Maps, Oboz Footwear, and Browns Outdoor in Port Angeles, I have some great hiker-essential products to give away! And I am working on securing some more prizes-so hang around-details to come.  Anyone who makes a donation of $50 or more automatically becomes a member of WTA.

Fifty dollars definitely goes far in this campaign- but every dollar counts and no donation is too small. All are appreciated! Everyone who makes a donation will be entered into a random drawing to win either a pair of Oboz hiking shoes (valued at up to $200) or an Osprey Talon 11 Backpack (Value $120).

I thank you all in advance for your support. Just click this link and make your donation. It’s quick, easy and tax deductible. The process is fast, easy and secure. Thank you so much for your support… and please don’t forget to send this page to any friends you think might be interested in donating!

Me taking a break above the Great Gulf. Peaks in distance left to right, Mounts Clay, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison.

I celebrated my 60^th birthday last month by hiking New Hampshire’s famed Presidential Range in one day. It was one of my toughest day hikes—one I am not so sure I could have done in my 20s—and all the more satisfying to do at age 60. Why the Prezies for this birthday milestone? For my 50^th birthday I ran the White River 50 Mile Trail Race near Mount Rainier. For my 60^th I initially had my heart set on doing my first 100K run—62 miles—close enough to 60! But life has a way of usurping our plans.

Last fall I started developing some symptoms of fatigue, chronic pain and decreased mobility that only grew worse. By February I was in pain in both arms, shoulders, upper thighs in the groin area and I couldn’t turn my neck. Sleeping was painful as I could only sleep on my back. I couldn’t push myself up and it was a challenge putting on my clothes. Getting in and out of a car was a struggle. I was miserable and scared. Wow, 59 years old and always have been in top shape and now I felt like I was well into my 90s.

Follow the cairns over rock, rock, and more rock. This is from Mount Madison looking at Mount Washington (l) and Mount Adams (r).

After seeing my physician and having several tests I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), an auto immune inflammatory disease. More than likely a lifetime full of bouts of depression and anxiety led me there. Life during the Pandemic only exacerbated my stress coupled with the loss of a pet and other challenges that finally triggered my immune system to do what it did. The disease is for life—there is no cure—but there are good chances of putting it into remission. I was immediately put on prednisone and within a day I was feeling better. Within a few days I was pain free and felt born again. I took off for 4 days of hiking in the Columbia River Gorge and never felt so good to be on the trail.

Hiking across more rock at Thunderstorm junction between Mounts Adam and Jefferson. Mount Washington as always forms the dramatic backdrop.

Being on prednisone of course comes with all kinds of challenges and I fear its possible side effects. The plan is to gradually keep reducing dosages to eventually get off of it and put the PMR into transmission. If I am lucky it can take a year and a half. If not, it can take years. One of my biggest fears of the medication is the possibility of weight gain. But since I am determined to kick my PMR and get healthy again, I radically changed my diet eliminating excess sugar and salt and shying processed foods as much as I can. I reduced my alcohol content too (not that I drank much—but more sugar to eliminate) and cut my carb intake replaced with more protein and lots of salads. I have actually lost 8 pounds since last year and feel great.

A month ago I ran a marathon (26 mile) trail run with friend Grady Olson, and never felt better. I could have run farther, but Grady talked some sense into me. I do not want to overdo it as while exercise is good for my recovery (and it is my life) I need to allow my body to heal and not put too much stress on it. I opted to postpone my 100K run—perhaps in a year or two-hey birthday 62 would be perfect. But I still wanted to do something special for my birthday—especially one as momentous as turning 60.

Crossing a snowfield on the Crawford Path (AT) heading to lakes of the Clouds and Mount Monroe.

I decided I wanted to spend that time with my family back in New Hampshire, the state I grew up in and was responsible for shaping me into the person I am today—a lover of the outdoors and the natural world. What could I do back there that would be momentous and memorable? Certainly a hike in my beloved White Mountains—the mountains that got me into hiking 40 years ago. I have a long history with the Whites and during my time studying forestry at the White Mountains Community College (then New Hampshire Vocational Technical College) in Berlin I spent a summer as a backcountry ranger in the Whites. The crazy thought of doing the entire Presidential Traverse in a day came to me. I decided to go for it!

The wildcard would be the snow levels and the weather. In late May when I planned to do this hike, snow can still be deep and weather can be treacherous. It turned out to be a low snow pack this year and on the day we made the traverse, the weather could not have been better. It was sunny and in the 70s (80s in the valley) with very little wind. Not bad for a place that touts being home to the world’s worst weather! My extra gear I packed, I never needed. I hiked in shorts and short sleeves the entire way and went through quite a bit of sunscreen on the near entirely above tree line route.

My two brothers Doug and Jeff (who also writes guidebooks) accompanied me as did Jeff’s son Anthony and his college roommate Ben. We started from the Appalachia Trailhead at 5:40 in the morning. Up the Valley Way to Mount Madison—then the Gulfside Trail with summit trips to Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson—sub summit Mount Clay (Reagan) and on to Mount Washington. The first half of this trek was brutal. The elevation is one thing, more than 7,600 feet to that point. But it’s the nonstop clambering over rock, talus and ledge that tires you and beats you up.

Seven summits in one day-clockwise: Mount Madison, Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson, Mount Pierce, Mount Eisenhower, Mount Washington, and Mount Monroe at the center.

From New Hampshire’s highest summit (I was hoping to meet the new Mount Washington Weather Observatory kitty Nimbus—but he is still being acclimated to his new environment and was not out and about) we headed down the Crawford Path to the Lakes of the Clouds where we spent a leisurely break refilling water bottles from the mostly frozen lakes. The usually mobbed lakes were quiet. The AMC huts were still closed. In fact the entire way was quiet. Other than the summit of Washington which entertained visitors arriving via the historic Cog Railway; and a few other summit hikers—our route was pretty empty. We passed a total of a dozen people along the way outside of Washington. I have never seen so few people on the Prezies. The early season weekday timing and the still copious snow on the approaches evidently kept many a hiker away.

We continued on up and over Mount Monroe—then to sub peak Franklin. Next was Eisenhower and then finally Pierce. Initially we had contemplated going all the way to Jackson (which is not named for a president but for a geologist) and Webster, but time was not on our side—nor was the necessary energy warranted among a few of us. So we headed down a snow covered Crawford Path, content on doing all of the actual Presidential Peaks. We finished at Crawford Notch at 7:40 pm after hiking 19.5 miles and 8,600 vertical feet over 7 summits and 2 sub-summits all above treeline and all on rock, ledge and talus. It was one my hardest hikes ever!

Back in October before my PMR symptoms were really kicking in, I ran 55K (34 miles) on a rail trail in a little over 7 hours. This hike a fraction of that distance took me 14 hours! We were thrilled and happy with our accomplishment joining a handful of crazies every year who can lay claim to doing the famed and brutal Presidential Traverse in one day. And all of this—as I fight my PMR and enter my 7^th decade made this birthday one of my best ever. I have no idea where I will be in a year or how I will feel. The pandemic, turning 60—and developing an auto immune disease has all led me to reassess my life and to accelerate my timeline to do as much as I possibly can now, because the future has never been so uncertain. Live on and seize every day!