Mission Peak trail maintenance . The Catulia re-route and fence installation .Both Julia and I need to get our hours in for upcoming 100's, hers Wasatch mine Angeles crest.
I came up with this project. Last year they moved the trail just beyond the creek near Horse heaven. Back to the original trail from the early 90's.
They used rocks and limbs from trees to block the short cut.
It worked for about a week.
For the past year I move rocks and tree limbs back to the short cut to block people from cutting the trail.
I do this once a week, only to have some jerks tear it apart.

I knew I need to do trail work so out on a 40 mile run with friends I decided that I wanted to build a fence to block people from cutting it at the top and bottom.
So that's what we did last Friday it the heat of the day..LOL!!!
It was very hard work. Julia and I just looked at it as a crossfit WOD.
Ranger Neil dropped off 10 logs that would be for building the fence. He dropped them about .35 at the top of the hill Thursday afternoon. Me and Julia had to carry them down to the area we did the work. He said it would take several trips. Yeah right we did not want to walk down and up a bunch so we did it in two.
Trust me it was hard.
Ranger Beth came out to help and direct us. We had a blast. Neil showed up at the end and Hiker Jerry stopped by and we used him to help us at the end.
Neil brought us some awesome fruit it was yummy.
Now when I run there I will think of our fun day.
I will head out tomorrow to run and check the fence make sure no one cut it down. Hey you never no out there. Someone seems to sabotage a lot of the hard work down out there.

Remember to think of me and Julia when you run by our fence"Catulia"
The name is Catra+Julia= Catulia together ;)

Try not to force the situation or force a resolution. If you would just wait a moment more you will be shown, or find, exactly what you are looking for. Try to use more inner guidance, in other words, your intuition or gut-feelings. You should now be evolved enough to know that you don’t always have to have all the answers or know the future in advance in order to attain success and avoid failure. Trust in yourself and the universe and everything will turn out as it is supposed to.
© Stephen Haynes

Skyline 50k course fun run.I ran the Skyline 50k race course with Co-RD Mike Palmer yesterday. We were out just making sure the course was in good shape for Sundays race.
I had run in Tuolumne the day before and thought I would be to beat up after my 100 mile race last weekend and little sleep on Saturday.

It was cool and foggy and stayed that way most of the day. On the climbs we got warmed up. I was surprised how great I felt. I love the trails in this area. I use to run there all the time. Mike and I used to do night runs out there once a week. I miss those days.
We had a blast. We stopped and talked to people we saw and knew along the way.
I'm glad I came out and ran the course with Mike. I'm not running the race next weekend but will be there checking the markings the first 8 miles. I will also be at the finish line cheering everyone on.
If you haven't sign up you still can and if you wait until Sunday you can still get in. It will cost $100 if you wait until race day.
Here is the link to the race http://www.skyline50k.us/


I look forward to see you all there.

I will be in SF on Friday & Saturday working the Marathon expo. I will be at the atalanta athletic wear both so stop by and say hi.

Pre run of the Skyline 50k race course with coRD Mike Palmer

Clouds rest summit via Tuolumne meadows.Julia and me at the trailhead. It was a perfect day no clouds and no storm like two weeks ago.
To the very left of the picture at the top is where we were headed. Beautiful Clouds rest. The views are at least 100 times better then Half Dome and no crowds.
There were a lot of hikers coming up as we were running down.
Julia climbing the spine of Clouds rest. Did I mention she is afraid of trails like this. She did awesome!!!
There was tons of smoke in the background. As we left Tuolumne and headed to the 120 junction it was so dark because a fire that was burning some where.
When we got to the gate on the way out it was like it was night time.
Best friends forever just having fun on a run.

Health promotes spirituality, and spirituality promotes health.
Choose one spiritual truth and live fully in harmony with today. Observe how challenging it is to let your physical life be in concert with your spiritual ideas.

All roads lead to Rome! Or in other words all paths lead to the same place. But before those paths lead us to anywhere we have to stop thinking about it and get on with it. This is a time of action and movement. Don’t worry if you make a mistake, we’re not perfect. If you realise you’ve made a mistake then make another choice and get back to the right path. Revamp objectives and approach life from another perspective.
© Stephen Haynes
Andy & me with our bracelets on for the 100 mile race.
I found a street with my last name on in in Carson city. It's my very own street how cool is that?

Still no report, super busy I will get it up this weekend.

Images from the Tahoe rim trail 100 mile race.



Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail.

Andy and me at the finish of Tahoe rim 100 mile trail race.
Our finish time was 32:01I will write a report later. I'm off to work now. Drove home last night and drove Andy to the airport at 5:am this morning. I haven't slept much. I hope to get a good night tonight ;)

Rocky & me..............................Did my last run today with Rocky. We did a short run 3 miles. We had fun. We had time to kill before picking up Andy at the airport.
We head out tomorrow for TRT 100.
Have a good weekend.



New beginnings or the possibilities of a new start are soon to be presented. Use your inner magician to pull together all the components of what soon will be in the offing, as you should now be able to manifest your hopes, dreams and desires. Remember you are only at the beginning, the first stages of development, so the more you are able to accept the more will be given to you.
© Stephen Haynes

Heading to Tahoe Friday....For Tahoe Rim trail 100 miler.
Rocky and me hanging out. I will be leaving Friday for the race. Please send me positive Vibes this weekend.


There is a power at work that is not seen but nevertheless exists. When we are unable to deal with, or change, our situation this unforeseen power comes to our aid. So expect difficulties or obstacles to be transformed or even neutralised, but in all cases with a positive outcome. There is nothing to fear at this time, it is only a process, as the old gives way to the new. Without change growth cannot occur. The right ideas or actions will become apparent.
© Stephen Haynes

Everything lost is found again; everything hurt is healed again.This truth has the power to retrieve a part of your spirit from the past. It's a mantra that's strong enough to overcome past injuries. This will be your constant thought today.
Taper madness. Took Rocky for a 4 mile run and I did a crossfit wod and worked on my handstand push-ups.

WOD:
150 squats
150 ab-mat sit-ups
150 squats
150 ab-mat sit-ups
time-11:13

Read Saturdays epic below...............................................................................
Sundays run searching for Bigfoot. Day #2

We never found him :)After our ordeal on Saturday we thought nothing could ever be as bad weather wise. After we finished on Saturday in Tuolumne I ran into my friend and badass climber Lucho I have known him for 6 years we see each other at least once a year. He saw me in Tuolumne last year during the PCT. This year after my epic. He was like 19 I think when I met him. I must admit he has turned into a really cute guy.
He knows all about epics he's a climber. It was nice seeing him.
We ran into another guy I met in 2004 on Muir pass during my JMT Yo Yo speed record such a small world.
We left Tuolumne and headed to Sonora. Mike thought it was best we stayed in a motel after the days events. I wanted to camp at the pass trailhead. But I was fine sleeping in a bed.
We ended up in this super old Motel it was a trip everything was from like the 30's I think.
We all slept well.
We drove the hour up to the pass trailhead and started our run. Along the way we say a group of trail workers. I told them about our ordeal yesterday they said it wasn't as bad there. They did an amazing job on this section. I have been through there a few times and the trail was so narrow before. Really dangerous just ask any PCT hiker carrying a heavy pack. Now it's so safe ;)
I noticed the clouds coming in but knew we would make it to the top before it hit. We were on top by 2pm. You couldn't tell how bad the clouds were until you hit the summit. From there you could see dark clouds. We took pictures and headed down.
I saw a guy heading up and thought he's going to get stuck in the storm. Mike stopped and told him a storm was coming he didn't seem bothered by it.
I told Mike that there are many ways to just go straight down to get safely off the trail.
I knew of some PCTers last year that just had to go straight down the gully there. By doing that you're down in half the time. But you need to be careful
We saw the trail workers and they said they would head down as soon as the rain started.
We started hearing thunder on the way down.
We made it safely. As we left the rain and lightening started. We were safe and happy. We did see the hiker coming down he did go down the gully to get down fast.
We headed to Kennedy Meadows for a bite to eat and watch the storm.
That's the end of my exciting weekend.
Hope you all had fun;)

Images from the Tuolumne adventure.

read report below.Heading up Donohue pass 11,000ft
Me after the epic storm.
Marmot at the pass.
Julia, Mike and me on the top of Donohue pass. Just before the storm hit.
Safely down 10:40 later. A 8 hour run turned into an epic.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Yosemite sign.
Julia, Mike and I headed to Yosemite on Saturday at 4:45am. It was to be a fun and beautiful day running 28 miles round trip from Tuolumne meadows store to Donohue pass and back.
The weather was perfect a few clouds in the sky but nothing to worry about.
I made sure that we all brought rain jackets, rain ponchos, gloves and plenty of food for our run.
I always carry a rain jacket just in case a storm rolls in. I have trained and run 100's of miles in the high Sierras . I have even fastpacked the JMT 6 times. I know that you should always be up and off a pass by 3pm. That is usually when the storms hit, if they do.

Beautiful sunny day heading out on our run.

Our run was going well we were able to run the first 9 miles of trail until it started the steep climb. We saw only one PCT hiker on the trail. He was happy when we told him he had only 4 miles to the store.
We passed and met a lot of JMT hikers.
I stopped to talk to two young guys going up the pass. One was really out of shape but figured he could do it in 21 days. They already had one friend quit after two days. I wished them well and kept moving.
I noticed clouds forming behind us, but thought it was to far away to worry about it. It didn't look bad at all.
I stopped a few times to wait for Julia and Mike. I would move ahead again and wait. I waited at a bridge and we had a snack. Everyone was feeling good.
As I got farther ahead I noticed behind me the clouds getting darker, and thicker.
They still seemed far away. I figured we would make it up the pass, and back down to the meadow before the rain came in.
I decided to keep moving up the pass. As I got higer I noticed dark clouds coming from another direction. It was building fast. We were planning on having lunch on Donohue pass.
I thought the storm was moving fast and once they got to the top, we had to get low before the storm hit.

The storm is coming.
Julia and Mike reached the top at 2:20pm. I told them we needed to go down that I felt the storm was going to be here soon.
I had no idea what was about to happen.
As we started down the rain started. It was cold the drops of rain were huge , within minutes it turned to hail the size of small blackberries. It was really coming down had and it hurt. I remember all the hikers heading for cover. I remember seeing a Father and his two kids 11 years old heading up the pass. I thought I hope they're ok.
I stopped to look back to see if Julia and Mike were behind me. I didn't see them. I couldn't wait the hail was getting worse and the wind was blowing. We had stopped a few minutes back to put on our rain jackets and that was the last time I saw them.
All I thought was I need to find some trees for us so we could take cover. The thunder was loud and I heard the crackle of lightening. I must admit I was a little freaked, but it wasn't the first time I had been in a storm.
The hail was sticking to the ground it was huge I have never seen hail so big.
Having a snack on the bridge.

I finally found the perfect trees to take cover. I stood and waited for Julia and Mike. I saw a couple and they headed up to me. They were JMT hikers heading south. I forgot their names but they were from Scotland. A few minutes later the young guys came up that I met earlier.
We waited as the storm got worse. Still no Julia and Mike. At some point they finally made it to where we all were. They had gotten off trail. They made their way back when they saw a couple other JMTers under some tress.
At least we were all together.
Mike looked very cold, I know we all were but I think at some point he said he was worried about hypothermia. I told him everything would be ok.
In the back of my mind I was worried. I knew we weren't prepared to stay out long in this storm. At least we were under the trees.
At some point the lightening started hitting around us and lighting up the sky. The Scottish couple asked if this was a normal storm. I said it's normal for a storm to hit around this time of day, and gave them advice about the JMT and climbing all the passes in the morning.
This storm was bad I told everyone it would pass in maybe 30 min. But this storm was not letting up. The tress became useless and we were all being pelted with the hail and we were getting soaked to the bone.
I know I had to use my thinking cap because I had lead my friends into this crazy adventure.
Being a fastpacker/hiker I know I carry a tent or tarp at all times. The weather was getting worse and I felt I needed to take charge of this situation to keep us safe.
I asked the young guys do you have a tarp??? They said yeah we have a foot print and tent. I said perfect can we put it over all of us? They said yeah of course. The Scottish couple, me, Mike & Julia held the tent over our heads and huddled really close. Julia and Mike put there arms around me and I put my arm around the Scottish girl and she held on to her boyfriend. Julia started shivering than I noticed Mike. Eventually I did too. I did feel warmer being close to all these people.
The two young guys held the foot print over them.
I kept up my usual positive attitude and told everyone it would let up soon. But in my mind I could see it was getting worse. The hail was sticking to the trail and you could not see the trail it looked like snow the trail was covered in white hail stones.
Our feet were soaked and covered up to our ankles in water. The hail was sticking to the tent over our head and was heavy . I flipped it up with my hands and about 3 inches of hail fell off. The trail was really about 3 inches deep with hail. I kept peaking out hoping to see the break that wasn't coming.
I really was worried about my friends safety I took them out there and there was no way I wanted anything bad to happen to them.
I was really getting worried thinking how long can we stay up here, in this freezing cold weather.
I was talking with the Scottish couple, and I said I really think we should all head down to the over side of the lake, where there was more trees to cover us.
They had a tent and said we could all get in and huddle together when we got to the other side.
I agreed but knew that Julia, Mike and I needed to get down to Tuolumne and to the car. The couple was very nice, but I thought we have no dry clothes ,I knew they were soaked too and this would get worse if we all stayed and became hypothermic.
I finally said lets make a move. The couple took off and I followed. Julia and Mike were behind me. The trail was ankle deep in freezing cold hail and water. The little streams along the trail were raging I fell in one trying to cross on the slippery wet rocks. The guy helped me out, he decided to run ahead and set up the tent. The girl said she would help Mike and Julia across the stream.
I stayed with the Scottish guy. We got to our little lake crossing which was a rock hop on the way up. It was now deep. He said he would set the tent up on this side of the lake. I thought no that isn't going to work!!
I said that we needed to be on the other side in the trees. Also if we got to cold there was no way we could make it across later in the day ,through the icy waters.
I said lets wait for everyone and we would hold on to each other and make it across safely, and then he could set the tent up on the other side.
Mike, Julia and the Scottish girl came down the trail. We never did see the two guys again once we left them. Not sure what they did.
We all held Hands the guy, me, Julia . Mike and the girl.
We found a shallow area but as we got out further it got waist deep. Julia started getting hysterical she just kept saying let go of her, and she was freezing and wanted out. She stepped down and it got deep and she had a mini melt down. The guy grabbed her and pulled her to shore. She just kept moving. Next he helped me across and the water was up to my chest. I think we were all freezing and really couldn't stop. Julia was shivering and said she needed to keep moving I felt the same way. After that freezing cold water, I knew we couldn't stop moving and there was no way we could stay put and lay soaking wet in a tent. So we just started running. After about 10 min. we all were feeling a bit better but realized we didn't say good bye to the couple or thank them. Our only thought when we left them was to get low where the weather would be better.
I would say after about an hour we started talking and making sure that we were ok. I felt we really weren't out of the woods just yet, but felt we were no longer in danger of freezing to death.
I just knew in my head it's not over till it's over. Meaning when we were back at the store to the car.
Once we saw the 5.4 mile sign we all felt better we knew we had about 6.5 to the car.
Julia and I talked a lot on the way down, about what happened and how thankful we were. I even mentioned I prayed to my Mom a lot ,and asked her to help make the right decisions. I actually asked all my angels to help me do the right thing.
It worked ,we all made it down safely, we looked a little disheveled but were happy we worked together as a team through the whole ordeal.

Mike always says when you go somewhere with Catra it's going to be an adventure.
Yep, Mike is right you can count on me to take you on an adventure.
Heading up the pass into an epic adventure.

Day 1 Tuolumne adventure run.
I will write Day two's adventure later, on how we made it off of the Peak near Sonora at 11,000ft and back to the car as that storm hit ;)