Porcupine Rim Trail - Negro Bill Canyon Link-up

This weekend was our "Spring Break" at Fort Washakie, meaning we had a four day weekend.  Hardly exciting compared to a whole week off, but we were glad to head south to warm temperatures and canyon country.  

Camping outside of Moab, UT

On Saturday, Jenny ran in the Desert Rats Trail Running Festival Marathon.  We've had this race on the radar for awhile and it was the perfect opportunity for a training "race" for Jenny before the North Fork 50 in June.  It rained almost the entire race and the clay filled dirt turned into a slippery and sticky mess.  Jenny crossed the finish line in 5:04 which was good enough for first in her age group.  Ella and I played in the mud while Jenny was out working hard.

Cruising through the mud

Porcupine Rim Trail - Negro Bill Canyon

After Jenny had her fun running on Saturday, I got to hit the trails on Easter Sunday outside of Moab, Utah.  I ran the well known 14.5 mile Porcupine Rim Trail and connected it to the very popular Negro Bill Canyon trail for a total of a little over 20 miles.  It was my first 20-some mile run of the year and I was surprised at how well it went. As to be expected, the temperature rose quickly to around 80 degrees, and with the sun beating down, it was a hot few hours on the trail.  The trail was super rocky and rugged; how anyone mountain bikes that thing is beyond me.

Hydration and fueling are always critical, but especially so in the desert.  I ate one pack of Gu Chomps, one pack of Honey Stinger Chews (inferior to the Gu Chomps, in my opinion), and drank two 17 oz. bottles of Gu Roctane, two 17 oz. bottles of First Endurance EFS, and one 17 oz. bottle of water.

Taking off on the Porcupine Rim Trail

Porcupine Rim with the La Sal Mountains

Looking out from the rim at Castle Valley

Looking across the Colorado River canyon into Arches NP

Tayo desperately trying to cool off with the Colorado River in sight

Negro Bill Canyon

Negro Bill Canyon

Sunlight below Morning Glory Arch, Negro Bill Canyon

The rest of the weekend we spent camping, hiking, playing in a creek with the Skinner family, and having an all around great time.  The mountains here are just barely starting to thaw out, so for the next couple of weeks I'm hoping to start getting some serious climbing in.  Only five weeks until Zion Traverse and 10,000+ feet of vert!

Playing in camp

"Icing" our legs