One local trail run I really got to doing fairly often this year is up the 11er Red & White Mountain north of Avon. I just wanted to post a few pics of the route and view from the top. I can’t think how many times we have visited its summit in summer and winter, but its always a gorgeous vista of the Gore Range, Northern Sawatch, Elk Range, Tenmile & Mosquito Ranges, and of course Vail & Beaver Creek ski mountains.  I honestly cannot imagine a better view from an 11,000′ peak. Always looking for the buster trail run of lots of uphill and vertical, I thought of running the Red & White Mountain road from Wildridge earlier this Spring. Indeed, it turned out to be tough and by the time I crested the summit, I almost collapsed in exhaustion. But, oh how I do love that feeling. Its a superb run with 2,700′ of elevation gain in about 4.5 miles one way to its summit. There are a few flat sections, but for the most part its at a steady incline with the obvious steeper sections including the final 500′ from treeline up Red & White’s bald spot to the summit, which is barely run-able as its pretty steep. I’ve run this route twice in the last week and just love it. The round trip trail run from my car to summit and back down takes me right at about an hour and a half (if I’m feeling pretty good).

Route up Red & White Mountain as seen from Arrowhead ski mountain. Click to enlarge

View to the Gores from Red & White’s summit on an overcast October 11, 2014 day. Yes, one day before Kristine gave birth to our daughter, Sawyer

View south down to the Vail Valley from Red & White’s summit the same October 11 day. I had my phone on me and could be down fairly fast as I was on call for a birth 🙂

I also hiked up Arrowhead ski mountain with Rainier & Kona and got some pictures of the fading fall colors this past week. The weather sure has been beautiful out here in Colorado this October.

Rainier looking very “golden” in the fading daylight with Red & White Mountain behind

Heading down Arrowhead

Ripsaw Ridge in the Gores

Left to right poking above the timbered ridgeline: Eagle’s Nest, Mt. Powell, Peaks C, C’, D, E, F, G, & H all in the Gores

Gorgeous light

Looking east to the Grand Traverse and other Gore peaks from Arrowhead

Still some colors out there

Aspens

One of my very few Aspen pics this year

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