Afternoon Run

Tuesday Run Club

Morning Run

Pheasant Branch

[Glacier HOtel Running Tour]

Done! Today's run makes our total mileage 69 for the three days, with over 14,000 feet of gain, and almost 19 hours of moving time. A few less miles than planned, but we made up for it in gain and up-close glacier views. 

Gunsight pass was still closed when we got breakfast, so we decided to go with plan B. At the shuttle stop we realized it would potentially take hours to get over to Lake McDonald, so we started hitchhiking. After only 20 minutes a park employee who was heading all the way out of the park took pity on us.

During the ride she shared about her work as a wildlife technician focused on bats and eagles, shared stories of her adventures in the park, and educated us on the history of how various landmarks in the region were named.

We got started just before 10, and climbed about 3500' over the first six miles - this run ended up having the most vert of the trip. The second half of the climb started feeling like a slog as we left the shade behind and things started heating up, but eventually we reached the shade of Glacier Basin, then quickly got to Sperry Chalet for some ice cold lemonade.

From there we had another 3ish miles and 1500' to get over Comeau Pass to what we thought would be an easy half mile to the base of Sperry Glacier, but turns out to be a mostly unmarked traverse across a boulder field.

Eventually we spied some cairns and were able to make it to the foot of the glacier with spectacular views of the cravasses, melt pools, and Floral Park.

We picked our way carefully but quickly back across, slowly descended the stairs that had been dynamited in, and started the first actual running of the day, where we even managed negative splits.

With quads burning, knees aching, and senses awed, we made it back to the trailhead around 6pm. 

Top Sports

Lee Shaver

GHoRT day three plan B: Sperry Glacier out-and-back

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Afternoon Run

Tuesday Run Club

Morning Run

Pheasant Branch

Afternoon Run

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