Trail map at the Brockway Trailhead |
Start Elevation: 6,900 ft.
End Elevation: 8,900 ft.
High Point: 10,338 ft. (Relay Peak)
Mileage sign at the trailhead. |
9,000 ft. Only the toughest trees and baddest trail runners survive beyond this point. |
Head of the Martis Valley. Still plenty of snow. |
Steep meadows and amazing views along the ridge near Rose Knob. |
Mud Lake |
Mt. Rose Hwy in the distance. Unfortunately it wouldn't be that easy. |
After Mud Lake it gets brutal. The trail is very rugged and exposed, and it dips down a couple hundred feet just to make sure that the final push to Relay Peak thoroughly destroys you. There is one point where you reach the top of the ridge only to turn the corner and realize you still have 400 vertical feet and another mile to go. At this point all you can do is put your head down and keep charging. Despite being pretty exhausted, I stubbornly managed to run every step of the 15 mile climb to Relay Peak.
Mileage marker near the summit of Relay Peak. |
Mileage sign at the Mt. Rose Trailhead. |
Thank you, Tori, for giving me a ride back to my car! I don't think I had the energy to hitch after that one.
No comments:
Post a Comment