Last Wilder Run

Catching Air in Wilder Gulch at Vail Pass:

The angle of the sun & the fast terrain typically make for some great "catching air"
shots at Vail Pass! Wheeee!

Today was our last run in Wilder Gulch at Vail Pass. We will certainly have a few more runs on the Shrine Pass and/or Lime Creek sections of Vail Pass; but Wilder Gulch is officially done for the season. This is not a shock as Wilder is always the first section of Vail Pass to go bad in the Spring.

So sad as the conditions are still great when you get above 11,000 feet elevation...

Laying fresh tracks near the top of Ptarmigan Pass - what great conditions up high!!!

Okay, given the previous photo, how can we possibly declare this to be our last run on this section of terrain at Vail Pass. Well, here are the more common shots of the day:

Slowing to a trot as open water is starting to appear on both sides of us.
"Eek - the creek!" states Max glancing at the water to his right.
"In denial, looking forward!" declares water averse Zorro.

Slowing to a gentle jog as the trail is becoming overtaken by exposed ground.
"Just don't look, just don't look!" insists Zorro.
"Slow down to keep the human alive for another day!" declares Max.

As you see... Wilder Gulch was beautiful up high and falling apart down low. But it was still a great day with toes on snow:

"Sketchy terrain down low but we are still having a GREAT time!" exclaim the happy pair
looking back at one of our forks in the trail today.

This season's last run in Wilder Gulch: 9.1 miles with 1100 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2014/2015 Season to Date: 122 days on the trails covering 1054.0 miles with 111,450 feet of elevation climbed.