Not So Sandy Seep!

(Thanks to Sara Wagner for the photo)

(Thanks to David Blanchard for the post!) It was a cool morning with light winds and clear skies that greeted NATRA runners at the trailhead for the Sandy Seep run. It was obvious--right from the start--that this was going to be a snow, ice, mud, and rock fest. At least the snow was firm on the way up and you could run on top of it (well, mostly) but the return trip wasn't so great. Rapidly warming temperatures softened the snow so that some steps turned in a post hole adventure. And where there was no snow, there was now mud.

It sort of felt like running through tires at boot camp:
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As usual, we reconvened at Wildflower for breakfast and coffee. This was the first NATRA run for Ryan who learned about NATRA while playing for Sambatuque at Aid Station 5 for the Sedona Marathon; it was Lisa's second run with NATRA. Hope to see both of you again!

Mescal Mountain Magical Mystery Tour and Canyon of Fools

Despite forecasts of foul weather, 8 NATRA runners knew better than to trust predictions of snowmaggeden. Their tour took them 6 miles around Mescal Mountain and then through the Canyon of Fools. There was nary a sprinkle and the trails were in perfect condition. Once back into Sedona we enjoyed warming up inside at Whole Foods. Next week we will run our section of the Arizona Trail at Sandy Seep!

Canyon of Fools side trip

Snowless Soldiers Trail Run

 

An exceptionally large turnout of 22 NATRA runners ran every possible variation of the Soldiers Trail loop at Fort Tuthill. The entire trail was snow and ice free. Despite the howling winds and extra chill in the air, the trees of Fort Tuthill kept us all well protected. The run was perfect training for the Run Flagstaff Summer Series which features the Soldiers Trail. Speaking of, early bird registration price goes up after February 28th, so register today at https://register.chronotrack.com/reg/form?eventID=12032

Afterwards we filled the back half of Wildflower where Ellie once again entertained all! Next week, Mescal Mountain in Sedona. Meet at Fort Tuthill at 8 AM to carpool down to Sedona.

Campbell Mesa Hot Summer February Run

 

 

Yet another big turnout on the Campbell Mesa Trail. Fifteen runners (and a heckuva a lot of Flagstaff Trail Divas ) enjoyed what had to be the sunniest, warmest February run ever! Most wore shorts and I think this run was warmer than our last fall run of the loop! Bring back winter. Next week we return to Sedona for the always adventurous Long Canyon run.

"Easy" Oldham, Never Is

 
Twenty NATRA runners made for the largest Oldham trail outing in years, though as most know, "Easy" Oldham never is, and always seems steeper than the time before. Perhaps it was my post predicting "warmer" temperatures for today's run. A half dozen runners even donned shorts. That was a mistake as the brisk wind reminded us it was still winter in Flagstaff. No one made a wrong turn on this outing. We enjoyed taking over the KickStand once again and reminisced about the 5 foot snowstorm we endured exactly 5 years ago! Hard to believe on this sunny, snowless January day.

 

Brins Bermuda Triangle Run

Sara Wagner leads the way.

Determined to successfully navigate the myriad of trails around Brins' Mesa, 14 NATRA runners set out on a 5.2 mile run...a 5.2 mile run....The weather was not rough (perhaps too perfect), but once again we felt as though we were on the set of "Lost". Our first sign should have been the sound of beating drums near the sink hole. After this point, despite our best efforts to keep the gang together, the unpredictable power of the vortices redirected half the group, with some running as much as 8
miles!

 

The up seemed pretty straight forward.

 

Simply beautiful.

 

Then we heard the drumming.

 Luckily, we all found our way out of what can now only be described as the Brins' Mesa Triangle. With everyone safely in tow we enjoyed the fastest food service in Northern Arizona at Garlands at Indian Gardens. Their enormous breakfast burritos, coffee, and cinnamon rolls somehow nearly beat us to our seats.

 So what happened out there? Bruce Higgins came up with the scientific explanation. See the Brins' Triangle map. Thanks to Bruce and Sara for providing additional images. Next week, Buffalo Park 9 AM to run the Lower Oldham trails we think we know!

 

 

 

 

 

Icy Dicey Fort Valley Trail System

2015 is proving to be a series of firsts for NATRA. Last week the snowy trails of Beaver Creek, and today, the iciest most challenging winter run of our 13+ year existence. Eleven runners including newbies Kristen, Mary, and John paid full attention to every foot plant. As is typical for any NATRA run on the Fort Valley Trail System, we split into the upper crew following Moto, and the lower crew taking a shorter, but slicker route. All returned unbruised to a jam packed KickStand.