Woke up at 4:30am in drizzly San Diego and arrived in Palm Springs at about 7am. Threw on some sunscreen, wolfed down some food and did some last minute checking and double checking. Started hiking from museum at 7:10am, temp at museum was probably in upper 50's to low 60's. Glad I waited for the later start time as it was slightly overcast and just absolutely perfect conditions. I went extremely light with my two hand held 22oz water bottles and a small fanny pack which carried my long sleeve Icebreaker (for warmth later) and a windbreaker, this was all about speed today. Wearing: Running shoes, Injinji socks, compressions sleeves (calves), running shorts, light Icebreaker t-shirt, heart rate monitor, watch, a hat and sun glasses. Nutrition: I had the water bottles mixed with Accelearde, 6 Cliff Shots and two Shot Blox.
From the museum to the picnic tables took me :17 minutes. Very little running in this section as it’s pretty steep as you all know, so just speed hiking.
To emergency box #1 my total time was at :42 minutes. I ran most of this where I could and was speed hiking the other parts.
I got to the 4300ft marker at 1 hour 24 minutes. Running when I could and speed hiking the rest. Took a quick two minute break here for some “relief”
and a Cliff Shot.
2 hours 4 minutes to emergency box #2. Running when I could and speed hiking the rest.
From here to Long Valley was by far the most difficult part of the day for me. This section through the Manzanita is just grueling and steep.
Running was absolutely out of the question and I’d like to think I was “speed hiking” through it but it was more of a moving at a snail's pace. Another Cliff Shot AND some Shot Blox with a swig of my quickly depleting fluid supply. Finally reached Long Valley at 3 hours 25 minutes. I have to admit I was cutting the fluid close, by the time I got to Long Valley I only had about 2oz left and I had been rationing for the last 30 minutes. Next time another water bottle in the fanny pack, for sure. 
At the Ranger’s Station I cheerfully refilled my water bottles, had another Cliff Shot and went inside to fill out the permit. The Ranger was looking at me like most other people that day and told me that there was about 6inches of snow on the summit, was icy and to use my best judgment. All I could think was “I’m making it to that Summit!”…thanked the ranger and left Long Valley feeling great! I spent about 10 minutes total in Long Valley and was wondering if I was wasting too much time but felt I was still on target for my goal of 5 ½ hours.
Ran all the way to Round Valley and was at 4 hours 8 minutes (this time into RV includes the 10 minutes I was laly gagging around in LV). I kept telling people how nice this section was for trail running because it’s relatively “flat” compared to that crazy steep section coming into LV. Very little snow at RV, small patches here and there off the trail.
When I reached Wellman’s Divide at exactly 4 hours 30 minutes I knew I was going to make it under my goal. Ran sections of this where I could and speed hiked the rest. Still pretty patchy snow and very little on the trail itself. Quick Cliff Shot at the divide and onward to the summit.
On the way to the summit from Wellmans the snow definitely was more noticeable and there were sections where the trail was completely covered, maybe 4-5 inches of slushy snow in spots. It was also much colder and windier. The last 100ft to the top of the summit was pretty sketchy (kudos to the Rangers for being spot on) as you boulder hopped to the top. Patchy deep snow (no more than 6inches in spots) and sneaky ice. Reached the top in 5 hours 18 minutes…just before 12:30. Temp was about 35 degrees according to the small group that was at the top, felt accurate to me! There was a stiff wind which made it feel like it was about 20 degrees though! I quickly put my layers on, spent about 20 minutes on the summit, took some pics and then ran back to the tram.
Ran into a couple of tennis friends (what are the chances!) from LA who were headed back to the tram and persuaded them, with beer at the tram bar
, to give me a ride back to the museum.
I felt GREAT the entire day, what a GREAT DAY!! Can't wait to do it again!
Avg heart rate: 150
Max heart rate: 169 (section headed into LV)
