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Evergreen Endurance Coaching

Evergreen Endurance Coaching

Running, cycling, triathlon, duathlon, swimming, backcountry travel

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Email jessica@evergreenendurance.com, or fill out the contact form below.

 

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It's official! We are moving to Mazama in early January! That's our house in the upper right, perched on the edge of a meadow. Pic 2 shows the first dusting of snow from earlier this week. Soon enough it will all be covered in snow. Rowan is excited because our front yard (the meadow) is also a sweet sledding hill. Tom is excited because he found a great job working remotely from home, and no longer has a daily commute in some of the nation's worst traffic. And I'm excited because there is an extraordinary network of summer and winter trails right out our door, plus even better off-trail wandering. As far as cities go, Seattle is amazing. But we're ready for fewer people, more sunshine, and quick access to mountains and wilderness. Here's to new beginnings!
❤ Drawing by Rowan, but this pretty much sums it up for me too. ❤
The last two days were gloriously sunny, but I spent them sitting inside on a white plastic chair, attending a meeting for the Wolf Advisory Group - and I have no regrets.  I’ve been a member of WAG for the last two years, and I learn so much at each meeting, not just about wolves and humans and the western landscape, but about conflict resolution and about the value of getting to know people outside of my little “liberal bubble.” WAG works under the model of Conservation Conflict Transformation (google for more info, it’s good stuff!). Picture a room full of folks from all walks of life, including livestock producers, environmentalists, hunters, recreationists, and wildlife biologists. East-siders and west-siders. And we’re not there to talk about the weather - we’re there to discuss one of the most controversial animals: the wolf. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, or at least for a good yelling match… Yet we all manage to get along, respect each other, listen to each other and (slowly) make progress on wolf management issues in Washington state.  Have we found all the answers? Nope. Is the process painfully slow at times, largely to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard? Yes. Is there room for improvement? Absolutely. Wolves and livestock are still getting killed, and no one is happy about that, on either side of the issue. But, in 2018, 81% of known wolf packs were not involved in any documented livestock depredation. Washington wolf populations continue to increase in number. A wolf pack was recently confirmed west of the cascades.  I’m not trying to sugar coat things. We have so much work to do. But I also don’t want to lose sight of the work we’ve done. I really believe in the process. And although it’s hard work, it’s not complicated: Respect differences, search for commonalities, don’t shy away from tough conversations, and be willing to work together for change. WAG meetings are open to the public! Feel free to attend the next one. Also, as a member of WAG, I represent “outdoor recreationists.” So if you have questions or opinions about how wolf recovery might impact you as a hiker, biker, runner, etc., feel free to reach out! 📷: @thewdfw
The High Divide: I came for the mountain views, but I stayed for the clouds and the sky. 🏔🌬🌫🌤 While it's hard to complain about running along a ridgeline in November, I can't help but worry about the relative lack of snow. I know all it takes is one big snowstorm, and then winter is here... it seems like it's about time for that storm. ❄❄❄ Trail conditions: There is some snow above 4800 ft, and I packed my winter kit just in case. But I barely needed traction and definitely no flotation. Icy creek crossings. Deepest snow was 12 inches, most of it 3-6 inches deep with a relatively firm crunchy crust.
Obstruction Point Road in Olympic National Park is an incredibly scenic gravel road through the high country, with sharp corners and steep drop-offs. It's heavily trafficked during the summer, full of vehicles kicking up dust and generally making it unpleasant (and some might say unsafe) for cyclists. This year they closed the road to motor vehicles in October, thanks to an early season snow-storm that left a couple of treacherous icy spots along the road. However, as of a couple weeks ago, it was still open to pedestrians and cyclists, and it's a gravel-grinding dream! No cars, minimal snow, and amazing views. There were a few icy stretches but you could easily walk around/over them. I also saw a fair amount of wildlife sign, including some cat scat, but that goes with the territory. If you're looking for gravel riding with a wilderness feel, this is it! At least for now...
I've been up the Barnes Creek drainage in Olympic National Park twice now, both times on literal treasure hunts. 💰🌟🎖💍 The first time I was looking for a silver token good for free entry into a race. Based on the clues provided, I was sure I'd find it approx 7 miles up Barnes Creek. I was totally wrong and didn't find the token (it was hidden at @sevenhillsrunning in Seattle!) But I did spend the afternoon running along a creek through old growth forest, so it still kinda felt like I won. The second time I went up Barnes Creek was earlier this week, on my way to Mt Storm King. A random guy in an FB hiking group posted saying that he'd dropped an engagement ring in a black box down the side of the mountain (whoops!). He was asking folks to keep an eye out. I'd been meaning to climb Storm King for awhile, so I decided to go looking for the ring. Unfortunately for him, once again I had an unsuccessful treasure hunt. No ring to be found. However, once again the consolation prize was pretty awesome: this view. Moral of the story: I'm bad at treasure hunts but good at finding nice views.🌲 ⛰ The end.
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