RMNP mountain running advice

Lots of great info again, so thanks.

The altitude thing is interesting. I live a 3k or so and regularly go up to 8-10k on surrounding peaks. The thing with altitude is, assuming one has a good cardiovascular system, can do stuff at moderate altitude upon first arrival before your body goes into adaptation phase and then it really starts to hit you. I started feeling it a little about 13.5 last summer, but backed off the pace and did fine and reached the summit at 2 h 5 m. Later in the trip I wasn't feeling as good, but I attributed that to all the partying at the wedding.

i''ll check back in may/june. if any mountain projectors are also runners and want to get out, then let me know.

Taking microspikes and a light axe might make a late June run up Kelso Ridge on Torreys interesting?

+1 to the Pawnee Buchanan loop.

Another scrambly option is Ypsilon's Blitzen Ridge to Donner Ridge.

There are spots to bail off during the Glacier Gorge traverse if the weather gets bad.

fossana wrote:+1 to the Pawnee Buchanan loop. Another scrambly option is Ypsilon's Blitzen Ridge to Donner Ridge. There are spots to bail off during the Glacier Gorge traverse if the weather gets bad.

Buchanan is pretty awesome. Got stalked by a young moose there at dusk. Scary experience. He was NOT happy I accidentally spooked him.

Bumping this up. I know CO got some late season storms. I'll be there in a couple weeks, what elevation is the snow line at give or take? Thanks.

On the way to Sky Pond on Saturday spikes were needed at the Loch, which is at about 10,200 feet. T Less travelled trails, like the cut-off to/from Lake Haiyaha, looked like they had a lot of snow as well even at lower elevation.

as one of my favorite comedians says "running is for poor people who need to catch a bus"

Watch out for aggressive grizzlies