Solo camping trip to run and explore backcountry forest service roads (FSR) in the Talladega National Forest – driving FSR 600-1 near Bull’s Gap trailhead (Pinhoti Trail) until it was dark and I needed a campsite, then covering the rough FSR 600-2 in the morning before heading to FSR 600-3 to run the Silent Trail (past Cheaha Falls) to Lake Chinnabee and back (approximately 8 miles).

Paced Henry in the Hotter N’ Hell Trail Run (9-miler) in Oak Mountain State Park, with Henry coming in first in the 14-and-under division (34th / 205 overall).

Family hike to Lily Pad Lake via Meadow Creek Trail, which turned into a family run after getting caught in a thunderstorm.

Including some bonus “route-finding,” over nine miles running (or barely walking) on the Syncline Trail in Canyonlands National Park.

Several miles hiking into The Narrows with family, followed by a few more miles deeper into the canyon with Wesley and then a run back to our campsite at the Watchman Campground.

Crewed Wesley in the Western States Endurance Run (100-mile trail race), from Olympic Valley to Auburn, California. (I managed to run the first three miles of the course as part of the Hoka High Camp Challenge.)

Western States starting line

Six-mile family hike to Vernal Falls (saw a bear) and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail (completing the loop back via Join Muir Trail), followed by a (solo) 7.2-mile trail run/hike (roundtrip) to the top of Yosemite Falls (2,700′ elevation gain).

Six-mile (3 out and 3 back) family hike into the canyon via Bright Angel Trail, followed by a (solo) seven-mile (3.5 out and 3.5 back) run into the canyon via South Kaibab Trail (camping at Desert View Campground).

Several trail runs in the Sedona area, including a quick, solo trip up Cathedral Rock, followed by a second run with Henry and Jeremy beginning at the Marg’s Draw trailhead – and then seven miles with Jeremy the next day at the Woods Canyon trailhead near Red Rock Ranger District Station.

Waking up sick on race morning (with snow and temperature in the 20s), Henry made the game-time decision to run the Lost Falls trail 10K in DeSoto State Park (Fort Payne, AL) – finishing, remarkably, 15th overall. The race took place exactly one month after my COVID pneumonia diagnosis, so I was just grateful to be trail running again (finishing first overall was a surprising but nice bonus).