Mandys New Bike

Thompson Peak Run

"Hole in the Rock" 

      I had to do a 20 mile run on Sunday, July 31st, 2016... so I headed up to Lonetree, Wyoming to explore some country up in Uintas near Lonetree.  I passed the Hole in the Rock on my way up to the Hoop Lake trail head.

   Once I got to Hoop Lake I decided to take the Burnt Ridge trail up towards Island lake, go over Thompson Pass and take a stab at Thompson Peak.  There were clouds already at 9AM... so I was skeptical as to how the weather might cooperate.  The first 1.5 miles of trail up to the Wilderness Boundary was pretty good... after that it got kind of less used and tricky to follow in lots of places (mainly grassy meadows and bogs).  I had to take my time navigating.  It definitely didn't see the traffic that the King's Peak route does.  In fact... during the 7 hours and 20 miles I ran, I never saw a sole... nobody at all the whole day.




      I made it to this trail junction okay... but it took a while to figure out the trails from here.  Eventually I headed up towards Beaver Lake and Thompson peak.




Another meadow- just after the sign.  Clouds were building.  Distant thunder cracking already.

    The trail I found ended up heading straight up towards Thompson Peak.  I took it.  I was hit with rain and hail a few times.  About two or three hundred feet short of the 11, 500 some feet peak lightning and thunder became and issue and I had to retreat.

The view looking back down towards Lonetree and Wyoming from near the top of Thompson Peak.

Back down in the meadow country, I decided to take a different trail that looped towards Island lake and Kabell lakes... and came back out at the Hoop Lake TH.   It was tricky to follow too... all in the trees though out of the rain and lightning... well kind of.  The rain still drenched me.

     Fourteen or fifteen miles now and several hours... the Hoop lake trail head area finally comes into view again.

Feeling a bit tired now... but back at Hoop lake.

Hoop Lake

To get my full 20 miles in I actually had to run back up to the wilderness boundary and back.  The loop I did was more like 16 miles.  The up and back added the four I needed for 20.  It ended up taking me 7-8 hours I think.  Slow going really because the trail is not used much.  Probably better for hiking then running.  It's always nice to be in the Wilderness though.  And... I never saw a sole... notta one.  I can't remember the last time a covered 20 miles and/or a day in Wilderness and never saw anyone.  Pretty cool.  No grizzlies in this country yet either!