Moose "Brokeback" Mountain

This post will be particularly interesting for those of you that have seen the award winning film Brokeback Mountain. Today, I ran to the summit of Moose Mountain, the mountain used in the film.

Moose Mountain. I would soon be up at the high point (peak on left)

I wish I had a horse to take me to the top as it was a lot of elevation gain in only 6km. The trail started out with a nice descent for a km, which I knew would be hell on the way back, before rising steeply and consistently for the next 6km. After the descent, the trail followed a well trodden fire road before opening into a beautiful alpine meadow before you traverse the ridge of Moose Mountain. Looking at the peak from down below was intimidating and psyches you out. Just knowing that you have to climb that within the half hour leaves a sinking feeling in your stomach. Mostly, because you know that pain that is coming. 

There was little break in the climb until you reach the summit and the forest fire lookout. For me, it was pure hell and happiness. I had done only a little climbing since my knee injury so this was a good baptism by fire. I have never done a run this hard in my life. usually when I do hills I get some rest time between sets, but this was one hard slog to the very top. My legs burned the whole way up and even though I thought of giving up and heading down, I said "Shut up Body, Shut Up Legs" and pushed onward. I was rewarded with amazing views of the mountains, the foothills and the prairies of Alberta. It really is the best place to be in the entire world. Alberta you are awesome.

Me, on top of Moose Mountain. The view behind me is my reward for completing the gruelling climb.

I have a race coming up in the middle of September so I need all the distance and elevation training I can get. This race will be my very first ultra-marathon so I am nervous and excited at the same time. More of that to come later though.

I retuned to Calgary exhausted but extremely happy. I definitely deserved those beers I had later on at a Kensington Pub. Well deserved indeed.