Got out late this morning, but ever so grateful because I’ve been working more than usual, leaving little time for morning runs.
The stats:
Miles run: 10.03 (16.14 km)
Elevation gained: 1,253 ft (382 m)
The pics:
Entering Meadows: 
My “Everything’s-Everything’s-Gonna-Be-Alright-Bridge (because if I make it to here, chances are very good that I’m surviving the run 
):
Top of the World:
Robber’s Cave:
Okay, I’m wondering if the English translation for Cholla is SATAN. I’ve come across many things on the trail, and I’ve learned to stay away from many of those things – like say for example, Stinging Nettle. You would have thought by now, I would have learned about Cholla Cactus, AKA Jumping Cholla. I have after all, run Cholla Trail on countless occasions. But I have only admired this treacherous plant from afar. That is, until Tuesday morning.
There I was, minding my own business, running along Aliso Creek Trail in Aliso Canyon and I passed by a Cholla in bloom. It has such a lovely (deceitful) flower. I stopped and went back to snap a photo. I took one from afar, then I pushed in close, stepping beneath the lower branches for a close-up.
I stepped away oblivious to what had transpired beneath the bush. But I realized right away with the first step that I took. Ouch! It felt like needles were poking the bottom of my foot. I glanced down to see that I had stepped on a fallen Cholla branch. And I could not kick it off. After some attempts using my other foot, I managed to break the branch away. What remained were dozens of Cholla thorns penetrating the soles of my shoes – poking ALL THE WAY THROUGH the insoles. I could not take another step without prickly pain. AND my attempts at releasing the thorns were futile. They poked quick and deep into my fingertips, drawing immediate blood. I took a rock and tried to shave off the Cholla thorns. But that only broke them at the surface, still leaving them deep in my shoe. Finally, I found a thick branch that I used to pry the suckers out of my shoes.
STILL! One little thorn dug into my forefoot after I put my shoe back on and tried to run. After unlacing them two or three more times and trying to dislodge the unseen thorn with my bloody fingers, I sat at the side of the trail nearly beaten. Forty-five minutes already wasted dealing with these demons, I whimpered a bit before pulling myself back in the game. “It’s just an obstacle,” I told myself. “Figure out a way!”
When I walked I could not feel the thorn. When I ran, it jabbed hard into my forefoot. Obviously, it was buried beneath the insole padding. So instead of finding the little sucker, I decided to crush the little it where it hid. With a rock and some spirited anger, I smashed down into my insole, then laced up my shoes once more. Success. Obstacle defeated. I was off again, for a shorter run then planned, with a loop totaling 8.39 miles (I guessed 8.4!!)
I am certain to never stop anywhere near a Cholla cactus again. Never, ever, ever! 
I got my once-a-week-mountain-run in this morning bright and early. Well, not that early. I started off up Maple Springs at 7:00 AM. Still, I was the only one on the road for some time. The weather was cool. The skies were blue. All ideal for a time in the mountains. I originally decided to set out for an eighteen mile loop often referred to as “The Silverado Loop.” It gets really nasty after mile 8 due to HOT, exposed, uphill trails. But a mile into my loop, the battery on my garmin died. Doh!!! I didn’t want to make that trip without my security blanket, my sweet, sweet garmin. So I began stashing my extra water as I made my way up Maple Springs for a fifteen mile out-and-back instead.
I saw a couple of these little guys along the way:
I didn’t run up that mountain quickly at all. In fact, I met a two hikers again and again on my giant switch-back, as they made their way straight up the mountain, bushwhacking their way. I didn’t stress over my inability to pick up my feet any quicker however. I enjoyed the the lush mountainsides and little creatures along the way.
I arrived at “Four Corners” quicker than I figured I would. And I thought to myself, “I can do the loop. I can, I can!!” But alas, I had already stashed my extra water on Maple Springs. I didn’t dare make my trip across the “desert” without reserves. “Four Corners,” by the way, is a junction of four trails: 1) Maple Springs, the trail that I came up, originating in Silverado Canyon, 2) Harding Truck Trail, a 9 mile uphill battle beginning in Modjeska Canyon, 3) The Main Divide heading north (I think) and 4) The Main Divide heading off toward Modjeska and Santiago Peaks.
View from “Four Corners”:
My breakfast at “Four Corners”:
In all I travelled fifteen miles during this wonderful mountain out-and-back. The back was all downhill, with plenty of wishes at my disposal along the way. 
This morning I hit the trails in Aliso/Wood Canyons for my first run this week (day 117 in my fitness streak).
Miles run 13.38 (my guess was 13.37!!), 21.53 km.
Elevation gain 1,244 ft. or 379 m.
Spotted: 2 bucks, 2 does, 1 mouse, many lizards and goats, goats goats! (& I was wearing my Nanny Goat shirt 
)
