Okay, so weather is weather is weather and whining about it isn’t going to change anything but…spring seems to think it has arrived here in Summit County, Colorado. Since early February we’ve had only a handful of days that didn’t get above freezing with most of our days hitting 40-50 degrees before noon rolled around. Sounds like spring, right?!

Except it’s March! Spring should NOT be here yet! 

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m loving this weather — it’s fantastic for running on the roads or trails, it’s doing a great job of kicking off my runner tan lines + back country packs are lighter because you need more sunscreen than layers.

That said, it’s too early for spring. And not just in the “global warming” or “we’re going to burn to the ground this summer” kind of way…it’s too early for spring because at some point in the next month or so winter is bound to rear it’s chilly head again, plunging us all back into the reality of mountain life…followed by all this slushing, melting, icing, muddying all over again.

Honestly, that’s why I’m harboring so many mixed feelings about this crazy early spring — we’re all going to have to go through this thaw/freeze + mud junk again. The “mud season” if you will. It’s essential a week or three that takes our trails from snowy to dry where most trails are either shut down or only used by people who don’t understand the damage done to muddy trails. It’s a short “season” but man…it’s a bit of a downer when no one can get onto the trails in snow gear OR summer gear and this early spring is shaping us to give us two bouts of “mud season”. #whine

Ooooooh well, while I wait for the second round of winter to show up I’m just going to get my tush outside and do all of the things I can with the snow! Anything from trail running to snow shoeing to winter camping to rock climbing to hut tripping…it’s happening. Because, screw you weather, I’m still enjoying all of the things outside!

Luckily I get to suffer through all of this amazing weather in a state that’s surrounded by things to do! My next few months are little full of out door shenanigans. With a few intense ultras on my agenda this summer I’ll be spending a lot of time-on-my-feet training in the mountains where I’m sure I’ll find a super fun mix of post holing, ice skating and perfectly runnable trail. I actually love the challenge — keeps my mind off the pressure to train and lets me just be there, surviving one foot step at a time.

On top of that I’ve signed myself up for a handful of wilderness training courses that’ll get me started on the Wilderness Upgrade for my current EMT certificate…and I feel a little guilty calling these courses a “class” because we are literally outside almost all day long, tromping around the back country + digging in the snow.

And even if I have nothing exciting specifically scheduled for my day there’s always Max…the perfect excuse to wander outside, just because he’ll enjoy it at least twice as much as I do. I swear, I don’t want a dog of my own but I really do like having Max around! The nut is always excited to see me and the words “outside” or “run” get him all sorts of giddy!

So, I guess I really have no excuse to whine about the weather…even if we have to go through all this “spring thaw” all over again in a month it’ll be worth it. Of course, the sleety snow stuff that’s attempting to fall from the sky right now is going to make this afternoon’s run interesting. Hm. Weather…the one thing we can talk about all day, e’er day because it’s forever changing!


4 Comments

Beth Lakin · March 7, 2021 at 10:25 am

Solidarity on being sad about multiple mud seasons. :-/

I’m just hoping that the March-April rounds of snow will mostly stick to the mountains and at least leave me the desert to play in.

    Heidi Kumm · March 9, 2021 at 2:18 pm

    Our trails are getting all mashed potato’y. I like mashed potatoes…but not on my trails! #whine

Amanda | Chasing My Sunshine · March 7, 2021 at 3:22 pm

I was blown away when I was in CO last week and it was warmer than it was in Philadelphia. We’re also going through an early Spring now and I’m so afraid we’re going to get smacked with freezing temps again and Mother Nature is just being a tease. Ha! Love your get-outside attitude though. I’m definitely right there with you! And those classes sound really awesome. I’d be interested if I ever move somewhere close to where they’re offered!

    Heidi Kumm · March 9, 2021 at 2:19 pm

    It’s been crazy warm! I’m headed down to Denver for a few days — definitely have shorts packed! Of course, that means it’ll snow…

    And yes, check out those classes if you’re ever living somewhere near them, they are great. You learn a lot AND you have a great excuse to bail out of work to further your education!

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