A Long Trail Run

Our first day in Crested Butte was nice and relaxed as we eased into vacation mode. Our second day was relaxed in a different way: after a small, quick breakfast we headed out to the Lower Loop Trail to go trail running and explore! We ended up logging 10.5 miles. (I also took a thousand photos.) And then, of course, we refueled like professionals. Crested Butte is a foodie’s town!

The views were increasingly spectacular as we climbed up Kebler Pass to reach the trailhead.

A run selfie at the beginning of the trail!

The temperature was supposed to be around 30 degrees, but it felt like 60.

We experimented with a steep run/hike into the aspens and then realized that might not actually be the Lower Loop Trail, so we turned around after a while and found our way.

It kicked my butt! Hiking and running uphill at elevation (9,000ish feet) did a great job of waking me up for that morning’s workout.

Look at that mountain! And that man. 🙂

I had to stop and shoot some photos and video of this beautiful woodpecker.

We followed the water out and back, perpetually in awe of the beauty surrounding us.

This was our favorite spot. Look at that! Once again, I took a photo of Nick taking a photo.

I could’ve sat there and stared all day (with a picnic, of course).

This is at mile 5 or 6, I think. Still looking fresh and happy!

It’s funny because I’ve been easing back into 15-20 mile weeks since my surgery, and I hadn’t done more than a 7-mile long run in a month… but running 10 at elevation felt easy. Maybe I should credit the delicious food extravaganza from the day prior, or maybe it was simply that I was well-rested and engaged in my environment. Who knows! (Nick and I ran at Wash Park last night, and it felt like I’d never run before in my life. This sport really makes zero sense… most of the time.)

Refuel in the Sun

After our run, we stopped at the hotel to grab some thing and then walked to First Ascent Coffee Roasters.

We hadn’t eaten much before our run (half a bagel with cream cheese, a hard-boiled egg, etc.) so believe me when I say we were deliriously hungry. We ordered a couple panini and an almond milk cappuccino, and then sat on the back upper deck to enjoy it all. The food took a while to be served… but when it finally arrived, it was delicious.

This one had apple slices and cheddar cheese, with a side salad.

And this one had an awesome pesto with hummus and avocado. Doesn’t look the most appetizing, but it was good.

To continue to outdoor-sitting trend, we moved on to The Eldo bar and sat on the upper deck with a beer. I didn’t realize my back and shoulders were getting a tad burned. Whoops!

The Slogar Experience

After resting at the hotel and showering, we decided to go back for some drinks and a pretzel at Dogwood (creatures of delicious habit) before our adventurous dinner at Slogar Bar & Restaurant. One of what had been 18 saloons/taverns in the mining town in the 1880s, this place serves a three-course meal with original recipes they served to miners after a hard day’s work.

We had no idea what to expect.

The decor inside is… eclectic. It’s dark and feels like you really are traveling back in time.

The first course consisted of:

• cottage cheese
• sweet and sour coleslaw
• tomato chutney
• a plate of celery, carrots, bread & butter pickles, and pears

We had no idea how to eat these things… but somehow we did and it was oddly incredible. I didn’t know I liked cottage cheese, so I’m glad I adventured out of my comfort zone!

The next course was the most exciting, and we were starting to get an idea of what was to come when the table next to us got theirs:

• a bucket of fried chicken
• creamed corn
• mashed potatoes
• gravy
• and a basket of biscuits (with honey butter and strawberry jam)

Yeah, so it’s safe to assume this was good. The fried chicken is a century-old recipe. The mashed potatoes hit the spot. My favorite thing was the biscuits, though.

And the best part? They will keep refilling bowls if you’d like, so you could basically have endless mashed potatoes. Thankfully we declined the temptation.

We didn’t, however, decline the third course, which was vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce.

Even with all that activity, we were stuffed and ready to head home early. I mean, we had just learned that season 3 of Bloodline came out, so yeah. Vacation! We watched a few (AMAZING) episodes before passing out, exhausted.

We walked around town Monday morning before hitting the road, just when I was starting to get into the full swing of vacation… but it was a great time! Perhaps next year we’ll explore Telluride, since either of us has been. Or maybe we’ll make a trip earlier!

How was your holiday weekend?