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Tag: Old Aqueduct Trail

A few recent runs

A few recent runs

Here are a few recent outings:

A run up the newly worked on lower stretch of the Farmington Creek Trail by Ryan Lauck, up the first section of the post-parking lot single track, and then looping across the creek to explore the Aqueduct Trail back – a first. All with a coworker, Spencer, who just moved here and is quickly getting hooked on the trails.

5.0 miles in 1:33:34 @ 18:44 min/mile and with 1,170 ft. elevation gain

Farmington Canyon + Old Aqueduct (1)
Farmington Canyon, Beautiful as Ever
Farmington Canyon + Old Aqueduct (2)
Spencer Surveying his Domain from the base of the Farmington Spine

A night run on pavement. Zzzz.

4.3 miles in 38:00 @ 8:53 min/mile and with 0 ft. elevation gain

A night run up Centerville Canyon. Bad idea to do in the dark. Rough trail, LOTS to trip on and having to stop a few times to figure out where the trail went.  Slow.

3.1 miles in 47:04 @ 14:58 min/mile and with 952 ft. elevation gain

Centerville Canyon - Dewell Creek at night
These woods be creepy in the dark!

A repeat of the 7 mile out and back from East Mtn. Park in Kaysville to Fernwood in Layton on the BST. I ran it faster than ever, getting PRs on all of the segments and even negative splits. I felt great! In my head I was thinking it had to be way faster than last time, but looking at the previous post it was only 2 minutes faster overall. Oh well – I’ll take it!

7.2 miles in 1:17:39 @ 10:50 min/mile and with 835 ft. elevation gain

Adams Canyon BST
Autumn is popping in the hills, but still plenty of green on the BST – here coming out north of Adams Canyon
Inaugural Bushwhack and Bloodletting

Inaugural Bushwhack and Bloodletting

I got home from work and it was just too nice to not go out. My knee was a bit sore, and I knew I would regret it (I don’t) but I went anyways. I was planning on parking at Famrington Pond and running the BST/Farmington Upper Terrace loop, but when I arrived at the canyon I saw that the gates were open. Yeah! Up the canyon I went.I parked at the end of the pavement and ran up the Farmington Creek Trail past Halfway Creek and Corduroy Creek, looking for the right-hand turnoff for the Old Aqueduct Trail.

It is a beautiful canyon. It was my first time running up that trail and I think it is going to be a go-to trail for me. Not too steep, nice and easy, well-maintained.

2014-04-29 - Farmington Creek Trail (7)
I can’t believe I live here
2014-04-29 - Farmington Creek Trail (3)
Later this summer in the heat…I just might take a dip!

Also, some old cars wrecked in the forest. I don’t know they were pushed off the canyon road above, or if they were from back when that trail was an old road bed.

2014-04-29 - Farmington Creek Trail (6)
I bet my dad could ID this down to year/make/model.
2014-04-29 - Farmington Creek Trail (5)
Car on right, engine block on left

In any case, I couldn’t find the Old Aqueduct turnoff. I took a right-hand turn up past the big waterfall and it quickly devolved into a bushwhack. Ah…just like old times.

2014-04-29 - Farmington Creek Trail (4)
Looks like it MIGHT be a trail…

When I got home and got in the shower, I discovered that I not only did my inaugural bushwhacks, but also the inaugrual bloodletting. All those little scratches really sting in the hot water and soap!  Hurts so good!

3.5 Miles in 46:08 @ 13:18 min/mile and 994 ft. elevation

When I got back to the car, I drove down the pavement to where maps show the other end of the Old Aqueduct Trail. I walked a log across the creek, and bushwhacked up the hill until I found a good solid diagonal trail. It took me to the ridge where I followed it up to the Farmington Spine Trail proper, and the intersection with the Old Aqueduct. I ran it for 100 yards or so just to check it out and then worked my way back.

2014-04-29 Old Aqueduct Trail (2)
Old metal ties that used to hold the aqueduct pipe in place – could make for hazardous running.

Balance-beam across the creek – I don’t think mom would approve.

It was a fun little climb and now I know how to get up there. My IT Band on the left knee was just screaming by the end.  Boo.

1.1 miles in 24:16 @ 22:27 min/mile and 461 ft. elevation

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