Chena Dome

Headed out early toward Chena Hot Springs with the plan to run the 30 mile Chena Dome trail. It starts up through old fire burns climbing about 800 m in the first 6 miles.



Once out of the trees, the views are impressive. You can see the ridge all the way to Chena Dome, the high point in the distance. There's not really a trail along the ridge, making for fun tundra running. I saw a moose and calf just past this spot right on top of the ridge.



Even though we left early, it was oppressively hot for the ascent and there was no water at all on the trail until a tiny little pool at mile 7. Turtle forgot to bring water for herself so we shared. She's pretty good at drinking from the camel back.



We were making pretty good time, but just before we got to Chena Dome, thunder heads started to form, sounding their presence in long barrages. There were a long line of dark storm clouds drifting in, so decided to make this an out-and-back and headed back along the ridge hoping to beat the storm.



Thought we were home and dry but right before heading down off the ridge we were hit with a blitzkrieg of pea-sized hail. Poor old Turtle didn't know what to do, put her ears back, scrunched her eyes mostly closed, and stayed close to the ground. Anyway, it was altogether a fun little run ending up at around 16 miles.