My annoyance with the Pullman snow reached a tipping point and my itching for a trail run was gaining unhealthy momentum (no trail run since Sept) so Sadie and I made our first road trip of the season to get a good, snowless trail run in.
There was one small catch: the trail was in Hell and we had to sell our soles to run it.
I love running. And this run in
Hells Canyon is why I run. I know I say that often but running has become a part of me over the past couple years and runs like this one are exactly why I do it. The travel, the solitude, the landscape, the mental and physical challenge. And Sadie, of course. This was Sadie's longest run ever: 31 miles. Good girl.
My mind and legs are getting into shape.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb05DMxQGuI/AAAAAAAAEAU/C6X7SwryEa8/s200/IMG_2434.JPG)
Trailhead marker -- our goal was to reach
Sheep Creek and then turn around
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb05C8NdbNI/AAAAAAAAEAM/gOJwygIql0o/s200/IMG_2399.JPG)
Entering Hells Canyon by foot
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb05B_2lpNI/AAAAAAAAEAE/EYkWSgVn1dk/s200/IMG_2401.JPG)
Sadie's most at home when she's on a trail
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb05BvDc33I/AAAAAAAAD_8/zHJ0cTW24Cw/s200/IMG_2404.JPG)
Several cliffs with no room for error
VIDEO: The strong gusts of wind made me a
little nervous on a few of the ledges
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb04SMAe8rI/AAAAAAAAD_0/zTscTdIW41M/s200/IMG_2405.JPG)
I think Sadie loves the trail for the same reasons I do
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb04R85Wy8I/AAAAAAAAD_s/2-SuaoWsjg8/s200/IMG_2412.JPG)
Historic ranches along the way
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb04Rct_7UI/AAAAAAAAD_k/kth2S0CSPg8/s200/IMG_2413.JPG)
The trail brought us down by the river
several times for Sadie to take a dip and sip
(which was good because I ended up having
to drink the extra water I carried for her)
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb04RDzNa6I/AAAAAAAAD_c/Pr9OPfBbUxA/s200/IMG_2417.JPG)
Sadie contemplating the meaning of her life near Suicide Point
(legend has it that two forbidden lovers
heaved themselves from this cliff)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb04Q1KlnhI/AAAAAAAAD_U/cIOWMGH49mk/s200/IMG_2418.JPG)
A view of Suicide Point's 400 ft vertical drop
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb03KksmMyI/AAAAAAAAD_M/NAVhikHhaC4/s200/IMG_2420.JPG)
Ranch along the river
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb03KaNfeSI/AAAAAAAAD_E/D0wO9Gde_K0/s200/IMG_2425.JPG)
I wish I were a poet
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb03Jrc58mI/AAAAAAAAD-0/m-0ggUWrxuQ/s200/IMG_2428.JPG)
Turnaround point
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb03KGUQfzI/AAAAAAAAD-8/QP_dOhbiPc0/s200/IMG_2430.JPG)
Heading back home through golden-yellow meadows
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Cp0ptf5FUgs/Sb03IkCJ7KI/AAAAAAAAD-s/jf-ug6Btrt4/s200/IMG_2431.JPG)
Views like this make me happy to be alive
Keep running!
Scott