Leppy Canyon / West Wendover / Pilot Peak Trail Run

Introduction

This past weekend for New Years, I headed out west for a weekend getaway across the state line.  If you've read my blog at all, you know I like to explore the canyons north of the city.  There are plenty of ATV trails out there and you basically find one and keep running on it.

I had time to kill on the morning of New Year's Eve and I had brought some running supplies.  I had overslept but I managed to down a Power Bar, fill my canteen with 28 ounces of Tailwind and head out the door.

For the past few days the northern Utah / Nevada area had been banked with heavy fog.  I had thought about heading south of town and just running along the side of the road, but my fear of getting hit by a speeding car in the fog made me head north.

I was a little nervous about heading north.  With the heavy fog I was a little worried about getting lost.  The trail is pretty well defined, but it helps to have landmarks and once you get a few miles north of town and nestled in the canyon, you lose cell reception.

However, once I got about 3 miles outside of town the fog lifted and it was as if I was running on a spring day.  While the temperature was still freezing and I had nothing on but a windbreaker and shorts, I was at least a little warmer on account it was sunny.  It was as if I had entered into an entirely new area.  Of course, I had gained over 1000 feet of elevation, but it was definitely nicer out.

You can follow the route I took here.  

I was on familiar ground for the first 5 or 6 miles, but it was nice to take it a little further and see what else was out there.  I also managed to get a few pictures of Pilot Peak, which was stunning.

Finally on the way back I was running back into the fog and low and behold in front of me was a parked car, right in the middle of the trail.  Anything can happen out in the desert and I hadn't seen anyone, so I was a little concerned.  Normally I see nobody and that whole area can be a bit iffy.  Luckily the guy was doing something with his trunk... hopefully not dumping.  But it was suspicious.  I gave him a quick hello and he seemed startled but not overly concerned by my presence.    Just odd.

Either way, I took a bunch of pictures...