RAILS TO TRAILS 30 MILER
 1 January 2001      Arriving at the Park City trail head to the Rails to Trails trail, I noticed the New Years Day run had swelled
 500% to a total of 5 participants. Last year there was just me.  Joan Moellmer and I were just doing a short
 walk compared to Grizz, John Moellmer, and David Hunt.  We loaded up my van and drove off in the cold
 morning air (mid teens) for Coalville.  The roads were dry and the air was very clear and sunny.  It was a nice
 change from the morbid frost of Salt Lake Valley.  The junction at I-80 was a mess and I got momentarily off
 track, finally heading north after a little prompting from 4 competent navigators.  It was miraculous how they
 all knew the way to go despite not being able to see out of the foggy windows.  After getting off the freeway
 and driving through Coalville, I finally stopped near the Echo Junction where the rail trail began.  It looked far
 too snowy for me but David, Grizz, and John seemed real game to go.  I didn't have to beat their fingers off
 the door handles more than once or twice as they tried to get back in the van.  Joan and I cackled evilly as
 we drove off leaving them on foot.  We drove to Wanship and parked at the trail head north of the Spring
 Chicken Cafe.  After a few complaints we started walking along the rail trail northward.  Man it was cold.  It
 must have been at or just below zero with the slight wind in our face.  Brrrrr....... After 30 minutes of walking, I
 started running and Joan shortly turned around.  We were not enjoying the trail surface and surmised that
 the 3 snowmen out running were unfavorably impressed with the trail footing. Back north it took them all of
 100 yards to figure out there was a perfectly good road to run and so they all headed for the asphalt and
 traveled southward.  Once Joan and I had turned around, we warmed up as the frosty weather was becoming downright  balmy.  Why,  I bet it got right up to 20 degrees F ! Heat wave!  Joan and I went to the Maverick Gas Station south of town and discovered it was closed for New Years - ugh. I drove Joan back to her Jeep in Park City and after making a bagel stop - she headed to Star  Point for a somewhat late aid station but rather appreciated.  Dave, Grizz and Prince Many Dots found that the snow on the Rail Trail in Silver Creek canyon was way too deep to run, but were able to find a secret parallel trail:  very wide, snow free, and paved.  Some obviously criminal elements overcame the group and they ended up running on the secret trail which I cannot divulge or they will surely kill me.  Post holing for 7 miles just didn't seem appealing to the group.  They departed the mystery trail before Star Point where the running became more tolerable. Grizz fired the after-burners just before the finish and arrived in 6 hours and 15 minutes. David and John came in at 6:30.
Quite a  tough job to run that far in the middle of winter.
Congratulations to all.
2002 will be here in 365 days.  Where ya wanta run?
 Irv