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SALT LAKE CITY — When we think of trail running, most of us have visions of beautiful spring, summer, or fall days ... of single-track dirt and rock trails, tall fir trees and groves of aspen trees.
We might think of beautiful mountain lakes, the sound of flowing creek water and blue cloudless sky. Or the feeling of cool mountain morning air, the heat of sunny summer afternoons and the stillness of fall mountain evenings.
Imagine running a few mountain trails in winter. How difficult would it be to run a trail covered in snow and ice, or with wind-blown snow or sleet hitting your face and bone-chilling temperatures? Surprisingly, or not, there are many mountain endurance athletes in Utah who do just that.
In fact, there are organized events in Utah and they're not just for mountain athletes to stay in shape, although that is a big part of it — these mountain athletes also run for a cause. They want to bring awareness to Utah's air quality.
The "Running Up For Air" series of winter trail running endurance events was born out of the vision of Jared Campbell, a local ultramarathon runner who used Grandeur Peak in the Millcreek area as a winter training ground.
Pollution and smog trapped in an inversion layer in the Salt Lake valley forced Campbell, his friends, local mountain athletes and their families to start informal winter trail runs to get above the polluted valley air. The "Running Up For Air" series of runs was born out of their love of the mountains, preserving the great outdoors and a desire for a better quality of life.
In the winters of 2012 through 2015, a small group of these friends and families gathered with the challenge to run and hike to Grandeur Peak in the Wasatch Front mountains near Salt Lake City. The following year, in 2016, permits were obtained from the forest service to make the event more formal and allow for more public awareness.
Most locals are aware of winter inversions that take place in the Salt Lake Valley. Inversions are a natural phenomenon, as cooler air naturally sinks. The Salt Lake Valley, as well as other valleys in Utah, will fill with cold air in the winter. The problem with the colder air settling into the valley is that pollution gets trapped there with it. The pollution from industry and automobiles continues to build up in the inverted cold air until it becomes very unhealthy smog.
In a Salt Lake inversion, the air above the valley floor can often be clean and beautiful. Hiking or running up the mountain a thousand feet or more will get you out of the smog.
"Running Up For Air" events are designed to not only bring awareness to the inversion pollution problem, but raise funds for study and possible solutions to the inversion smog problem, thereby increasing the quality of life for all residents of Utah.
The organization's main event is Malans Peak on Feb. 25 and 26.
The challenge begins at the 29th Street trailhead on the east bench in Ogden, an elevation of 4,764 feet. Mountain athletes will start up the trail, which is a gradual climb of 300 feet, entering Taylors Canyon. At about three-quarters of a mile, runners will see a trail sign directing them to the right, toward Malans Peak. The next 2 miles are steep mountain terrain covered in snow and ice, including several switchbacks to the peak.
Endurance athletes up for the challenge should expect any type of winter conditions in February. Spikes or snow screws will be necessary. Mountain athletes will retrace their steps and return to the trailhead for a total of approximately 6 miles. Competitors repeat the trek from the trailhead to the peak as many times as possible until they refuse to continue. While the elevation gain of 2,300 feet in 3 miles is difficult, the descent of that elevation on snow and ice-covered trail is equally, if not substantially more difficult.
Three "Running Up For Air" events will be held this year in Utah, including:
Grandeur Peak, Salt Lake City, Friday and Saturday
Kyhv Peak (Rock Canyon), Provo, Feb. 10-11
Malans Peak, Ogden, Feb. 25-26
For more information about the events, or to learn about the organization, visit upforairseries.org.
