This a run that the asylum group (a bunch of crazy fellow trail runners in Estes Park) do annually. The plan is to start at Bear Lake, run up to Flat Top Mountain, then along the divide before descending west and finishing at Green Mountain Trailhead near Grand Lake. Bear Lake trailhead is at 9,475 feet - Flat Top mountain peaks at 12,332 feet, and the run finishes at Green Mounatin at 8,794 feet - the run distance is around 15.5 miles.
We met at Beaver Meadows visitor center on the edge of Rocky Mounatin National Park at 6.00am. A cool start with the day warming as the sun rose through a clear sky. We all piled into Harry Kent's minibus (thanks as lways Harry!), with Todd Plummer driving. Todd would drop us off at Bear Lake and then drive over the divide to be there at the Green Mountain Trailhead when we arrived - big thanks Todd! Quick picture before we set off up the trail to Flat Top.  I was last to leave the car park as my Garmin took forever to locate and link satellites..I ended up giving up and didn't restart it until the summit at Flat Top.
The climb to Flat Top is an unrelenting 4.5 miles of steep and often technical running / walking. There are several scenic overlooks on the way up that are well worth stopping at - once above treeline the air thins out noticeably and progress is measured and steady. I caught and passed Jacqui (my wife) and Pete and Sue on the way up, and then arrived at Flat Top in time to see the rest of the group start their descent. I waited for Jacqui as she'd not been down the trail West from Flat Top.  She arrived a while later very emotional - she had struggled on the climb.  We took pics on the summit and I decided to stay with Jacqui rather than descend at my own speed. Pete and Sue started with us and we ran across the beautfiul tundra, past glaciers and snowfields.  The tundra was thick with wildflowers - probably more than last year, another impact of the wet spring we have had in Colorado.  It is indescibably beautiful. Descending back down to treeline we saw marmots, could hear pikas calling, and saw a ptarmigan.  Treats aplenty! The cool breezes up on Flat Top gave way to warm sunshine on our backs. The scenes coming down to treeline are reminscent of the scenery from the Sound of the Music - we skipped down singing "the hills are alive" and laughing as we went.
Down through treeline and the surface changed from rocky to a soft pine carpet that encouraged a slightly longer stride and quicker pace. Jacqui was running well considering how little training she has been able to fit in.  We stopped for several pics on the way and gu's and fluids. As we neared the Green Mountain trail head the nmber of hikers on the trail increased.  There were several groups with packs on their backs who were very impressed with the fact that we were running. Sue was struggling with a knee problem, so we left Pete and Sue and ran on...
I could see that Jacqui was tiring towards the end of the trail...I encoraged her to walk up the steeper short climbs to stretch out her legs and take a rest from running - thankfully she listened and we made good progress. The last 1.5 miles or so are a steeper descent to the tarilhead - I decided it was time to stretch my legs and took off to the trailhead.  I caught one of the main group, Chris, before the end, and then ran on to finish and join the rest at the trailhead.
Jacqui, Sue and Pete arrived soon after me and we were all soon swapping stories of thigs we had seen on the run. It had been a great day - we jumped back into the van, tailed by Brad on his MTB, and headed for Grand Lake for some well earned lunch. A day to remember! Thanks to everyone in the gang, and especially to Amy for organising the whole trip. There is no sweeter feeling than to have shared a run that special with like minded folks. There was much mirth and merriment over lunch, and some sleepy heads in the bus on the way back down to Beaver Meadows.
I felt great afterwards and very proud of Jax and her first over he divide run!

The crazy bunch: Carla, Lisa, Paul, Amy, Ernie, John Mc, Laura, John F, Shelley, Chris, Tom, Jax, Sue, Pete, TC, & Todd the valiant driver!