Trail Runners Share Winter Conditions
Trail enthusiasts documented exceptional winter running conditions, with Christophe Berg sharing his Saturday trail run on Colorado's Bear Creek Trail in O'Fallon Park, calling the conditions 'unreal' with 4 photos. Meanwhile, #RunningMonk completed a 28km Trail A Thon in India's Aravali hills, quoting Edward Abbey on how crooked paths lead to amazing views.
The "unreal" trail conditions in Colorado's O'Fallon Park follow a season of extremes. The Denver area recorded its lowest early-season snowfall on record, with just 13.4 inches from September to February, far below the average of 34.8 inches. This unusually dry period left many trails with less snowpack than is typical for mid-winter. A shift occurred in late February as a winter storm moved through the state, delivering colder temperatures and a much-needed blanket of fresh snow. While the Denver metro area received only about an inch of snow, Colorado's mountain regions were hit much harder, with some areas accumulating over two feet, creating the powdery conditions enjoyed by local runners. The Bear Creek Trail, located within O'Fallon Park, is part of a larger network of trails in the Bear Creek area near Evergreen. It is a popular destination for trail runners, hikers, and mountain bikers, offering varied terrain and elevation gains of around 650 feet on some loops. Thousands of miles away, the Aravali hills of India offer a starkly different winter trail experience. As one of the oldest mountain ranges on Earth, the Aravalis have a semi-arid climate with cool and generally dry winters, with temperatures ranging from 5°C to 20°C (41°F to 68°F). This region is a known hub for trail running, hosting numerous organized events that range from short 3km family runs to challenging 100km ultra-marathons. These events are set against a backdrop of ancient history, with the range having been the site of early Stone Age civilizations.
