I recently traveled to Lisa Smith's Dreamchasers Training Camp in Victor, Idaho. It was truly a "dream" weekend. Along with two others, I flew into Jackson Hole, where Lisa and her husband, Jay, greetedus. From there we traveled to Lisa's home, a short but beautiful drive through the Grand Tetons. For anyone who hasn't been to this scenic part of the world, it is a breathtaking sight.
Lisa and Jay had planned five days of training, including running, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice skating. They had worked out all the details, everything from a time schedule for our activities to a menu with all of our meals. They had even included a list of equipment that we were to bring along. It was very organized.
Shortly after arriving at their home, we headed out for a ninety-minute run/walk, which allowed us to get used to the altitude. The weather was cold but, thanks to the equipment list, I was well prepared. When we arrived back home, we settled in while both Lisa and Jay prepared dinner. Afterwards, we plopped in front of the television and watched the Running on the Sun video, the documentary about the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon.
Day 2 had usscheduled for a four-hour snowshoe through the mountains. It was my first time on showshoes but, with some assistance, I quickly picked up on the techniques involved. We meandered through the trails of the nearby mountains - ending up at 8700' and some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. After we descended back down the trail, we headed back to the house for lunch. AFter a delicious meal, we were back outside again, this time for an our and half cross-country ski on the nearby trails. Then it was back home for a little relaxation time and some dinner.
The third day had us back in the mountains for more snowshoeing. Lisa had planned a 6-hour trek, again, through the scenic trails of the Tetons. We ended up at 9200', where we stopped to grab a quick bite to eat, and get a few snapshots of the views of the surrounding mountains. And then it was back down the trails. Upon arriving at the car, I decided to do the short run of 2 miles back to the house; I was on such a high from the previous six hours and all I had seen. After arriving back at the house, we headed out for some ice-skating, a quick hour workout on a rink located right by their house.
Day 4 was slotted for cross-country skiing. A short drive of 30 minutes, and we were on a well-groomed trail that was 12 kilometers long. Words alone cannot describe the beauty of the views we had. Just a short distance away, we could see the Grand, the tallest mountain in the Tetons. The skies were a clear blue, the air was crisp - it was truly awesome. After a 90-minute workout, we headed to a local ski resort, where we had a great lunch. After the drive back to the house, we were back out on the roads for another hour and half run/walk.
Our final day of the camp included a 2-hour snowshoe. It was back up to the mountains and the trails. Jay and I separated from the rest of the group and climbed our way up to an open field for a few pictures and last minute views of the beautiful countryside. We then ran back down the trail, met with the rest of the group and headed back to the house. We showered up and packed our gear for our trip back to Jackson Hole and our flight back home.
The five days I spent at the Dreamchasers Training Camp were indescribable. I enjoyed every minute of it. The entire camp was well-planned, which made the whole thing run very smoothly. Whether you are training for a big race/event or looking for a get-away weekend to enjoy the great outdoors, I would personally recommend this to anyone. Thanks Lisa and Jay! |