Getting outside in May

I haven't posted anything new for a couple weeks, but that doesn't mean I haven't been exploring. Actually, it means the opposite. I've gone on several runs, climbs, and rides in the past couple of weeks. I even went on another fun weekend camping trip, which I'll be blogging about shortly.

Starting with the runs, I went on a run from St. Paul to Minneapolis. This doesn't mean much in many parts of the city, but where I was, it meant for a out and back run totaling roughly 12 miles. It was a nice night, I felt strong, and decided to keep going! One issue with running that far is hydration, which I had covered, as I ran with a water bottle. The biggest issue for me was the soreness after the run. I was quite stiff that night and the next day, though it didn't keep me from getting outside while the weather was nice.

I went on a couple of bike rides in the last few weeks. The most interesting one included some biking past the State Capitol, up to Maryland Avenue and then back by taking a trail on Phalen. It was a nice ride, especially the trail along Phalen.

On the climbing end of things, I have begun to Lead climb in the gym. This takes quite a bit more skill than the auto belay or top rope climbing, but also provides a greater reward when done correctly. Even though this is in the gym, it is close to what you would think of when someone is climbing outdoors.

I'm hoping to make June just as fun-filled as May!

Camping at Baker park (Orono, MN)

Recently, I spent a relaxing night outdoors at Baker park in Orono, about half hour west of Minneapolis. A few friends and I decided that we wanted to have a night outdoors, now that the weather has warmed up a bit.

Baker park is a popular park to camp in or to have a picnic, as it isn't a far drive for people in the twin cities to enjoy a night (or day) outside. There are many trails that go through the park, and a lake, lake independence, is also part of the park. My friends and I didn't take part in many of the recreational opportunities available at the park, but still enjoyed the night outdoors.

May in Minnesota can be absolutely wonderful, though we didn't have that luck on the night we camped. Unfortunately, our campsite was a bit wet, which wasn't good for our shoes and the tarp we put our tent on. They were both quite muddy.The temps were in the low 40s overnight, which felt fine.

The cold and the rain didn't keep us from having a good time, though. We cooked up some brats and s'mores, and had some great campfire stories. Nights like that are some of the best, and I hope to have many more in the near future.

Lake of the Isles, Minneapolis

One of my favorite trails in Minneapolis is the trail around the Lake of the Isles. The trail is about 2.5 miles, so not too far, but is a great place to run, bike, or go on a walk. It is a year-round destination, and I've been there many times.

Yesterday it was 70 and sunny, which made for a great run around the lake. Of course, I wasn't the only one with this bright idea, and the trail was very busy with walkers and runners. I could tell, though, that it wasn't as busy as nearby lake Calhoun, a favorite place to see and be seen here in Minneapolis.

When the weather isn't so warm, the trail is a nice walk, as it isn't too far, and when the lake is frozen over, there are ski and snowshoe trails on the lake.

One of the best things about the area is that the trail around lake of the isles connects you to other great great trails, including Lake Calhoun and the greenway. All in all, its a great place to hang out!