My second goal in running the 2023 Hardrock 100 — behind finishing — was to embrace joy along the way. Fortunately, I succeeded in completing both those goals in July. Along the way, I also snapped 500-some photos. What follows is some of the joyous observations I captured on the course.
If you’re looking for more photos from my Hardrock journeys, you can also check out “Eyes Wide Open: A Runner’s View of the 2018 Hardrock 100 Course.”
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Darla Askew - Bryon Powell](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
This year, I got to share more miles and smiles with Darla Askew than I have in any other Hardrock 100. All photos: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Arrow Vestal Peaks](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
Arrow and Vestal Peaks might just be my favorite mountains to see in all of the San Juans.
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Cutthroat Trout](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
A beautiful cutthroat trout caught along the way.
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Grizzly Gulch](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
A look across Grizzly Gulch gives perspective on the scope of Hardrock.
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Handies Peak Hell Yeah](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
Photos can’t capture the “Hell yeahs!” exchanged on the way up Handies Peak.
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Handies Peak](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
The American Basin side of Handies Peak is one of Hardrock’s iconic views.
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Engineer Pass sunset](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
On the way up to Engineer Pass, runners kept reminding others, “Look right,” and, “Look back!” With views like this, you can understand why!
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Engineer Pass](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
A runner nears the top of Engineer Pass during a spectacularly interminable sunset.
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Oh Point](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
A runner and their pacer greet day’s end on Oh! Point.
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Into Telluride](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
Descending to Telluride with a day and a night and 70-plus miles behind me.
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Grant-Swamp Pass for Blixt Road](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
Looking down the Blixt Road from just below Oscars Pass toward Grant-Swamp Pass.
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Grant-Swamp Pass closeup](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
Grant-Swamp Pass coming into better view.
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Oscars Pass](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
Looking back at Oscars Pass from the climb up Swamp Gulch.
![2023 Hardrock 100 - Island Lake](//www.irunfar.com/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
I’m always shocked at just how blue Island Lake is.