Post by dandurston on Aug 6, 2012 23:13:53 GMT -5
Location: Stein Valley Nlaka'pamux Heritage Park, BC, Canada
Planned Date: Aug 13 (6:45pm) - Aug 15, 2012 (2:01pm).
Participant(s): Dan Durston
Start/Finish: Lizzie Lake TH / Lytton TH
Distance: ~81km
Time: 43.25
Conditions: Swelteringly Hot
Previous FKT: 35 hr, 45 min* - 2003.
www.cs.bath.ac.uk/brown/stein/stein.html
* Travelled slightly less than the full traverse, as they hiked in the night before to Lizzie Cabin, which is about 3km and +1000' from the trailhead.
Prequel:
My intentions are to attempt a FKT on the full traverse of the Stein Valley Park starting about Aug. 13, 2012 (+/- 1 day). I will be starting from Lizzie Lake, which is the western trailhead. The logging road to this trailhead washed out in 2004, so I will do the 10km / +4000' hike to the Lizzie Lake / BC Parks trailhead the evening before.
The previous FKT (which wasn't directly an attempt at one) started about 3km/+1000' in at Lizzie Cabin, which is a wonderful spot to spend the night, but not the terminus of the traverse (as described on the BC Parks website). My goal is to complete the traverse from trailhead to trailhead in less than the current 35 hr, 45 min FKT.
This traverse starts with 20-25km of alpine travel, which is more of a route than a trail with cairns marking most of the way. Three major boulder fields are crossed, which is slower going. One area is a scramble. From there the hike descends ~3500' to Stein Lake and then out the valley along 60km of mostly rough hiking trail paralleling the Stein River to the eastern trailhead.
Expected Conditions:
Due to several forest fires in the past decade, the trail is heavily obscured with devils club/fireweed for about 15 km (Avalanche Creek to Cottonwood Creek), making it very difficult to follow the trail and nearly impossible at night. In previous hikes I've always lost the trail several times. There are also several riparian zones that are heavily overgrown and similarly challenging. I believe the trail is significantly more challenging than it was in 2003, but regardless it was very challenging in 2003 and it certainly remains that way.
Goal:
My primary motivation for this hike is a personal challenge. However, aiming to best the current FKT adds a little extra motivation. I will be attempting this in 'ultralight' backpacking style with a total pack weight between 10-13 lbs.
I aim to start in the dark (~3 AM) at Lizzie Lake. If things go really well on the first day, I'll be able to make it through alpine and halfway out the valley (past the overgrown forest fire sections) before dark and then I'll sleep about 4 hours at Cottonwood Creek and then hike the last 30 km from 4-10am. More likely, darkness will set in before I can make significant progress through this area, so I will camp around 9pm and then continue hiking when possible around 1:20 am (moon rise) or 6 am (sunrise). I wish I was starting a week sooner with the current full moon.
Planned Date: Aug 13 (6:45pm) - Aug 15, 2012 (2:01pm).
Participant(s): Dan Durston
Start/Finish: Lizzie Lake TH / Lytton TH
Distance: ~81km
Time: 43.25
Conditions: Swelteringly Hot
Previous FKT: 35 hr, 45 min* - 2003.
www.cs.bath.ac.uk/brown/stein/stein.html
* Travelled slightly less than the full traverse, as they hiked in the night before to Lizzie Cabin, which is about 3km and +1000' from the trailhead.
Prequel:
My intentions are to attempt a FKT on the full traverse of the Stein Valley Park starting about Aug. 13, 2012 (+/- 1 day). I will be starting from Lizzie Lake, which is the western trailhead. The logging road to this trailhead washed out in 2004, so I will do the 10km / +4000' hike to the Lizzie Lake / BC Parks trailhead the evening before.
The previous FKT (which wasn't directly an attempt at one) started about 3km/+1000' in at Lizzie Cabin, which is a wonderful spot to spend the night, but not the terminus of the traverse (as described on the BC Parks website). My goal is to complete the traverse from trailhead to trailhead in less than the current 35 hr, 45 min FKT.
This traverse starts with 20-25km of alpine travel, which is more of a route than a trail with cairns marking most of the way. Three major boulder fields are crossed, which is slower going. One area is a scramble. From there the hike descends ~3500' to Stein Lake and then out the valley along 60km of mostly rough hiking trail paralleling the Stein River to the eastern trailhead.
Expected Conditions:
Due to several forest fires in the past decade, the trail is heavily obscured with devils club/fireweed for about 15 km (Avalanche Creek to Cottonwood Creek), making it very difficult to follow the trail and nearly impossible at night. In previous hikes I've always lost the trail several times. There are also several riparian zones that are heavily overgrown and similarly challenging. I believe the trail is significantly more challenging than it was in 2003, but regardless it was very challenging in 2003 and it certainly remains that way.
Goal:
My primary motivation for this hike is a personal challenge. However, aiming to best the current FKT adds a little extra motivation. I will be attempting this in 'ultralight' backpacking style with a total pack weight between 10-13 lbs.
I aim to start in the dark (~3 AM) at Lizzie Lake. If things go really well on the first day, I'll be able to make it through alpine and halfway out the valley (past the overgrown forest fire sections) before dark and then I'll sleep about 4 hours at Cottonwood Creek and then hike the last 30 km from 4-10am. More likely, darkness will set in before I can make significant progress through this area, so I will camp around 9pm and then continue hiking when possible around 1:20 am (moon rise) or 6 am (sunrise). I wish I was starting a week sooner with the current full moon.