Wonderland Trail (WA)

[lukedistelhorst]

This morning I completed the Wonderland solo and unsupported in a time of 26:36 (leaving White River at 6:47am Saturday, traveling clockwise and finishing this morning at 9:23am). 

I was well on pace through 70 miles to challenge Yassine and Brian's time of 25:48, but got cold (temps in mid 20s), took a nap in a hollowed out tree next to the Carbon River and couldn't make up the time in the last 20 miles. I think this may be the fastest solo time though...? It was a great experience and I'll get a report up on my blog in the next couple of days.  

TRIP REPORT

Strava file 1
Strava file 2

Luke @ seekingultra.blogspot.com

[Ras Jason Vaughan]

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: RAINIER INFINITY LOOP ONLY KNOWN TIME* ATTEMPT AND YOUTH PROGRAM FUNDRAISER. Beginning Saturday July 23rd around 4:00pm Gavin Woody​ and I will attempt the Mount Rainier Infinity Loop. This is a route dreamed up by iconic Washington climber Chad Kellogg, but which he was never able to complete due to his untimely passing. Gavin and I will depart Paradise, climb Disappointment Cleaver, descend the Emmons Glacier and Inter Glacier, run the Wonderland Trail clockwise back to Paradise. There we will rest briefly and resupply. We will then again climb Disappointment Cleaver, descend the Emmons Glacier and Inter Glacier, and then run the Wonderland counterclockwise to Paradise once again. Each of the two loops will be unsupported, carrying all of our gear, food, and trash from beginning to end, and only taking water from natural sources. Seventy-two hours would be a great performance for me on this project, but I suspect it will take more in the ninety-six hour range.

Our Mount Rainier Infinity Loop attempt is meant to be a celebration of the amazing and extraordinary things that Human Beings are capable of. Gavin and I are drawing our inspiration from the life and adventures of Chad Kellogg, and hope to send that energy and inspiration reverberating out into the world to inspire others as it has us. And we also hope to use this project to inspire future generations of climbers, runners, thru-hikers, fastpackers, backpackers, and adventurers of all stripes by helping raise money for The Mountaineers​ Youth Programs by means of the Our Parks | Your Adventure initiative. Please click the link below to learn more about the program and to donate.

mountaineers-2691.wedid.it/502

Whether you give $10 or $5,000 your donation will help introduce deserving young people to the fulfillment and enrichment of outdoor adventure, essentially helping to reintroduce them to their natural habitat. Plus, EVERY DONATION WILL BE MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR. This means that if you donate $10 dollars, the Youth Program receives a total of $20. If you donate $5,000, the program receives $10,000. So please donate today to help train, inspire, and empower the adventurers of tomorrow. That way the next generation will be out doing cool shtuff when we're old, so we'll have interesting things to read about in our dotage.

You can follow our progress on our SPOT transponder beginning around 4:00pm on Saturday July 23rd at:

share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0tkL8TsPPZ0FdFCek5itYbKZGMHtEMiQv

We will post updates when possible, which will only be three or four times throughout the entire project, so keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram.

Complete details of the route, it's history and design, an explanation of the OKT asterisk, and my relationship with The Mountain can be found on Ultrapedestrian.com here:

ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2016/07/mount-rainier-infinity-loop-only-known.html

and on the beta version of our new site here:

thegrid.ai/ultrapedestrian/mount-rainier-infinity-loop/

Please share the Our Parks/Your Adventure link (or this entire post) to your social media to help inspire the next generation of High Oder Hominids!

What a Blessing to be a Biped! Give Thanks for Life!

#RainierInfinityLoop #ZeroLimits #BeTrailReady #RunLonger #LifePoints #PureNaturalEnergy #Team7hills

mountaineers-2691.wedid.it/502

[Kelsie Clausen]

For the unsupported record, does putting out drop bags at Mowich/WR count as unsupported? -K

[Peter Bakwin]

Drops/caches put you in the self supported category.

[Ras Jason Vaughan]

THE MOUNT RAINIER INFINITY LOOP IS IN THE BOOKS, and it is an amazing honor to be a part if it. Gavin Woody and I put up an official time of 99 hours and 7 minutes, sneaking it in under the three digit mark by less than an hour. We ran two unsupported loops, one clockwise and one counterclockwise, traversing the summit of Mount Rainier twice, and resupplying at our cars at the midway point in Paradise. We got all of our water, other that what we took from our cars at the beginning and middle, from natural sources and did not drop off any of our gear or garbage except at our cars. So, for all my beloved Adventure Dorks out there, technically it was a self-supported project comprised of two unsupported loops. And for the record, I did forage some berries along the route.

This project was also a big success as a fundraiser for the Mountaineers Youth Program. The Mount Rainier Infinity Loop raised a little over our goal of $5,000, plus those funds are being matched dollar for dollar, generating a total of $10,000 + to help reintroduce youths to the great outdoors, hiking, climbing, and adventuring.

An Armchair Alpinist long before I ever touched an ice axe, I've been strongly influenced in my approach to adventure by the values of climbers such as Chad Kellogg (who designed the Rainier Infinity Loop). "Fast and Light", "sustainable pace", "fair means", and "good style" are all precepts I hold dear, and they are all paradigms I have applied to fastpacking, thru-hiking and adventure running, but that had their origins in Alpinism. I was especially Blessed over the last four days to do my best to apply these values to a dream route of Chad's that he was never able to attempt. I'm certain it would have looked a bit different done by him. There were a few specifics that I didn't know about his vision of the Infinity Loop and Gavin and I made a couple small choices that are ours alone. But our goal was to complete it in a fashion that would honor and propagate the inspiration we took from Chad's life and adventures, and I feel we did that to the best of our abilities. May the circle of inspiration spiral ever onward into the endlessly amazing possibilities of future generations of adventurers.

I was also quite blessed to have the opportunity to do this project with Gavin. There are not as many people as you might think who really understand the beauty and the simple purity of carrying an ice axe, crampons, harness and other assorted climbing kit esoterica for 93+ miles simply in order to have them when you need them for twenty-ish miles of actual mountaineering. But Gavin not only understands it, he feels it, it resonates for him. This project would not have been possible without him, and it was a blessing getting to stumble around Rainier with him punch-drunk with adrenaline and sleep deprivation. Hopefully we'll come up with something else crazy and beautiful to attempt together in the future.


What a Blessing to be a Hominid! Give Thanks for Life!


Tacoma News Tribune article:
www.thenewstribune.com/outdoors/article99397247.html

Mountaineers Youth Program Fundraiser:
mountaineers-2691.wedid.it/502

Gear List:
ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2016/07/complete-gear-list-mount-rainier.html

Calorie burn vs. Intake:
ultrapedestrian.blogspot.com/2016/08/mril-caloric-burn-versus-intake.html

[allisonmallory]

In addition to press release, below, Allison & Mallory will announce the actual start date and time upon arrival at the trailhead during the estimated start time window of Aug 13-17, 2017 pending most favorable weather conditions during this time. All related information, live tracking and updated run information for this attempt can be found at wonderlandtrailfkt.com

February 27, 2017

For Immediate Release

Two Female Ultra-Athletes Tackle Mt. Rainier’s Wonderland Trail: Aim to Set New Record

Contact: Trasie Phan, Phan Sports Marketing. [e-mail] 619-252-8348
Additional information can be found at wonderlandtrailfkt.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEATTLE, WA – An exceptionally rugged, 93-mile-long (150 kilometer) trail encircles Mt. Rainier, the highest peak in Washington. People have been hiking all or parts of this trail for 100 years, with a single loop—and its overall elevation gain of 22,000 feet (6,700 meters)—taking 10 to 14 days.

Some people, however, choose to run those rugged miles, trying to best the fastest known time in any of several categories. Allison Macsas​, 32, and Mallory Brooks​, 32, are two of those people. In early August, depending on weather conditions, they will set out from the Longmire trailhead in an attempt to claim the women’s speed record for circumnavigating Mount Rainier, via the Wonderland Trail. And they will do it unsupported—no support crew delivering meals or first aid or encouragement. Just the two of them, running, for 30 or so hours.

Brooks finds the challenge of running through the wilderness exhilarating. “Out there it really is your own race,” she says. “It’s just you against the clock. It takes far more than just fast legs. It takes focus, efficiency and a sense of urgency.” Macsas admits to worrying about a specific kind of urgency: “I’m terrified of running into a bear in the middle of the night.”

The record the two are trying to beat was set in 2012 by Candice Burt​, who covered the Wonderland Trail, also unsupported, in 31 hours, 11 minutes and 57 seconds. Both feel qualified for the challenge. Brooks has competed in a number of 50K events, consistently finishing in the top three. She owns a trail racing business with her husband and has a four-year-old son who is happy to serve as a training weight while being carried up and down mountain hikes. Macsas, who with her fiancé operates an expedition company that guides people on running vacations, says she has been running daily for 17 years, with the last 6 years ramped up to 100 miles per week. She has qualified for the marathon event at two U.S. Olympic Trials, finishing 22nd overall in 2016 in Los Angeles.

Trasie Phan​, whose sports marketing agency, Phan & Co​, works with outdoor companies and ultra-endurance athletes, says that the pair “redefine what the modern woman can do. They’re both business owners, fit, adventurous and not afraid to get dirty. They’re great role models.” Phan is no stranger to record-setting runs. Last year, her company helped ultra-athlete Pete Kostelnick set a new Guinness World Record for Fastest Crossing of America on Foot (male). She’s confident that Brooks and Macsas also have the hearts of winners.

So do many other experienced runners and fitness professionals. Steve Sisson, a former All-American runner and collegiate coach who now trains Macsas, says, “I don’t know of any other athlete that would be able to not only manage but thrive under these trying circumstances. Allison is a true warrior who is ready to deal with whatever gets thrown at her.”

Beto Boggiano, a competitive cyclist and gym owner, says of Brooks: “She’s 110% game for just about any adventure or challenge that comes her way, and can easily roll with and parry the punches when they come. If there ever were a contest for a female MacGyver or Chuck Norris, then Mallory would easily get my vote.”

Still, the Wonderland Trail is not without its dangers. The paths are narrow, steep and rocky. Wood planks or suspension bridges span icy streams. And then there are the ever-present bears. “This venture scares me,” says Macsas, “and therefore I have to do it. I’m not content with spending my life inside my comfort zone.”

Mallory is right there beside her. “The women who have gone before us have set the bar high. Without those original trailblazers putting up some super speedy times, we may not have ever thought it was possible.”

In August these two ultra-athletes hope to cross off “possible” and mark it “accomplished.”

# # #

About Allison Macsas

Allison Macsas, 32, is an accomplished runner who founded Rogue Expeditions in 2012 with her fiancé, Gabe Steger. Currently they are living in an RV anchored in Austin, Texas, but they can be found anywhere in the US or the world guiding runners on running expeditions. She has participated in two US Olympic Marathon Trials (2012 and 2016) and has personal bests in the Half Marathon of 1:13:02 and Marathon of 2:39:58. Currently competing for Skechers Performance, she recently won the 2017 Austin Marathon in 2:48:17.

About Mallory Brooks

Mallory Brooks, 32, is the race director and co-founder of Spectrum Trail Racing in Austin, Texas. Best described as an ultra-distance runner and mountaineer, she has completed more than 12 ultra-marathons and summited Mount Rainier, WA (14,411 feet), Mount Whitney, CA (14,505 feet), Pico de Orizaba, Mexico (18,491 feet) and others. She is married to Jason Brooks, co-founder of Spectrum Trail Racing and mother of Paxton, 4. They live in Austin, Texas.

About Phan Sports Marketing

A sports marketing agency working with outdoor companies and ultra-endurance athletes, Phan Sports Marketing. specializes in record-breaking event management, Fastest Known Times or Guinness World Records. Many ultra-endurance athletes seek to find limitless possibilities in their mental and physical abilities. Phan Sports Marketing helps them take their idea from start to completion by securing funds, building a support team, creating media and PR and helping them meet or exceed their record-breaking goal.

[allisonmallory]

Allison Macsas and Mallory Brooks' Wonderland Trail FKT (female,unsupported) Attempt

CONFIRMATION OF TIME AND INTENTIONS

On Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6am PST, Allison Macsas and Mallory Brooks will attempt to run the Wonderland Trail, unsupported, in under 30 hours. They will start and finish at Longmire, going counter-clockwise.

LIVE GPS TRACKING using Delorme In-Reach Explorer:
wonderlandtrailfkt.com/livegpstracker/

CLICK Wonderland Trail FKT to follow the tracker live data points every 10+ minutes.

Sponsored by Spectrum Trail Racing and Rogue Expeditions, hydration vests (Adventure Vesta) and windbreaker jackets (Women's Ultra Jacket) provided by Ultimate Direction.
Event Managed by Phan Sports Marketing

[Eric Robinson]

By definition, tandem running is supported. It's right there under "read this first": unsupported means unaccompanied. I suppose you could make an argument for co-supported.

[Peter Bakwin]

Aug 15, 2017 17:47:06 GMT -5 Eric Robinson said:

By definition, tandem running is supported. It's right there under "read this first": unsupported means unaccompanied. I suppose you could make an argument for co-supported.

I wrote that and take it to mean that they should not be accompanied by others who are not aspiring to the FKT (i.e., pacers).

[Eric Robinson]

Thanks Peter. Maybe there is way to re-write that removes the ambiguity?