Tahoe Rim Trail (CA)

[miketebbutt]

Not surprisingly, that attempt did not last long. Unfortunately, I could not wait 1 day for the weather to clear, so I took off anyway at 1:36 this morning figuring at I could at least go for a day hike. Misting on Brockway when I took off, I made it to TC in fairly soaked 4:53 and was on pace to be to PCT junction at Twin Peaks in about 8 hours. It got colder, wetter and windier as I went up and I was certainly not prepared for this type of weather. Since I had taken off with only a $2 drugstore poncho as my only additional clothing, I knew the only chance I had to make it was a miracle clearing of the storm and at least a little sun. Just before the trail junction to Stanford Rock, I had become sufficiently numb and came down. So ironic that Western States runners are going to be facing record highs in just 4 days!

It's likely that those were my 2 attempts for this year, but if a window of time presents itself in the next month or so, I might go while I still have this endurance built up. Casual backpacking with my wife and recreational running sound a little better at the moment though.

Have fun out there Sarah with the warm days and soft trails!

Powder days on the Mt bikes the next few days!!!

[petergrubbfan]

I am going to attempt the unsupported TRT speed record starting the 6th of September 2013. This will be a %100 unsupported effort, no trail magic, or bs. I love this trail and respect it and all who have worked hard to build this treasure. My plan is to carry all food needed, to ensure no support. Im stubborn too, I may retry if not successful the first speed attempt.

[Mike Stewart]

Hi petergrubbfan,

Please provide more info about your unsupported attempt.

Name:
Start Location:
Start Time:

We are in area and would like to come out to help you verify your attempt.

Also, please file a report wether or not you are successful.

Good luck out there.

Mike

[journeyfilm]

Tomorrow September 29th 2013, my plan is to try to match Michael "Mish" Popov's unsupported Tahoe Rim Trail FKT.  My plan is to start between 8:00AM and 9:00AM at the Spooner Summit trailhead and hike counter-clockwise. I will be carrying all of my gear/food from the start and will only be using natural water sources.  I will not accept any outside assistance.  I will have my wife Jennifer Benna to see me off at the start and a friend will be taking some photos at Mt.Rose Meadows and at the finish line, but he will not hike with me or hand me anything. I will GPS my entire hike and will do twitter updates from @ journeyfilm every 25-30 miles service permitting. The trail is 5 miles longer now than when Mish hiked, so I have no allusions that I will be successful on the first attempt, but I will try now and then again next year if need be. I will report back either way.

I have been running and hiking long sections on the trail recently and realize what an amazing time Mish put down of 63h54m4s. From the very first moment that I met Mish, we were kindred sprits in our love of Fastpacking, the JMT, the PCT, etc, so I want to attempt my hike in his honor and have set up a donation site for my hike and other adventurer's future FKT attempts to raise some funds for the Tahoe Rim Trail Association.

www.active.com/donate/trtfkt

 I do not look at this as trying to beat Mish, but rather carrying on his amazing torch.

Thanks,

JB Benna

[journeyfilm]

A quick report of my unsupported Tahoe Rim Trail  FKT with a detailed report to come soon.

I left Spooner Summit heading clockwise (changing from counter-clockwise because of the extreme wind newly forecasted rain) at 9:06AM on Sunday September 23rd 2013.  I hiked and ran the entire Tahoe Rim Trail unsupported and arrived back at Spooner Summit at 7:49PM on Tuesday October 1st 2013. My GPS read 169 miles and a time of 58:43:12.



I am super humbled and inspired by the experience.

I am still trying to raise donations for the Tahoe Rim Trail Association in honor of Michael "Mish" Popov if anyone wants to help.

www.active.com/donate/trtfkt

Happy Trails,

JB Benna

Trail Name: Journeyfilm

[journeyfilm]

Photos and videos from my Tahoe Rim Trail Unsupported FKT are posted. Full report coming soon. t.co/U8Qf0wirpT

JB Benna

[amber monforte]

Tomorrow June 27th I'll be attempting to complete the entire TRT. I'm starting in Tahoe City at 3am and will head counter clockwise. As a Tahoe local it's been a goal of mine and with the low snow year and some days off work it seemed like the right time. Follow along at share.delorme.com/ambermonforte# click the user and select me and then hit expand to see all data points.

[amber monforte]

No luck this time. GI issues that started the first day. Bailed out at 85 miles, but there will be a next time. :-)

[Amber Monforte]

So after getting shut down in June in my attempt to complete the TRT the bug kept eating at me. After a last minute cancilation on running the Wonderland Trail with some friends, I grabbed my husband and some trusty friends and family and gave it another go. This time I started on Kingsbury going clockwise at 6:00 AM on Friday September 5th. I completed it today at 7:17. For a time of 49:17. Attached is the link to my DeLorme tracking page. The time is a couple minutes slower on the DeLorme because I forgot to grab it from my pack. Super stoked to have ben able to finish it this time, and so very thankful for the wonderful crew and pacers that helped me achieve my goal. My crew consisted of Ryan Weibe Keevin Blue, Sienna Smith, Scott Gabler, Sami Miller and Dan Miller. For the best description of my run check out my FB page.
www.facebook.com/amber.monforte?fref=nf
share.delorme.com/ambermonforte#

[Peter Bakwin]

Hey Amber,
I fixed your FB link. You could copy your report here so that people don't have to friend you to read it. Also, since I guess your DeLorme track will eventually go away you might download that and post it as a gpx or kml track - that would give a permanent record of your splits, etc.
Thanks for posting & congrats!

[journeyfilm]

Hi All,

I realized that with kids and life I had never written a full report. I apologize as my writing is slow and my time is short. To make up for my deficiency, here is a podcast report I did right after the event. trailrunnernation.com/2013/10/jb-benna-unsupported-175-mile-tahoe-rim-trail-record-holder/

And again my timestamped photos t.co/U8Qf0wirpT

The only other thing I wanted to clarify for anyone who wants to attempt the Tahoe Rim Trail supported or unsupported moving forward is that there are now three sections where the official Tahoe Rim Trail has two routes. In all cases I took the newer and longer route as did Amber Monforte based off of her spot above.

1) Relay Peak Ridge - The old course runs down the fire road back to Tahoe Meadows. The new single track heads north on the ridge and then winds its way down to Mt Rose trail at the Waterfall and follows the Mt Rose Trail back to Tahoe Meadows adding several miles.
2) Marlette Peak, there is a Mt bike trail and a foot path, they are almost the same distance, but I stuck to the foot path on the West side of Marlette Peak, better view anyway.
3) Kingsbury grade, the old trail used to stay on the ridge and follow the road through the neighborhoods of Heavenly. The new further West route descends all down to the Kingsbury grade road and then climbs all the way back up.

I also wanted to note that though the Tahoe Rim Trail Association still calls the trail 165, if you add up all of the new mileages on the maps provided on their website it totals out at 174. So though Kilian has the supported 165 record, in a sense there is a new opportunity for someone to go after the Tahoe Rim Trail supported 174 record and I really want to see an unsupported female attempt as well.

Go get it.

Best,

JB Benna
Journeyfilm

[amber monforte]

I definitely agree the new sections of trail add up to more miles, but they offer better trail and views. Our guess for the total was somewhere between 170-175 miles. Thanks JB for mentioning the water filter you used on your podcast. After listening I've been carrying it around all summer and it's what I used for refills on my run.

Here is a write up of my run.

abikebuiltfor2.blogspot.com/2014/09/tahoe-rim-trail.html

Amber

[seanranney]

It looks like the weather and fire are cooperating, so I'll be attempting a unsupported, single push through hike of the TRT starting Sunday morning, 9/28/14. I have no idea if I'll be anywhere near JB Benna's 58 hours and change, but just in case I'll follow the unsupported FKT ethos, and go solo, not cache or accept any trail magic, and drink from only natural sources. I'll follow the "new" 175ish mile trail as described above, and JB confirmed that the Marlette campground pump is NOT considered natural, so I won't use it. The plan is to leave from Fanny Bridge in Tahoe City and go counterclockwise. Depending on if the King Fire closures are still in place I may have to make a detour through desolation wilderness, I found a route that goes cross country over to the Tahoe-Yosemite trail that parallels the TRT through the closed area. That will be a game day decision, and should only affect a few miles of trail, while adding Phipps pass to the fun.

I'll track semi live on spotwalla, the link is here.

spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=b6c154260ccdcbb16

I'll report back on how it goes, good, bad, or indifferent. My guess is, not indifferent.

Sean Ranney


Update:  Well, I set out for one adventure and found a different one. There turned out to be WAY more snow than I expected above 7500’, and I was breaking trail through snow up to my knee over Dicks pass. I was woefully unequipped for this, as running shorts and shoes do not make good snow gear. Pushed through on the TRT to Echo Summit, and dropped down Hawley Grade to Meyers and southshore, and after a couple of hours sleep ran back around on hwy 89 to complete the loop. Great adventure, even if it turned out differently than originally planned.

[ryanduin]

Tomorrow, October 6th, 2014, my father Larry Duin and I plan to match JB Benna's unsupported FKT on the Tahoe Rim Trail. We will follow the longer routes in all sections as JB described above, and strictly follow all rules for an unsupported team trip. We will use a Garmin GPS to map our trip and I will have live updates via Spotwalla.com and my cell phone. I will post the link later today. We are Tahoe Locals and have trained and looked forward to this trip for some time.

Thanks,

Ryan Duin

[ryanduin]

spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=b7bd5432bac520c71