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Dipshit Things to Not Do on an Adventure Run

Submitted by Ean Jackson on 17 September, 2007 - 14:26

To kick off what I expect will be an interesting online debate, I'd like to clarify how I see the differences between a race, a run, and an adventure run then look at how to prepare for an adventure run.

Race

A race is where someone has marked off a course and everyone in the race tries to either be first or do their personal best. There are usually flags, signs, chalk, marshalls or all of the above out on the course to point the way. More often than not, there is also food and water along the course to make sure everyone is comfortable as they race. This is what I'd guestimate 99% of all runners participate in and expect. Races are fun, but they don't reguire a lot of brains.

Run

A run is less organized. It may be an informal training run. Club Fat Ass events could be considered low key races, but since most people don't participate in them to beat someone, they fit somewhere in between a run and a race. A solo or group training run is a run. You have to be a bit more prepared and self-sufficient for a run. You're more responsible for your own well-being. You need to use your head a bit more on a run.

Adventure Run

An adventure run is a big run. All bets are off on an adventure run. It's all about reading maps, preparing for the unknown as best you can and then going for it. An adventure run is as much adventure as it is a run. You'd better use your head on an adventure run if you hope to do more than 1 adventure run in your life!

Hints and Tips for Adventure Runs

I've participated in a handful of true adventure runs and have lived to tell the tales. Here are some hints and tips I've learned the hard way:

pack a headlamp. Don't question the weight or the space, just do it
pack an emergency bivvy sack. Don't question the space it takes, just do it
have an itineary and a protocol for what to do if you are not where you planned to be when you planned to be there. Make it clear to everyone who is running and crewing
if you are running as a team, stick together, or at least, agree to meet up every now and again so nobody gets too badly lost
think about what you will do if you, or your adventure running partner, gets a boo-boo
know where you can get water at all times
think about what you will do if it snows or a hurricane comes up
bring a lighter, a compass and a knife
have a good topographical map and know how to read it
bring twice the food you think you will need
if possible, figure out how to contact your crew at key points along the way of your adventure run so they know where not to send the helicopter to look for you (e.g. a satellite phone)
get a bigger pack if you can't carry all of this stuff in the pack you have

Part of the excitement of running as compared to hiking is that a runner travels light and covers a lot more ground in a given period of time. A runner can't take anywhere near as much stuff as a hiker, so the trick is one of taking just enough.

How much is enough? That depends on where you plan to run and how remote it is!

Any thoughts about what to do and not do on an adventure run?

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Comments

fresh snow

Submitted by desmond on 23 September, 2007 - 18:51.

Just got back from Ashcroft this afternoon. I could see fresh snow on the peaks and ridges in the Stien. freezing level on friday night was 1500 meters. We lucked out big time on the weather. Couldn't imagine doing it with snow on that ridge.

Could of used your rock climbing skills

Submitted by desmond on 20 September, 2007 - 15:49.

John you missed a good one .Lots of rock scambling with drops on either side. I was glad that I had some climbing experince.As for the pack I most probably had the biggest pack. I borrowed it from a friend whose brother uses it for mountain marathons in the uk. It's a Lowe WADI 15 . So I'am guessing it's a 15 liter. I stuffed 3 liters of water, a first aid kit , a pair of tights ,gloves ,long sleeve poly pro, FLASHLIGHT, about 1/2 kilo of dates, small bivy bag ,2 gel flasks,small bag of gummy bears,and some real food 2 turkey wraps and the sat phone. This was all inside the pack. Hanging on the outside I had my running jacket and a bottle of CARBO PRO. I also had a very small waist pack with my camera and some power bars . The pack was full but still felt okay . I wouldn't mind picking one of these packs up but I think you can only get them in the UK.I think most of us are going to have to invest in bigger packs ,a small camelback just dosen't hold enough gear.

Could have used ropes and ladders

Submitted by Ean Jackson on 21 September, 2007 - 10:05.

There were a few spots that almost made me soil my shorts! Word on the street from MudRunner is that other human beings have actually completed the Haute Route/Ridgeline we "ran" and lived to tell the tale. He has a book by Randy Stoltman that makes refernece to it.

Sat Phones

Submitted by Killaine on 18 September, 2007 - 22:33.

Congrats on the adventure! Sounds like a blast, I will do it one day - ladies, anyone interested! If I could add to your tips: sat phones are a great idea - take one but don't rely on it! I've found them to be very unreliable on the coast. (Luckily they seem to work better in the Rockies, where we actually had a major incident requiring a helicopter rescue). Killaine

Take the low road

Submitted by Ean Jackson on 21 September, 2007 - 10:16.

Hey Killanine,

Some thoughts:

don't drive up all of the way to Blowdown Pass. The road is more of a goat track and quite close. We had 2 robust 4X4s with 2 experienced off-road drivers. We still had to get out and push. You would not want to back down that road! Recommendation: Camp at the junction with the last cutoff and run the gnarly 5K. You can drive any city car to that point and there is a nice grassy flat area there. Bring some firewood.
don't take the Haute Route! (The ridgeline.) It was spectacular, but it could have been a killer. The normal trail leading down to the Stein starts out as an old mining access road. It looked totally runnable.
the Stein trail. It was totally runnable and it would be hard to get lost on it. Flat in comparison to the North Shore mountains
the Stein entrance at Lytton. It's not fancy, but you can camp there. I took some photos of the camping area. See them in the photo stream of our Stein run
ferry. Also see photos. It's quite basic and has limited hours. You need to take it to get over the Fraser River.

Lessons learned

Submitted by desmond on 18 September, 2007 - 16:16.

I think we all had a great time and would do another in a heartbeat. But I did learn a few lessons. Many Ean has mentioned already. A few others are:

There should be a mandatory list of gear to take along. If you don't have it, you better find it. I made sure to borrow a bigger pack from a friend so that I could take the extra gear. This trip had a lot of unknowns, since we are more than likely the first group to try and do this we had no time in which to compare too. Not like the Juan De fuca. I made sure that I took enough to stay out overnight if we had too. So each trip should be thought out and judged on it's own
Get a good map with smaller than 75 meter contours. I think one of our big mistakes was thinking that the ridge only had a few hills to climb, and that we would just cruise along the top . The map that we had that came with the guide book wasn't showing all those 50 and 60 meter rocky peaks and there were lots of them and not easy to get around. If we had looked at a better map before we left. I'am sure we would have considered another route. Me with my orienteering background this was a big oversight. I think in the end we are all glad that we did the route and that we don't have to do it again. Views were great
If your going to bring radios have them field checked before you go . make sure that batteries keep a charge and what sort of range you have in the forest. Also a good idea to give one to the slower runner and one to the faster. Also good idea to not leave them in the truck
If you do get ahead of the others make sure that you stay on the main trail when you stop. You never know some of the other runners behind might have flashligts to light the way out or even an extra space blanket that could be used to even stay the night . How Ean and then Bill and myself passed the others is beyond me
Don't give a specfic time to your wife or partner . It just creates panic when you don't phone when you said you would. Be very vague ,best to say you have no idea when you will be back .and if you get back really early your in their good books.
On this run that sat phone was a very important piece of gear .None of us expected to be on that ridge for over ten hours.We could easily talk to our crew as to where we were and how late we were going to be. If you have access to one bring it.

I'am ready for next one so sign me up. des

Refine # 5

Submitted by Sibylle on 19 September, 2007 - 12:20.

Hey Des,

Great list, but have to disagree with #5. I am not one to panic (just in case Ean is painting that picture to make himself look better ;-) Neither is Kirsten. We actually had good chuckles imagining all the different "eaten by bear" or "fallen off cliff" scenarios. As Kirsten put it, "if he was smart enough to get himself into this, he should be smart enough to get himself out of it" (or something like that). I wasn't worried during the night because I assumed that Jackson and everybody else had a flashlight. I figured that you'd probably make it out at 12:00 midnight - not too far off if all would have had lights. I also was hoping for a phone call, but do know that Ean usually does not call after 11:00pm. I was definitely hoping for a phone call in the morning... and I know that when everything would have gone a bit smoother, I would have gotten that phone call ;-) Guys with tails between their legs, embarrassed and tired don't like to call the wife....lesson learnt!

In any case, I think there should be an agreed on procedure as to what to do if runners are overdue and who initiates it. It was suggested to me during the morning hours when you guys were overdue (by one of your friends that was worrying), that I should call the authorities. As far as I was concerned however, it would have been Tom's call to do this as he was your main contact during this adventure. Stuff like this should be clear beforehand, so everybody knows what chain of event is started at what time.

Another thing for the list should be a phone list with the names and numbers of all runners and next of kin. Everybody involved should have a copy of that phone list. This list should also document what gear has been carried. If there is an emergency and help is called in, it helps rescue personnel to know what gear you have, i.e. are the missing folks warm, have light, shelter, food and water - or are they out in their shorts and will get hypothermia as soon as the sun goes down.

Alas, I am thankful that all of you made it out in one piece.

2008 Stein Valley Run

Submitted by Ean Jackson on 19 September, 2007 - 08:59.

Dude, I am so in. I think we should start at Lilloett Lake and do the whole Stein. Another first bagger opportunity. I think that would be about 120K.

I think our first move is to work on the wives, then do a shakedown run and come up with the packing list? I'll start looking for a detailed topo map. Colin, Geoff, Bill, you in?

You bet

Submitted by Bill Dagg on 19 September, 2007 - 09:46.

Let's do it. If the weather's nice, we can do the ridge route from Pemberton.

I'am in

Submitted by desmond on 19 September, 2007 - 19:14.

Why don't we just start from the big yellow beacon and head north . I'am sure we could get into the Stien in a few days .There must be a couple of ridges that we could follow.Don't forget your headlight .

Think big

Submitted by Ean Jackson on 20 September, 2007 - 17:52.

'Just spoke to a buddy who recently bought a place on the ocean near Cape Scott, Newfoundland. He said he'd buy us a round and put us up for the night if we continued on to his place. Who's in?

The Wife's View

Submitted by Sibylle on 18 September, 2007 - 11:46.

Ahem, if I didn't go out and buy new batteries for that weigh-nothing Petzl, checked Action Jackson's batteries and replaced them against his protesting (they are still fine, we won't need the light, we'll be out of the Stein at 15:00h) and placed said Petzl on top of his bag to make 100% sure he wouldn't forget it.... Mentioned bivvy bag is a no-brainer. It's a $12 item at MEC...a bag version of the classic emergency blanket. Purchased it at my last stop at the MEC with the Stein in mind...for to the wife it was always clear that those jokers would not be out at 15:00h. When I came home with it, I got the raised eyebrow...same eyebrow that raises everytime I talk about our home emergency prep kid. I hear Action Jackson was very happy to cuddle into it and wait for the smart guys that didn't leave their headlamps in the truck!

Jackson has my full support for any crazy ideas he may come up with...just pack your emergency gear next time. I haven't heard the full story yet. Actually, the official "tell your wife version" is that everything was completely under control and that even though they got separated and 2 guys (I am not mentioning names) ended up huddling up under 1 (one) emergency blanket without a flashlight for the night, everything was under control. Right! The unofficial tidbits I am getting is that "there were about 50 occassions when one or all of the runners could have died". I think the saving grace was that they are all very strong physically and mentally (I would like to know what transpired under the emergcy blanket over the 10h of darkness) and that nobody got severly injured (Colin could have used some stitches, but at least there weren't any broken bones).

So, you all have my permission to tell Jackson what a moron he was, leaving his headlamp and who knows what else behind!

If anybody is interested...The North Shore Search and Resue website has a great section on wilderness preparedness and things to carry in the backcountry at
http://www.northshorerescue.com/whattobring.html

Setting the record straight

Submitted by Bill Dagg on 19 September, 2007 - 07:03.

First off, 50 occassions where one or all of us could have died is a complete exaggeration. I can only think of 1 or 2 places where I thought for sure I was going to die and maybe 6 or 7 others where the odds were really good -- far less that 50. Second, regarding the two snuggle bunnies on the trail under one space blanket. I won't mention any names either other than it wasn't Desmond or I ... or Ean.

LOL

Submitted by Sibylle on 19 September, 2007 - 11:30.

No, let's not mention names ;-)

I'd like to hear more about the those hairy, almost died, situations. I won't spank Ean, promise.

Conundrum

Submitted by Bill Dagg on 19 September, 2007 - 11:54.

Ean was telling me he likes to get spanked so now I'm not sure what I should tell you.

Spank me

Submitted by Ean Jackson on 20 September, 2007 - 17:54.

I've been bad. Very, very bad...

Got to love the Adventure run!

Submitted by Daniel Probst on 18 September, 2007 - 00:23.

So Ean what did you leave at home? this looked like a good trainer for Hard Rock! entry opens Jan. 1st Yes always, always take a LED flash light with "fresh" batteries, old batteries mean very dim light. best LED I've every used and everyone should have one. http://www.fenixlight.com/flashlight/fenixp3d.htm or one of it's sisters. it's far better then anything out there and weighs nothing. Comes with a built in SOS strobe so even after you've been eaten by the bears they'll still be able to find your remains. Matches or a liter is good too but then again if you don't take them you will be less likely to stop and give up, and if you just keep going you'll get where your going faster, isn't that the point. but this is for crazy people that know they can go all night pushing through pain and sleeplessness.

We missed you

Submitted by Ean Jackson on 18 September, 2007 - 00:38.

You would have loved the Stein! Next year... and I pack my Petzl!

Light 'n Fast vs. Cold 'n Hungry

Submitted by Berglind Hafste... on 17 September, 2007 - 22:13.

You may be an ultra trail runner but regardless of how much you think you like to suffer more then the average person, it just plain sucks to be stuck in the woods on a cold night ... especially if you are grossly unprepared!

A few things I never leave home without on an adventure run:

headlamp - Ean is sooo right, pack it no matter what!
a few vital first aid supplies - roll of crepe bandage, gauze, triangular bandage
a bunch of iodine tablets or similar - for that one time you know you're going to have to scoop water from that nasty looking pond, etc
arm and leg warmers - no, not the fluorescent coloured wooly things from the 80s! I'm referring to the ones cyclists wear
headlamp - did I mention this one already?? Well, just in case you missed it!

Of course, all the other things Ean mentioned are important too.

Happy adventure running!!

Bivvy sack burrito

Submitted by Ean Jackson on 18 September, 2007 - 00:43.

Actually, it was kind of fun trying to sleep on rocks in a tin-foil bivvy sack as the temperatures dropped and the critters started to stirr in the underbrush. To a grizzly, I must have looked like a burrito. 'Glad I parked myself in the middle of the trail, as if Bill and Des didn't trip over me, they might have beat me back to the truck and drank all of the beer!

great trip lads,

Submitted by JohnMcGrath on 19 September, 2007 - 17:20.

As some one who has experianced epics in the mountains.having a two small pads in your pack can help with comfort on your pack during the day and when you "need" to stop for the night, can help with comfort.one under the hip and one under the shoulder.keeps a bit more heat in you and not the ground. love to go with you guys next time and last time! sounds like I missed one amazing adventure well done. what was the pack size you think could fit all your items 20ltr or more.

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