Flash - Stein Valley Run
What:
- ~52K run along Blowdown Pass Traverse through the Stein Valley wilderness. Ridgeline or valley route TBD based on weather on morning of the run
- car pooling from North Vancouver early Friday afternoon. Camp at Blowdown Lake forest service (primitive) campground and party under the stars on Friday night
- group run. One to 3 groups based on ability:
- fast - must have a sub-7 hour KneeKnacker time or 50K trail run equivalent. (So far, there are 5 in this group.)
- medium - 7-9 hour KneeKnacker finish or equivalent. (So far, there is nobody in this group.)
- crew - anyone welcome. Out and back run/hike from Lytton with option of camping at Blowdown Lake on Friday night. (So far, there are 3 people in this group.)
- rain date the following weekend (21-22 September)
- plenty of trail chow and fluids
- camping gear
- good running pack with at 2+ liters of water
- satellite phone?
- FRS radios
- first aid kit (1 per group)
- bear bangers. This is grizzly territory and dem bears like city folk!
- space blanket, gloves, toque. headlamp
- bivvy bag
- knife, compass, GPS
At this point, this is an idea hatched by Curb Ivanic and Ean Jackson. Neither Curb nor Jackson are familiar with the route. We'd like to speak to anyone who has hiked or run the route. (I think Kevin Valley has run it, so doubt there are first bagger bragging rights up for grabs.)
If you are interested or have information that might be helpful, please leave a comment. We aim to update this as we get closer to departure time.
We are particularly interested in knowing the condition of the road into Blowdown Lake campground. Is it passable with a city car?
There is no fee and you don't need to be a member of Club Fat Ass to participate in a Flash event, however whining is not allowed. You are responsible for your own well being and safety and should be self sufficient.
Please read the Release of All Claims. By participating in this event you agree to the terms of the Release of All Claims.
Dipshit Things to Not Do on an Adventure Run
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?
Stein Valley Run Photos
Please click here for a photo series of the Stein Valley Run by Des, Bill, Geoff, Colin, Ean and drivers Tom and Pat.