Flash - Juan de Fuca Trail Run

What?

• Flash event: A loosely-organized, one-time group run organized by individual runners with the help of this website and the resources mentioned here
• 47km trail run on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail (JDF Trail)
• The course follows the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail from Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew to China Beach near Jordan River. It can be run in either direction. The trail is well marked.
• Expect challenging trails that can range from smooth boardwalks to beaches to rocky, rooty and slippery sections with mud that will suck your shoes off your feet! The trail contours the shoreline and occasionally goes along the beach. There are no mountains, but there are are a seemingly infinite number of steep ascents and descents where creeks empty into the ocean (2500m of vertical change)

When and Where?

• Pick the date that works best for you then contact Club Fat Ass to publicize your Flash event on the listing of upcoming events so you have some company
• Start at either Botanical Beach (near Port Renfrew) or China Beach (near Sooke), British Columbia, CANADA

Who?

• runners should be able to comfortably run 50km on rocky rooty trails, are not afraid of suspension bridges and exposed rocky outcrops, are self sufficient and can keep fellow runners entertained with stories for 8 to 10 hours or more.

Agenda

• This is a Flash event and as such you have to work out your own logistics. However, here is a rough agenda to help you plan for this adventure:

• From the Mainland: take BC ferries from Tsawwassan to Swartz Bay (schedule)
• From the Swartz Bay ferry terminal head southwest from HWY-17 S - go 20 km. Take the McKenzie Ave exit to Nanaimo (HWY-1)/Trans Canada Hwy - go 0.4 km. Bear right onto the McKenzie Ave West ramp to Nanaimo (HWY-1)/Trans Canada Hwy - go 77 m. Bear right at McKenzie Ave - go 1.9 km. Turn right at HWY-1 N - go 8.4 km. Turn left at Spencer Rd - go 0.5 km. Turn left at Goldstream Ave - go 0.5 km. Turn right at Jacklin Rd - go 2.0 km. Turn right at Sooke Rd - go 20 km. Continue on W Coast Rd - go 71 km. Arrive in Port Renfrew. Continue on the main road through Port Renfrew.
• Botanical Beach is appox. 5km north west of Port Renfrew.
• Botanical Beach is part of a Provincial Park. Make sure to pay the day parking fee to avoid a ticket.

• bring your own food and fluids to survive a run of 8-10 hours.
• Water is an issue! There are are creeks along the way, but there could also be Beaver Fever in the creeks. We recommend you either prepare to purify any creek water or have friends meet you at trail access points with fresh water.
• emergency gear/emergency blanket
• headlight / flashlight and spare batteries
• regular trail running gear. Robust trail shoes
• extra clothes in case the weather gets burly
• knapsack/hydration pack
• camera/cell phone (not sure if cell will work north of China Beach?) two way radios
• sleeping bag, therm-a-rest and teddy bear for the night before
• dry stuff for afterwards

Notes

• BC Ferries schedule
• Parts of the trail are impassible at high tide. To avoid getting your feet wet (or drowned!), you will need to consult the Canada Fisheries and Oceans tide table
• refer to the excellent book by Donald C. Mills: Giant Cedars, White Sands - Juan de Fuca Marine Trail Guidebook. The book contains a pull-out map and very detailed info about the individual trail sections. The current price of the book is $25 and the 2008-reprint edition is available from www.juandefucamarinetrailguidebook.com or www.donaldcmills.com
• some excellent information on the trail by Parks BC

How Much?

• Free for Club Fat Ass members and non-members. (Check out member benefits here)