A couple of years ago, in preparation for the
Vancouver 100 (V100), Tim Wiens and I went on a recon mission from the 1/2 way point on the V100 route (start of the Knee Knacker race) over Black Mountain and down to Cleveland Dam to check out the "trail" (read "snow") conditions -- see
Bill and Tim's Excellent Adventure.
Given the current snow conditions on the local mountains (considerably more than during our first Adventure), I know that more than a couple of us are interested in knowing what lays in store for this year. So, if you're considering participating in all or part of this year's V100 and are at all curious about what lays in store, or, if, like Tim, you're a good trail running partner and want to help out one of those V100 participants, here's your chance.
(Directions to Start)
Note: Baldwin also has a Flash event on this date (that has been planned for quite some time) in Squamish -- see Baldy's Bonkfest. I don't want to take away from his event. So, unless you really feel the need to thrash in the snow on Black Mountain or can't get to Squamish easily, please consider his event as another option. This is, unfortunately, the only good time to do this. Next week is too late and this week was no good for me.
Comments
Yes, yes, I get it.
Are they still up there?
Bill and Tim are back - at
Sunday Snow report.
I started off on Sunday from Caulfied Exit in West Vancouver. My intention was to just run home(mountain hwy) from there and get a ride back to my car. Heading up Black mountain was great the trail is much quiter than the busy trails of Frome and Seymour. No snow all the way up to the bluffs. As soon as you head into the trees after the bluffs there is a ton of snow.
Now it is just follow the orange markers.
I made it to the top of black mountain only going off coarse for a short distance a couple of times. Every once in a while I would mark my location on my GPS by a well marked sign so I could always get back on trail if I got lost. From the top of Black mountain to the parking lot the trail is well mark with the winter back country markers.
The decent down to Cypress is great fun being able to boot slide the step parts. At the lodge I run into the KK group and find out Mike is running up from the dam to the bluffs. After offering me a ride back to my car I decide to head back to Eagle bluff and then to the dam. It was great running with Mike and his dog. Mike was not sure of the snow and being a snow shoer brought his shoes.
Since he carried them all the way up the mountain he thought he better wear them. He didn't wear them long as it was faster to travel with out them. There was no break in the snow until about 1/2 to about 2/3 the way down the shoot. That right at least half the shoot is covered in snow. It get a bit patchy as you get lower then it is all gone. It was a great day to be in the snow, I hope the weather is the same for the Vancouver 100. The total distance I cover was about 33.42 km and +1,833.7 / -1,794.6 m.
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/episode/view.do?episodePk.pkValue=5768762#
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/kml/episode.kml?episodePkValues=5768762
Colin (http://colinfreeland.motionbased.com)
Detailed report please.
What about Sunday?
Mike and I where talking about do the same run oposite direction. Mike's thought was it is harder to trail find going from the dam to horse shoe bay. I was planning to also post it as a flash event this weekend. I was waiting to fine out the lacross schedual to see what day I can make. If you can change this to Sunday I am in.
Can't do Sunday