Flash - Elsay Explorer

This is a trail run on a trail which many of you have run past but few probably know called the Lower Elsay Trail.  It will take an average of probably around 6-8 hours.  The trail is well marked aside from the entrance, with tree tags.  In general keep cutting across many creeks and gulleys around the same altitude, and do not head towards the water unless you are sure you are on the Lower Elsay Trail.

It is a flash event, just show up at 8:30 am at the Panorama Park parking lot in Deep Cove if you would like to participate, although if you are planning to participate please post a note on here in advance if you can so I know how many to expect and get some idea of what we'll be doing.  If there are only a few people or everyone is in a reasonably similar range of speed than we may do it as  one group, or we may decide to break up in small groups.  Please bring a set of instructions and preferably also the maps, to be sure that if we do split into groups every group will havea set.  It is always good to a have a second navigator too especially on a trail like this which is easily lost in some of the creek crossings escpecially.

It is a great running trail, except that it can be rough and overgrown in spots.  There are creek crossings, some involving getting your feet wet, but none are particularly dangerous under normal conditions.  There is one short eroded slope, where a rock slide has wiped out the trail, where extreme caution must be exercised.  This is on the way down to the fourth or fifth creek crossing I believe.  There is also an easy scrambling section going above a cliffy slope, if you are not good with scrambling or heights then this may not be the run for you.  If that is the case, consider continuing on the Three Chop Trail up to Mount Seymour, then there are numerous options if you want to tack on some distance, or you can just head back down Three Chop to the BP and back to Deep Cove for a roughly 1.5-2 hour run.  Or head along the Lower Elsay until you don't feel comfortable and turn around there.  Finally if you are out for a long one but don't like a but of danger, then you could follow Three Chop all the way up to Mount Seymour, then head along the Elsay Lake Trail and meet the other runners at or near the top.

The course is as follows:

- Baden Powell trail westbound from Panorama Park to Indian River Drive

- Frances Creek Trail (across the street 10m to the right from where the Baden-Powell takes         you out onto Indian River Drive) to Three Chop Trail

(There are a couple of branches to the Frances Creek Trail, but they should all meet back up eventually.  Basically just head uphill and towards Frances Creek)

- Three Chop Trail from intersection with Frances Creek Trail to intersection with Lower Elsay Trail (small unmarked at first trail just past large decrepit wooden bridge over Frances Creek)

(This section is only a few hundred metres at best.  Three Chop Trail comes up from a crossing over Frances Creek.  Stay on the same side on the creek, following it uphill.  A fairly major trail with obvious heavy bike use which I believe has orange square tree markers heads downhill on the right side.  Do not follow this trail.  Instead look for a less obvious trail just past the decrepit wooden bridge over Frances Creek.)

- Lower Elsay Trail northbound.  Turn right onto this trail just past the decrepit wooden bridge over Frances Creek, which is easy to miss but is soon marked by square metal tree tags, sometimes plain tin and sometimes orange.  It crosses many streams and gullies, some with washed out bridges, or non existant bridges and a steep cliffy slope where you are forced to use your hands a bit.  There is a major intersection indicated by a tin arrow directing you left and uphill.  Eventually the trail will reach the Elsay Creek Valley where it heads decidedly uphill to Elsay Lake.

(Watch out for many intersecting trail which usually head down to Indian River Drive or beaches or communities along the Indian Arm, such as Best Point, and Thwaytes.  The first is not too far in, a mountain bike trail that crosses diagonally from a flat piece of rock above to a steep downhill.  Head straight across.  Other than that there are many small intersecting trails you will encounter, and places to get off the trail, and wind up going down to the Indian Arm.  Always keep your eye out for metal tree markers, and generally if you don't see them, you're off the trail, many of the side trails having flagging tape and the flagging on the Lower Elsay Trail is not consistent.)

- Elsay Lake Trail to Elsay Lake.  Turn right onto the Elsay Lake Trail to head to Elsay Lake.  Opportunities for peak bagging abound.   Or just check out the lake and continue on the course.

- Elsay Lake Trail to Mount Seymour trail.  Double back along this trail to the intersection with the Lower Elsay Trail, but this time continue along the Elsay Lake Trail past the Lower Elsay.  Continue on to the intersection with the Mount Seymour Trail.

- Mount Seymour Trail to Mystery Lake Trail.  Head downhill (left) on the Mount Seymour Trail, until the Mystery Lake trail.

- Mystery Lake Trail to Parking lot area.  The trail starts near Mystery Peak then heads towards the bottom of the ski resort.

- Perimeter Trail to Three Chop.  Take the trail towards Flower Lakes/Goldie Lake from the left side of the parking lot area as you are looking downhill.   Turn left towards Goldie Lake, but turn right before the lake unless you are a keener and want to do some bonus mileage running around the lake.  Once you are out of Goldie Lake Loop go left onto the Perimeter Trail. 

- When you reach the intersection with Three Chop Trail, turn left, and downhill.  Follow this back to the Frances Creek Trail (remember not to cross the creek or you'll end up running along the road to the Baden Powell).

- Turn left onto the Frances Creek Trail near where Three Chop crosses Frances Creek.  Follow this down to Indian River Drive.

- Find Baden Powell 10m to the right across the road.  Follow back to Deep Cove.

Entry: 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. No registration is required but please indicate your participation via the comment form below. 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.