Location:
Powerhouse Aid Station, Squamish, BC
What: Seven loops of the Powerhouse section on the STORMY/Bonkfest course plus 1.3 miles of out and back.
Why: Because some Fools have short memories. A few beers and a short nap after running the Bonkfest 100M will erase all memory of what it felt like and they will want to do it again.
Where: Meet at Powerhouse Aid Station on Mamquam Road, Squamish, BC. See link to directions and course map under Route below.
When: Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 10:00
Route: Start at the Powerhouse Aid Station. Each loop is 14.1 miles, thus seven loops is 98.7 miles, requiring an out and back trip totalling 1.3 miles to complete the full 100 miles. You may do the loops in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. For a change of scenery (or if you find yourself getting dizzy) you might want to consider alternating directions.
The course map from the STORMY site (thanks Wendy):
http://homepage.mac.com/designr2/stormy/STORMY-Map-18Jun07.pdf
Course description - counter-clockwise direction (thanks Baldwin):
From the Powerhouse aid station head back along the gravel road by which you arrived. At the first intersection go left. This is the start of 9-Mile hill. This is a long, mainly uphill slog. Stay on the main Mamquam Forest Service Road, ignoring secondary routes. This is an active forest road: traffic should be light but take care. At no point on this section should you be on a single track.
As the Mamquam glacier captivates you, look out for a large bridge. Cross the bridge, then go left onto the first trail (marked by a blue painted boulder) in ~250m. This is the climb up lava flow hill.
After a short flat section at the top of the hill, turn left onto single track. This is the Ring Creek Rip, a long, long downhill on an old road. Pass 2 wreaked cars. When you finally come to a major fork, turn left at sign for Powerhouse Plunge (ignore right fork, signed Ring Creek Crossing)
Stay on flat trail for ~1.5km. At fork, go right onto the zigzags of the “powerhouse plunge.” Cross a wide gravel road. Go back onto single track to your left for a few hundred yards, exiting at the Powerhouse water station/info board and broad trail where you turn left.
Continue on main trail and down steep black-stoned rough road. Cross the Powerhouse Bridge and go uphill to a yellow gate. Just past the gate is the Powerhouse Aid Station where you started.
Aid: The name "Powerhouse Aid Station" is used very loosely. There ain't no aid, so be prepared to be self-sufficient. Karl's van will be parked at the start. If you want to use it for your own supplies please contact him beforehand to make arrangements. We might stash a few jugs of water somewhere on Nine Mile hill.
Results: Fill in the results sheet on the windshield of Karl's Silver Dodge Caravan, 280 LCT, or email your distance and time to Karl through the email link at the bottom of this event site.
Motto: Nothing is foolproof to a talented Fool.
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.
Contacts: Gilles Barbeau and Karl Jensen
Comments
Foolish Plunge Results
Karl and Gilles, thanks for
Karl and Gilles, thanks for putting on an excellent race! I appreciate having sun for so many hours ... I did have to dodge the shade in some areas on the climb up the FS road but managed to get the sweat flowing quite nicely. The stomach issue was due to eating some bad leftover pizza - it tasted good but I think it got rancid in the car during the day. Once I got the bile out and rested my stomach, it wasn't that bad getting back out there and continuing. Unfortunately Shawn's issue was not that simple. We just hope that it's not as bad as it looks ... swelling is down when she stays on top of the icing. We'll be up to Mt Blanchard next weekend so we'll know better by then. See you soon. I want to find out more about the Stormy course.
- Tony
What formidable Fools you all are...
What formidable Fools you all are... and who needs drugs if you can run 100 miles and see a Brontosaurus and a St Bernard in the same day ;-)
Congrats to all!
2 Fools finish, one to go
Before long. He too arrived and chatted a bit.
Last but not least, TC (Tony) was expected to finish at 1:30. Karl will be posting results a bit later.
for more pics click here
Foolish Plunge 100 Mile
Hi Karl and Gilles,
We were there in the neighbourhood at 0645 but we did not get going until 0759 just getting to the right spot and getting our bearings. Just finding the entranceway to Smoke Bluffs was not easy. Getting lost there and back-tracking we eventually made our way to 3 Virgins then finding our way back with more "off the route" paths we returned with 15.76 Km in 3:18. Paul had an appointment and we needed to leave. Sorry we missed your start. I was hoping to get back in time for your start.
We could not find your truck in the Brennan Park Rec Centre, hence I am emailing your our results.
Was the route the "Horizontal part of the Stormy"?
Cheers,
Arthur CHat Gee and Paul Young
Sounds like you had an
Sounds like you had an interesting time finding your way ;-) Sorry, I wasn't there to guide your way - not sure how much of a pathfinder I would have been, though...
Foolish Plunge Schedule
You might have more company than you think
I forgot to add this to Bonkfest, but the reason I chose to run 1 week earlier for 2009 was that MOMAR was taking place this weekend. Now I can't say with 100% certainty that the Mtn bike/running/orienteering section will take place in the vicinity of the Foolish Plunge, especially any maps relating to said sections will be only available on race day. But you might want to keep that in mind if you have more bikers and racers than normal. The Howe Sound Pub might be more busy than normal.
Company
I'm hoping we don't that much company. Last weekend there were surprisingly few riders, given that it was a long weekend. Anyway, if the run proves too much of a challenge its nice to know that there may be bikes available for hijacking.
Foolish Plunge 100 Mile
Hi Karl and Gilles,
Nice to see Gilles in the BMO VIM. Paul Young and CHat would like to do one lap, just to back to the swing of things but we would like to finish about the time that you would be starting at 10:00 am
We would not be "up to speed" at all so what time would we need to take off to finish by 10:00 Need to do this to finish early.
Cheers,
Arthuir
Time estimate
Have a look at the results for the Bonkfest. That gives you the times for a number of people you know. You should be able to estimate your own time from that.
Make sure you print out the map and written instructions which are both available on the Stormy website. There are a few spots where it could be easy to take a wrong turn. This is not like Pacific Spirit Park with lots of trail markers and people to ask if you need help.
Have a great run.
early start
Hey guys Phil waters here.I will be joining you on Saturday.But I might start early7am that way I will join you on my second loop at 10am.Look out for the big white van .Hopefully I will see you on saturday.Cheers phil
Start
It will be great to have some more company Phil. We're going to start the run at 10 AM by doing the 1.5 mile out and back to loosen up. That should take about 15 minutes, so we'll begin the first loop at 10:15 AM.
I'll post a schedule shortly.
Haven't I been here before
Excuse me gents. Isn't running this 7 days later just déjà vu all over again? Haven't I been here before? Is this lap 4 or 5 or is it 6? Is it Saturday or Sunday? Is that a bear or a log? Am I supposed to turn around here? Is it 8 am or 8 pm?
All of the forementioned questions might be ones that enter the mind this weekend. Have a great time and it looks like the weather will be good. I would've, most likely, possibly, in all foolishness, joined you again but I'll be on the Sunshine Coast running and biking in Mt. Elphinstone Provincial Park.
Qualifications
We've searched the Ultrarunning Rule Book and nowhere is the word intelligence. "Short memory" is mentioned several times though, so we're good to go.
We'll let you know later whether or not this was a good idea.