Flash - Foolish Plunge 100 Mile

What: Seven loops of the Powerhouse section on the STORMY course plus 1.3 miles of out and back.  Or a custom run of your choice.

Why:  Because a few club members are running the Cascade Crest 100 Mile run at the end of August and need a long run. 

Where:  Meet at Powerhouse Aid Station on Mamquam Road, Squamish, BC.   

When:  Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 07:00

Directions to Start:  Just after Shannon Falls Park going north on Highway 99 is a blue pedestrian overpass across the highway.  The Stawamish Chief granite cliff face is on the right.  Continue down the hill.  You will see a bridge.  Turn right onto Forestry Road just before the bridge.  If you get to Valley Drive by the casino and gas station you've gone too far.  Follow the gravel road for almost three miles until you come to a rectangular area in the middle of the road just before a small building on the right.  There should be a sign that says Powerhouse.  Go left at that sign.  Follow the road for about one mile to a yellow gate.  Do not go past the gate.  Park on the left just before it.  Well done!  You're at the start/finish/aid station.

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 totaling 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.

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 wrecked cars.  When you finally come to a major fork, turn left at the big sign board 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 and continue down the Plunge.   When you reach a large graveled area go back onto single track to your left for a few hundred yards, exiting at the Powerhouse water station/info board and broad road where you turn left.

Continue down steep black-stoned road.  Cross the Powerhouse Bridge (check the river views on both sides) 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:  Karl Jensen