2009 Results - Go Home Via The Hanes Valley

22 August 2009 - Starter Photo - 23 Starters

Report.    Well, the second running of the Hanes Valley went off without any problems. I had been a bit worried 3 days before the event as only 5 people had signed up, but my pleading for more eventually worked and 20 started with 2 no shows.

Six runners opted for the 14 km out and back to Norvan Falls. Fourteen of us continued on our way in to the Hanes. As Rob, Dave and myself proceded to the creek crossing, we ran in to some hikers who told us they had heard what sounded like a large rock slide coming from the direction of Hanes Valley. I was a little concerned, because Wendy had set out earlier and should have been in the Hanes by this time. It turned out that the rock slide was closer to the third debris chute.

As we got the Lynne Creek Crossing, Bill and new comer Steve had caught up with us. It took us about an hour to get to this point. Clouds were starting to descend into the valley as we were heading towards the boulder field  passing bright orange fungi on the way. When we got to the Helipad 20 minutes later, the clouds were hiding the cul, to where we were heading.  As we were starting to climb up the boulder field, those of us who had been here before felt the route had been somewhat changed with a more direct route straght up compared to a more zig zag route previously.

We saw 3 runners up ahead atop the boulder field: Jeff and Kelsey Trigg and a friend, but no sign of Wendy. The clouds were still low when we reached the cul, so no views. So we headed towards Grouse. When we got to the trail junction for Goat Mountain, Dave went off to bag Goat Peak.

Once at Grouse, Rob left us completing his 18 km route. With a short stop for bear watching and water, Steve, Bill and I headed down Mountain Highway. I am not  fond of Mountain Hightway, so I suggested that we try some different routes down.

Just after the rock quarry, there is a small trail (Per Gynt). This cuts off one of the switch backs. Bill was lagging a bit behind, when we came back on to Mountain Highway. It turned out that he had a leg injury that wouldn't allow him to run down hill. I gave him some drugs and left him to fend for himself.

Steve and I made our way down trying to find different trails to cut off Mountain Highway as much as possible. We succeeded and finished our run in 4.20. Some of these trails will be used at next years event.

Rea, Steve and Derrick followed Mountain Highway all the way down and finished in 4.55. Gottfried and Phill made their way down with some diversions in 5.30. Sybille, Heather and Craig did a custom route down Grouse via the gondola and a trail parallelling Nancy Green Way back to the big yellow beacon.

I didn't lose anyone on the course, which is always a good thing. Twelve of us turned out to the Mosquito Creek Grill for food, refreshments and prizes.

Thanks to everyone who showed up and to Mosquito Creek Grill, Kintec, Trail Runner Magazine for their support. I look forward to see you all back with some minor changes on the course next year. Please don't wait to the last minute to sign up.

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Photos. Photos of the run will be posted here. Please add your's to the CFA Flickr group tagged with GoHome2009 GoHome and ClubFatassEvents. They will automatically be added to the link above.

Video.




Results

* Bonus Point for garbage collection
** Event Host Point

Because of a scheduling conflict a small group of Fools ran this event a week early on Saturday, 15 August .  We are looking forward to hearing about their run.  After refuelling at the pub, John and Gilles even managed to run the Capilano Canyon Night Run later that day. Here is their starter photo:

Starter Photo: Go Home Via The Hanes Valley - The Fools Run on Saturday 15 August 2009