2012 - Squamish Scrambler - Year 8
11 February 2012 - 16 Starters
Event Report: The Squamish Scrambler is an event that has been blessed with unusually beautiful clear conditions for February. As we all know last year was a little bit different with neck deep powder and a blizzard which stopped the entire group before reaching the Elfin Lakes Shelter.
This year conditions were much more favourable for running, although definitely not what you would call clear.
The group assembled at the Tim Hortons, and whoever was so inclined topped off their supplies of caffeine and Tim Bits. We rendezvoused by the golf course to ditch some extra cars, and headed on to the trailhead.
The road was clear of snow at first, but soon was quite slippery due to freezing overnight conditions. We went past the chain-up area but soon some of the cars started having traction issues. Near the parking lot before the steep switchback a couple more vehicles had trouble.
Luckily I had bummed a ride off Jackson, whose Subaru made it up quite handily. It took a little while to reconvene at the parking lot as some people were now hiking up. Eventually we had our crew of sixteen together for the starter photo, and were underway. We had several people on backcountry skis this year, about a third of the group.
I followed behind the crowd, but was feeling quite energetic at first and struck out in front. I made myself walk the steeper sections as I know this course can wear on you for a while, it seems like it is all uphill to Elfin Lakes, but once you turn around you start to see things a little differently until the final plunge down from Red Heather. Ward Beemer was not far behind in his ice spikes which he decided to forgo snowshoes for.
There were lots of people out enjoying the mountains this weekend, and evidently a crush crowd planning on staying the night at Elfin Lakes. There were many people at Red Heather Cabin and I overtook all the people who started out that morning in the cabin area. It was quiet and foggy as I made the trudge across the Paul Ridge.
There was a crust that broke quite easily which made it difficult where the trail cut across a slope, which is pretty much the case for most of the trail on the Paul Ridge. Eventually I reached the first of the series of descents to Elfin Lakes, and knew it wouldn't be too much longer until the turnaround. Close to the cabin I passed a couple of parties of skiers headed down from a night in the cabin.
I popped my head in but it was pretty quiet at that point and there seemed to be someone sleeping in there so I split before I woke them up. I saw Eric near the top of the climbs back up from Elfin Lakes, and then the rest of the crew started coming into view. The snowshoers overall seemed to have a pretty good lead on the skiers.
Many people elected to turn back once they reached the top of the Paul Ridge rather than continuing on to the cabin. With the fog the view didn't change much anyway.
We gathered in the parking lot after then reconvened at the Shady Tree Pub for some grub and drinks. All in all another beautiful day in the mountains for a bunch of Fat Asses.
Photos:Click on the image below for a slideshow of photos posted so far:
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Participants:
| First Name | Last Name | Event | Points | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan | Ó Maol Chonaire | Elfin Lakes - 22km | 2+2** | 2:59 |
| Suzanne | Johnson | Elfin Lakes | 1 | 4:20 |
| Julie | Flynn | Elfin Lakes - 22km | 2 | 4:30 |
| Eric | Rannaud | Elfin Lakes - 22km | 2 | 4:30 |
| Pat | Woods | Elfin Lakes - 22km | 2 | 4:35 |
| Ean | Jackson | Elfin Lakes - 22km | 2 | 4:52 |
| Bill | Maurer | Elfin Lakes - 22km | 2 | 4:50 |
| John | Atwater | Elfin Lakes - 22km | 2 | 4:50 |
| Craig | Moore | Elfin Lakes - 22km | 2 | 5:15 |
| Wade | Repta | Elfin Lakes - 22km | 2 | DNS |
| Reagan | White | Elfin Lakes - 22km | 2 | DNS |
| Glenn | Cameron | Elfin Lakes - 22km | 1 | |
| Andrew | Rose | Red Heather - 10km | 2 | 2:59 |
| ward | beemer | Red Heather - 10km | 2 | ? |
| John | Machray | Red Heather - 10km | 1 | ? |
| Matt | White | Custom | 1 | ? |
| Jill | Warland | Custom | 1 | ? |
* Garbage Collection
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