Running Section J Southbound on the PCT

It's been three days, and I am still trying to gain perspective on what I did last weekend. I know in the trail running world, it's probably not that big of a deal. In fact, when I was training, I encountered someone who ran Section J in one day. But all I know is me, and I have decided that for me, my fastpack on the PCT was quite an accomplishment. The experience built character, confidence, mental and physical toughness, and pride. I spent four months building a training base of 20-mile long runs, and then I trained for seven months after that, all for something that was over in two days. It feels a little strange.

Below is a video with all the pictures and videos from my fastpack of Section J.

Best parts
Hands down, the best part was simply doing what I set out to do. I can't believe I ran and hiked 73 miles in two days! Many times after a long training run in the Issaquah Alps, I'd think, "Can I really go out and do twice as much in one day, followed by 20 miles the next day?" I pushed those doubts to a far corner in my mind, and marched ever onward with my training plan. It was remarkable what my mind was able to convince my body to do. Once I got out there, not completing it was simply not an option.

I am under three miles from finishing. John met me on the trail and brought food and water.

My favorite places were the beginning of the climb to Pieper Pass and the climb through the Waptus Burn. It's likely that I would have more places to include had there been no smoke, but these two places were beautiful for what they were close up, not a distant view. I put the best pictures of these two places in a previous post, but here are two different ones.

Pieper Pass climb

Waptus Burn

Elevation gain and loss
This was probably the toughest thing about the fastpack. Though I trained for elevation gain and loss that was comparable to what I would be doing on the PCT, I was still sore at the end of the first day. Normally, it takes a day for soreness to show up. I did my best to hike the steep parts and run the easier climbs and descents, as well as the flat parts. From both my research and personal experience, that is the wisest thing to do, or you'll trash your quads. Despite this, my quads were definitely trashed the first day. There were 10 climbs near or above 5,000 feet. Two were near 6,000 feet, and twice I went below 3,200 feet (in addition to a starting point of 4,062 feet and a finish at 3,022 feet). That's a lot of ups and downs. None of the climbs were terribly steep. Most were moderate. It seemed to me like the climbs were more gradual going southbound, so I am glad I chose that direction. Would I change anything about my training? For the most part, no. I would probably do a few more runs on the PCT starting at Snoqualmie Pass heading north just to get accustomed to the ruggedness of parts of the trail.

Going southbound, day 1 had 12,430 feet of elevation gain and 11,130 feet of elevation loss in 47.5 miles. Day 2  had 5,670 feet of elevation gain and 8,000 feet of elevation loss in 27.5 miles.

I passed signs like this many times throughout the fastpack. The smoke was the worst above 5,000 feet.

Trail and terrain
After having run 15 miles out from Snoqualmie Pass (to just above Park Lakes) and then back for a training run, I was worried the terrain on the trail was going to be rough the entire way, as that is how most of the way to Park Lakes is. I was delighted to find that most of the trail was quite runnable. It was enjoyable to run! I felt my feet and joints were well prepared for the technicality of the trail.

Much of the trail looked like this!

Camp
Making camp was the highlight of the journey. I knew when I reached the halfway point, the bridge at Spade Creek, (what I called "The Bridge of No Return"), I was not going to make my 50-mile destination before nightfall. I called it The Bridge of No Return because my husband and I agreed that if I made it beyond that bridge and had a problem, I would continue toward Snoqualmie Pass, and he would start from there and head north. If I hadn't made it to the bridge and had a problem, then I would head back for Stevens, and he would head south towards me from there. At any rate, I knew I could at least get up and over Escondido Ridge before it got dark, and then I would look for a campsite somewhere around 45 miles.

The climb up the ridge is six and a half miles, and while gradual and often runnable, it seemed to go on forever. There are several false summits, and I knew the ridge crested at 43.3 miles according to the map, but my watch was telling me I had already gone 43 miles, and I wasn't there yet. I finally got over the ridge at 8:15 pm, exactly as I had estimated. Daylight was departing fast, and I encountered a sign that said, "Please do not camp for the next two miles; sensitive area." I peeked at my watch and vowed not to camp until two miles had passed.

By 8:39, I had to pull out my mini headlamp, which I brought for camp, not hiking or running in the dark. I held it low, and it did pretty well. I only stumbled a few times. By 8:50, it was completely dark, though a half moon gave enough light for me to see the silhouettes of trees against the sky. I hoped out loud numerous times to get out of the sensitive area, which turned out to be the Lemah Burn of 1994, and find a flat spot to bag down.

I began the switchbacks down the ridge and soon, after getting past two miles, I saw a bright light ahead. I was happy to see two thru hikers with headlamps making their way north. They were headed for the ridge top to camp, and they told me that if I was desperate, there was a flat-ish spot about .2 of a mile away. I was desperate indeed, as it was 9:30 at this point and I knew John and my friends and family following along would be getting worried. It wasn't but one or two switchbacks later that I entered the forest and found a spot big enough and flat enough for me to camp. It wasn't really a campsite, but it would do.

I removed my vestpack and set it down against a log, taking out everything I would need for camp and placing everything food related inside my pack. By this time, it was 9:45 pm, and I was happy to have stopped moving. I changed into my sleeping clothes and put my running shirt inside my pack since I spilled Perpetuem on it. I then hung up my pack on a huge branch of a fallen tree, which took a while because I pulled the wrong end of the cord I brought and it ended up a bird's nest. Pack secured, I set up my "tivy" (bivy-tent), which meant staking the front two corners and the top center, and placing my running pole up the middle. By 10:45, I was inside my sleeping bag, trying to get comfortable.

Even though camp was above 5,100 feet and I could see my breath, it was a warm night. I left my sleeping bag open most of the night and didn't wear my down hood. Instead, I used it and my shorts, socks, and running bra inside my sleeping bag stuff sack as a pillow. I took 3 mg of time-release melatonin and acetaminophen with codeine. I slept, but not very well, constantly turning to try to get comfortable. I found sleeping on my side tough because one leg laying atop the other made the leg on bottom ache, and sleeping on my back made the backs of my knees and lower back hurt. Eventually, I slept well enough to dream. I was awakened at one point by voices, and turned to watch as two runners went by with headlamps. It was 11:55 pm.

I got up at 6:05, eager to see just what my camp looked like. I was pleased to see that my pack was hung safely a good distance away, and my tent was in a reasonably flat spot. I was just out of the burn area, too. While I packed up camp, I boiled some water to hydrate some freeze dried risotto. Even though it sounds like a rough night, it wasn't. I was pleased with my tivy, which breathed well and had no condensation, and also happy with how unafraid I was.

I had already taken the stakes out, so my tivy is collapsed, but you can see how the spot was just big enough for me.

Food
This is one area that needs work. I brought 18 servings of Perpetuem for both days, the idea being I would have one every hour. Perpetuem is a powder you mix with water. I like it as a thin paste that I can sip. I also had Tailwind, which I mixed in my drinking water to give me carbs and electrolytes. For solid food, I brought three wraps made from mini, three-inch tortillas, almond butter, and banana slices. I also had vegan jerky and two freeze-dried meals.

I was happy with the Perpetuem and Tailwind. I would not put banana inside the wraps except for maybe the first one to be eaten. The bananas started to ferment and were gross. The jerky was great, and I loved the risotto. I am sure I would have also loved the spaghetti, but I never got to eat it.

My plan was to eat two wraps spaced out during the first day, snack on the jerky, and put what was left of it in my risotto when I stopped to make dinner. The only problem was that I never stopped to make dinner. I just didn't have time. Instead, I ate the third wrap and didn't have the risotto until morning. I made it at camp and then let it steep while I ran to South Lemah Creek. It was one of the best breakfasts I've ever had, simply because I was happy to be eating a real meal. I never stopped to make the spaghetti since I was already two hours behind schedule the second day and didn't want to be too late in case John wasn't getting my Spot tracks and was waiting for me for hours at Snoqualmie Pass.

Next time, I will bring fewer wraps, more savory snacks, and make sure that I plan for no more than 40 miles of running in one day. That way, I can have enough time to stop and cook a dinner.

Water, a related topic, went well. I had made a list of year-round water stops and their mileage, as well as landmarks and junctions. Unfortunately, I lost this piece of paper somewhere before Mig Lake, which was only 7.5 miles in. I went from memory and only had one time when I ran out of water on Cathedral Pass. Within 30 minutes, I made it to Spinola Creek where I filled up my water bladder. My Katadyn Be Free soft bottle with a filter built into the lid is fantastic!

Gear
I am extremely happy with several of my gear items: Z-Packs 30 down sleeping bag, Katadyn Be Free water bottle, homemade tivy, Garmin Fenix 5X GPS watch, Merrill Agility Peak trail shoes, Black Diamond Z-Pole, Ultimate Direction bladder, Montbell down jacket, and Ibex Woolies 3 pants. Particularly, I love the Katadyn Be Free water bottle. The filter is built into the lid, which also has a cap so you don't have to worry about contaminating the part you are going to drink from. It was so refreshing to be able to drink to my thirst's quench after dipping the bottle into a freezing cold creek. I also used it to fill my bladder; I could easily squirt the water into it from the bottle. Also, my Garmin watch came through for me whenever I needed it--and I did need it a couple of times. The trail to Peggy's Pond was unmarked, and I also started down a trail to a lake once by mistake. I was able to right my course quickly with the Fenix 5X. I also was pleased with my shoes--remarkably, my feet didn't hurt after the first day. I did develop a blister on the inside of my left heel, which has never happened before.

The GoPro Session 5 performed well. Weighing in at two and half ounces, and being only one inch square, it was the perfect camera to take. I took over a hundred photos and more than a dozen videos. The color and exposure are a bit flat, but the videos are smooth. Since John installed the update from last year, it has worked perfectly.

I was satisfied with my HydraPak Flow water bottle for mixing Perpetuem in, my Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20, my Roadrunner 8-inch compression shorts, and most of my other clothes. The water bottle was fine, but if I squeezed it too hard by squishing into my vest pocket with too much Perpetuem in it, it leaked out the top. I just had to be careful. My vestpack is a great size, but the fit just isn't quite right. It isn't women's specific, so it tended to shift to one side or another if there was any imbalance to how I had it packed. Ultimately, my pack was too heavy for me at eight pounds, 13 ounces fully loaded--but that's not the pack's fault. It did chafe on my back on the left side where the bottom of the pack rubbed against me, but I think that was more the fault of the shirt I was wearing. The rest of my clothes performed fine.

I can't say for sure that the Spot Gen 3 Satellite Messenger performed badly, because it's performance may have been my fault. I thought much of the way would be in forest, but the forest was subalpine so the Spot should have easily sent tracks every 10 minutes like it was supposed to. The tracks were sporadic at best, and while all the OK messages I sent came through, people had hours without knowing where I was. However, I had it in the mesh pocket of my vest, and that probably prevented it from sending a signal. I tried it on the outside of my pack on my shoulder on the Cascade Pass to Stehekin run, but it flopped too much and made my collar bone sore. This is something I will need to work on if I do another run.

I was unhappy with my running shirt from Athleta. I chose it because it was white, had an SPF of 50, and was loose fitting. White and loose fitting keep you cool in the heat, and the SPF gave good sun protection. The drawback to the top is that it had a tulip back, which meant that it overlapped in two pieces like upside down tulip petals. The result was that the shirt didn't quite cover my lower back on the left side, which allowed my pack to rub directly on my skin. I have a pretty large welt there now. The shirt also got really dirty, and after two washings it is dingy but clean enough. White was not a good choice.

Smoke and weather
Originally, I was supposed to go on my fastpack on August 21 and 22, but I opted to go early because the smoke from the wildfires was supposed to be slightly better and projected to get worse on the 20th (which it did). Also, there were supposed to be thunderstorms in the mountains on the 21st and 22nd.

As it turned out, for my journey the smoke was terrible in the mountains and probably pretty unhealthy. It impeded the scenery entirely and was worse above 5,000 feet. I could smell it when I got to higher elevation, and the day after my fastpack, my throat was sore and my voice hoarse. Experts say the lungs repair themselves, so hopefully I didn't do any permanent damage. I met people from Belgium, Germany, and Iowa, to name a few places. One hiker I stopped to chat with after cresting Chikamin Ridge was from Cleveland. He was looking out at what would have been a view of Mt. Rainier instead of smoke. I told him I was sorry he couldn't have seen it the way it should be.

As for the weather, it was quite warm. There was an inversion zone, which keeps the smoke trapped, and the warmer temperatures are actually up high. I have grown accustomed to running in the heat this summer, so it wasn't really a problem. With the warm weather comes bugs. They were about what I expected. I used Permethrin on my clothes and no bug spray on my skin. I got some bites, but not too bad. I mostly got them on my back when I took my pack off to get water and then the stupid petal back of my shirt would drape open and bugs would feast. I wore mosquito netting around my head the afternoon of the first day but didn't have any problems the second day.

People
If you want solitude, don't choose Section J of the PCT, at least not in August. Except for at night when I was hiking in the dark and most everyone had tucked into camp somewhere for the night, I always felt like I was among people. And even when I was on the trail at night, I saw a couple hiking in the dark. The first day, I saw 98 people, not including those camped in tents. I only counted the people I encountered on the trail itself. The second day, I counted 129 people. I knew there would be more as I drew closer to Snoqualmie Pass. I didn't mind there being people; it just wasn't what I expected. Everyone was friendly, and I felt safe. Going earlier in July, or perhaps later in September, would have been better in terms of solitude, smoke, and bugs.

Just beneath the waterfall in blue is a hiker praying or meditating. Just as I got to where he was, three people were coming down at the same time.

Conclusions
In all, I haven't really been able to determine what effect this experience has had or will have on me. I certainly learned something about mind over matter. Somehow, having to go 27 miles the second day didn't sound that daunting in the morning, and I can't really explain that. When I had about two and a half miles to go to Snoqualmie Pass, John appeared on the trail. At that point I was alternating running and walking down the trail. It was pretty rugged, so I used my pole as much as possible and found it less painful to run if the terrain would allow it. As soon as I saw John, it was as if a switch in my brain flipped. Walking became slow and painful, as if my body suddenly got through to my brain and said, "We're done." Fortunately, talking to John distracted me the last couple of miles. It was so great to see him!

What would I do differently? If I were to do this section again, I would probably opt for three days instead of two. I think 40 miles the first day is a better max distance for me, at least with this amount of elevation gain and loss. Thirty-five miles would have been too far for the second day. Two other PCT sections in Washington are just under 70 miles, so perhaps those will be better accomplished in two days. Wait, am I already talking about doing another section?

What's in My Pack for the PCT

As I anxiously watch the air quality index, I figure it's time to get my pack ready in case I decide to go right away on my two-day run southbound on Section J of the PCT. We have had smoke in the Seattle area from forest fires in BC, Canada, and in eastern Washington, and the air quality index was 179 yesterday, classified as "unhealthy for everyone." Yikes. I may decide last minute to go the next day, and I want my pack ready.

Here's what's in my pack:

Note: I changed out #20 for a taller, narrower bottle (same brand). It fits in my front vest pocket better, is still 17 oz., and has a wider mouth so it will be easier to put Perpetuem in it.

1. Montbell down jacket (for sleeping)

2. Ibex Woolies 3 pants (for sleeping)

3. Bug netting sewed to a headband

4. Sleeve Stars ankle compression sleeve (in case I twist an ankle)

5. North Face Better Than Naked tank top (for changing into to wear under my jacket)

6. Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20

7. Z-Packs down hood (for sleeping)

8. Reflectix (sleeping mat with an R-value of 9)

9. My "tivy" (tent-bivy that I sewed myself with Dyneema waterproof, breathable fabric)

10. Titanium tent stakes (3)

11. DHEA, probiotic, 3 mg time-released melatonin, 15 SPF lip balm, duct tape

12. Trail notes (junctions, water stops, maps of junctions)

13. First aid kit, hydration salts

14. Paper towels and baggie (for pottying)

15. Black Diamond Z-Pole

16. Bear spray

17. Petzl e+LITE headlamp

18. GoPro Session 5

19. Spot Gen3 satellite messenger

20. HydraPak Stow Water Bottle 17 oz (for mixing Perpetuem and Tailwind Recovery in)

21. Katadyn BeFree 20 oz water filter/bottle

22. Ultimate Direction 50-oz bladder

23. Hammer Perpetuem, 6 scoops per bag (2 bags plus one also inside #24)

24. Toaks Titanium 450 ml Cup, Evernew Titanium Alcohol Stove w/ 1 oz alcohol, 6 waterproof matches, nylon cord to hang my food in my pack at night, and Perpetuem inside

25. Tailwind Endurance Fuel (2 bags for 40 oz. and one for 32 oz.)

26. Vega Sport Energizer (for morning of day 2)

27. Tailwind Recovery drink (single serving for end of first day)

28. Vegan trail food: Backpacker's Pantry Spaghetti and Sauce, Louisville Vegan Jerky, Good-To-Go Herbed Mushroom Risotto; GSI Outdoors Essential Spoon

29. Z-Packs 30 down bag and waterproof stuff sack

And here's my pack, fully-loaded:

My pack weighs 8 pounds, 13 ounces without water. My goal was to have it under 8 pounds, and originally, it was 7. But adding things like a first aid kit, lip balm, an extra bag of fuel, and a slightly longer sleeping mat all ads up!

Here's what I'll be wearing for the fastpack:

1. Garmin Fenix 5X and Garmin Forerunner 25 (using Fenix for map both days and distance the second day, and the Forerunner for distance part of the first day)
2. Merrill Agility Peak trail shoes
3. Blue Steel Anti-Chafe Cream
4. Feetures cushioned socks
5. Prescription sun glasses
6. Moving Comfort Crossback Sports Bra
7. Moving Comfort underwear
8. Buff hat
9. Halo headband (has a channel to move sweat to the sides, keeping it out of your eyes)
10. Athleta Sunlover UPF Tulip Back Long Sleeve Top
11. R-Gear Recharge Compression Printed 8" Shorts

In the car for when I finish the fastpack, I will also have supplies. It will include

• Tailwind Recovery drink
• Water w/ Vega Hydration Electrolytes
• Sandwich
• Wipes (to clean up)
• Change of clothes
• Teva sandals
• Best of all, John (my husband)

The countdown is on and I am getting excited!

The Final Preparations

I am officially in my two and a half-week taper to the Cascade Pass-Stehekin run! It's time to start taking care of the things I've been putting aside for now. Here are the things I need to do before August 1:

• Schedule a chiropractor appointment and massage appointment the Friday before the run for last-minute tune-ups. (Done!)
• Adjust my training plan. I have a 17-mile run down for Saturday after two weekends in a row with 38 miles and I am not sure why. And should I continue to train up to Cascade Pass-Stehekin run and then taper? Or taper now? (Done! I decided to continue to train right up to Cascade Pass-Stehekin. Because I have chosen mid-week for both big runs, I have to shift my training to running long mid-week instead of weekend. Thus, this weekend's easy runs became the mid-week build up of a hard week. I ran 10 miles Saturday, six today, and will run four tomorrow. Tuesday will be a rest day, and then Wednesday, I plan to run 15 miles north from Snoqualmie Pass and back.)
• Prepare bags of Tailwind and Perpetuem for the long run.
• Practice using the water filter bottle and squirting it into my bladder.
• Plan the food and clothing to take with me for the run. 
• Prep a small first aid kit for my vest.
• Treat running clothes with Permethrin (bug stuff).
• Sew bug netting scraps to my running hat.
• Practice with John's GoPro Hero.
• Test the Spot. Again.
• Check in with Dana and Jill, my Stehekin to Chelan support!

Between now and the PCT Fastpack:

• Use alcohol stove to determine how much fuel it takes to boil the water needed for my freeze-dried meal. Add additional fuel for boiling time at a higher elevation. (Done. It took nine and a half minutes for the water to reach a slight boil; I let it go for 12 minutes. One ounce of fuel will burn for 16 minutes. I figure I'll need one ounce for each meal.)
• Make a windshield for my stove with a Fosters larger beer can. 
• Stealth camp with John to try out my tivy. (Maybe Wednesday on the PCT, where I won't have to stealth camp?)
• Find a place to stay as close to Steven's Pass for the 20th. (Found a place on Airbnb in Skykomish about 15 minutes from the pass. I haven't booked it yet, as they have a cancellation policy that doesn't favor sudden changes in weather. I'll wait until a day or two before to book it. It didn't look super popular, and I did have a second choice that was 25 minutes from the pass.)
• Prepare bags of Tailwind and Perpetuem.
• Study the map. Know by heart the tricky junctions, camp site location, and water fill ups. Check in with Kem about campsites.
• Add more items to this list as I think of them!

Training Runs on the PCT

I want to spend as much time as possible practicing the terrain and elevation I'll be fastpacking. OK, as much as is reasonable, especially when many of these training runs on various sections of the PCT will require a shuttle.

Taking into account both distance and highest point of elevation, I tried to plan training runs on the PCT starting the last weekend of May. It's possible I will encounter snow for some of them. Five of the training runs will be overnighters. In the middle of all this is our 19th wedding anniversary, and I haven't planned that one yet. I am hoping we can go somewhere special to us (a good memory from hiking with our dogs maybe) and can camp out together.

So much will depend on how much snow we get this week. We've had a return of winter with lots of snow in the mountains. We may even get some snow in the lowlands. At any rate, it's been consistently cold enough to kill off the pests (mosquitos, mice, slugs).

I am only showing the late May through August portion of the training since I won't likely be able to get on the PCT until then due to snow.

***I removed my running schedule from the internet for safety reasons. If you'd like an idea of mileage, send me an email.***

It looks a little daunting to me right now, but hopefully by the time June rolls around, I'll be ready! In the meantime, I'll have to plan out campsites for each of the overnighters.

~LTR

Revised Fastpacking Training Schedule

As I've be running on the trails again and realizing how much I need to toughen up my ankles and quads, I've given some thought to following a 50-mile training plan instead of a 50K training plan. Since I will be running 50 miles the first day of my fastpack, and then 20 the second day, I think it's a good idea. The main difference is that instead of alternating an easy week with a hard week, I'll have two hard weeks in a row, followed by an easy week. This idea comes from the UltraLadies 50-mile Training Plan.

I am currently running on trails on Wednesday and Saturdays. I intend to run on trails on Sundays when I can, but by June, I want to be running trails consistently on Sundays, too. Also in June, I hope to start running parts of the PCT for my weekend runs, whether easy or hard. The more of the terrain and elevation I can get, the better. Of course, in June snow may be in issue in the higher elevations, but as soon as I can start training at 5,000 feet plus the better!

Here's the plan:

~LTR

Fastpack Gear

One of the funnest parts about planning for the fastpack, besides the training, is figuring out what gear I am going to use. My goal is to have my pack be under seven pounds without water. I have to consider the following:

• Running pack/vest
• Food
• Water vs. water filter, hydration pack
• Clothes to sleep in
• Sleeping bag
• Tent or bivy
• Sleeping mat
• Headlamp
• Spot/emergency contact

For the pack, I was hoping to go with a women's specific running vest, but I wasn't sure if there would be enough room. I love my UltraVesta from Ultimate Direction, so I ordered the Aventure Vesta, also a women's specific running vest. It didn't look like it was going to have room for the gear, so I also ordered a 20L fastpack from Ultimate Direction, which was on clearance at the time for only $79.95. You can only get the 15 or 25L Fastpack now (https://ultimatedirection.com/fastpack-25/). I didn't get any perks for suggesting Ultimate Direction or any other brand I mention. I just like their running packs because they don't move at all, are well designed, and fit well.

The two packs arrived, but before I could decide which one I was going to keep, I had to order the rest of the things I was going to pack. I ordered three freeze dried meals, a collapsible water bottle with a built in filter, Ibex Woolies 3 pants and hoodie, two different options for a sleeping mat, and an ultra light sleeping bag. Once I had assembled all my gear, I tried out the two different packs; I sent the Aventure Vesta back. It turns out that, though light, most of my gear is really fluffy! The 20L Fastpack weighs in at 18 oz.

For the freeze dried food, I ordered three different vegan meals. Since I don't want to carry a stove or fuel, my plan is to hydrate the food with cold water. I think if I let it soak long enough, it will be edible. I don't care about having hot food. I plan to test out each of the three meals and see which one hydrates the best. I will probably pack two of them on the actual fastpack. Two food packages weigh 8 oz. total.

Normally, I use a lot of energy gels, but they are actually relatively heavy, so I am only planning to pack two caffeinated. My favorite is Accel Gel and Second Surge, both made by Pacific Health Labs, because they taste good and have protein, but since becoming a vegan, I have been trying out new ones. So far, I am happy with Clif gels, but they don't have protein. I have tried Luma, which basically tastes like jam. They are made from chia seeds. I get protein from them, but they seem to give me heartburn. I will probably resort to Hammer Perpetuem designed for all-day endurance as a liquid meal. Two gels weigh 2 5/8 oz, and six Perpetuem servings (one in a mixing bottle) weigh 4 5/8 oz. I'll also need five servings of Vega electrolytes, which are 1 oz. total.

I am going to need to refill my water bottle and bladder several times on the fastpack. I have a LifeStraw, but I couldn't figure out a way to use that with the bladder. Instead, I decided on Katadyn Be Free Water Filtration System, which I ordered from Amazon. I plan to fill it at a stream, and then squirt the contents into my bladder. The 50 liter bladder I'll use is also from Ultimate Direction. I've had a 70 liter one for years, and it has never leaked. I will only put 30 oz in the bladder to start. Water weight is just too heavy and I can always refill. Empty, the bottle and bladder weigh 4 oz.

Ibex Woolies 3 was my hands-down choice for night-time clothing. Sadly, Ibex just closed shop, so getting their clothes in the future will be next to impossible. Most of the gear is merino wool. but their Woolies 3 is a wool blend. I used it at Cascade Pass this fall, when I had run up, sweated my shirt wet, and then had lunch; resting combined with wind makes for a chilly recipe, but my Woolies 3 cut the wind beautifully. I got the pants (not running tights) and a hoodie. They weigh 18 oz. total.

I already had a Thermarest for backpacking, but it's just too heavy at 10.5 oz. I scoured other blogs and internet articles and settled on Gossamer Gear, a closed foam option. I still haven't decided on whether I'll take the mat or the sitting pad. The SitLight Camp Seat, weighing in at 2 3/8 oz, is a little bit short, and the Nighlight Sleeping Pad at 6 oz is too big for my pack even trifolded. I will probably have to use the sitting pad.

For the sleeping bag, I went with a ZPacks classic sleeping bag, rated for 35 degrees. They're not cheap, but they are warm, pack down small, and are incredibly light. They come with a waterproof stuff sack.The bag is 14.6 oz. I also decided to make a bivy/makeshift tent of my own from ZPacks material. I will follow up later with a detailed post when I actually make it.The weight should be 4 oz.

I'll also have to pack my headlamp (1 oz.) and I plan to buy a new Spot Satellite Messenger (4 oz. with lithium batteries). I think I am also bringing one titanium running pole at 4 7/8 oz.

The tiny Petzl E-lite has a whistle on the head strap and a carrying case. Ill leave the case behind.

Everything sounds really light, but it all adds up! Right now, I am under 5 pounds without the pole and without water.

Fastpacking Dreams

I am a self-proclaimed recovering trail runner.

I decided to start this blog as I prepare for a fastpacking goal I've set for August 2018. My hope is to help other runners like me, who maybe aren't up with the elite runners in any given race, but still have aspirations to improve, to challenge themselves, and to accomplish feats they never thought possible.

The road, or should I say trail, to this journey began ten years ago. I had started running again after taking a few years off, and to inspire me, my husband signed us and three friends up for the Mountains to Sound Relay. I was hooked from then on, carrot and stick--I loved having a goal to work toward. My 10K portion of the relay led to several 10K races, which eventually lead to a half marathon in Missoula, MT, which then led to several marathons. A hamstring injury and thwarted Boston attempt led to trail running and eight 50Ks. I was pleased with the level of athleticism I had achieved, but dialed back to find better balance in my life.

Training for 50Ks takes a lot of time, especially since most of it takes place on trails. My last season racing, which was September to December of 2015, I had built up the most endurance I'd ever had, training for The Oyster Dome Challenge. Only a 50K (which is the most I've ever done), it had 9,400 feet of elevation gain. It took me over eight hours, the longest time I've ever run, but by the end of the race, I felt like I could keep going. I've never felt that before at the end of an ultra marathon. I ran one more race in California in December, and then I reduced my long runs to 10-12 miles.

But there was one niggling ember waiting for me to breathe life into it. Before I started running half and full marathons, I ran 13 miles of the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) to meet some friends who were coming from a point farther south. Completely alone, I started off at 6:00 a.m. and ran my way to the the sunrise over the Cascades. When I reached a ridge top, I couldn't believe the breadth and solitude of the moment, and I have held the image in my mind as a reminder of strength, vitality and beauty. When I reached the meeting point, I rested in the sun, napped even, and waited for my friends. We hiked 13 miles back, and my friends were so proud of me. I was, too. I didn't know then that I had kindled a love of trail running and sparked a goal to be.

A few years later, my husband encouraged me to run up to The Catwalk from Snoqualmie Pass, also on the PCT. It was about six or seven miles up, at times challenging due to elevation or scree, but incredibly scenic. It rained lightly on me, but I didn't mind the briskness of the August day, and hoped to come back again. Soon after that, my husband and I discussed me running from Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass on the PCT. In all, it's about 78 miles, depending on what source you consult. I decided that I would like to try fastpacking it--that is, running all day with a very light pack, camping out, and then running all the next day. But I hung up my trail shoes before I could even think about accomplishing this.

Since my last trail race in December 2015, I tore my plantar fascia and had surgery, and my beloved dog died, leaving my husband and me childless, so to speak. The 78-mile journey was an ever-distant goal. Besides the occasional trail run at Lake Tradition, I really hadn't been doing anything other than running on dirt roads in my neighborhood. Because our dog was my husband's hiking companion, and when I say companion, I mean hiking soulmate, we have been reluctant to hike this past summer and fall. We did finally make it out to Cascade Pass, with my husband hiking and me running. I ended up putting in a 20-mile day. I was sore and exhausted, but also elated.

I pause just before Cascade Pass to photograph the snow that turned the last part of my run into a hike.

That day, as we headed back down from the Sahalee Arm to Cascade Pass after having lunch, my husband pointed out the trail that leads to Stehekin. This led to a discussion of me running from the Cascade Pass Trailhead to Stehekin, where he would meet me with some friends who have a home--and a very nice boat--on Lake Chelan. I researched the distance and found it would be 34 miles. The PCT fastpack also came up, and with his encouragement, I have decided to go for both.

I have been gradually acquiring gear for the fastpack, and have planned out a training sequence, both for the Stehekin route as well as the PCT. I am now "training to train" as I like to call it.