Training Trip #1

So we sent the kids to grandparents, packed up the husbands and Rhinos and headed South to take our first peek at our leg for the Death Race.

We parked at the La Prairie staging on the Hwy and headed up Flood Mountain. Once on the quad trail (which is the actually leg of the race) it is quite well marked. Lots of orange tagging in the trees anyway.

Ran into Mike who was out training that day as well and he advised us not to try slugfest. So once we got snowed out of quading to the top of Flood we took his advice. But Amanda and I parted ways with the guys for awhile and ran down Flood the 9 km back to the trucks in about an hour.

Then we packed up the rhinos and moved back West 10 km to the Grande parking area and had the boys take us up that way. Lots of snow covering the trail and even more at the top.



But we were able to pick our way around on foot and the boys found their way around in the rhinos as well.

We had wanted to do the "powerline" as well but weren't sure about snow. You can see in the picture the line of snow on the far hill is where we had to go!




But we got out the binoculars and thought we could pick our way through. So, Amanda and I headed off, leaving the boys at the top.

The next picture is the view from where we came!



So the boys waited for us to make sure we could make it around at the bottom (as we couldn't see it from the top) and when we said we were good they took off back the way they came to organize the rhinos and meet us back on the North of Grande Cache at the cemetery (where the leg meets the highway)

We booked it and ended up getting there in less than an hour beating the boys by 20 min!

All in all, we felt good. Still had fuel in the tank. Feel better about our training. And not too sore today!

From the Death Race website.

Second leg, 27 km: Flood & Grande Mountain Slugfest
Includes about.1 km of pavement. The rest is dirt trail with rocky and swampy sections, and approximately 6 km of hard packed dirt road.. Net elevation gain is 500 feet, but the total elevation change is well over 6000 feet. This leg of the race is characterized by long sustained climbing with about 3 km of very rough terrain and two creek crossings. The trail from the summit of Flood Mountain to the summit of Grande Mountain is the roughest piece of trail in the Death Race. The power line down the front of Grande Mountain leading back into town is the most dangerous part of the entire course. This is due to the steep, rocky drop-offs and unstable footing while running downhill. The Slugfest is the most technical section and is rated the second hardest leg of the Death Race (although many rate this leg as the hardest of all).

Marshall entered the kids Death Race!

So after the main race on Saturday they have a fun kids race Sunday. They get a t-shirt and a medal if they finish 5 k in 90 min.

So Marshall and I did our first training run together and he did pretty good. Quite a bit of coaxing from me and a bit of whining but all in all he was very excited to go and happy to be out.

He had lots of energy and could have gone further which is good. It think 5 km in 1 hour will be our goal!

Great job bud!

Not Juan'ce but Twice!

So we are back from Vancouver Island and Juan is in the books. We had gorgeous weather the first two days, which was good as that second day is a killer. It rained through the second night and was still raining that third morning. We had thrown around pushing past Sombrio (our third day end point) and stopping 4 km later at Little Kuitsie. This would allow us to finish in 4 rather then the planned 5 days. We were still up in the air until we had arrived at Sombrio, hiking 8 km in the rain all day and miserable conditions at the beach. Little shelter, lots of rain and wind, plus alot of weekend partiers. So without much discussion, just a couple looks from one to the other, on went the bags and on we went. I guess we figured we misadwell be walking in the rain rather then sitting in it!
Little Kuitsie is a depressing dark in the middle of the scary woods campground, but we made the best of it! I mean when you get excited about the roominess of an outhouse, you're pulling at straws!
I was still able to check the weather on my blackberry (amazing) and saw that weather was turning around. Woke to beautiful sky's and a wonderful 14 km out to the end. We even took our packs off for over an hour and searched around the tide pools on a reef shelf for our lunch.
Then off to the parking lot to unload our gear. I also had a wonderful geo-cache hidden there by a friend of mine, so we all searched and found it! A wonderful note, card and a loonie.
We were then followed out on the trail by Murphy. A young guy who looked exhausted. He had just completed Juan in 2 DAYS SOLO! Wowsa.
Then off to Port Renfrew, for F-O-O-D. Something not from a foil pack, not dehydrated or a meal resembling a bar!
We ate like kings. Fresh Halibut and shrimp!
Loved every minute of it. Now it's onto the Death Race but I am already throwing ideas around for the next hike...hmmmm. Any suggestions?

Countdown...

Well the countdown has begun. 5 days till I am off to Vancouver Island. Going to enjoy my last prep hike today with the girls and will be my official FIRST hike with my new pack. A DEUTER by the way. Just let the German accent roll off your tongue. I laugh everytime!

Just waiting for my rain cover to come in. Went back to Ernies and she is going to confirm it's been shipped. I guess I will have to pack a garbage bag if it doesn't come in....oh please Canada Post....work for me!

I have to say that having been on the hike last year, I am being quite ruthless with my packing. Even though I will be carrying more clothes than I needed to in June, my pack will be sooo much lighter. I think it will be under 30 lbs! That would be very nice.

My food situation is much more streamlined and some of the members have contributed some very nice purchases. And although the old tent in the garage would work....no one wants to carry 12 lbs of tent when you could carry one for 5! Again, it doesn't sound like much till you've been there, done that.

Weather was looking pretty cold and wet but the forecast has taken a turn for the better. Seasonal temps. One day with scattered showers, which of course means it might never hit your actual area. Slightly concerned about the Gail force winds and their warnings that keep happening for the Juan De Fuca Straight. We have spoken to locals and they say that it's the Eastern winds that are the worst and cause the most damage to the Island. These happen to be South- Western winds. I don't mind too much having to crawl over a fallen tree, I would just prefer to not have one fall on my head in my sleep!

Still have a busy week ahead and 3 more runs before I go, plus my hike today. I will let you know how it goes!

Backtrack to Crystal Creek - by the dance floor

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Backtrack to Crystal Creek - by the dance floor

Beautiful day on the trails. Again my foot felt great, so thinking that whatever happened to it actually in the end....helped?

If so, I'll take it!

3 week countdown to Juan. We all are getting excited.

2nd set of Homework - 1 and 2's 10 rep

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Homework - 1 and 2's 10 rep

Felt really good. Looking forward to 1 and 1's on Sunday.
Ignore the craziness on my watch info at the end. I had stopped my waych and pushed the button later while driving and so it screwed up all my data!