Today, Sat, Jan 2, 2016, I felt a strange urge to make another Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempt at the Wilson River Traverse Yo-Yo. So I did. Solo and unsupported. The conditions were better than on Tuesday, although there was still a fair amount of snow. I opted to go light and minimal for once, with no extra layers, no extra food, and no extra anything. I would either make it or not. There was no redundancy and no room for error this time. The pack felt very light and that was good.
I started at 5:38am from the Elk Creek trailhead. The car thermometer showed 21F. After rolling my ankle before mile 2, I was primed for some pain and started cruising at the pace I thought I could sustain for 45mi and 8,000ft of elevation gain.
A new sign at Wolf Creek (mile 15) said that the Wilson River trail was closed because of storm damage. I chose to ignore it because there was no major issue to be seen during the Tuesday FKT attempt. To my surprise, the forest service had actually removed all downed trees on the first 15mi already. Kudos!
At the turnaround point (Keenig Creek, mile 22.6) I checked my watch: 4h07min. That was good news. Now I only had to go back. Thankfully I knew my way. The going was tough, yet I kept pushing as much as I could while devouring the few gels that were left. No time was to be wasted with non-essential activities.
After 08:24’14 I finally reached the Elk Creek trailhead again. I had just beaten my own 2014 record of 9h30min by 1h and 6min. In perfect conditions (i.e., without snow), this fantastic route could “easily” be done under 8h, I think.
Wilson River Traverse Yo-Yo completed in 8:24’14.0. That did hurt.
Movescount data. The Suunto Ambit2 logged short by about 5mi. The route is officially 45.2mi long.
Movescount map and elevation profile.