Reliving the 1000mi Iditarod Trail Invitational – Day -4

Christof Teuscher

After months of intense training, planning, logistics, gear purchasing, gear customizing, and packing, it was finally time to travel to Alaska to compete in the 1000mi Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI).

“One of the most challenging experiences on the planet, participants brave extreme physical, environmental and mental challenges as they travel along the historic Iditarod Trail on bicycle, foot or skis. Requiring self-sufficiency and the considerable resilience to make it through up to 30 frozen days and nights, the Iditarod Trail Invitational has built its reputation on notoriously inhospitable conditions and minimal outside support.” https://itialaska.com

The next few days were spent with last-minute shopping, race check-in, frantic loading and unloading of the pulk, last-minute decisions on how many nuts to pack, what gloves may not be needed, how much fuel to load for the first 350mi, and whether two or three pairs of underwear will be enough for the 1000mi journey to Nome. It turns out two pairs are plenty.

There was also still a lot of work to be completed, a grant proposal to be finished, papers to be reviewed, students to be mentored, lectures to be recorded, and a never-ending stream of e-mails to be answered.

The route.

That’s only the tip of the package berg.

Ready go fly!

I arrived in Anchorage before midnight.

Going to my church.

Athlete photo taking.

Athlete check-in.

Swag!

How will this ever fit into the pulk?!

#iti2022 #iditarodtrailinvitational #ultrarunning #nome #alaska

NEWS: 1st Self-supported 123mi Columbia Plateau Trail FKT Attempt

Christof Teuscher
Update: Completed. See REPORT: Romping on the Columbia Plateau (123mi self-supported FKT)
Update: The arctic blast won. My first water resupply cache was frozen, despite heavy insulation and protection. So would have been the other two. I eventually had to turn around and abort after 35mi because I ran out of non-frozen fluids. It had dumped about 4″ of fresh snow over night and continued to snow all day. The temperature and the wind were rather terrible. I can’t say I had a good time.

On Thu, Dec 30, 2021, I plan to start for a 1st self-supported Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempt of the 123mi Columbia Plateau Trail (CPT). The trail is supposedly a little-known treasure in eastern Washington State. This will be my own version of running across the years. Not in never-ending, mind-numbing circles, but in a pretty straight line.

[pullquote]This will be my last desperate attempt to finish 2021 with a bang.[/pullquote]

Matt Sheppard is the current supported FKT holder. He finished the route in 1d 16h 48m 1s in February 2021 in the middle of a winter storm. With an ongoing arctic blast, it looks like I may have quite similar conditions for my attempt. Read an article about his FKT at https://runningmagazine.ca/trail-running/albertas-matt-shepard-conquers-a-chilly-fkt-in-washington-state.

Matt started at the southern terminus. I will start at the Fish Lake trailhead, the northern terminus of the trail, and head southwards instead. I will have three water and resupply drops for the long slog. If the water freezes, I’ll be toast.

Self-supported 123mi Columbia Plateau Trail (CPT) FKT attempt. Map source: WA State park brochure (pdf).

It is not looking great: arctic blast in progress…

The route

The 123mi Columbia Plateau (State Park) Trail (CPT) is part of Washington State Parks’ commitment to long-distance recreation trails and “state’s hidden riches.” The northern terminus is located at the Fish Lake trailhead, just outside of Cheney, WA. The southern terminus is located at the Ice Harbor Dam trailhead.

About 23mi at the northern end of the trail are improved, the remaining 100mi are not.

“The trail’s nearly 100-mile midsection remains undeveloped and goes for long stretches without resources such as food supplies, potable water and first aid. It is only recommended for expert long-distance hikers who undertake careful planning.” Source.

Overview map of the 123mi Columbia Plateau Trail (CPT). Source: WA State park brochure (pdf).

The start at Fish Lake.

There will be tunnels.

Somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

Another somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

Dot watching

Tracking will be available in the embedded map below or at https://maps.findmespot.com/s/GR9W. The planned start is in the early morning hours of Thu, Dec 30, 2021. I will start at the Fish Lake trailhead, the northern terminus of the trail, and head southwards.

Spectators will make a self-supported FKT attempt supported, so please do not come out to meet me on the route.

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