{"id":10494,"date":"2023-04-09T18:27:36","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T01:27:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christofteuscher.com\/aagaa\/?p=10494"},"modified":"2023-04-10T14:09:03","modified_gmt":"2023-04-10T21:09:03","slug":"report-romping-on-the-columbia-plateau-self-supported-fkt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christofteuscher.com\/aagaa\/report-romping-on-the-columbia-plateau-self-supported-fkt\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Romping on the Columbia Plateau (123mi self-supported FKT)"},"content":{"rendered":"
Megan & Christof<\/div>\n
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\r\n New self-supported FKT (40:32) on the 123-mile Columbia Plateau Trail (CPT)<\/a>, beating the previous supported FKT (40:48)<\/a> by 16min.\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div><\/div>\n
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This was Christof’s 3rd<\/sup> and Megan’s 1st<\/sup> attempt.<\/p><\/div>\n

W<\/span>e started our self-supported FKT attempt on the 123-mile Columbia Plateau Trail (CPT)<\/a> on Friday, April 7, at 4:05 a.m. at the Fish Lake Trailhead in Cheney, WA. The trail runs along the abandoned <\/span>Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway<\/a>\u00a0from Cheney to the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers in Pasco, WA, and passes through five southeastern WA counties.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“The 3,876-acre, 130-mile Columbia Plateau State Park Trail<\/a> is one of the state’s hidden riches; explorers who find it are rewarded with big eastern Washington skies, rolling landscapes and unforgettable journeys” [Source]<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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The first 15 miles cross the northwest corner of\u00a0<\/span>Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge<\/a>. As\u00a0rosy-fingered dawn<\/a> brightened the Channeled Scablands, we delighted in awakening avian friends (and other wildlife): cheery red-winged blackbirds, stately buffleheads, spotted towhees; elk, coyotes, muskrats. Time passed easily amid the signs of spring; we\u00a0arrived at Martin Road trailhead (mile 23) earlier than\u00a0expected.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“The Channeled Scablands ecosystem that predominates the Refuge is unique within the National Wildlife Refuge System and has characteristics that distinguish it from the natural reserves worldwide. Ponderosa pine, wetlands, meadow steppe and riparian habitat dominate the landscape” [Source<\/a>].<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Beyond the refuge, the landscape became more remote, though no less inspiring. We marveled at expansive basalt cliffs (and their surprisingly large accompanying lakes). We had a rare daytime sighting of both a barn and a great-horned owl. We surprised a dozen\u00a0cottontail bunnies. The trail cut through dozens of rock formations, and we\u00a0caught ourselves\u00a0railfanning over the remnants of early rockfall warning systems. Before long, we found ourselves lunching across from\u00a0<\/span>Lamont<\/a>\u2019s grain elevators, snacking on the outskirts of\u00a0Benge<\/a>, then watching the sun set over\u00a0Washtucna<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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We spent the night pushing toward\u00a0Kahlotus<\/a>\u00a0(mile 99), thankful for the relief of a closed\u00a0trestle traverse and the light of a nearly full moon. We arrived just after\u00a0dawn arrived on her golden throne<\/a>\u00a0and took a snack break by the mouth of Devil\u2019s Canyon Tunnel<\/a>. <\/span>The tunnel marks the trail\u2019s turn toward the Snake River, and we moved quickly through the canyon, eager to reach the final stretch. At the river, the trail tunnels through the hillside\u00a0again and the remaining miles meander along the water, passing a handful of towering\u00a0trestles and miles of majestic hills.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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We reached the Snake River Canyon Trailhead at approximately 5 p.m.\u00a0Energized by its pristine facilities and the proximity of the finish, we ran most of the final 15 miles\u2014fast enough to finish 16 minutes ahead of Matthew Shepard\u2019s 2021 FKT (40:49)<\/a>, but slow enough to greet an osprey couple and a flotilla of white pelicans soaking in the the evening light.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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4:05 a.m. start in Cheney.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Christof’s Easter-themed Cradbury treats (a total of 10).<\/p><\/div>\n

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The trail.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Some lake in the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

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More trail.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Even more trail.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Christof’s Ritter<\/a> burger. No mayonnaise was added. Sadly, I had failed to pack any.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Night is falling.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The moon.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hello morning.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Still going.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Somewhere before Kahlotus.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Devil’s Canyon tunnel<\/a> (#16) by Kahlotus.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Cool rocks.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Cool snake above the Snake river.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Lower Monumental Dam on the Snake river.<\/p><\/div>\n

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More trail. Seems to never end.<\/p><\/div>\n

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A trestle.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Only 15mi to go…<\/p><\/div>\n

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Not too far from the finish.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The finish at the Ice Harbor Dam Trailhead<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Stats and data<\/h3>\n