{"id":8631,"date":"2021-11-21T16:07:56","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T00:07:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christofteuscher.com\/aagaa\/?p=8631"},"modified":"2022-09-30T16:14:12","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T23:14:12","slug":"news-1st-self-supported-300mi-monumental-loop-fkt-turkey-trot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christofteuscher.com\/aagaa\/news-1st-self-supported-300mi-monumental-loop-fkt-turkey-trot\/","title":{"rendered":"NEWS: 1st Self-supported 300mi Monumental Loop FKT Turkey Trot"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\r\n Update<\/span>: I finished this slog on Nov 29, 2021. See report<\/a>.\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\n

On Tue, Nov 23, 2021, I plan to start for a 1st<\/sup> self-supported<\/a> Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempt of the 300mi\/483km long Monumental Loop<\/a> in southern New Mexico. An extended turkey trot, so to speak. Less turkey, more trot.<\/p>\n

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A 300mi extended turkey trot. Less turkey, more trot.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ella Raff<\/a>\u00a0(7d\u00a0<\/span>8h<\/span>) and Peter Livingstone<\/a>\u00a0(5d\u00a0<\/span>21h\u00a0<\/span>19m<\/span>) are the current supported FKT<\/a> holders. A big thanks to Ella and Pete for sharing trail intel!<\/p>\n

The route<\/h3>\n

Spearheaded by Matt Mason, with collaboration from Jack Kirby, Dan Carter, and other Las Cruces bikepackers, the 350 mile Monumental Loop route was first published in 2017 as a “full tour” of the Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument<\/a>. Watch an interview with the founders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In March 2021, in an effort to increase rider accessibility, an updated bike loop, the Monumental Loop 2.0<\/a> (shown in yellow in the map below), was introduced. The new route is only 255 miles long<\/a>, cuts out some sandy and rocky sections, but still visits all four units of the Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument<\/a> and passes by seven wilderness areas.<\/p>\n

The original 355 mile route has been renamed “The DangerBird.” It remains an option for riders and runners.<\/p>\n

The FKT runner route<\/a> (shown in red in the map below), as established and completed by Ella Raff<\/a>, Garth Reader<\/a>, and Peter Livingstone<\/a>, is a 300 mile variant of the original 350 mile bike route.<\/p>\n

The map below shows all three routes. I will follow the 300 mile (red) runner route as Ella, Garth, and Peter did.<\/p>\n

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The three established Monumental Loop routes.<\/p><\/div>\n

Dot watching<\/h3>\n

If you are sufficiently tired of turkey and\/or your family, you can watch me trot in the desert in the embedded map below or at https:\/\/maps.findmespot.com\/s\/79B0<\/a>. The planned start is sometime, somewhere on Tue, Nov 23, 2021.<\/p>\n

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\r\n Spectators will make a self-supported FKT attempt supported<\/a>, so please do not come out to meet me on the route. You can be at the finish line if I ever make it there.\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\n