{"id":8817,"date":"2021-12-29T16:51:04","date_gmt":"2021-12-30T00:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christofteuscher.com\/aagaa\/?p=8817"},"modified":"2024-06-27T20:42:05","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T03:42:05","slug":"news-1st-self-supported-123mi-columbia-plateau-trail-fkt-attempt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christofteuscher.com\/aagaa\/news-1st-self-supported-123mi-columbia-plateau-trail-fkt-attempt\/","title":{"rendered":"NEWS: 1st Self-supported 123mi Columbia Plateau Trail FKT Attempt"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\r\n Update<\/span><\/strong>: Completed. See REPORT: Romping on the Columbia Plateau (123mi self-supported FKT)<\/a> \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\n
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\r\n Update<\/span><\/strong>: 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.\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\n

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

[pullquote]This will be my last desperate attempt to finish 2021 with a bang.[\/pullquote]<\/p>\n

Matt Sheppard is the current supported FKT<\/a> holder. He finished the route in 1d\u00a0<\/span>16h\u00a0<\/span>48m\u00a0<\/span>1s<\/span><\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Matt started at the southern terminus. I will start at the Fish Lake trailhead<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

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Self-supported 123mi Columbia Plateau Trail (CPT) FKT attempt. Map source: WA State park brochure<\/a> (pdf).<\/p><\/div>\n

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It is not looking great: arctic blast in progress…<\/p><\/div>\n

The route<\/h3>\n

The 123mi\u00a0Columbia Plateau (State Park) Trail<\/a> (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<\/a>, just outside of Cheney, WA. The southern terminus is located at the Ice Harbor Dam trailhead<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About 23mi at the northern end of the trail are improved, the remaining 100mi are not.<\/p>\n

“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<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Overview map of the 123mi Columbia Plateau Trail (CPT). Source: WA State park brochure<\/a> (pdf).<\/p><\/div>\n

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The start at Fish Lake.<\/p><\/div>\n

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There will be tunnels.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Somewhere in the middle of nowhere.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Another somewhere in the middle of nowhere.<\/p><\/div>\n

Dot watching<\/h3>\n

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