Sierra High Route FKT attempt

[Paul S]

Hi all,

I’ll be making an SHR FKT attempt starting Monday. Given all the snow left, this may become a fastpack if I’m off-pace. I would prefer to wait out the snow some more, but I scheduled this time off from work. In any case, I’ll be traveling fast and light.

Just in case anyone would like to follow along: <span id=”mapShareURLText” data-bind=”text: mapShareInfo.FriendlyURLClean”>share.garmin.com/PaulSumner</span>

Here is a rough gear list: https://lighterpack.com/r/25l8sg?fbclid=IwAR0kOMD6GaI2KcycDWKi_-P0DjP33URaueGotqLVX6EubZywdcn4DSg1xbA

I will be adding at least microspikes and a bear-resistant container, perhaps even a light ice ax.

[Adam White]

Good luck! I’ll be watching and rooting for you.

Any comments on strategy/splits you’re willing to share?

Your Garmin link is not click-friendly–maybe this will be: https://share.garmin.com/PaulSumner

[Matt]

CRUSH IT, Paul!

[Paul S]

Thanks, Adam.

Regarding strategy/splits, my plan is to take a bit easy the 1st day then progressively add miles to my daily total each day thereafter. Hoping to be somewhere between Upper Basin and Potluck Pass the 1st day. While I’ve spent some time at altitude recently (time in Tahoe & climbing trip out of Shepherd’s Pass), I’m always a little slower at altitude the 1st day. The fact that I will have 4 1/2 days of food as well, will make it slower also.

I also plan on starting really early each day in hopes of harder/faster snow travel and planning on cranking up the speed when I am on-trail (e.g. JMT). Not that there are miles and miles of snow left, but there will probably be lots of little snowfields that could potentially slow me down.

Beyond that, it’s the usual: concentrating on fueling, dealing with the fatigue and the mental game.

Oh, I am planning on sleeping each night for at least a few hrs.

[Paul S]

Thanks Matt!

[Cameron M]

Good luck!

[Paul S]

Thanks Cameron! I’ll be expecting to run into you somewhere along the route. LoL.

[Paul S]

Hey guys,

Just want to post a follow up: I had to bail on my attempt after the 1st day. About 1/2 way into the 1st day (near Windy Ridge/Grey Pass) I sprained my ankle; I’ve done this before. Up to that point, I was on pace to make it to at least the Palisade Lakes the 1st night. I was attempting to mitigate it by soaking it in streams as I moved along, but my pace took a nosedive. My fueling also wasn’t working as well as it needed to be either.

A couple of gear notes (relevant I think to this forum), pertaining to some “New” (I had tested on an earlier trip) gear I took:

1. WM Nanolite quilt: it was fine for the temps I experienced and I think it rated correctly. It is pretty narrow though. It has sew-thru baffles and the down tends to migrate, so I had work the down a bit to keep it from forming cold spots.
2. Pa’lante Joey: Fits well, rides nice and close on your back and is stable. One issue is the top sternum strap is hard to see because it is far up. This makes snapping it a PIA, but overall great fastpack. I have a Little River pack also in this same category. I want to mention it because they are so close that I had put it in the car because I couldn’t decide which one to bring.
3. TR Uberlite: 2nd trip out. I took this instead of my old TR Z-lite close cell. Hoping for better sleep. It performed great.

Conditions were pretty close to what I wanted for my attempt. Although, there was still enough snow and higher temps, that it slowed my progress thru the Palisades a little. I had to kick some steps — not good with my ankle. The conditions were IMHO perfect if you simply wanted to hike the SHR; it’s prettier with some snow.

 

[Matt]

Way to go, Paul!  Your publicized effort has caused some anonymous person (or persons) to think to themselves, “huh, maybe I could … [fill in the blank]?”  Inspiration – what a wonderful gift.

Happy Trails to you.

[Author]

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