Conditions: 45F to start at Sunrise Highway, 70F in the desert washes with partly cloudy skies. The sun was strong from 11am until the finish, and there was very little shade to find for a break. It rained earlier in the week and it made for good footing overall, but the last 15 miles left us searching for compacted tire tracks to avoid the soft and loose sand.
Supplies: We dropped gear at mile 16 on Friday at the intersection of CRHT and Pinyon Mountain road. The road was in good enough shape that my non-suv car was able to easily make the 1 mile drive from S2. After seeing the Pinyon Mountain road on foot, I think it's also possible to drive another 2-3 miles for a gear drop at roughly mile 19. We dropped off 3 gallons of water, 3 20oz gatorades, a big bag of salt and vinegar chips and more snacks.
Recap: We started at about 5:30am and needed headlamps for the first 30 mins. The PCT section along Sunrise Highway was awesome! It's a reminder that the aptly named Sunrise Highway is indeed great for catching the sunrise. We started under a full moon, which faded into a hazy aurora to the west, and then we descended into a burst of orange and pink hues down Mason Truck Trail. We didn't see much wildlife, but we came across some fresh and very distinct mountain lion paw prints in the wet mud on the rolling hills before the canyon narrows.
The rest of Oriflame canyon was a fun descent, but rockier than we remembered from past years. We made one navigational error and missed the CRHT connector trail to S2, which added about 1 mile to the total route. Once we crossed S2, the trail became more obvious again and we gradually climbed through the cholla and agave lined single track, passed through Blair Valley campground, and then more flat, fast single track.
We arrived at our aid station and met up with Erin to trade car keys, take a break, and refuel. We dropped off our windbreakers and headlamps and then filled up our packs. Knowing how dangerous the desert can be, even in the winter, we drank as much as we could, and then filled our running packs to the brim with water and snacks to set off across the next 29 miles.
The next 5 miles were a steady climb up Pinyon Mountain road and we hit the high point of the trail around mile 21. From there we let gravity take over and we found ourselves passing the 4x4s rolling over the eroded desert road. Although I'm unfamiliar with driving a truck in the desert, at some point, the trail changes from what I could imagine is drivable, to next level. But someone must do it, as evidenced from the tire tracks and rubber scuff marks on the rocks that pass through the narrow keyholes and over the rocky outcroppings.
The first 24 miles were a classic mix and match of familiar terrain from the local trail running scene (Oriflame 50k, ABC 50, and the much missed Lost Boys 50). The second half, starting around Hapaha Road, was unknown to us. The opportunity to check out the unfamiliar desert, especially on a long gentle descent, was one of the key motivators to trying this line.
Miles 25-35 were a southbound blitz and we moved quickly through the wide open desert and into more canyon sections. The trail snaked back and forth through huge cliffs of dried mud and rocks. When the trail opened up again, we stopped for a quick break in the shade of a boulder to hydrate and redistribute snacks and water.
The last 10 or so miles along Fish Creek Wash were a bit of a grind. As the day really started to heat up, we ran headlong into billowing dust clouds kicked up from trucks blasting through the wash. We were shocked at how many trucks passed back and forth, but it's probably just because it was a Saturday. Most drivers slowed down and flashed us a wave or peace sign, but there were a few speed-racers that left us scrambling towards the canyon edges.
The last mile or two was especially soft sand and a hair dryer breeze picked up. Luckily we all had the exactly right amount of water, and only went dry with the car in sight. We trotted up the last bit of road to the finish, and Erin had a spread all kitted out with cold bevies and snacks at the ready.
Overall, what a great day! Many thanks and +10 points to Erin for helping with gear and shuttling us back to the start! Cheers to Riley and Colton, I'm super happy with our team effort and it was a pleasure to share these miles with you!
Many thanks to everyone else who's done this route and the insightful write ups, much respect. I think there's still a bunch of time some chargers can take off his route, so go get it!