Inaugral Run a Success!

Our Inaugural Run was a success!

The Salmon Run was successfully conducted on the weekend of 19/20 Sept.

Having made an early start, and after picking up our mascot 'Finn Chewbacca McCool' (an Irish Wolfhound/Bouvier cross) Jason Johnston and I arrived at the RV point before 1000hr on Saturday morning.

After a last-minute kit check we headed off in the rain at 0955hr. After an initial run of some 800 m we decided that the road was too rough to run with packs on ((mine 38lb, his 50lb – but the rain made them heavier during the course of the day) without injury.

Thereafter we proceeded at the old Light Infantry pace of 140/minute but at the maximum possible stride, and with a 5-minute 'cigarette break' in the hour. We 'double-timed' only when the road surface was smooth enough.

This pace brought us 13.5 km to the end of the lake in 3 hours. After a 10-minute lunch of a power bar and a litre of water, we resumed our push south to the bridge at Grid 166301.



The bridge wasn't there. It never HAS been there. WTF?

I forded the river in 4 places in search of a crossing shallow enough so that Mr McCool wouldn't get wet and therefore hypothermic. No luck.

We were also losing daylight, and so we reluctantly decided to put off the ascent to Hanging Lake to the summer months when there would be enough daylight for the extra 4 hours we estimate will be required to bush-bash up that particular hill.

We then tabbed about 3km back down the valley to the mouth of Depot Creek, and followed that creek upstream until we chanced upon an old trappers /fishing/hunting cabin. Finn McCool promptly took possession of the sleeping pad inside the 10’x10’ cabin and indicated to us that this was as far as we would go that day.

Well enough, we set up our hammocks between the trees and settled in for the night.

After sorting out our wet feet we had a right proper feast of boil-in-the-bag washed down with some ‘cleansing ale’. Bloody Marvelous.

After an hour of companionable chat lubricated by beer and perfumed with tobacco smoke (which kept the no-see-ums and mozzies away) we hit the rack – not before time
as the rain which had been with us all day started to pick up the pace and there was a fair downpour until about an hour before dawn.

Sunrise in that valley wasn’t until 10 am, but the steadily-clearing sky made striking camp a less-unpleasant chore than is usual.

After a good hot scoff we policed the area – picking up some garbage that some ignorant munt had left before us and we were back on the trail by 0950, and having resumed our pace we were back at the truck by 1245.

As soon as the truck was in sight we decided to run the last bit for form’s sake – and then Jason caught me flat-footed when he roared ‘SPRINT!’ as he and Finn took off like scalded cats for the last 50 yards or so.

I greeted this with a semi-intelligent ‘Huh?” and was consequently left in their dust.

This last burst of speed made for good optics as a group of tourists were just emerging from the park in time to see two pack-laden kilted maniacs come pelting up the hill to collapse winded in front of them. In a perfect world, one of them would have asked how far we had come so we could nonchalantly reply “Oh, about 33km!”, but no such luck.

A swig of water, a refreshing ciggie, and it was off back to town.


Lessons Learned:

1. KILTS ROCK as hiking attire! They were far more comfortable than ‘trousers and undies’ at the run, on the forced-march in the rain, crossing the river (hike them up or take them off and hold them out of the water) or in camp at the end of the day.

Unlike other fabrics which distribute moisture equally (bloody socialist cotton!) wool remains warm and is more windproof when it gets wet, and the water migrates to the bottom hem where it can be easily rung out. The few ‘locals’ that we met didn’t seem unduly freaked-out.

The only time that kilts aren’t the ideal choice is in thick brush, where you run the risk of an impromptu prostate exam by a nettle bush.

2. Sandals are well worth the extra weight when the time comes to ford a river, or to relax in at the end of the day.

3. ‘Survival’ blankets are garbage! Using two of these pieces of shite in lieu of a sleeping bag was one of the ideas I ‘trialed’, and I effing-near froze. Next time I bring a poncho liner or my down bag.

4. The “Hennessy Hammock” is a brilliant piece of kit, and I’ll never pack a tent as long as I live. You DO need a thermo rest pad or something similar, as you will otherwise lose a LOT of heat from the bottom of the hammock.

5. We will plan future trips so that those who wish to attend for only one day may do so, turning back at a predetermined point while the ‘overnighters’ carry on. We will also plan more one-day trips closer to town.

Regards,

Rob MacDonald
Jason Johnston
2009 Salmon Run

Food

Unless your route takes you through settled areas, the length of a trek is limited to the amount of food you can carry. This is further influenced by the amount of food you think that you need.

My typical daily trail diet is as follows:

Upon waking: tea or coffee, or one 'Tang single' (= 70 calories) in 500ml water.

Mid-morning, after a couple of hours on the trail: 1 portion 'Turbo Oatmeal'.

I like this because it releases the water and carbs slowly - so I don't get a sugar high followed by a low, and I'm not constantly stopping to step behind a bush!

(This is my usual breakfast before the daily 10km of my day job - it keeps me going for the full 10k with sufficient energy, no appetite and no need for a washroom break.)

Bring 2 cups of water with a pinch of salt to the boil. turn off heat.

Add:
1 cup 'Porridge oats'
1/2 cup mixed roasted/salted pumpkin and sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raisins or freeze-dried blueberries.
tsp powdered cinamon, dollop of honey to taste.

let it sit, stir it occasionally until the oats absorb the water , scoff it down.

mid-afternoon snack of an apple or orange and a litre or two of water.

Dinner at last light is when I indulge myself with a tin of beer and a boil-in-the-bag curry and rice. i also drink all the water I can hold (providing I've found a source of water).

Given this menu plan, a 7-day-week's worth of food weighs 6 pounds and takes up very little room in my pack.

Trail and Camp Discipline

The Chilliwack isn't the only area that's been ruined by campers leaving garbage and worse around. Much of the Chipmunk Bench now resembles a Nepalese "shitting-field", with clumps of toilet-paper dotting the forest floor, amidst shot-up car batteries, broken camp furniture and rotting kitchen waste.

Here are The Rules:

General:

1) One Man, One Kit.
1)a Take care of your mates.

2) Tell the others if you have an existing or developing 'health concern'. Most of us are qualified to the ''Standard' level of First Aid and many of us hold at least a 'C' ticket, and we'd rather it not come as a complete surprise when you suddenly vomit out your heart and keel over.

3) Always practice 'cat sanitation' when doing your 'necessary business' - and a handful of moss or river-sand is recommended over toilet paper.

4) 'Grey water' (water that contains soap, toothpaste, food scraps) shall be poured out onto the ground well away from running or standing water. NEVER pour grey water into water or wash anything in running or standing water.

On the move:

1) All trail markers will be temporary, such as coloured tape tied to a branch or 'Scouting for Boys'-type marks made of local materials. There will be no 'blazes' cut on trees.

2) All trail markers will be removed or wiped out by the last man on the way out.

At the Halt;

1) You packed it in, you pack it out again.

2) Solid-fuel or gas stoves only. Campfires will be considered only when the weather is wet and there is a supply of dead timber.

3) Although we're not on a LRRP, camps are to be unobtrusive when occupied and undetectable when abandoned.