FKT: Daniel Briggs - Suiattle Crest Loop (WA) - 2022-10-01

My second time running this route in six days, this time solo and a bit quicker. I didn't really start out pushing, but I realized at Buck Creek Pass I had made pretty good time through the Napeequa and over High Pass. Since the route is pretty smooth after Buck Creek Pass, I decided to try and keep a decent pace and see if I could beat Leor's time. A thanks to Leor here, I first heard about this route from a description on CascadeClimbers way back when, and was blown away the first time I ran it in 2019. 

A few notes: 

• Comparing our splits, I was quite far behind at the top of LGP, and I must have made up time in the Napeequa to build a gap before High Pass. The Napeequa trail is still very rough, and has had some awful wet brush every time I've been. IMO a big part of doing this route fast is pushing through the Napeequa when the travel is harder. 
• I think this is the most beautiful loop of it's length in Washington. I'd bet others who have done it would agree.
• This route is nowhere near 50 miles. The three times I've done it I have measured 44, 45, and 44 miles with an average of 12.6k gain. This includes roads.
• This route is currently classified as California. Can we change that?

Splits:

• Little Giant Pass (LGP) TH: 6:58am / 0:00
• LGP: 8:48am / 1:50
• High Pass: 11:23am / 4:25
• Buck Creek Pass: 12:11pm / 5:13
• Suiattle Pass: 2:08pm / 7:10
• Cloudy Pass: 2:32pm / 7:34
• Spider Gap: 3:57pm / 8:59
• Phelps Creek TH: 5:25pm / 10:27
• Little Giant Pass (LGP) TH: 6:06pm / 11:07:55