Mountain Streams Self Supported FKT One Way Plus Out and Back
Write up for both:
Decided to go back to the Mountain Streams trail/Jeff Barr Trail to do the FKT again this time self supported. Dropped some supplies along the trail to make it self supported. I was in a better mood today before, during and after this attempt than I was last year when I ran this route. I said Id never go back but here I was today doing it again. There really isn’t much to see along the trail. It is boring The pictures I did take were of the like 4 things on the trail that look remotely nice. The rest of trail is just dull. Maybe it’s the time of year I run it, maybe not. Id hate to run it in summer when the thorns are grown and the grassy parts are high. Plus early spring not as much horse traffic though was like 20 piles of poop. Did see a couple riders today then a woman with about a mile left was walking her 4 dogs other then that no other people on the trail. The parking lot is super small maybe 4 cars could fit.
Was about 50 degrees when I started. Not a sunny day either. At the far end up top had a chill in the air and I felt cold. Id say low 40s up top. The creek was high. On way out I was able keep feet dry by going few feet up bank but way back foot slipped off rock into water. But feet did get wet a few times today because trail was wet in spots.
I was able to read the trail better today. My body seemed to navigate on its own today. Well after 1.2ish in. Cause I did take one small wrong turn for maybe a tenth before realizing it but that was only time I questioned where to go. There are several intersection you could take but I choose right ones.
The big long hill climb wasn’t to bad. Was able to read the terrain today the rain recently must have washed some of the leave off the rocks so I didn’t have to guess as much on footing. I zoned out for the most part into a podcast and let body take over. A few tress were down I think one or two were still there from last year. Go to the turn round in 1:24:06. Tok a clip and pic up there before heading back. Ended up with time of 2:55:12 so knocked a couple minutes off time from last year. Did slow down the last couple miles my one shin was tight so didn’t want to push it and have issues. Walked the inclines and last tenth.
Overall I guess had decent run. Still not my favorite place by far but was I dont hate it as much now as I did last year. Its not a real hard course but there are some root and rocky sections and the big climb is rocky and hard to navigate.