Solitude Loop FKT attempt Sept 6th 2025 notes
Woke up at 2:20
Coffee and sandwich for breakfast
Hiked 1.5 miles from wilderness boundary (truck camping) along trail 24 to trail 38
Started at about 3:45 am
Even though there was frost on ground, took extra layers off within first mile
Felt slower going in the dark, elk were heard near Elk Lake
Started getting light and turned off headlamp before Willow Reservoir
Water sources plentiful used Befree filter and trail had almost no mud anywhere
No mosquitos
Near Coffeen Park TH at trail 592 intersection was just shy of 30 miles at about 8 hours
Climb to Geneva Pass difficult and had to slow pace and eat more food to regain energy
Lots of jogging/shuffling from Geneva Pass to Teepee Pole Flats
Hit mile 41 going up from Teepee Pole Flats and again pace slowed
Sped up a bit before dropping down into Paint Rock Creek
Climb from lowest point Paint Rock Creek to Florence Pass the crux of route
Slowed pace considerably
Sun was setting at Florence Pass
Had just enough natural light to negotiate boulders and rocky trail descending to finish
Turned on headlamp around Medicine Cabin Park
Jogged in last three miles of gently descending trail
I carried all my food/gear with me, no resupplies and no other people paced or ran with me
I am very happy with completion of this goal, very difficult in the last 10 miles and had to push hard to keep going