FKT: Tryg Solberg - Eagle Mountain (MN) - 2023-08-01

Athletes
Route variation
standard ascent
Multi-sport
No
Gender category
Male
Style
Unsupported
Start date
Finish date
Total time
24m 55s
Report

Went for just the "up" portion of Eagle Mountain which is the highest point in Minnesota. Started watch from the sign at the parking lot trailhead and stopped it at the top for 24:55 total time. The Strava segment gave me 24:01 and somehow says it's 3.47 mi, my watch (Garmin Fenix 6) said the entire trail was 3.26 miles to the summit marker. Finding the trail that gets to the actual summit was somewhat difficult while trying to run fast but it should be fairly obvious. Remember that a day-use entry permit is required to enter the BWCA and you need one of the copies on you. There is a kiosk that should be stocked at the parking lot trailhead to fill one out and put on copy in the box. 

This is a technical (for the Midwest) trail that is flat or rolling for the first couple miles and then gets most of its gain in the last mile or so. Trying to run sub-7 pace over rocks and trees is something that I don't typically enjoy but this was short enough to tolerate it. There are similar FKTs on the up & down and the MN low to high point. I decided that racing down this would be too high of an injury risk for me and I gave it pretty much everything on the way up (186 avg HR). As a Nordic skier I am usually lacking the leg speed to go for these but on this day I wish I could've taken on the full low-high point. This short route FKT will mostly be acquired by footwork & focus the ability to run somewhat fast while maintaining those things. If it was a gravel trail I think the FKT could get down to 20-21 min based on the distance and elevation.