Loowit Trail (WA)

Washington, US

Distance

30.5 mi

Vertical Gain

7,100 ft

The Loowit Trail circumnavigates Mt St Helens. The Loowit Trail is used for the course of the Volcanic 50K race, which has produced the fastest times. We also track unsupported (non-race) times. Max Ferguson gave a little detail from his unsupported run:

From the climber's bivouac parking lot taking the Ptarmigan Trail to Loowit Trail 216 and running counter-clockwise. Upon reaching the NE section of the trail prior to the blast zone, I continued on 216 through Windy Pass, this is the shortest, most obvious route, and keeps you on the same trail number, however when running it the trail is fairly ambiguous so I prefer to clarify. There are numerous washouts along several creek crossings, so the trail is a little different shape in places than the Green Trails map 364S shows. These additions only add to the total running distance, technicality, and elevation gain in the entire loop.

Ferguson's track of the route is here: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/223722229 But as with all loops, you can begin and end from any trailhead as long as you complete the full loop.

GPS Track

Loowit.gpx343.81 KB

FKTs

Standard route

Male

Unsupported
Talon Hull	4h 47m 45s	2022-09-16
Tyler Green	4h 59m 54s	2020-08-03
JT Lehman	5h 5m 58s	2020-07-17
Dylan Bowman	5h 11m 49s	2020-07-11
Eric Sauer	5h 24m 11s	2019-08-10
Yassine Diboun	5h 59m 16s	2019-07-22
Max Ferguson	5h 59m 58s	2012-09-16

Supported
Rod Bien			5h 21m 43s	2015-09-05

Female

Supported
Rachel Drake	5h 30m 47s	2021-08-07
Cassi Knight	6h 3m 37s	2019-08-03
Paige Pattillo	6h 25m 3s	2016-09-03

Unsupported
Becca Windell	6h 7m 50s	2020-10-20
Rachel Drake, Jessie Vickers	6h 46m 8s	2020-07-23
Elena Horton	8h 14m 17s	2020-07-25
Pam Smith	8h 48m 37s	2018-09-21

This route on the old FKT site

http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/364/loowit-trail-wa

Comments

Announcement: I will be attempting the Unsupported FKT on the Loowit Trail at Mt. St. Helens leaving from the Climber's Bivoac at first light on Monday 7/22/19, running clockwise. Looking forward to another fun and adventurous loop around-the-mountain! More will be revealed...

It should be noted that the Volcanic 50 race starts at the Marble Mountain Sno Park and takes the Swift Creek Ski trail up to the Loowit trail, which is different to the unsupported times above which start at the Climber's Bivoac. Starting at the Snow Park adds ~2km/1.3miles and ~320m/1050ft gain.

I started at the same place as Max Ferguson in 2012 (Climber's Bivouac) but I decided to go Clockwise. I was hovering right around record-pace all day and as I navigated the technical terrain closer to the finish I knew it was going to be close!

I ended up sneaking under the Unsupported record by 42 seconds! https://gearjunkie.com/yassine-diboun-mount-st-helens-fkt

5:59:16 !

Who's next? ;)

Props to both Yassine and Eric!!! Thanks for putting on a show!

I'm going to be attempting an unsupported FKT attempt on the Loowit Trail, tomorrow 6-25. Its supposed to be a crispy one out there. Will be running CCW with no exact start time determined yet (thinking 8:00 am). Will report back with trail conditions and all other pertinent information.

Hi All - I'm going to take a crack at the Loowit FKT tomorrow 7/17 starting from Climber's Bivouac. Planning on running CW. Looking forward to giving it a shot!

Hey everyone! This Saturday, October 3rd, my training partner Amy and I will be going for the unsupported women's team record set by Rachel and Jessie earlier this year. We will be leaving Climber's Bivouac at 7 AM, and running clockwise once we hit the Loowit Trail.

We're excited for a fun day around the mountain!

Hey, gonna make a go at a solo unsupported attempt for this one on 9/13. Will be leaving around 6am from Marble Mountain Sno Park. Will see how it goes being first time on the route!

Route: Loowit Trail (WA)

FKTs

Comments