Yassine Diboun posted the route:
The Timberline Trail that circumnavigates Mt. Hood is a 40-ish mile route that I have covered three times now. I have done it in 2011 and 2012 in one day (approximately 10.5 hours both times), and in 2013 in two days (with camping in between). The epic loop is one of my favorites! (More info on my past trips HERE)
After doing some research to see if anyone has ever done it for speed the only documentation that I was able to find was from when it was a race. I'm sure folks have done it fast without reporting it, but It seems that John Coffey set the all-time record in a mind-boggling 6 hours 24 minutes! (Click HERE to read about it) I realize that this was before the Eliot washout, and that he had the help of aid stations but this is still a superhuman effort. In any case I thought that it was coincidental and serendipitous that he did it on August 28, 1982 (the same day I turned 4 years old!).
The following times from races on the Timberline during 1979-1983 is given at realendurance.com:
| Men's times: |
| John Coffey |
6h24m33s |
1982 |
| Warren Finke |
6h43m25s |
1982 |
| Rae Clark |
6h43m36s |
1983 |
| Rae Clark |
6h49m19s |
1982 |
| Stephen Boyer |
6h49m27s |
1983 |
| Rich Goodhead |
6h52m55s |
1982 |
| Jim Pellon |
6h55m22s |
1982 |
| Frank Thomas |
7h1m56s |
1983 |
| |
| Women's times: |
| Lynn Harmon |
7h15m17s |
1982 |
| Lynn Harmon |
8h8m6s |
1981 |
| Susan Deane |
8h43m45s |
1983 |
| Karen Clement |
9h0m55s |
1981 |
| Karen Clement |
9h6m55s |
1982 |
| Sandra Stepp |
9h24m1s |
1983 |
|
|
"Modern" times are expected to be slower since the huge washout of Eliot Creek in 2006 - this section of the trail is still officially closed, but it navigable via use "trails" and some ropes. There have been other washouts as well.
"Reed" posted an update (7/7/2017):
I just figured that this thread could use an update. Construction of the Eliot Crossing was completed around August 2016. A 1.4 mile detour was constructed, although I don't believe that the trail is now 1.4 miles longer.
Here's a link to the Forest Service map of the reroute www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd523139.pdf
It appears that Google maps have been updated with the new route, so I used route mapping software to calculate that the new route (as far as I can tell from my computer at home) adds 0.50 miles to the trail. The reroute also adds about 400 feet of climbing to the trail, as you will now head down hill to the north before climbing back up.
Comments
This route should probably be clarified as the Timberline Trail starting from Timberline Lodge FKT. Other starting points should be considered their own FKT on this trail due to the challenges the various starting locations provide.
The FKT is for the loop regardless of starting location. You should choose your start/finish location to get the fastest time. That's part of the decision making process that goes into any FKT, similar to the selection of gear, weather conditions, trail conditions, etc.