40 Miles Just For Fun

Date: August 8, 2020.

Objective: 40 mile training run for IMTUF.

Stats: 40 miles with 4,900' gain.  Strava.

Gear notes: Sawyer Squeeze filter.  Enough gear to spend an emergency night out.

This was the longest self supported run I've done.  I needed to get in a key long run while training for IMTUF.  Planning a route and carrying enough gear and food for a 40 mile solo trip in the remote wilderness can be a bit challenging.  I had a loose objective of tagging Glens Peak.  When I mapped this route on Caltopo, it had the summit at a little under 20 miles, but while actually out on the trail I was still far enough away from the summit at mile 20 of an out-and-back route that I had to turn around.  What this route lacked in vertical gain was made up for with the brushy, narrow rocky and downright tough to run trail.  Ardeth Lake was the scenic highpoint.

South Fork Payette River Trail near Grandjean.

A little past mile 10ish.

Payette River.

Huckleberries.

Further south in the canyon.

Rock walls on the east side of the canyon.

Waterfall.

Elk Lake.

Elk Peak.

Signage.

Ardeth Lake.  Glens Peak in the background.

Smith Falls.