18th Annual Marathon Shuffle - Conditions

Hike/run Sunshine Coast Trail, Sunday, April 17. Free Event. The 29 km long trail section has been cleared and groomed and is in excellent condition. Nearly a thousand brand-new organge fluorescent markers have been installed, as well as high visibility kilometer markers, and chalk lines. Click here for registration: http://www.clubfatass.com/events/marathon-shuffle/registration

Press Release:

Once again the time has come for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy a popular rite of spring. The 18th Annual Marathon Shuffle is an event for hikers and runners to enjoy a 29 km-long section of the Sunshine Coast Trail. This section from Malaspina Road to the Shingle Mill has been groomed and marked by members of the Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PRPAWS) and the Bloody Old Men’s Brigade (BOMB Squad). Brand new kilometre markers and nearly a thousand new fluorescent squares have been installed that will keep you from straying from the Shuffle route.

In addition, chalk lines at junctions will take the guesswork out of which way to go. Participants to this free event are asked to register on-line at www.sunshinecoast-trail.com by clicking on Marathon Shuffle on the Home Page, then Events Details under the picture, and Registration at the top of the next page. This allows the organizers to know in advance how many people to expect and to prepare for the event, and for participants to view pages of details, from free trail descriptions and maps to listings of past records.

Shuffle participants who have pre-registered on-line will meet at 7:45 am on Sunday, April 17, at the Shingle Mill parking lot to arrange for carpooling, and receive their participant numbers. Limited seating is available on a mini-bus to the starting line on Malaspina Road. Make your reservations by calling Lita at 604-414-0708. Cost: $2.00

Last minute registrants are asked to come earlier, at 7:30 am, to fill out their registration forms. A limited number of seats are available on a small bus and must be reserved. Carpool departure is at 8:00 am with an 8:30 am Shuffle shotgun start at the Malaspina trailhead, a kilometre east off the Lund Highway. There will be five water and fruit stations at logging road crossings that can also serve as emergency exits. The hike/run is free and participants take part at their own risk. They are asked to carry raingear, good footwear, some snacks and extra water to stay hydrated.

The 12 km-long Half Shuffle is becoming more and more popular as it takes only three to four hours of moderate hiking. It begins 6 km up Wilde/Tomkinson Road at 10 am and encourages a more leisurely pace. Sign in at the Appleton parking lot above the bridge, and follow the well-marked trail past vistas and swimming spots.

All registered participants are asked to report in at the finish line at the Shingle Mill to sign out, receive their standings, and a ticket for prizes to be drawn after the medal awards.

A-Branch Cabin

Rick and I went to branch A today and just thought I'd send some pics of the snow height at both cabins.  There's also a picture of the outhouse at branch A if you can find it.  We figure there's about 12' of snow.  Was a great day.   

We parked at the top of the first slash-it took us 3 hours to get to the cabin.  We then hiked over to the ridge above branch E and took the pictures of the cabin.  We were the only snowshoers but 3 snowmobiles showed up during the day.  Great snow conditions.

Doug.

ONE WAY traffic resumes on Goat and Stillwater mainlines

ONE WAY traffic will resume on both Goat Main and Stillwater Main this Thursday, March 17th.

Goat - up Loop to Tinhat Junction
Stillwater - down Tinhat Junction to Marshalling Yard

Adam Culos - Stillwater - Western Forest Products

Stillwater Main closure Saturday and Sunday - use alternate route

Stillwater Main will be closed between Dixon Road and M1 (4 mile) on Saturday March 5 and Sunday March 6 from 7am to 6pm due to hogging work being carried out along the mainline. During this period all traffic should divert up the loop onto Goat main and then from Goat main back to Stillwater main on M1 to avoid delays while chip trucks are being loaded.

Ken MacKenzie, Stillwater, WFP

Mt Troubridge from Rainy Day Main

Troubridge summit coordinates: N 49.48.739 / W 124.10.118

Troubridge cabin cooridnates: N 49.48.727 / W 124.10.646

3 of us spent the night up at Troubridge on Feb 22. Went up from Rainy Day side and it took 5 hrs up and 3 hrs down. Didn't need snow shoes until about half way up. We took some dishes up, but there is still lots more at the bottom, so please bring more up.

As you get towards the top of the summit lots of the trail markers are buried in snow and from the summit to the cabin, there was a 5 minute stretch with all the markers buried, which I have since reflagged in pink or green. There is a nice packed trail to follow for now, but if there is more snow up there, make sure you have a GPS and know where you are going, as it would be easy to get lost. The SCT trail North from the summit is completely buried and no tracks at all, and only the bypass to the cabin is flagged.

Fairview Bay Access

Hi

I was on the fairview trail yesterday and thought you may be interested to know that danger blasting signs have been posted just after the towers just after you go up hill on the sct . I continued on the trail as i couldn't hear any activity above me . The trail was fine but i watched to see if any rock blast had reached the trail and it looks like it hasn't. There may be activity there though at other times that could stop access to fairview bay. You never know with signs. Often they get put up and know one removes them when they are done.
I thought i should let you know what i see as i noticed that you found the bridge taken out along the pole line road. I found that one day in december when i was out and the daylight was short and i was looking for a quicker way back . I turned around and took the trail back . Fortunately i cary a headlamp all the time.
The next time i was in a hurry i just stomped through and changed my socks and shoes when i got to the car. Hopefully the creek will be smaller in the summer.

Susan