Hidden Falls with Adrienne

Around the lake

Morning Trail Run with Adrienne

Alaska XC with the kids

Granite Bay MTB with the kids

I started the route at 3:40am from Salmon Falls. My plan was to hike the route as my training is lagging and my allergies slowing me down even more. I know all the trails well, and the idea of linking them has been on my mind for a while. The rules of the FKT were to stay within the FLSA whenever possible and to stay about 450'. The lake is currently at 462+ft (max is 466ft) and I knew this would add to the challenger quite a bit.

The Darrington Trail was pleasant but getting overgrown toward the end. Grasses are insane this year. Most of the single tracks I followed on the route were somewhat overgrown. Never seen it like this in all the years I ran them.

Then came the other side of the peninsula with no trails. Even though the first few miles follow what used to be Old Grouse Trail, it is completely overgrown, but still better than nothing in the slopes. Because the lake is filled near capacity, the water is so high that I often did not have the option of walking near/under the high-water line like Ben Mitchell did when bushwacking was not possible. So, a lot of bushwacking, scrambling, walking in the water (often waist deep) and as I got closer to Oregon Bar, even swimming. When I swam, I made sure to stay within a few feet of the rocks/cliffs like one would have been walking just under the high-water line if the lake was lower. It was a very very slow going and exhausting. It took me 10.5h to cover only 25km, with my pace dropping under 40min/km at times. The water was warm and refreshing though! 

The current was too strong at Oregon Bar to cross safely. I couldn't stand in the river more than a few feet away from shore. So, I pushed further up where it is deeper and swam across. Water was swift and quite a bit colder there!

There is little to say about the rest of the loop. Followed the main trails and made my way slowly around the lake. The off-trail section (wet shoes...) had taken its toll on my feet. Late in the night, I took two micro-nap (10-15min) once on a picknick table and once on the ground. 

The Folsom-Mornon Island Auxilary Dam and all the trails near it were closed for work on the dam and the only option was to take a detour and walk on Green Valley Road just outside of the Park limits. It is currently not possible to stay withing the Park limits for this part.

Also, a section of the trail is under water near the beginning of Sweetwater Trail and the only option to walk up to the road and back down the other side. A small detour, but also out of the boundaries.

Somewhere in the hills far from any trails, I saw a mountain lion, less than 50m from me. It did not see me at first. I made noise and clapped my hands and it bolted, startled. I heard it run in the grass and in the water and never saw it again. Lots of wildlife on this hike: deer, skunk, rabbit, snake, bold eagle (and nest), turkey vultures, birds, fishes, turtle, etc.  And many stunning views. My phone battery died early and I couldn’t take pictures on the second morning…

After some long 34+ hours, I finally got back to my car. I carried all my food and filtered water from the lake. Completely unsupported. 

This is an FKT route: 
https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/roland-banas-folsom-lake-perimeter-trail-ca-2024-05-30

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Roland Banas

FKT - Folsom Lake Loop Unsupported

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Hidden Falls with Adrienne

Around the lake

Morning Trail Run with Adrienne

Alaska XC with the kids

Granite Bay MTB with the kids

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