FKT - 10 Canyon Traverse

Colorado Trail Days 10 and 11

Colorado Trail Day 9

Colorado Trail Day 8

Colorado Trail Day 7

New Fastest Known Time (FKT) - 10 Canyon Traverse - South to North.  This route travels through all ten named canyons in Colorado National Monument. I've had my eyes on this one for years... Excited to have finally run it! 

Run self-supported with two water caches and a food-water bear canister pre-positioned in advance.

The first climb felt hard, it was a relief to top out on rolling runnable terrain. The descent through Monument Canyons was spectacular and on lovely runnable constructed trail. By the time I reached my first water cache at mile 15, I had realized that I had underestimated how much water I would need. 

The 2nd climb ascended the cliffs offtrail, via Otto's Staircase, a set of faint steps carved in the slickrock. I can confirm that the metal spike, webbing, and cairns that used to be there were gone. The stairs were bolted from the top for a rap or belay. I got to rely on my trail runners and hands. Once up top, the lack of water started to bite. I was able to melt some snow along the way. Fortunately, I ran into some trail runners at my second cache who were able to spare half a liter.

Refueled, I dropped into Ute Canyon, the one section I had done previously. The top of Ute is riparian and brushy. Further down, the running opens up. I missed the turn and backtracked to the social trail that cuts across to Devils Kitchen. While relatively good, this section had some steep sketchy eroded  slopes to cross and a bit of a cacti minefield at the end.

I refilled from my last cache at Devils Kitchen and headed up Upper Thoroughfare Canyon. I had been warned in advance that this would be a crux. Initially it was easy running and I passed lots of hikers (one of whom was overly impressed that I could run the trail). At the first falls, things started to get exciting. A steep and narrow ledge ascended the falls, leaving the hikers below. Things only got spicier from there. Mid-Upper Thoroughfare featured faint remnants of trail, exfoliating brush and thorn bushes, and vicious steep climbs up rock and cacti filled rivines to bypass falls. It would have been tough had I not been a 50k into my run. I watched as my margin evaporated. Fortunately, above the last falls things leveled and slowly improved. Eventually I was able to run a little and then a lot. Knowing that my lead was slim I pushed it as best I could. Descents up and down massive channels through the sedement were an obstacle. Running the final switchbacks out of the canyon was brutal. I finished only 12 minutes ahead of the existing FKT.

A special thanks to Doug and Melinda fellow FKTers on the CT) for picking me up and their help on both ends!

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Nathaniel G

FKT - 10 Canyon Traverse

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FKT - 10 Canyon Traverse

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