- Category
- Trail
- Published
- Read time
- 8 min read
Above the Treeline: Our Trail Season Opener
Forty kilometres, two thousand metres of climbing, and one very cold river crossing. Notes from the crew's first mountain run of the season.
Road miles build the engine, but the mountains remind you why you started running in the first place. We opened the trail season with a route none of us had run end to end.
Packing light, packing smart
Every runner carried a twelve-litre vest with a shell, a thermal layer, two soft flasks, and enough food for six hours. Weight mattered, but so did being ready when the weather turned.
We tested the new Ridge pack on this route, and its chest-mounted pockets became the most talked-about feature by the second climb.
“On the trail, the watch matters less. You run by breath, by footing, and by whoever is carrying the snacks.”
The long climb
The route gains most of its height in a single push through pine forest and loose scree. Poles came out, conversation stopped, and the pace dropped to a determined hike.
At the ridge, the view opened onto three valleys and a line of snowy peaks. Nobody said much. A few people took photos. Most just stood and breathed.
Coming home
The descent is fast and technical, with roots and rocks that demand full attention. The river crossing near the end was colder than any of us expected, and louder too.
We finished as the light faded, muddy to the knees and already planning next month's route.
