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Goto Trip Page: 42mi Black Forest Trail Ultra Hike / Run

“TBD”

Chowdahead
6:49:09 AM
9/28/08

“Here's what I was able to find from our last trip - let the planning begin!

“Here goes with what I pieced together for aid station plan a few months ago. CrazyPace has reviewed the plan and asked me to post it to maybe encourage some more to join.

We - that is all the volunteers who would like to help with this - will man several aid stations along the trail. Hikers will need to assemble their own drop bags to have at the aid stations. There is such a variation of what individuals may want, as well as the fact there is no pot of money to purchase food to hand out at the aid stations. Drop bags should contain everything you think you may need – food resupply, spare clothing, lights, etc. Support people should be able to provide water to refill your own bottles or bladders. You can use pretty much anything for a drop bag – day pack, gym bag, large Ziploc bag, or color-coordinated wheeled luggage. Just try not to pack anything too fragile or that will bust open easily like a really cheap garbage bag.

From my experience 10 miles is about the practical limit between aid stations, with 5 – 8 being much better. With these short mileages between stations the hikers can travel fast and light and not have to worry about carrying anything other than the bare essentials of a small amount of water, food and minimal emergency supplies. By using the mileages from the official guidebook and traveling clockwise from the trailhead near Slate Run, here are my recommendations for aid station locations.

AS #1 Manor Fork at Pine Hollow Road
4.98 miles from start
Road intersection, easy to drive to off Slate Run Road or Rt. 44. Room for 2 – 3 vehicles

AS #2 Naval Run
5.90 from AS#1
At the bottom of a steep descent and just before a major climb. Support people need to hike in an easy ½ mile.

AS #3 Rt. 44 South
7.95 from AS#2
Along highway with ample parking for multiple vehicles.

AS #4 Rt. 44 North
10.39 from AS#3
Along highway with ample parking for multiple vehicles. Longest distance between aid stations, but easiest terrain of the entire trail. Multiple bailout trails available.

AS#5 Francis Road
4.92 from AS#4, 8.30 from end
Wide spot in a narrow forestry road. Enough room for 2 – 3 vehicles with relatively easy access.

The last bailout is at the footbridge over Morris Run just before the climb up Red Run. This is 0.65 miles from AS#5 and 7.65 miles from the end. One vehicle at a time can go in there, but we need to limit traffic because it is not a good road and it is difficult to meet another vehicle.

One variation is if people want to take the high water route that will change the mileage a little. Using the Blackberry Trail and Sentiero de Shay will shorten the trek by about 0.8 miles by my calculations. It’s difficult to predict what the stream levels will be by then. My own preference would be to stay on the BFT, but it ain't my feet this time.
There are at least two distinct groups of people signed up for this hike. The first group is those that are starting out with an attempt at the full mileage, or at least starting at the same point and time as the ones attempting the whole shot even if they know they will not finish. The second group is support people, of which at least half will want to hike a portion as a sweeper or whatever else is needed. The numbers I am seeing right now is maybe 7 or 8 hikers and 10 to 14 support people. I will be attempting to verify the maybes on this list (several of whom are not registered on this forum) this week. If you know you want to do just a particular section and are willing to carry a portable radio for emergency contact, let me know what section you would like. It looks like there will be plenty of support people, especially with the number of hikers involved. If the hikers tend to stay together it also makes it very easy. If it turns into more of a competition with more widely varied abilities and speed, we will need to keep more aid stations open at the same time.

Of course a plan is just something from which we can deviate, but this is the basic gist of it. As always, I am open to comments.
”

Chowdahead
8:13:02 AM
10/12/08

“The trail will be done counter-clockwise, just and FYI”

Chowdahead
11:03:35 AM
11/03/08

“Check that - CLOCKWISE is the direction we're going.

Idiot = me”

Chowdahead
11:29:34 AM
11/03/08

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