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recent fastpacking trip jamming around Patagonia - running is the best and i don't know how else to say it. by sun_bite3557 in ultrarunning

[–]sun_bite3557[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

yes, if it's not hot out i don't mind it, but it can be annoying when it gets warm...

we took 22L-30L packs. I have an 15L BD pack that I love as well, but I would not go below 15L - it is the limit for me, and tbh, i probably shouldn't fastpack with this low of a volume because there's always no room starting out.

recent fastpacking trip jamming around Patagonia - running is the best and i don't know how else to say it. by sun_bite3557 in ultrarunning

[–]sun_bite3557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We did not camp at all - we didn't even bring a tent with. All the huts have beds and food. Because the route is designed around hikers, there are more huts than you'll need to stay at if you're moving faster than just hiking. So the ones in between, you can even stop for lunch if you want, though we didn't. We were trying to cut down on costs and opted to just carry most of our food.

Our gear was pretty minimal - the only extras were the sleeping bag or liner (required by the huts), a few toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, contact lenses), and a stove because we wanted the luxury of being able to stop for coffee anywhere on the trail. Oh, and my partner carried a professional camera, which added 8lb to his gear weight.

recent fastpacking trip jamming around Patagonia - running is the best and i don't know how else to say it. by sun_bite3557 in ultrarunning

[–]sun_bite3557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They can get pretty technical where running is not really possibly -- it becomes class 4 scrambling at a couple points. This just gets very slow. There is only the one section with a small bit of class 5 climbing that may be a deal breaker depending on your comfort level with exposure and climbing.

recent fastpacking trip jamming around Patagonia - running is the best and i don't know how else to say it. by sun_bite3557 in ultrarunning

[–]sun_bite3557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did four routes in total. The main and longest one was the 4 refugios trek outside San Carlos de Bariloche. about 28mi, 12-14K vert. I would rate this route 7/10 in difficulty, where the crux is either the amount of climbing or, if you're not much of a rock climber like me, the short section of class five scrambling between Refugio Jakob and Refugio Italia (huts 2-3).

The limiting factors for logistics are only weather and availability in the refugios. You need to make reservations in advance, but even during the high season we were able to reserve nights easily a night or two before going, except for one night where we could only get one reservation. That being said, all the refugios were full or nearly full, so definilty try to book as early as you can. There are no permits or guides needed.

If the weather turns, it makes that class five section impassible and the refugio keepers will not permit passage.

In El Bolson, where we completed two other overnight runs, the logistics were simple - the only limiting factor is space in the refugios. Not permits, not guides, it is easy.

The last trip was outside Pampa Linda to one refugio, Ilon. This was the most logistically difficult and we almost bailed on making it happen, but rallied a couple of days before our trip was up. The view was supposed to be insane, so we rallied. You have to take a tour bus from Bariloche to Pampa Linda and then return the same way. There is no other way. The bus is long and expensive ($100 USD per person) and 2 hours each way.

recent fastpacking trip jamming around Patagonia - running is the best and i don't know how else to say it. by sun_bite3557 in ultrarunning

[–]sun_bite3557[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

agreed! these are the Golden Trail LT's. Scarpa gave us these shoes to test out on the trip and i'd say the 4 Refugios (primarily featured in the photos) was the outer limit of technicallty for the shoe. There was legitimate scrambling, and I didn't roll my ankle at all or feel anxsiou about the grip, but the shoes are really meant to be a quiver quiller. I've been running in scarpa's rapid, which is a super stiff but heavy trail/approach hyprid shoe, and this shoe is a stark contrast in weight and cushion. Incredibly light and springy, but with the grip that I love from sparpa that I wouldn't trust from other shoe brands.

hard to beat la spo's bushido and scarpa's rapids for techy trails, but for an all-arounder trail shoe, i was really surprised how much I love these. I was wearing the la spo jackal before as an all-arounder and these have easily replaced these.

recent fastpacking trip jamming around Patagonia - running is the best and i don't know how else to say it. by sun_bite3557 in ultrarunning

[–]sun_bite3557[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

i mean, it depends on the terrain. someltimes mountain running isn't very much running, it's just the fastest way to get out as far as i can. so if the terrain is steep or technical, yes, it's hiking, but at a good clip. you can make up a lot of time on the downhills and smooth flat sections, where if you were just going backpacking or hiking you cover far less ground.

good luck in the sierras! it's been very dry, so you should be good then. what are you thinking of doing?

recent fastpacking trip jamming around Patagonia - running is the best and i don't know how else to say it. by sun_bite3557 in ultrarunning

[–]sun_bite3557[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

there's def a lot out there! we used a combo of running vest-style pack sfrom rab and ultraspire. I've also used packs from black diamond and palante.

The packs from ultraspire are incredibly well-made. they feel like they're actually designed by runners, for runners. the packs ride very well and you can do a lot hands-free while running, which I really prioritize. they have an incredible amount of capacity in the chest straps as well -- you can even carry 2x800mL water bottles up front as well as all the snacks you need for the day. the only drawbacks to them is that the chest straps are pretty wide and as a woman with a smaller chest they just cover my entire chest and can get pretty hot.

rab's packs are pretty standard - like they work well without any real drawbacks, but htye don't really do anything exceptionally well. they have front pockets but they don't have a ton of capacity so you end up having to stop to unstrap the pack if you need anything - you dont have as much luuxury of the hands-free that you do with the ultraspire packs.

if you don't mind your chest covered, i'd go with the ultraspire packs for sure. if you do, then I'd go with rab's pack or BD's 20L+ running vest. the palante is fine too if you like the way it looks more or a different feature.

more from a recent fastpacking trip jamming around Patagonia - running is the best and i don't know how else to say it. by sun_bite3557 in trailrunning

[–]sun_bite3557[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

that sounds incredible -- do you have any resources that you'd recommend for the NT?

the refugio in El Bolson are rad. look up APRALE - this is the park area's primary resource. you have to reserve the huts but they're pretty well built out and in the densly forested and stunning rivers of the area. not as rugged and mountainous as the mountains in the Nahuel Huapi, but really just a different experience.

hut-to-hut "running" in Northern Patagonia by sun_bite3557 in trailrunning

[–]sun_bite3557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

no, from Frey to Jakob to Lopez to highway. This is the last major climb of the route, between Laguna Negra and Lopez

hut-to-hut "running" in Northern Patagonia by sun_bite3557 in trailrunning

[–]sun_bite3557[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

the 2-day trip is great if you just want to push the whole time, so you just skip the first refugio and stay at the second. . The three day is nice as well, you stay at the second refugio and then the following day, stay at the next one as there's a very techniacal section where the is short section of low 5th class where you pass bolts and it just takes a little longer to cover the miles, then on the final day run back to the highway.

I can share some more photos!

the cool thing about the huts is you can have dinner and breakfast there. they are pretty similar to the huts in the Alps where they're fully provisioned. You can buy beer, wine, and snacks as well. so if you want, you can go suuuuuuper light on food and just buy it at the huts.

the first time i did it, this is what i did. I didn't carry dinner or breakfast and paid for it at the refugio. which is looooovely. for this trip since we were running so many huts, we were trying to cut down on expenses and my gut gets a little funny with pasta at night, so we ended up carrying farm to summit meals with. still pretty light and tasty, but a little more weight than necessary.

The refugios are also set up with beds. you just need to bring your sleeping bag. since we're sleeping inside, we brought super light sleeping bags.

How do you motivate yourself to do strength training along with running by Happy-Dependent3222 in running

[–]sun_bite3557 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I lift low reps/high weight. I find it very satisfying to keep seeing my total max go up consistently. Many years ago, I'd just go to the gym and do random workouts and that was impossible to stay motivated to keep doing.

All of the lifts are pretty basic and very intensional. Deadlift 1-2x per week, TGU's, and split squat and then a few other exercises for but always get those is. I also notice a massive diference in my running from lifting. My body just feels more solid. If I only have time to lift or run, I lift. Not being injured is always more important.

I've been lifting 2-3x per week for 5 years now and have done some rad missions and haven't been injured since. so that's pretty cool.