AAJ 096: Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass Run/Hike Adventure

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The Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass Adventure – Two people, one crazy stupid idea!

Each year we try to plan an adventure that will get us WAY out of our comfort zones. Something that we know will really hurt, that there’s a chance we won’t complete, and that will make us stronger (mentally & physically) when we finish.

This was the year of Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass!

I had wanted to do this run for years. In fact, I believe that my brother and I were talking about this trip over 8 years ago during one of the stupid things that we did together (there have been many).

And this just happened to be the year that it worked out.

Over the years I have skied at both Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass, and it just sounded so cool to do a trip from one to the other.

I later learned that the trail between the two passes is called section J of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and is the longest section without encountering any roads.

So, essentially, if you’re out on the trail and need to get help… you’re up shits creek (or one of the other 100’s of creeks that you pass on the trip).

Fortunately, Emily and I are pretty good athletes, and were up for this challenge.

That all being said, other than doing interval runs twice a week (on a track), and competitive CrossFit workouts, we didn’t train for this 70 mile beast at all!

As I write this my swollen legs are wishing that we had. In fact, I should put them up, and let some leg draining happen as I write.

Ok, legs are up, and here’s what our trip looked like (from a written perspective).

Planning

When planning something like this, you have to foresee what you’ll need when you’re feeling good, and when you’re feeling like the world is going to end (because it will feel that way at some point).

Gear

Packs
Salomon ADV SKIN 12 SET
Osprey Dyna 15 Hydration Pack – Women’s – 2.5 Liters

Shoes
Altra – Superior Trail Running Shoes – Men’s
Altra – King MT Trail-Running Shoes – Women’s

Clothing
Lululemon – Men’s Pace Breaker Shorts (with liner)
The North Face – Men’s Better Than Naked Shirt
Thorlo Running Socks
Rogue Fitness Hat
Patagonia Hat

I highly recommend brining a hat. It was used for keeping the sun out of our eyes, off of our necks, dipping in the streams to keep the head cool, and filling with snow to also keep the head cool.

Other Gear
2 Steripen’s – We always bring a backup.
Batteries for 2 Steripen’s
Phone battery chargers & cords
Emergency blanket – Came with Salomon ADV SKIN 12 SET
Lightweight Rain shell
Extra pair of Thorlo Running socks – Ideally compression socks to help with circulation.
Headlamps
Sleeping pads – We carried these on days two and three.
Sunscreen

We Wish We Had…
Lightweight Hiking Poles for steep up/down hills
Bug spray – I HATE this stuff, but the bugs were so bad, I would have used it.

Food/Grocery List

This is all of the food we are bringing for 1 male (195 pounds), and 1 female (150 pounds) on our Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass Run/Hike Adventure.

We picked things that we like to eat, and that will give us energy quickly (think sugar).

Also, make sure you checkout the Supplement section below. The PerfectAmino’s and Salt Sticks are a life saver in situations like this. Both for very different reasons.

Bars

Clif Bars – 3 coconut, 4 brownie, 2 chocolate chip peanut (plus 3 random flavors to change things up)
RX Bars – 3 chocolate sea salt, 1 blueberry
Coffee bars – 4 coconut mocha
Quest Bars – 4 double chocolate chunk, 2 smores, 2 oreo
Pressed by Kind fruit bars – 2 pineapple banana kale spinach

Groceries

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s Plantain chips – 3 bags – My favorite thing on the trail! Period.
Trader Joe’s Trail mix – 1 bag – We only ate about .25 of this.
Trader Joe’s Chocolate covered espresso beans – 1 container – This was WAY more than we needed.
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Seeds – 1 bag – I might have eaten 1 handful of these.
Almond/cashew butter – For sandwiches.
Trader Joe’s Gnocchi – 1 pack
Marinara sauce – .5 jar – to go with gnocchi.
Trader Joe’s pre-cooked sausages – to go with gnocchi.
Spinach – For turkey sandwiches.

Safeway

Mamma Chia food packs – 6 packs (assorted flavors) – These are highly recommended!
Swiss Miss Hot chocolate – 2 packets – For Emily’s coffee in the morning.
Dave’s Killer Bread – 1 loaf
Kerry Gold butter (in ziplock)
Top Ramen – 4 chicken flavored packs – These are only $0.25/each!
Qia Superfood Oatmeal – 12 coconuts packets – So good, and so healthy!
Bananas – 4 large – For sandwiches.

REI

Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef – 2 packs
Justin’s Nut butter packets – 4 packs (assorted flavors)

Homemade

Anna’s pickles – For turkey sandwiches – You can’t buy these in stores.

Supplements

PerfectAmino‘s – 90 pills

10-15 pills in the morning, on an empty stomach, 23 minutes before eating any food.
5-15 pills before bed, as long after eating as possible.
5 pills at any other time during the day when the stomach is as close to empty as possible.

Progenex PB Smash – 6 scoops
Salt Sticks electrolytes – 60 caps
Nuun Electrolyte Tablets – 2 bottles – We barely used one 1 bottle, and lost the other on the trail.

Meals – Taken from grocery list (above)

Day #1
Breakfast – Mean Green Shake
Snacks – ClifBar’s, RX Bar’s, chocolate covered espresso beans, Coffee Bar, plantain chips, Mamma Chia pack
Lunch – Turkey, pickle, cheddar cheese, mayo, and spinach sandwich
2nd Lunch – Cashew butter, honey, and banana sandwich
Dinner – Gnocchi, marinara, and sausages
After dinner – 2 Double Chocolate Chunk Quest Bars

Day #2
Breakfast – Oatmeal & Progenex PB Smash protein powder
Snacks – ClifBar’s, RX Bar’s, chocolate covered espresso beans, Coffee Bar, plantain chips, Mamma Chia pack
Lunch – Cashew butter, honey, and banana sandwich
Night – Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef, and 2 packs of Top Ramen
After dinner – 2 Double Chocolate Chunk Quest Bars

Day #3
Breakfast – Oatmeal & Progenex PB Smash protein powder
Snacks – ClifBar’s, RX Bar’s, chocolate covered espresso beans, Coffee Bar, plantain chips, Mamma Chia pack, Pressed by Kind fruit bar
Lunch – Justin’s Almond & Honey nut butter (2 packs) sandwich
Dinner – BURGERS!!!!

Electrolytes
1-2 Salt Sticks tabs every .5-1 hours. Also, have a bottle with Nuun that you can sip from when you crave it.

Support Crew Night #1

Carry-in
Tent – REI Half Dome 2
Sleeping bag – Nemo Tango Duo Slim double bag
Sleeping pads
Day #2 Breakfast
Day #2 lunch
Night #1 Dinner
Stove – JetBoil
Toiletry kit – toothbrush & toothpaste
Micro-dry towel
Extra shorts & shirt

Support Crew Night #2

Carry-in
Tent – REI Half Dome 2
Sleeping bag – Nemo Tango Duo Slim double bag
Night #2 Dinner
Day #3 Breakfast
Day #3 lunch
Stove – JetBoil
Toiletry kit – toothbrush & toothpaste
Micro-dry towel
Extra shorts, shirt, undies