After a few weeks of running along the lake shore, last week I went on my inaugural trail run along the Cooper River Trail starting from the Salmon La Sac trailhead. Unfortunately that end of the trail has quite a bit (read: a non-zero amount) of elevation gain and so I tired out quickly, turning around after less than fifteen minutes. A humble beginning.
Strenuousness aside, trail running is fun, especially the downhill bits. This is going to be an exciting summer.
Gear
Aside from my clothing, the only piece of “gear” that I brought was my car keys. No phone, no wallet, not even a hat or sunglasses since the sun was already behind the mountains. For someone who has traditionally been overly focused on gear, it was… weird. Not freeing or cathartic or anything of that nature, just weird. It also leaves me unsure of how to structure this post, so I’ll just jot down some random notes:
What Worked
I think my Scarpa Spin Ultra trail runners may have broken in: they started out quite snug but on this run I didn’t think about them once. I did notice how grippy and cushioned/comfortable the soles felt, however.
What Didn’t
Car keys could have been a bit lighter, I suppose.
What’s Next
Without any timekeeping device (phone or watch) I had no accurate way of knowing what time I started, how long I’d been out, when I turned around, etc. I also had no access to GPS or satellite in case something went awry. It didn’t seem very responsible, and I’d assume that injuries are more frequent during trail running than backpacking (but I could be wrong).
I was suddenly reminded of the existence of smart watches, some with Android-ish operating systems and GPS, and wondered if this one device could eliminate the need for a phone, if only until I got back to the car. A quick survey of the market revealed prices and features all over the map, from tens of dollars to several hundred, and I came away with the impression that a truly smart OS meant measly battery life, especially with GPS enabled. There’s also the question of whether “GPS” as a feature actually means visible maps ala CalTopo. In fact, it would appear that for Wear OS (the Android-derived smart watch operating system), neither CalTopo nor Gaia have an app whereas ViewRanger does.
Speaking of injuries, I’ve insisted on a trekking pole for years as it can mean the difference between a walk-out or a rescue. This would mean getting some sort of vest, which has been on my radar for some time. I should also carry aspirin in case of a heart attack. Interestingly, Healthline says that the recommended dose is 160 to 325mg and you should crush (chew?) the tablets before swallowing them.
Although I wasn’t in any danger of being out past dark, I was running in a forested river canyon at dusk and an emergency light source would have been smart. Next time I’ll bring my Nitecore NU25 with ultralight headband, probably in a pocket.
Speaking of pockets, would a fanny/lumbar pack suffice? As long as it had an attachment for a trekking pole, I suppose. Maybe I’m being too cautious. I mentioned a lack of satellite earlier, the inReach Mini would easily fit in either. Water and snacks, too.
Fashion-wise, I don’t think you can go trail running in a wide-brim hat. A trucker hat is probably the most you can get away with.
Photography has me stumped. With a vest, sure, pack it in or stow the camera on a strap, maybe with a water bottle opposite for balance. Although if I keep the phone with me, maybe this is an opportunity to go camera-less? How’s that for heresy?
Finally, it occurs to me that if I had a lockbox on my truck I could store my wallet, phone, etc. there and not have to lug it around while I’m running.
Route
With no tracking available there’s not much to say here. However, this trail is a bit of a drive to get to and over unpleasant dirt roads as well, so I’ve since switched over to the Sasse Mountain Trail, or, at least the forest service road that leads to it.