Forbidden Tour (Skoog Route): 18.5 Miles 11000'
Notes: Tour starts and ends at Eldorado trailhead. If you can't drive to the TH just take it easy on the road approach and start your watch at the TH outhouse, time will end when you get back to your car (or the shitter). Even though Lowell's map shows the route cutting off the summit of Eldorado if you read his description they did in fact summit Eldorado. So did we, therefore a summit of Eldorado is a requirement for the route. There are few other options for variation in the route. The gps file shows the direct descent onto Moraine lake. This tends to melt out later in the year, there is a tree slope option to the north listed in Voklen's book. Going that way also counts towards a FKT attempt though it is likely slower. Doing the extended Forbidden tour route in Volken's book would be a seperate route, see below.
FKTs:
Notes: Tour starts and ends at Eldorado trailhead. If you can't drive to the TH just take it easy on the road approach and start your watch at the TH outhouse, time will end when you get back to your car (or the shitter). Even though Lowell's map shows the route cutting off the summit of Eldorado if you read his description they did in fact summit Eldorado. So did we, therefore a summit of Eldorado is a requirement for the route. There are few other options for variation in the route. The gps file shows the direct descent onto Moraine lake. This tends to melt out later in the year, there is a tree slope option to the north listed in Voklen's book. Going that way also counts towards a FKT attempt though it is likely slower. Doing the extended Forbidden tour route in Volken's book would be a seperate route, see below.
FKTs:
- 2002: Lowell Skoog, Bruce Goodson. Time: Approx 16 hours
- There are likely unlisted FKTs during this time period
- 5/3/2018: Allen Taylor, Todd Kilcup. Time: 8:22:27
Forbidden Tour (full Volken route): 19miles 12200'
Notes: this is the full route from Volken's book which includes the McAllister glacier variation and a summit of Eldorado. As with the Skoog variation, time starts and stops at the Eldorado TH regardless of road conditions.
FKTs:
Come on folks!
Notes: this is the full route from Volken's book which includes the McAllister glacier variation and a summit of Eldorado. As with the Skoog variation, time starts and stops at the Eldorado TH regardless of road conditions.
FKTs:
Come on folks!
Isolation Tour: 25miles 13,000'
Notes: The tour starts when you leave the Eldorado trailhead and ends when you hit the pavement at highway 20. Per Volken's book I think South to North can be considered standard. There are micro terrain variations in the route, such where to cross the ridge north of Dorado Needle. As long as you hit the big stuff it should count. Summiting Isolation peak is not required (standard route traverses below the summit) but will earn you some bonus GNAR points. This is one of the best routes in the Cascades and takes an incredibly efficient line through the mountains with lots of great fall line skiing.
FKTs:
Notes: The tour starts when you leave the Eldorado trailhead and ends when you hit the pavement at highway 20. Per Volken's book I think South to North can be considered standard. There are micro terrain variations in the route, such where to cross the ridge north of Dorado Needle. As long as you hit the big stuff it should count. Summiting Isolation peak is not required (standard route traverses below the summit) but will earn you some bonus GNAR points. This is one of the best routes in the Cascades and takes an incredibly efficient line through the mountains with lots of great fall line skiing.
FKTs:
- Anyone single day this beast before 2018?
- 5/13/2018: Sam Lein, Allen Taylor. Time 14:30
Ptarmigan Traverse: 32.5 Miles 12000'
While this traverse is a classic and takes you through some wild and amazing terrain, but be warned... there should be strong emphasis on the word TRAVERSE. Lowell skoog and his brother Carl crushed this thing in-a-day style in 1988... I don't think the words "fastest known time" would even be uttered for another decade or so. The ski route basically just follows the summer trail with a few minor variations for ski efficiency. This route does not include Dome peak, that variation would merit a separate route. Time starts when you leave the Cascade Pass parking lot (even if the road is snowed over) and stops when you reach the FS26 road by the Suiattle river. Pro tip, bring approach shoes for the hike out.
FKTs
While this traverse is a classic and takes you through some wild and amazing terrain, but be warned... there should be strong emphasis on the word TRAVERSE. Lowell skoog and his brother Carl crushed this thing in-a-day style in 1988... I don't think the words "fastest known time" would even be uttered for another decade or so. The ski route basically just follows the summer trail with a few minor variations for ski efficiency. This route does not include Dome peak, that variation would merit a separate route. Time starts when you leave the Cascade Pass parking lot (even if the road is snowed over) and stops when you reach the FS26 road by the Suiattle river. Pro tip, bring approach shoes for the hike out.
FKTs
- 1988: Lowell and Carl Skoog. Time: 21:15
- 7/4/2011: Eben Sargent 11:41
Magic S Loop: 9 Miles 8000'
Time stops and starts at the Cascade Pass parking lot, often one has to bike to that point, but to keep a level playing field with a late season attempt I don't think that the bike approach should count (call it a warmup). The GPX track is just a rough route I put together on caltopo so be warned. The only variation I can really see is whether or not you traverse high following the Ptarmigan route or drop low down to Pelton Creek after crossing Cascade Pass early on in the trip. I think that both should count, though I suspect that the traverse will be faster.
Update: did this route in spring '21 not in a FKT style though. It's perfect for a fast burn, somebody should do it fast on race gear. Could probably go sub 6 hours without too much trouble.
FKTs:
Bueller... Bueller?
Time stops and starts at the Cascade Pass parking lot, often one has to bike to that point, but to keep a level playing field with a late season attempt I don't think that the bike approach should count (call it a warmup). The GPX track is just a rough route I put together on caltopo so be warned. The only variation I can really see is whether or not you traverse high following the Ptarmigan route or drop low down to Pelton Creek after crossing Cascade Pass early on in the trip. I think that both should count, though I suspect that the traverse will be faster.
Update: did this route in spring '21 not in a FKT style though. It's perfect for a fast burn, somebody should do it fast on race gear. Could probably go sub 6 hours without too much trouble.
FKTs:
Bueller... Bueller?
Eldorado RT: 6.5 Miles 7100'
This is such a ski classic it seems worth including. FKT follows the summer trail. Time stops and starts at the trailhead toilet. Skis and a summit are required!
FKTs:
Somebody must have a good time to share
This is such a ski classic it seems worth including. FKT follows the summer trail. Time stops and starts at the trailhead toilet. Skis and a summit are required!
FKTs:
Somebody must have a good time to share