Finding Confidence on the Timberline Trail
Jeff Garmire
The week before I was out on the Teton Crest Trail with friends and after 20 miles I began throwing up everywhere. Not only had I substantially neglected to intake electrolytes, but I also was not ready for the smoke, exertion, altitude, or pure exposure of the trail. It made me question if I could pull off 40 mile days, even with a light pack. I began to wonder if something was wrong with my body. It was a questioning of everything that had been so right for so long. I had averaged 40 miles a day on the Uinta Highline Trail with a backpack, but on this attempt at the same mileage with only a running vest, my body didn’t like it. I pushed through the trail, but it was not a comfortable experience.
A week later I planned to do the Timberline Trail with my friend at night. It would be about the same distance as the Teton Crest Trail, but with more elevation gain, and at night. Would my body hold up? I am not one to test things out before going for them, so I forged ahead and showed up at Timberline Lodge, ready for a full night under the full moon. It wasn’t an adventure of speed, but one of enjoying the night sky, the moon, and the peacefulness of a clear night. Will and I had run the Bridger Ridge at night the month before and knew what we were getting into.
I packed a range of foods because I didn’t want to end up like the Tetons-where I couldn’t imagine eating anything in my pack. This time I had sweet snacks, salty snacks, and hearty, carb-loaded items like bagels. One way or another I would relearn how to fuel myself through 40 miles, no matter if I had to carry every type of food imaginable.
Right at sunset, Will and I set off on the loop around Mt. Hood. It was a beautiful start to the run and we saw multiple runners just finishing up their long day of completing the Timberline Trail. We gave them words of encouragement and wondered if we would look as beat down and tired as they did when we finished. On our first adventure, we grew tired as the night grew long, it was due to some to the weather, but also to it being our first time on such a moon-powered adventure. This time that tiredness never completely sank in. There were low moments of clambering over logs, searching for safe places to cross streams, and finding our way through rerouted trails, but the views of Ramona Falls and the glaciated faces of Mt. Hood stood out amongst the moon.
We flew through the first half, and in the wee hours of the night—the time I had faded with lack of calories on the Teton Crest Trail—I was still running along, leading us down the trail. It seemed going back to the basics of electrolytes that worked and carbs like bagels were the ticket to feeling strong and capable of continuing forward through the dark.
With a few miles left the morning glow slowly crept over the horizon. It is always empowering to feel the first light of a new day and slowly see the darkness lift. Any thoughts of bonking, sleep, or further breaks were quickly dismissed as we neared the neighboring ski resort. The chairs of Mt. Hood Meadows slowly swung overhead in the early morning breeze and we felt empowered to charge forward. The brisk hike of pre-dawn became a jog and as the sun continued to rise, so did our splits. The last miles were our fastest and we charged up to the historic Timberline Lodge with renewed energy. The energy you would never expect at the end of a 40-mile night. Breakfast beckoned, and we walked into the iconic All You Can Eat Buffet with incredible appetites.
The Timberline Trail should have been more difficult. The same distance took longer, had more elevation gain, and was at night. We also started it after a full day of being awake. But it felt easier. There was no smoke in the air. The night was crisp and clear, and my body seemed to enjoy the experience compared to fighting against it on the Teton Crest Trail. This was exactly the journey back into success and reality that I needed to rebuild the confidence that I can cover 40 miles without overthinking it.
There are ups and downs within a thru-hike, an FKT (speed record), and especially in day-to-day life. But it is the rebound from these low points and tough days that really accentuate why the activities can be so enjoyable. Without the struggle, difficulty, or the seemingly impossible things we put our bodies through, there would not be the same level of reward waiting at the end of each adventure. The Timberline Trail once again opened my eyes to the fact that sometimes success is simply comfortably completing a goal.
