Uli Steidl and I completed the Ptarmigan Traverse in 12h17m a new FKT. It has been three years since I last enjoyed the Ptarmigan Traverse so it was time to come back to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the Cascades and refresh the prior FKT, which was set by Colin Abercrombie and me on July 28, 2009 (14h36m). This time I was joined by distance running legend Uli Steidl who has innumerable running victories and accolades to his name from road marathons to mountain running to ultras. Conditions were very similar to 2009 with nearly identical weather (hottest days of the summer). Prior to this run I figured somewhere in the 12 hour range was possible and we were able to hit that target finishing the traverse in 12:17. We started at the Cascade Pass trailhead at 4:49 am and finished at Downey Creek Bridge at 5:06 pm. Complete photo album here.
Overall, the 2h19m improvement from the 2009 time was due to a consistently faster effort throughout the traverse (see comparison below). I attribute this to more route experience and dialing in on nutrition and hydration, which helped keep energy levels high especially in the second half of the traverse. Bachlor Creek was as lovely (brushy) as ever although we avoided making any time consuming errors in the brush and the Downey Creek Trail felt as long as I had remembered. The 8.5 mile jog along the Suiattle River Road seemed especially needless because there were five forest service vehicles parked at the Downey Creek Bridge. In fact, the closed portion of the road is in better shape than the open part! It seemed like they were prepping the road, perhaps for opening? An open road will inevitably result in an opportunity to better time, all else equal, because no matter what the thought of 8.5 mile further prevents forces you to keep a little bit reserved in the tank.
Comparison: 2012 / 2009 / 2008 (difference 2012 to 2009)
Cascade Pass TH (3,600 ft) : 0 / 0 / 0
Cascade Pass (5,392 ft) : 43 / 48 / 55 (- 5)
Cache Col (6,920 ft) : 1:39 / 1:50 / 2:13 (- 11)
Spider-Formidable Col (7,320 ft+) : 3:26 / 3:40 / 5:00 (- 14)
Yang Yang Lakes (5,830 ft) : 4:10 / 4:26 / 6:20 (- 16)
White Rock Lakes (6,194 ft) : 6:25 / 7:11 / 9:51 (- 46)
Spire Col (7,760 ft+) : 7:52 / 8:54 / 11:55 (- 1:02)
Cub Pass (6,000 ft+) : 8:55 / 10:16 / 13:42 (- 1:21)
Bottom of Bachelor Creek (2,440 ft) : 10:51 / 12:48 / 16:30 (- 1:57)
Downey Creek TH (1,415 ft) : 12:17 / 14:36 / 18:10 (- 2:19)
Location (Elevation): Time Elapsed / Split / Real Time
Cascade Pass TH (3,600 ft) : 0 / 0 / 04:49
Cascade Pass (5,392 ft) : 43:10 / 43:10 / 05:32
Cache Col (6,920 ft) : 1:38:34 / 55:24 / 06:27
Spider-Formidable Col (7,320 ft+) : 3:25:37 / 1:47:02 / 08:14
Yang Yang Lakes (5,830 ft) : 4:10:17 / 44:40 / 08:59
White Rock Lakes (6,194 ft) : 6:24:54 / 2:14:36 / 11:14
Spire Col (7,760 ft+) : 7:52:01 / 1:27:07 / 12:41
Cub Pass (6,000 ft+) : 8:54:49 / 1:02:47 / 13:44
Bottom of Bachelor Creek (2,440 ft) : 10:51:23 / 1:56:34 / 15:40
Downey Creek TH (1,415 ft) : 12:17:15 / 1:25:51 / 17:06
Complete photo album here.
Leor Pantilat's Adventures 
Leor, You mention dialing in on the nutrition and hydration as a key to the success. Could you elaborate a little on that? As usual, amazing pictures and a great mix of achievment and aesthetics! Andrew
Leor & Uli,
Before i confirm what a amazing fiscal feat your feet did on this trip i want to apologize
for not offering you a beer when my son and i met you both on the completion of your adventure.
Someone as fit and thin as you two must never drink a calorie blaster as a beer was my thinking at the time.
No rope for the glaciers?
How did Uli train for the self arrest that might have been needed for such steep and certain death for failure?
Congratulation to your feet for preforming so well on the bolder and scree fields.
Yet i do have to disagree with you on the opening of that last 8 miles of drivable road.
My mind was made up when at 10 o’clock at night a pair of bicycles came by and at the end of the road a few fisherman on bikes with giant old type sleeping bags strapped to the bikes headed down the road .
Keep the cars out, we need the chair people staying home watching TV.
Plus the fact that if that last 8 miles was made easy then every Tom Dick and Harry would be trying to “be somebody” by gong for your time.
Leave the Ptarmigan Traverse to the goats, bears and ptarmigans i like it best as nature and not a “gym toy”.
feet rule
rich paul