Continued from the previous page . . .

THE MUDFEST ALONG THE RIDGE AT ~ 8,000 FEET

The next ~ four miles from the top of the Camp Creek drainage area followed dirt forest service roads and a single track trail to the Upper Sheep Creek.

Although everyone had to plow through (or go around) some sloppy areas, I love this part of the course and made good time. Warm sunshine, minimal wind, and beautiful scenery made this section more pleasant for me.

 

Jim was dressed and equipped to run as he would in any 50K trail race with aid stations spaced no farther than five miles apart. He carried one bottle in his fanny pack and refilled it with Heed or water at each of the aid stations. He also got solid food at the aid stations.

Since the sky looked great at the start, Jim left his rain jacket on the bus. If the weather got cold or wet he assumed he could keep warm by running unless his knee was hurting too much.

 

 

 

I've learned to think differently in the last couple years as primarily a long-distance hiker, not runner. I'm used to being a self-sufficient packhorse for long periods of time.

I was outfitted like I would have been for a long hike in the mountains, because that's what this "race" was for me. Since I'd be mostly walking and not generating as much heat as when I run, I wore or carried lightweight clothing suitable for a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions.

Mother Nature can be fickle in the mountains and I'd be walking at elevations from 4,000 to 8,100 feet over several hours.

 

 

 

A great opportunity to get the mud off my shoes

I COULD BE A SHERPA

The weather was good, however, and I ended up carrying most of the warm stuff instead of wearing it.

My backpack never felt  heavy, even with a lightweight fleece jacket, rain jacket, gloves, and a fleece hat in it. I'm used to carrying all that and more -- usually 100 oz. of water on long hikes or journey "runs" like the Appalachian and Colorado Trails, plus extra gel, solid food, and some other emergency gear.

It's one thing to try to run with all that; it's much easier to walk with it.

Now we're on single-track trail above a creek for about half a mile.

 

 

 

No leaves on the trees up here; now we're approaching a steep hill to another jeep road.

Today I carried "only" 60 oz. of water in the bladder and had an empty 20-oz. UD bottle with hand strap inside my pack. I drank only water and used Hammergel the first ten miles/three hours. I got Heed in the bottle at aid stations at 10 and 13 miles, as well as some cantaloupe and a popsicle, the only other calories besides gel and Heed that I consumed during the race.

I blitzed through all the aid stations quickly and passed numerous 30Kers who stopped to rest, eat, and socialize (more about that ploy later).

I had about 10 oz. of water left when I finished -- and very dark urine from not drinking enough! I took 7-8 Enduralyte caps, which also wasn't adequate for the heat and altitude. I paid for those mistakes the last eight miles of the race.

You'd think that after 30+ years of long-distance running and hiking in the mountains I'd have all this fluid-electrolyte stuff figured out by now . . .

Looking back down the hill we just climbed

Getting close to the Upper Sheep Creek aid station; Horse Creek Ridge is in the distance.

Are we having fun yet??  (I was, since I wasn't in a hurry yet.)

Heading down to the aid station

Leaving Upper Sheep Creek aid station across a little creek

Continued on the next page:  the steep climb up to Horse Creek Ridge and the lovely descent to the Tongue River Canyon

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, and Cody the Ultra Lab

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© 2011 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil