Subject: Cascade Crest Classic Report (Long) From: "L.R. Smith" Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 20:57:26 -0700 With sincere apologies to Paul Schmidt for taking so long to do this, I guess it's my turn to give credit to a wonderful event. This is a long story which is my own record of the run. I'm more than happy to share it with all of you. I arrived in Easton Friday afternoon and stopped by to see Randy Gehrke, RD. It's always nice to catch up with Randy. Those of you who haven't met him need to. His love for the sport, and anyone who he meets through it, makes for a friendly relationship from the very start. Despite being unable to run after injuring his knee skiing last winter, he continues to support the sport by volunteering at races far and wide as well as organizing this 100. Shortly after arriving at Randy's, Tim Stroh drove up. Tim and Randy are inseparable buddies. Both love ultrarunning and any other effort that will get them together in the mountains. Tim now lives in Mississippi. He and his family had made the trip to the northwest to spend the week helping Randy with the race. Tim is every bit as friendly as Randy. It was a real treat to get to spend a little time with him. Prior to this I had only ever had a chance to say hello in passing at last year's race, where once again he was helping out. Tim and Randy were heading out onto the course to mark trails and pack in supplies. I declined the offer to go with them and stayed in town to set up camp, have a nap and then spent a little time getting the water coolers ready for Randy. On their return we went to the Parkside Cafe for dinner. The Parkside will function as race headquarters in the morning. It's a typical highway restaurant with the most remarkable fireplace in the shape of a turtle. We were joined by Randy's brother Jeff, Jeff's wife Kari, their three children and a friend. This family makes this weekend an annual event despite it being Jeff and Kari's wedding anniversary. They manage the aid stations at Stampede Pass and Kachess Lake. Both are major stations which requires a move in between. Not something most people would do with their anniversary. For those of us who run in these events to see this kind of dedication to our sport is humbling. In many if not most cases I'm sure it's a reflection of the character of the RD. After supper we loaded Randy's truck with supplies and all turned in early. Saturday morning we woke to beautiful blue skies. A few clouds were about but would soon burn off. It looked like it would be a hot day by northwest standards. The race starts at 1000. This allows a few luxuries. Sleeping in until 0645 being the one I like the most. I do really enjoy the pre-race breakfast though. It's a great opportunity to see old friends, meet new ones and have a decent breakfast. The Parkside Cafe does a wonderful job of putting out a good spread for our needs. A variety of fruit juices, muffins, pancakes, various kinds of fruit and oatmeal. Of course there is plenty of coffee, even decaf. Anything that wasn't out that you asked about would appear. The restaraunt doesn't close for this so it's interesting to watch the people passing through try to figure out what this could all be about. It also allows for the race briefing to be held just before the race. This can be accomplished and still give everyone enough time to do their last minute preparations. I like Randy's race briefing because he begins by introducing every runner. We get to know so many names but can often be at the same race and not know who the faces were. The rest of the briefing allowed for a description of the course, which this year included a few changes. Course markings were discussed. I was particularly concerned to hear that the Pacific Crest Trail Association has concerns about these kinds of events. As a result the markings on the PCT would be minimal. That wouldn't be a problem but I get concerned about the future of these kinds of events. The race briefing was brought to an end by a dedication. Randy lost his father earlier in the year. He described how it was largely due to his father that he had developed a love for the mountains and as a result running in them. He asked that we think of his father "Fred" during our race. Once the briefing was done, I had a chance to say hello to Paul Schmidt who introduced me to Monica Scholz. I had seen Monica and got to know Paul at my first 100 (AT100, 1999). Paul, his wife Kathleen and Mike Suter were staying at the same hotel in Little Rock. We kept crossing paths before the race. Paul, on hearing of my first attempt at a hundred, had all kinds of advice for me, the most important being a discussion on salt. He was right. Being from Victoria my heat tolerance would have been no match for an Arkansas fall day without it. I went on to finish under 24. The next hour saw both my best and worst ultra moments to date. On hearing I finished Paul and Kathleen came out of the lodge and gave me a hearty welcome and congratulations. They were as thrilled for me as I was. On going into the lodge it soon became apparent to others that I had spent myself completely. I was no doubt hypoglycemic and soon became hypothermic in the cool air of a pre-dawn Arkansas morning. Kathleen and Hans-Dieter Weisshaar's wife Suzy took me under their wings and took care of me until I had recovered enough to fend for myself. Ever since I have been truly thankful for Paul's advice, Kathleen and Suzy's care and all of their support. I got to express my thanks to Suzy through Hans at last year's CCC. It thrilled me to see Paul again almost two years later. Better yet Kathleen was there too. I got to thank her personally. They are such warm and caring people, truly the best of what being involved in this sport can offer. Unfortunately we couldn't visit for long because we all had things to do to get ready for the start. Shortly before 1000 we all met outside the restaraunt for the start. One hundred mile starts always amaze me. Running through the day, night and part of the next day seems to be the last thing on anyone's mind. There is none of that nervous energy that one sees at shorter (sub 26) races. Everyone just enjoys the moment. Meet friends old and new and before you know it the crowd just starts moving. The race starts on pavement and crosses I-90 which we'll cross again about 54 miles later. We wound our way through Easton and after two miles of pavement, hit the dirt. First on the John Wayne Trail and then onto dirt roads. At about three miles we turn south and get to look at our first summit, Goat Peak. That will require a climb of almost 3000'. Except for the pavement I enjoy this start to the race. It allows a few miles of flat running with lots of room to pass but more importantly to travel in big groups. This allows for catching up with friends you might have missed earlier, meeting new friends and a little longer contact with the group before the single track reduces your world to a few others, if you're lucky. This year I got to see how Fred Stafford had been since we had last talked at Diez Vista. I met Ross Nichol from Vancouver who was doing his first 100. It was nice to be able to answer some of his questions. I hope they helped. The first aid station at the Goat Peak trailhead, 5.1 miles into the race, is always busy. The last few miles are uphill on old logging road. I was pleased to see that I was there in 55 minutes, two minutes faster than last year. Randy and Tim were there with water and snacks. >From there the race follows single track trail up to Goat Peak. This trail is very narrow with quite loose footing at places as motorcycles really chew it up. There are lots of switchbacks to lessen the grade but it is still a steep climb. As you get higher up the mountain the views are fabulous. Last year we were shrouded in fog and mist so couldn't see the views. This year we had splendid views of the Yakima River Valley with Easton and I-90 in the middle of it. As promised, if you knew where to look you could see most of the course. The mountains to the NW near Snoqualmie Pass, Keechelus Ridge, Kachess Lake, No Name Ridge, Thorp Mountain and the Silver Creek Basin which takes you down to the finish in Easton. It's strange to think that tomorrow morning I'll be running down that valley I'm looking at right now. Just before the summit of Goat Peak I was surprised to find a photographer take my picture. He had to come a long way to get that shot. Once on the summit, the trail follows the summit ridges towards Cole Butte. This section is spectacular as you spend as much time in old growth forest as you do in wide open alpine meadows. The views are now to the south and we were rewarded with a fantastic view of Mt. Rainier. This was my fourth race that promised views of Mt. Rainier and in NW tradition, the first three saw cloudy wet conditions. This made up for all of them. What an impressive mountain. To see it from 6000' makes it stand above anything else on the horizon. I got to share this part of the race with Gail Bazeley and Peter Zubick. Gail and George Forshaw put together the Diez Vista 50K near Vancouver. It is one of my favorite races. They are great people. Peter I had not met before, but is from the Vancouver area as well. Michael Styllas was another runner I kept changing places with during this leg. He works as a guide on Mt. Rainier so I was happy to get him in a picture with Gail, Peter and Mt. Rainier as the backdrop. What a great day. Sunny and warm with great company to share it with. Before I knew it we arrived at the Cole Butte aid station. Once again happy that I was now nine minutes ahead of last year at 10.7 miles. Another quick aid station stop and it is off to Blowout Mountain. This leg which is 5.2 miles is all logging road. After a short uphill which allows one to walk off the refreshments from another well-stocked and well-crewed aid station the road works it way down the side of a mountain through replanted clearcuts. The grade is just steep enough to allow for a comfortable run down this section where you drop about 1300' over 2-3 miles. Then it's up the other side on more logging road. At the start of the uphill section I was pleased to see James Kerby. He introduced himself to me at White River this year. He had planned on pacing Jamie Gifford here at CCC but had injured himself at Leadville. It was nice to see a familiar face and get a Hi-5 on the way by. Last year I started having some problems at this point so was pleased to be feeling so good. Seeing James helped too. On this uphill section I had to consider my walking style. I had gotten ahead of Gail and Peter on the downhill but on the uphill they passed me like I was standing still. I had noticed that earlier too. I considered cadence but realized that wasn't the problem. Peter has long legs and Gail has style. It must be stride length. No sense worrying about that at this time but I've got to work on my walking. Blowout aid station, mile 15.9. Now 15 minutes ahead of last year. Things are going well but on this last uphill I realized that the heat was becoming a factor for me. The next leg is long and hot. I should have brought the third water bottle which I took off my belt and put in the trunk at the start. I had my bottles filled, drank as much as I could, and headed out with Gail and Peter. >From Blowout to the freeway frontage road at Hyak (Snoqualmie Pass) will be nothing but trail. This is a beautiful part of the course. Why then does it always prove to be my most difficult? The trail begins by turning into rough single track again. We had climbed about 800' on the road to the aid station and would quickly gain another 500' on the trail and then give it up and take it back to hit the PCT at 5300'. This section is all up or down but does have runnable sections. Last year Martin Miller mentioned that his altimeter had measured 6000' of climb to this point which would be 18 miles into the race. We ran in a group of four and I can't remember who we had joined with. At one point we shared the trail with two USFS Rangers on motorcycles. It was narrow trails at that section which saw us taking turns staying out of each other's way. No big deal though. Having run the course last year had its advantages. Unfortunately sometimes your memory tries to protect you and mine had forgotten how much work this last two miles before we hit the PCT were. I think this is where I started to get warning signs. Getting a bit irritable, not enjoying the moment and wondering WHY I'm doing this are often a sign that I will soon feel unwell physically. This has always been part of my 100 routine and usually in the first half. It often comes with waves of guilt for what my family has to endure so I can do this. If I'm not enjoying myself why are they without me this weekend? It's something that will pass and is a good if not painful way of recognizing their sacrifices for the race through time and finances. As promised by Randy at the briefing once you hit the PCT it's generally downhill for the next six miles to Tacoma Pass. Of course there are always some uphills. The trail is in wonderful shape and makes for great running. There are many great forests to run through in this section. The clearcuts were hot though but did offer wonderful views. Gail, Peter and I were leapfrogging still. It wasn't long before I realized I was starting to fade. From this point until Stampede pass at 35.5 miles I had four episodes where I had some problems. I'm sure now that more fluid would have prevented it. Eating was going well but I could tell that my fluid levels were low as when I did eat I would feel better mentally but would stop sweating. I believe the fluid was shifting to digest the food. By backing off for a short while whenever I ate I'd seem to come out of this funk. As a result I don't have good memories of this section. I was quite concerned that I was having trouble so early. Last year things were not this bad until 40 miles. I was sure happy to meet Kathleen Schmidt on the trail. I knew that the aid station couldn't be to far ahead. I really needed to top up on fluids. Once again it was good to see James Kerby. George Forshaw was there as well. George provided a lot of help for me with his presence during the race later on. At this point I was ahead of Gail and Peter. Even with the onset of this difficult period I managed to knock six minutes off of last year's leg time. At Tacoma Pass, mile 24, I was 21 minutes ahead of last year. On leaving Tacoma Pass I was hopeful that the extra fluid would get a chance to settle on the next climb. This section along the PCT follows the ridge crests so when we talk about a pass it usually means you've come down to it and then must climb back up to the crests. Once again Peter and Gail passed me on an uphill. Didn't matter at that point as I was doing the best I could to keep moving. We passed a man leading a couple of pack horses up the hill from Tacoma Pass. Had I felt better at that point I'd like to have known where he was travelling to. Although I say I wasn't doing well I was still moving at a reasonable pace and was able to enjoy more stunning views of Mt. Rainier. The day was just beautiful and I was enjoying being there even if I didn't want to think about trying this again. Obviously we were not the only ones enjoying it. In too many valleys the peace and quiet was disturbed by long volleys of rifle fire. Often target shooters. At more than one spot though I could tell that hunters were active as well. Once I was sure that I must have run past a hunter and his prey as the shots seemed to come from where I'd just been. It took nothing away from the race, and I don't have anything against hunting, but it seemed out of place when the silent forests would erupt in gunfire. Onwards to Snowshoe Butte. At one point the trail crosses a rock slide. Last year I was lucky to see a large marmot laying on the rocks. I guess this year it might be too hot or he'd had enough sun for the day. I was happy to see this spot as I knew that although it was all uphill, the next aid station was nearby. I made it into Snowshoe Butte, mile 30, in 6:42. Still 21 minutes ahead of last year. Although the leg split was the same as last year I was happy as I had a much tougher time of it this year. Snowshoe to Stampede Pass. This leg would see the same split as last year. I lost touch with Gail and Peter. I don't recall any other runners in this leg. It was a lonely time for me. I was still having my periods of feeling quite poorly. It was getting cooler which was good, but now I had been out between seven and eight hours and the day was coming to an end. None of that was conducive to feeling good about the race. I was really thinking that I should evaluate my position once I got to Stampede and think about a long stop to properly eat, drink and allow enough time for a recovery. Last year I got into trouble past Stampede by eating too much before the climb out of it. Stampede Pass is a major power line corridor so you can see it for miles before and after you get to it. I remembered that last year it had taken forever to get there once I saw the power lines, so at least this year I was prepared. Once I got to the first set of lines I had a while to think about what I'd do. I knew I'd go on, so with an attitude of having been beaten already but knowing that it wasn't too late to recover, I plodded into Stampede. Still 21 minutes ahead of last year. Little things that happen at races can make a big difference. On approaching Stampede I was crossing the last set of power lines which is a wide clearing with a bit of a bowl to it so you can see ahead. There were people waiting who had walked back to watch for runners. That was encouraging as they always have kind words which I can use to strengthen myself. As I got to the other side I recognized Randy's nephews, niece and the niece's friend. Another mental boost in having someone to say hello to. Then I arrived at Stampede. A larger crowd of volunteers and crews. More positive energy. Once again James Kerby showed up. He and woman, who I don't know, guided me through that drop bag aid station. They couldn't do enough. Between their efforts and the other volunteers I was able to change my socks, re-stock my pouches and bottles, eat a reasonable meal, rehydrate and get out with flashlights in hand in seven minutes. I have to admit I was beaten and pessimistic when I got in. I had no hope of finishing strongly, only felt that I could finish. I was prepared to carry on knowing that it would be a long night. James in a very quiet way listened to me, offered me words of encouragement and advice. "Walk it off" he said. With his help and the help of others I was out four minutes faster than last year, four more minutes to walk. Seeing Jeff and Kari Gehrke was nice too. I had hoped to be able to do or say something special about their anniversary but could just manage a handshake and best wishes to each. I left Stampede in tears. So many people who were willing to do something for me so that I could chase my dreams really played on my emotions. On to the task at hand. I quickly decided I was only feeling sorry for myself and that I had to get the job done. I accepted responsibility for all my actions and instead of asking God for help simply asked him to guide and strengthen me so that I could make the right decisions. Things improved from this point on. Last year, this next leg was my worst nightmare. In seven miles I fell completely apart. I ate well at Stampede only to puke it all up at mile 44. I realized that I had shut my gut down by eating too much then working too hard. As a result I became hypoglycemic and who knows what else was ....cemic. I did manage to recover though. This year I was going into this section already feeling like I had been spent. I just wanted to get it over with. Although I walked a lot more than I should have, I was able to keep the fluids and food going in. It was a struggle though, as I would spend five minutes getting whatever I needed down, five minutes burping, belching and making all kinds of noise keeping it down then five minutes dreading having to do it again. That routine would continue until about mile 91. The terrain had me fooled a bit too. I guess last year between my mental state and the cloudy weather I hadn't put together a clear picture of the surrounding area. As a result at one point I was confused by the markings at the Stirrup Lake trail crossing. As I was standing there a voice in the wilderness said "You're going the right way". I didn't know what to think. As I approached the corner from where the voice had come I realized that a couple had set up a tent just inside the forest. They were sitting there eating their supper out of my sight when she spotted me. I thanked them and carried on. Without her I would have been confused as although the markings were right I was convinced that I needed to stay on the left side of the valley and not cross it as we did. It wasn't too far to Meadow Mountain from there. I felt better now that I recognized the terrain. Positive interaction with strangers helped too. During this last few easy miles into the next aid station, I was passed by a very positive minded young man. He flew by declaring that eating really had made a difference for him. I saw him again as he adjusted his shoe and once more at Meadow Mountain. It turned out to be Greg Loomis who had a wonderful race. What a great attitude. It sure helped me at that time. Spotting the aid station at Meadow Mountain, mile 42.5, was the turning point of the race for me. I hooted and hollered when I saw it. Knowing that I was now feeling better and how lousy I felt at this spot last year I knew I could make it now. I made it in at 9:33. 28 minutes ahead of last year. Better yet my split was seven minutes ahead of last year. I had another quick aid stop. They had hamburgers which looked interesting but I settled for soup and got out quickly. Greg did stop and eat but quickly passed me. He said we were not far off the top ten at that point. No wonder I'd had so much trouble. What was I doing with that group? As I said things were looking up now. I was happy to get passed the spot where as I had to turn my flashlight on last year. I had a lot of daylight left. I actually would get to see some more terrain in the daylight. As I climbed up the far side of Yakima Pass I could look east and see the dam on Keechelus Lake which I-90 runs beside east of Snoqualmie Pass. Another 15 miles and the race goes by the lake. More gunshots. It's almost dark. Don't they ever give up? As we summit out of Yakima Pass we pass by Mirror Lake where PCT hikers like to camp. There was one tent there this year. I'm sure they didn't appreciate the gunshots either. It was dark in the woods now and they appeared to be settled for the night. Time to give up and use my light, it's 8:22PM. The partial moon is bright, looks great reflected on the lake, but doesn't offer much light in the forest. This next section is all at 4000-4800' in old growth forests around beautiful rocky peaks that can't be seen in the dark. It's a rough trail in places with lots of rocky areas to cross with lots of ups and downs. Very runnable sections with the occasional meadow where the moon seemed to come out from behind the peaks like a spotlight. Eventually you summit out at Olallie Meadows. I knew I had it beat now, only 51 to go. Into Olallie for a perogie stop 47 minutes ahead of last year, in 11:18. Scott McCoubrey and his crew traditionally run this stop. The perogies always seem to go down very well although I can't handle any of the sauces that go with them. Into the meadows on a beautiful starry night. The meadow section is very rough with a rocky trail hidden in many places by the overgrowth. This section seemed to take much longer than last year. About a mile or two out of the aid station the course follows an old logging road down towards I-90. Just before the plunge down we are treated to a view of a white ribbon of lights coming east towards Snoqualmie and a red ribbon heading west. It would make a neat picture if one had the time and skill. The road down is steep and covered in loose sharp rock. Eventually a cluster of glowsticks mark the primitive trail that goes down to the John Wayne Trail through an old clearcut that is now a thicket of small trees. The debris left from logging makes for a formidable obstacle in places. The slope is steep enough that in combination with a loose rocky dirt slope one is well advised to use the supplied ropes. Wise to listen to Scott McCoubrey too. Randy had asked him to mention that this section would be slippery with the recent rains. I didn't remember Scott's words until I grabbed hold of the first rope and promptly fell hard onto the first log I tried stepping on. Pretty poor for someone who used to be a logger. Just about at the bottom of this section I heard voices. Near the top of the last rope I came across the photographer who was kind enough to warn me that he was going to blind me. Once he did just that, and I thanked him for coming out, I found Peter Zubick starting down the last rope. We both scrambled onto the JWT together. This is a nice gentle uphill piece of trail that allows for about 2/3 of a mile of running before you enter the tunnel. This year the moon and stars provided enough backlight that you could tell that you were approaching the face of a large mountain. I found it a little strange to think I'd be running under all of that rock. Things were going well at this point. Peter and I stuck together through this section. The only walking we did was every 15 minutes for a minute so I could drink. We were both watching anxiously for the surprise which had been promised for the tunnel. I missed it last year although there was some chatter about Barking Ducks. This year there would be a surprise. As we approached a light in the tunnel we were surprised to find it was the light at the end of the tunnel. Apparently Randy and Tim had to deal with an emergency so the surprise and accompanying chance to win back an entry fee had to be cancelled. The first change to the course was to add an extra section once out of the tunnel. This meant not having to scramble up a dirt bank onto a freeway ramp but did add slightly more pavement. I enjoyed this section with Peter as we made our way back up to the exit 54 overpass and then east along the freeway frontage road to the Hyak aid station. Hyak was 55.2 miles last year and this year would be a bit further. I was in at 12:46. 49 minutes ahead of last year with this year having the extra mile. This aid station went well. George and the mystery woman from Stampede were of great assistance. Gail had been through 15 minutes earlier. I changed my socks, put on a long sleeved shirt and my vest. Restocked, refilled and ate some soup and other small things. I had to force the soup down. George became concerned as when I got up out of the chair I was wobbly and didn't look well. Getting up from sitting and keeping the soup down was almost as much as I could handle at that point. Peter and I set off together walking the first bit until my stomach settled. The first section seems to go on forever. It's beside the freeway and I found the oncoming headlights to be irritating. I found comfort in the fact that before too long we'd be on the long trek up to Keechelus Ridge along logging roads which would have to be walked, allowing for some recovery. Once we hit the dirt road my uphill walking handicap became evident as Peter quite quickly pulled ahead of me. This section can get quite lonely. Small noises in the night and the occasional set of eyes caught in the beam of my light had me looking forward to the daylight. As you near the summit there are more runnable sections. I was feeling better by then and made it into Keechelus Ridge at mile 61.9+ in 14:48. 1:01 ahead of last year. I had a quick chat with Tim Stroh there and left just as Peter was coming in. The section to Kachess Lake is almost all downhill. This section went very well for me. I ran the whole thing except for short walks to eat or drink every 15 minutes. This section is interesting because for much of it you can see the lights of glowsticks and other runners above and below you. This year I took comfort in being able to look back up the hill and see that Peter wasn't far behind. The aid station had been moved so splits from last year are not relevant. This leg was longer than last year but I still took off two minutes getting into Kachess at 16:07. George was there again. Once again a great help. He had been concerned for me at Hyak so was happy to see I was feeling better. So were the Gehrkes. They had seen me at my worst at Stampede and seemed relieved to see me looking better. This aid station's specialty is grilled cheese sandwiches. Half now and a half to go and I was gone. This next section is new and supposed to be a bit shorter hence the addition at Hyak. I guess it might be shorter in distance but certainly not time. The old route had one continue downhill on a nice logging road and turn into the campsite for another flat leg of good road to the start of the lake trail. The new route found us walking up a logging road a few hundred yards. The new trail was bushwhacked through the forest and left us playing connect-the-dots between glowsticks. As there was no trail this at times proved interesting when one could look ahead and see more than one glowstick. I had to smile. I loved this. It was difficult and some might not think it fair 70 miles into a hundred but it's not supposed to be easy is it? I'm not sure that the two guys I passed in this early section were having much fun though. A good warm up for those unfamiliar with the lake section ahead. This route soon linked up with an unmaintained trail that seemed to follow a creek down towards the lake. It was fairly rough trail that at one point required crawling on hands and knees under a blow down. Near the end of this section the glow sticks became confusing again. Another runner seemed off track so I stopped and with some logical analysis could make out a ribbon leading off in what seemed like the right direction. This soon had us on the gravel campsite trail leading to the ominous start of the Lakeside Trail complete with it's "Most Difficult" warning sign. Through this section I picked up some company. I don't remember names at the best of times but we did spend a short while together. Company is nice but in this section you need to focus so I can easily plow on through the night without getting lonely. Randy had warned us that this six mile leg had taken Scott Eppleman two hours last year. It had taken me 2:15 last year. The difficulty is the 1100' of elevation gained with very little net gain in the six miles. The trail is rough, rocky, rooty. At times along very steep slopes with sheer drops to the lake. Randy had warned us not to slip as it would make for a cold swim. He was right. This section of trail once run really needs little in the way of markings. If you have to choose a route pick the tougher one. Anything else just ends up looking out over the black void of the lake. I kept coming across runners who were not familiar with the trail and was happy to get them on their way. Some following, some going ahead. Often the ones going ahead would be found once again looking perplexed. Along this lake section I caught up with Gail Bazeley who was being accompanied by Max Welker. Later on I met Kendall Kreft. A name I was familiar with but had not met him before. We would spend most of the rest of the race together. Eventually the lousy trail gives way to trail along an old road that seems to head up and away from the lake. Last year I was concerned about that. Even this year it seemed a long time before we got to the markers leading us down a trail to the Mineral Creek crossing. This year there was actually water in the creek. Enough that the only dry option was to cross the log jam. Kendall and I both managed to scramble across without incident and soon found ourselves at the Mineral Creek aid station. 74.8 miles in 18:01, 1:23 ahead of last year. The Mineral Creek aid station has for the two years I've run been set up in a tent-like structure with a space heater inside. This is very timely as we've been running through the night and the night is getting about as cold as it gets. The lake trail section gets cool too, as the forest is quite damp and it can get quite cold around the cascading creeks that need to be crossed. Although not as efficient as earlier I managed to change my socks, change into a short-sleeved shirt, restock my pack, refill my bottles and eat some more soup. I'm not sure how long I was there but felt good about the time I spent. This became a busy place as Gail and Max as well as two other runners ,one with a pacer came in just as we were leaving. Kendall and I set off up the logging road, in the dark. Last year it was getting light as I left Mineral Creek. I found these dark predawn hours very difficult this year. I think that these same hours last year kept my mind busy with the technicality of coping with the lake trail. This next section is on logging roads for seven miles with an elevation gain of 2500'. As a result there isn't a lot of running that can be done. My biorhythm must have been at a low spot coupled with the darkness and this endless hike that required little thought. This found me struggling to stay awake. I'm thankful Kendall was there as it allowed enough stimulation that I could keep going without falling asleep. Had he not been there I would have probably tried lying down for a nap. Even so I found I'd have to close my eyes for a rest. Trying to do it when I knew I could manage ten or twenty steps without going off the road worked well. At one point I found it interesting that my breathing fell into a pattern that sounded as if I was asleep. Fortunately about halfway up this climb there was a section about 100 yards long that could be run. This seemed to wake me up. The eastern sky was beginning to lighten up which had a positive effect on me as well. At about the same time I looked behind me to see if Kendall was catching up to me after a pit stop. He was right behind me but so was another runner and his pacer with Gail and Max right behind them. That woke me up. What the heck is it about my walking? They all flew by me, I woke up in a hurry. The timing was right. We had just passed the No Name Ridge Road water drop. Now there would be opportunities to run for a few yards at a time. It wasn't long before there was enough light to see detail in the logging slash. I started to look forward to any opportunity to run even for only a few yards. As a result it didn't seem like long until Kendall and I were winding our way up to the end of a high valley that we would climb up out of and begin to follow the contour of No Name Ridge into the next aid station. It was now light enough that the surrounding mountains were a beautiful sight in the early morning light. Once the pinkish hue of the first rays of sunshine began to strike the peaks I had to stop for pictures. I imagine Kendall must have been happy to get to the next aid station as every corner we went around that I thought would be the last wasn't. There was a lot more road once we hit the ridge than I had remembered. The volunteers at this aid station were as efficient and friendly as all the others. I imagine they were happy to see the day come as well. A dog at the aid station was taking a keen interest in a big beautiful mule deer doe that seemed quite interested in what was going on. She didn't seem at all concerned about the dog. She must have smelled the spread at the buffet table. I couldn't find much that would agree with me so I grabbed a few potatoes and a banana. It was a quick stop for me, but Kendall decided he needed a break and decided to stay a while. Quite excited to be starting what I consider to be the best part of this race and about feeling quite respectable at this point I started out across the slash to the trailhead in the timber. Obviously my mind was feeling better than my stomach as shortly after entering the timber I gagged on the potatoes and in a salvo of throat clearing heaves managed to get things under control. I hope I was far enough out that the volunteers didn't have to listen to that. It must have sounded like I was being choked to death. Never one to like having an empty stomach I got right into eating the banana as I enjoyed running through the alpine forests towards Easton. This next section follows a ridge through old growth forests and beautiful alpine meadows. This is the infamous Cardiac Needles section which consists of five or six summits along the ridge which, except for Thorp Mtn., must be climbed without the assistance of switchbacks. They are all steep following the height of land along the ridge except for one summit you skirt. That seems charitable until you realize that you have to give up a lot of altitude to do so. You have to gain it all back before you get to begin the ascent of Thorp Mtn.. This section is very runnable except for the steep climbs. The open sections allow for a fantastic view of the mountains to the east which taper off towards the Columbia Basin. Last year the wild flowers were out and resulted in some nice photos. The dry summer must have been hard on the alpine as well as the flowers were not out this year. I wasn't running as well as I thought I might in this section. Last year I seemed to gain strength at this point. This year I was moving well but things didn't seem as fluid as they had. The footing seemed more difficult to me. Almost as if the trail had seen more use and was a little looser. Even so this section went well. I passed Gail and Max coming off the second needle. The climb up to the Thorp Mtn. aid station wasn't as bad as I remembered and I was pleasantly surprised to find Doug McKeever, Richard West and company waiting at the Thorp Mtn. trailhead. This year I left my pack at the aid station as the summit trail is an out and back. I started up with only my camera. The other runner with a pacer that had passed me on the road were on their way down as I neared the summit. As I looked back to see the views I was pleased to see Kendall gaining on me. Once again my walking handicap was showing. Kendall and I enjoyed the summit together. We took a few pictures of each other and the magnificent views. Mt. Rainier seemed to once again fill the sky to the SW. Looking south another snowy volcanic peak could be seen. I'm not sure but it might have been Mt. Hood. Might have been Mt. Adams though. My southern WA geography isn't that strong. To the NW and north we seemed to be surrounded by the peaks of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. This would be a nice spot to spend an entire day. Taking a poker chip for the entry free refund draw I reluctantly left the summit behind. The downhill from the summit was difficult. I was definitely not as fluid downhill as last year. My faster pace this year was starting to show now. Gail and Max were just beginning the climb to the summit as I neared the aid station. After a quick refill at the aid station and strapping my vest to my pack it was time to go. No food this time, I'd have to make do with my gels. Kendall and I headed out together beginning an interesting debate of wanting to stick together but I tried to convince Kendall that there was a long way to go and that I thought he'd make much better time without me. We did stick together for awhile but it soon became obvious that he was pulling away. Now for the worst surprise of the day. I had remembered leaving Thorp Mtn. and following the ridge until we had to climb to the summit of an unnamed mountain before a long drop to the French Cabin Basin. My mind must have been playing tricks on me as I was completely surprised by another needle which required a climb of about 400' in what seemed like 400 yards. At least I was heading for Easton. I summited this pleasant hill to see Kendall heading down into the saddle which would take us to the next challenge. This next summit is quite beautiful and challenging. It involves about 500' of climb following the ascending edge of a cirque. Although never really in any danger there are places where you seem quite close to the edge of what, by the top, are very high cliffs. Last year I found it hard to imagine we actually had to follow this ridge to the summit. I even pulled out my topo map as I was sure I must have missed a turn. I hadn't and here I was again climbing to the summit with Kendall just far enough ahead that I could see him but close enough that I could work hard with a hope of maintaining contact. This summit would feel really good as I thought it should be the last big climb before the finish 11 miles away. The summit did come and go. The next section allowed for a little downhill on a nice forest trail Then the trail comes out to the top of a clearcut. The French Cabin aid station can be seen far below with the summits of French Cabin Mtn. beyond. The trail would now deteriorate in to a steep downhill trail with plenty of switchbacks and a surface of loose rocks for the freefall into the next aid station. Jo Stroh and company were running another friendly station. I simply refilled my bottles and headed out. After 17 hours I had finally gotten to the point where I could manage drink and gel without any repercussions. I wanted it to stay that way. Kendall was sitting down when I pulled in. I left ahead of him. As I pulled out I looked at my watch and noted that it was about 22:45 into the race. I was surprised with that as if I maintained last year's pace I might get in under 25 hours. I hadn't thought about a possible finish time even though I'd been paying attention to my splits. Unfortunately I messed up my splits since No Name Ridge so don't know for sure how those sections went. After leaving the Fr. Cabin aid station we again gave up a bunch more altitude before climbing up to a saddle between the two peaks. This summit is truly the last long climb. Kendall caught me again at this point. He was co nvinced that we should finish together as we'd helped each other out since the lake trail many hours ago. I wasn't comfortable with that as it was obvious to me that Kendall was stronger than I at this point. I let him lead as I thought he could get ahead if that was the case. In the last 9 miles there will be nothing more than a few short hills to roll over. It's the end of the clearcuts too. The Silver Creek trail goes down a pristine valley. For the most part it's a perfect downhill running slope through meadows and forest. Many of the meadows show signs of elk having passed through. There is the occasional stream to cross. Sometimes we could find rocks or logs to cross. Other times it wasn't worth the effort so we'd just splash through. Although very runnable this trail has lots of roots and some rocks. I must have been tired as I started to stub my toes regularly. Having Kendall lead the way was working well. He would get just far enough ahead that I'd push myself to keep up. Only after I face planted, fortunately without injury, did he ever get out of sight. We were setting a brisk pace and near the end of the gentle downhill section we started walking the few short uphill bumps. This would allow me to catch up to Kendall who continued to pull away whenever we got running again. Eventually the trail begins a steep descent of about 1200' in what must be about a mile of trail. The trail here is all loose sharp shale-like rock. We ran it and ran it hard but it sure wasn't easy. All of a sudden we were at the trailhead. The last aid station. I had enough fluid left so we just checked in and headed off to Easton. This last few miles is very flat and very exposed. A short piece of logging road then a power line road lead to a dirt road. The heat was evident along here and it was only 10:00AM. Kathleen Schmidt was waiting by her car as we came off the power lines. It was nice to see her. I would love to have had the time to stop and visit but we were almost home now. For the last mile or more the course leaves the road and follows an ATV trail beside the highway frontage road back into Easton. This section is memorable as you can look ahead and see the freeway overpass. Knowing that the Parkside Cafe and the finish line are just beyond allows a few minutes to think about what's been done since we crossed the same overpass many hours ago. I feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment knowing that it's behind me now. It's really nice to have Kendall there to share the moment with me as I've never finished a 100 around another competitor. To finish, the trail crosses a small field to a dirt road which allows for about 100 yards of a victory lane as you approach the finish line so aptly marked by a "Stop" sign. It was good to look up and see Randy, Tim and Ron Behrmann lined up across the finish line. Hand shakes from all. Thanks and congrats to Kendall. A mandatory picture. Ron gave us our buckles and that was it. George Forshaw was there too. It was great to see him. I appreciate all the help he'd been. Of course he was anxious to hear about Gail. I told him I estimated she was 15 minutes behind at Thorp Mtn.. Not knowing what to do with myself I decided to go to the cafe and order my celebratory chocolate milkshake and wait for Gail to come in. Then I'd head back to my tent to clean up, have a nap and then come back to the finish to watch some others finish. It was important for me to wait and see Gail finish. She's a great person and I had enjoyed her company early in the race. I was also anxious to see if she would hold onto the womens' lead. She did. I was glad to see her finish and quickly pulled out to get some rest. It was hot in the tent. I didn't care. I made my way back to the finish after a few hours sleep. I saw a few runners finish while I ate lunch at the restaraunt and then enjoyed visiting with Gail, George, Peter Zubick and Peter's wife and son. Kendall was there too. I've never made it back to the finish of a 100 in any shape to watch others finish. It was something I won't miss again. It was good to see Karl Jensen finish a week after Leadville. I saw Ross Nichol too. I had thought about him and his questions 28 hours earlier and was thrilled to see him pull off his first 100. I was disappointed that I had missed Paul and Monica's finish while I slept. I knew he'd understand. Fortunately Paul arrived in time to pick up his friend Richard Hayes. They had to make a quick departure for the airport but I did get to speak to Paul again. That's where the challenge to report the day's events was issued. Eventually it was time that I realized I had better make my way back to my brother's in Seattle. A goodbye and thanks to all and I was gone. What a great event. The course is spectacular especially with the perfect weather. It's challenging. The volunteers are as good as they get. They are all devoted to each runner. They can't seem to do enough for you. Much like Randy, Ron and Tim. All involved deserve a hearty round of applause. I always marvel at how the efforts of so many are directed to the benefit of the few who take part. It always leaves me feeling somewhat selfish. I'm sure that running a 100 miles must be easier than all the work each one of the volunteers has to do. At the very least running 100 miles is much easier because of them. For that I am most thankful. Rob Smith, Victoria, BC L.R._Smith@telus.net