A few Camp Red Cloud photos

Dear 2013 Grand Mesa Ultra Runners-

An update on the fifth graders from Pomona Elementary School in Montrose...

We will be going to Camp Red Cloud on September 25.  Because of your participation in the GM Ultra last summer and your many generous donations, we were able to give scholarships for the cost of the camp to 12 students! Without your help, these students may have missed out on this amazing outdoor experience.  Additional funds also helped pay for transportation, thus reducing the cost to all students and their families.  I think the excerpt from the scholarship application written by one of my students sums it up best. "I have never in my life gone to a camp as cool as Camp Red Cloud.  And I've never gone canoeing and horseback riding.  I would really love to spend more time with my classmates doing all kinds of activities with them."  The student who wrote this turned in the application to me, pulled out his wallet, handed me a small part of the registration fee, and shyly said, "That's all I was able to save for camp."  He looked at me like he expected to be turned down, but because of your help, I had the money to pay for the rest of his expenses.  Thank you.

Watch for photographs of our trip in a few weeks.

And to all of you, thanks again for helping out my kiddos.

Trudy

Lets get started

The cooler are loaded the food boxes packed one more trip up the hill.
See you all tomorrow at check in.

100 mile advice

Here is a link to Dale Hawkins blog. Dale has finished the 100 twice and the 50 mile once. and he has written up a really good guide to the race.


http://www.skepticalrunner.com/2013/07/grand-mesa-100-ultramarathon-course.html

Crazy Weather Day

We had about 3" of rain at the house last night. Up on the Mesa they had about 2" of snow hopefully that will wipeout the mosquitoes.

New section 2 Map Mesa Top

Refresher on Cow safety

This year the cows are back on the Flowing Park Loop

is it pissed or not

The mesa is open range meaning their are cows along various parts of the course. Helpful information for running in cow country. you must avoid surprising the cows at close range. If the terrain makes it hard for them to see you as you approach, make lots of noise. Talk loudly, wear a bell, sing the Monty Python Lumberjack song. If you are spotted by a cow, try to get its attention while it is a good distance away. Help the cow to recognize that you are human by talking to it in a normal voice, waving your arms. Try not to travel alone. In a group, cows will attack the weakest link. Try and run with people much slower and fatter than yourself and if the cows rush you, point at that obnoxious guy with the short legs that has complained the entire run.. Next time Bear safety

As you have seen in other post there are also bears on the mesa it is recommended that you keep windows rolled up at aid stations and keep your trash picked up if you are camping. If you do not have a Range Rover  you are lucky as the problem bears are recent transplants from Aspen and are  just looking for a high class ride home.

A little trail video

This is it

They're here!  The trophies for this year's race are ready to go.  The great ladies at Fat Cat Pottery in Delta, CO designed and handpainted these ceramic plaques for our men's and women's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each race distance.  Although I really like this year's awards, I DO NOT want to take any of them home this year!  They all need to go to good homes.

100 mile split times 2012

click on link for google doc  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmyqV_gFA6KVdDZqam5ZeWpJTy16U0M2eDNSajNwYkE&usp=sharing 


2011 times

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmyqV_gFA6KVdFNCa0JaQmxVcThrSGFMSzVrb2sybkE&usp=sharing

Course Maps

Top Map

The 100 milers do all three colored sections

The 50 milers do the Red and Blue sections

The 60 K do the Red section

This color code only applys to the top Map

Some section are run as out and back sections

see course directions

 

Forgot the camera. Still snow in the trees. Kannah creek to top on coal creek trail is clear still snow near carson lake on kannah creek trail. Crag crest has big drifts near the top. another week or two and most trails will be open but still wet in places.

Trail Conditions

Headed up the Mesa tomorrow to check out the snow level.  Will post trail conditions tomorrow night.

StartFinish line 2012

Will this be the year

Alright I know there are a lot of tough women out there and this year is the year  one you is going to finish the 100 mile race. I have a closet full of trophies from the first three years. This year I want to hand some out. Right now I'm betting Alyson Kirk will be the first woman finisher and maybe win the 100 miler out right or Maybe Rachel La Grandeur.

Dale Hawkins is looking for his third 100 mile finish to go along with his one 50 mile finish and two 100 mile finishes.

Hans-Dieter Weisshaar is coming back  to bump the oldest 100 mile finisher's age to 73

John Taylor is looking for a second 100 mile finish.

Lisa Nicholls and Howard Mayson are looking for their second 50 mile finish.

Course Map 2013

100 milers do all three sections red,blue and black.50 milers do red and blue. 60K do the red section.

A little Snow on the Mesa

The last two weeks the mesa has seen over a hundred inches on snow.

Location for the new mesa top aid station

The lodge

 

New section to replace section 2

This going to be a new section for all distances. we are replacing the section from the lodge

to Flowing Park . The section is run in both directions  and  has less road and more single track.

profile starts at the lodge on the left and ends at flowing park aid station