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.