Hoodoo 500 RAAM Qualifier this Weekend

September 12th, 2008

Hoodoo 500 near Bryce

Photo from Planet Ultra

The Hoodoo 500 is taking place this weekend in a beautiful part of Utah. It is 519 miles with about 30,000 feet of climbing. I had hoped to race it this year but have stayed too busy with projects around the house to be able to train much.

This year it is a RAAM qualifier since the Furnace Creek 508 isn’t. RAAM doesn’t allow qualifiers to be less than a month apart if there closer than 1,000 miles.

One of the cool things at the Hoodoo is the solo riders are split between those doing it with RAAM style support and racers doing it self supported. 18 riders are doing it supported and 12 are doing it unsupported.

Unsupported riders can still qualify for RAAM but the qualifying time is based on the fastest solo rider not already qualified for RAAM. The solo riders will be lumped together for purposes of RAAM qualifying. Unsupported riders will be at a big disadvantage if they’re trying to qualify for RAAM.

Planet Ultra will be updating their web cast during the race as they can find internet access. Alex Isaly is racing solo and his wife is going to try to post updates on Twitter during the race. David McColgan is racing on a 4 man team. He also is a Twitter user but doesn’t say whether he’ll be updating during the race.

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2008 Kokopelli Trail Race

May 28th, 2008

Kokopelli Trail
The Kokopelli Trail Race happened a week and a half ago. The 142 mile race through the desert between Moab, UT and Fruita, CO is one of growing number of unsupported endurance mountain bike races. Even getting water from campers on the trail is enough for disqualification.

In the case of the KTR, there is no entry fee and no real organizer. It’s just several people that decide to meet and race. The last few years it had gotten quite big. Unfortunately the BLM thought that a permit was required. Last year they showed up and fined Adam Lisonbee $275 since he was the one that proposed the date on MTBR.

This year the plans for the race were kept quiet to keep the BLM from interfering. It also meant that a lot smaller group race it. It also went from Moab to Fruita instead of the opposite direction like last year. The race started and midnight Friday night

Kenny won this year’s race. He ran out of water and was suffering but still managed to win. His time was 14 hours and 56 minutes. Chris, who hiked Pikes Peak by moonlight with me in February, finished 2nd even after not being able to stay awake and taking naps along the way. I believe Pete Basinger from Alaska was third and another Alaskan Geoff Roes was 4th.

Related Links 2007 Kokopelli Trail Race |Adam Lisonbee 2008 race report

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Kane Creek/Harrah Pass/Amasa Back Loop

May 8th, 2008

View from Amasa Back, Moab, UTIt’s hard to believe it’s been over a month since I was mountain biking in Moab. This post has just been sitting partially written.

The final ride I did in Moab was the Kane Creek/Harrah Pass/Amasa Back Loop. This loop was the first ride I ever did in Moab. I had never been to Moab and went out to race the Tour of Canyonlands. My friend was working the evening before the race so we left late. We got to Moab about 3 AM and I got a few hours of sleep before showing up for the race. Over the years since then, I’ve ridden the loop several times both in racing and just riding.

The last time I had tried riding this loop was in 2004 when the Tour of Canyonlands last used this course. I had gotten sick with aches and chills on the way out a couple days before the race. The day before the race, I felt well enough to ride up Amasa Back but was still weak.

I figured I’d start the race and see how I felt. Even when I haven’t been sick, I often don’t feel good before a race starts. How I feel before a race is never a good indication of how well I’ll race.

Within a couple miles, it was clear I’d be struggling just to finish. I considered just riding it easy but was concerned I’d do my body more harm than good. There had been a big rain a couple days before and the first water crossing that was normally a trickle was flowing pretty good. I hung out with some other people and watched some vehicles get stuck and unstuck.

While I was watching, emergency vehicles went by. Then we started hearing that there had been a bad accident with the racers. I would later find out that “Ben” Hall had been killed in a collision with a truck. Although I often saw him at the races and we’d be back and forth sometimes, I never really got to know him. It truly was a sad day in the mountain bike race community.

Ben Hall Kane Creek MemorialAlthough it has been 4 years since the accident, it was on my mind as I set out on my ride. The Kane Creek road is actually pretty boring but makes for a nice warm up. Right about where I thought the accident had happened from what one of my teammates that saw had told me, I saw a simple cross with a chain ring on it.

Harrah Pass, Moab, UTI always enjoy the views while riding up Harrah Pass. It’s also an enjoyable climb for me since it’s not too steep and I can power up it. I took a short break at the top before the fun, fast descent down the back side.

It always seems like it’s farther than I remember from the bottom of Harrah Pass over to Jackson Hole and the base of Jacob’s Ladder. I actually enjoy being back there so it’s not that I’m not having fun. Less sand would be nice but it’s not all that bad.

Even though I did a lot of work on my bike the first day in Moab, I didn’t change my chain because I didn’t have a new cassette. I also didn’t think my chain had that much wear on it. I was wrong and my chain broke. I carry the Crank Brothers Multi 17 Tool and I really like it because it’s small and has almost everything you could need on the trail. I do find that the chain tool can be bit difficult to use but it’s still much better than not having one. I had trouble fixing the chain and apparently didn’t get it right. About 15 minutes later it broke a 2nd time. That time fixing it went smoothly and it didn’t break again.

Jacob's Ladder, Moab, UTThe first time I raced on this course I had no idea what Jacob’s Ladder was. Before the race I kept hearing people talking about it. I asked my teammate that had raced the course before what it was like. He pointed to some high cliffs and said, “It’s pretty much like those cliffs except there’s a broken section you scramble up.”

Top of Jacob's Ladder, Moab, UTI only half believed him and thought he was just messing with me. I would find out soon enough that his description was pretty accurate. Unlike most of the other racers, I always liked Jacob’s Ladder because I always made up quite a few places on it. It’s no harder than doing the Manitou Incline except that you’re carrying a bike on your back. It’s much easier than doing Gray’s Peak in Montezuma’s Revenge.

Once at the top of Jacob’s Ladder, it’s just a quick descent down Amasa Back. The short steep section back up to the Kane Creek road always seem brutal after descending.

Related Links: 7 Mountain Biking Confidence Killers | Saltwash and Sovereign Singletracks | Gold Bar Rim and Portal Trail

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Historic Dewey Bridge on Kokopelli Trail Burns

April 7th, 2008

Old Dewey Bridge Burning

Old Dewey Bridge in May 2007A 7-year-old boy playing with matches ignited a brush fire yesterday that destroyed the Old Dewey Bridge that is part of the Kokopelli Trail from Fruita to Moab. The suspension bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1916 and was the state’s longest bridge without supports in the waterway it crossed.

Old Dewey Bridge in May 2007The Dewey Bridge was within sight of the new bridge on Utah Highway 128 so it won’t keep mountain bikers from riding the trail. It’s still a big bummer since it was a cool bridge and part of riding the Kokopelli Trail. I’ve driven by it many times and rode across it when I did the Kokopelli Trail lat year. I just saw it when I was to Moab a couple weeks ago.

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Gold Bar Rim and Portal Trail

March 25th, 2008

Moab Rim
Today I rode Gold Bar Rim and the Portal Trail. I rode Gold Bar Rim once before and really wasn’t struck with it. When I asked for readers favorite Moab rides, 3 readers mentioned it so I decided to give it another try.

The other time I did Gold Bar Rim, several of us had started from our camp at Sand Flats. We took the road over to Poison Spider. We then did Poison Spider, Golden Spike, Gold Bar Rim, back to town, and up to Sand Flats.

I was fit and ready for race season so the distance wasn’t bad. The issue was that we had a couple slower riders that we spent a lot of time waiting for. We all ran out of food and water. It wasn’t pretty. I was also headed home that day and was very late picking my wife up in Grand Junction. She brought it up again Sunday when we discussed when I’d be picking her up tomorrow.

Today was nothing like that day. I had felt really tired yesterday after just doing Saltwash and Sovereign singletracks. I decided I’d go part way up Gold Bar Rim and then turn around.

I hadn’t realized that there was singletrack that followed the rim instead of going up and down like the jeep trail. I copied the directions from my route book on finding the singletrack. Of course I forgot and left them in the vehicle when I started riding. They may not have done much good since I don’t have a bike computer or GPS on my mountain bike. The key thing I remembered was always go left and up if you end up back on the jeep trail.

View from Gold Bar RimThe singletrack was easier to find and follow than I expected based on what the book said. There were a fair number of cairns and blue paint lines. Still I lost the trail several times but always found it again pretty soon. Still there are several places you have to carry your bike so if you don’t like getting off a lot, it’s probably not a good trail for you.

I got to where I could see Poison Spider Mesa and the rock dome where the Portal Trail drops down. I was having way too much fun to turn around so I just kept going. Of course that was about when it seemed like the rock dome wasn’t getting any closer.

Portal TrailThe Portal Trail has a lot of exposure. It’s not for people that are scared of heights. I have a rule that even if the trail is easily rideable I get off and walk if falling most likely would mean death. I did some walking on the narrow sections of the Portal Trail. It’s not something to take lightly because people really have fallen off there and died.

Once I got past the narrow sections, the descent down was fun and I was at the road. I hadn’t been looking forward to the ride back to the Gemini Bridges parking lot. It ended up seeming shorter than I had expected. Another fun day of ridng in Moab and I get to ride a part day tomorrow before heading back.

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Saltwash and Sovereign Singletracks

March 24th, 2008

View from Sovereign Singletrack

Today I spent more time working on my bike than riding it. It made the the riding I did much more enjoyable though. My bike is now working better than it has in over a year.< When I asked a few days ago for suggestions on where to ride around Moab, I got a few replies for the Sovereign singletrack. I also got a reply for the new singletrack north of town. It might have been for Sovereign but there is a new singletrack that opened very recently.

The new singletrack is called Saltwash. It starts very close to Sovereign and crosses it a couple times with a few other connectors.

I like coming to Moab because of the scenery. I love the red cliffs and big drops. I also like the weather this time of year. The thing I haven’t liked has been the lack of singletrack. To be honest, Fruita has better riding and the weather is almost as warm and dry.

Out where Sovereign and Saltwash are there aren’t the big cliffs but the riding didn’t disappoint. Saltwash is so new it’s obvious it hasn’t been ridden much and there are some soft spots. It’s also still very narrow. There are a bunch of fun sections on it.

The recommended way is to go out on Saltwash so that’s what I did. I then came back on Sovereign. I’ll definitely be riding them again when I come out in the future.

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What Are Your Favorite Moab Rides?

March 19th, 2008

Castle Valley
I’m going to be in Moab for a couple days the beginning of next week. I often end up doing the same rides when I go there. Some of my favorites are SlickRock, Porcupine Rim, Harrah Pass/Amasa Back loop and Poison Spider/Portal Trail.

They are all great rides but I know there are other ones I should give a try. What are your favorite trails that I didn’t list?

I don’t even have good base fitness right now but my endurance is always good. I can ride for several hours but just at a slow pace. Oh and I hurt more after the ride.

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Hoodoo 500 Race This Weekend

September 15th, 2007

Hoodoo 500Picture from Planet Ultra

The first Hoodoo 500 is going on this weekend. It’s 519 miles in Utah with about 30,000 feet of climbing. When it was first announced, I was thinking of doing it. It’s closer for me than a lot of the ultra road races and there’s some great scenery. Of course I never got in shape this year and it’s all I can do to make it through easy 100 mile rides.

The solo racers without a crew started at 5 AM this morning and racers with a crew started at 7 AM. Teams started at 11 AM. The standings are being updated regularly. The standings page also has links to pictures that are being updated throughout the event.

The course is of the caliber for Race Across America qualifiers. Planet Ultra told me that they had wanted it to be a RAAM qualifier but isn’t because it was scheduled too close to the Furnace Creek 508. The UMCA has a rule stating

The UMCA will sanction one qualifier per section of the country / continent in a given season. No new qualifier will be sanctioned that would take place within approximately 1000 miles and two months of an existing qualifier.

I can understand the rule for all the other RAAM qualifiers. Most of them have 10 or fewer racers but the 508 has reached it’s field limit the few years. I can’t see that the 508 would be affected much by the Hoodoo 500 being a RAAM qualifier.

One thing that the Hoodoo 500 has done different from the RAAM qualfiers is to have a separate category for solo riders without a crew. The only RAAM qualifier that doesn’t DQ somebody for riding during the night without a follow vehicle is the Adirondack 540. It is also this weekend. They don’t have a separate category for riders without crews. When I did it in 2005, I know some riders doing less than the 4 lap RAAM qualifier were doing it without a crew but I think everyone doing the RAAM qualifier had a crew.

Although I think a race like this is doable without a crew, you certainly can’t be as fast without a crew. I also haven’t studied this race well enough to know how much water you’d need to get between places to get water. I know on some courses such as the 508 you would need to carry a lot of water at times.

I know people have mentioned to me that they would like to do something like a RAAM qualifier but either thought they couldn’t get a crew together or couldn’t afford a crew. It is expected that the rider will pay all crew expenses. By the time you pay for a hotel the night before and after the race plus travel expenses, even for a 3 person crew the costs can add up. I think it’s great that Planet Ultra decided to give racers the option of doing it without a crew.

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Reckless Survival Training Death

May 6th, 2007

Yesterday’s Gazette had an article from the AP about Dave Buschow who died last July while taking a survival training course in Utah. For some reason I couldn’t find the Gazette online version but I found it on another website.

When it happened last summer, I never could find many details on it. Even with what I could find it seemed like the course instructors had pushed Dave too far. I generally believe that people are responsible for what happens to them. There are a lot of risks in life whether you’re in the backcountry or not. Sometimes bad things happen and they aren’t someone elses fault. In some cases it’s because someone made a bad decision but they thought it was the right decision when they made it. I’ve certainly done that.

There was a post on out there last July about who’s responsible for risks in various outdoor activities. The article was in response to Dave’s death. On it I commented

In the case of the guy asking for water and not being given it, I don’t know all the details but that seems like a bad thing on the part of the instructor. I can see limiting food but water isn’t something you can survive long without. I could be convinced that in this case the instructor and the school are at fault.

After reading the article, I was more than convinced the instructors were at fault. I was outraged at their actions. The temperature was around 100 degrees. The group found water around 8:30 in the morning. They drank from the water but weren’t allowed to put any in bottles to carry with them. The idea was they could only drink when they found water. Although they tried to find water throughout the day, they never found any.

Dave got to the point of falling down and the others in the group had trouble getting him back to his feet. At one point he mistook a tree for a person. His tongue was swollen. He would hurry off in the wrong direction. Finally around 7 PM over 10 hours after last drinking water, the group got to a cave with a pool of water. Dave fell again less than a 100 yards from the water. He said he couldn’t continue but the instructor with him kept telling him he could make it. Dave quit breathing and the group was unable to revive him. It turns out the instructor had emergency water in his pack.

I just can’t imagine going that long without drinking even in cool conditions let alone in that kind of heat. It’s one thing to push people to exhaustion from long days of hiking or from lack of food but not from lack of water. It was also the 2nd day of a 28 day course. It takes time to acclimate to the dry desert air and the heat. Dave was from New Jersey so I’m sure he wasn’t used to the dryness. Before I’ve done long bike races in the desert, I’ve done heat training in my bathroom.

I’ve done up to week long backpacking trips by myself in the Superstition Mountains and the Grand Canyon. I’ve almost been out of water when I’ve found more. Only once was I out of water for a couple hours before finding more. The temperature was only around 60 degrees. I was making a loop and I knew I could cut to where I had gotten water a couple days before. That would have probably meant 6-7 hours without water. For the couple hours before I found water, finding water was about the only thing I thought about. I can’t imagine what I would have been thinking after over 10 hours without water in 100 degree weather.

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Hoodoo 500 Ultra Cycling Race

November 15th, 2006

Planet Ultra has announced a new ultra cycling race called the Hoodoo 500. It is scheduled for September 15-17, 2007 and will start and finish in St. George, UT. It sounds like a great route with great scenery. It will 512 miles with about 30,000 feet of climbing.

Unfortunately the UMCA has denied their request to be a RAAM qualifier. I don’t know why but I’d guess it may have something to do with it being the same weekend as the Adirondack 540. The two races are on nearly opposite sides of the country so I don’t think there would be that much of a conflict. It would only be a 10 hour drive for me and would be closer than any of the other RAAM qualifiers.


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