This thing was parked in front of our factory yesterday morning. One of my coworkers was convinced some band had just pulled up until I pointed out the uHaul with tricycles dress up like muppets. Yup, it’s that time of year again for the mass exodus to the desert to create unique pieces of art and then light it on fire. Sounds cool. People keep telling me that because I like bikes and art I would love burning man. “It’s an amazing artist collective” I’m sure it was 10 years ago. But I’m sorry, that ain’t the case anymore…

So have fun, be sure to take lots of water, don’t forget your glittered ferry wings and your Juicy Couture track suit.

By Alex Baires

Mountain Hardwear and Montrail are teaming up with the Hilltop Family YMCA of Richmond once again for the second annual Home Front Festival 10k and 5k fun run/walk. The fun run/walk will be held on Sunday, October 5, 2008, along the beautiful San Francisco Bay Trail. Lucky returns as event sponsor and REI joins with additional support this year.

San Francisco Bay Area runners and walkers are invited to come out and join fellow runners/walkers. The run benefits the Hilltop Family YMCA, a great organization that serves the Richmond community with a wide range of health and wellness related activities. Please come join us for a day of fun that will start with the 5k or 10k run or walk and get a free Mountain Hardwear shirt as well as free entry into the Home Front Festival. To top it all off, category winners compete for some great prizes and everyone has a chance to win - we will be raffling out various prizes.

We are also looking for volunteers for the event, so if you want to participate but running/walking is not for you, please email Hardwear Sessions -- blog (at) mountainhardwear.com.

YMCA Home Front Festival 10K and 5K fun run/walk

• Date: Sunday, October 5, 2008
• Start Time: 9 a.m.
• Start/Finish: Historic Ford Assembly Plant (right outside Mountain Hardwear's offices and friends and family store).
• Address: 1414 Harbor Way South; Richmond, CA 94804
• Additional Information: After the run stay and enjoy the Home Front Festival. Your race bib number gets you in for Free! Music, food, rides and booths. Festival starts at 11:00 am.
• Online Registration Closes: October 2, 2008
• Register online: http://www.onyourmarkevents.com
• Proceeds benefit the Hilltop YMCA youth fitness programs.
• Course: Beautiful Richmond Marina Bay and the scenic Bay Trail. Flat and perfect for new runners and walkers. For experienced runners the course is ideal for attaining a new personal best.
• Fees: Individual Adult $25 per person; 18 years and under are $20. Families of 4 are $72; $18 for each additional family member. Day of registration is $30 per person. Fees include a Mountain Hardwear shirt and refreshments/snacks.
• Check In and Race Day Registration: Opens at 7:30 a.m. Race numbers will not be mailed out in advance; please pick-up on race morning.

Continue reading "2008 Home Front Run"

The Chargers and Rechargers Hiking Club, part of the Watauga Task  Force, is sponsoring MST Big Dig #2 on September 20 (Saturday) and 21 (Sunday).  All tools and equipment  will be furnished. Work site on the Blue Ridge Parkway is in scenic Goshen Creek Gorge, four miles north of Blowing Rock at milepost 287. Volunteer headquarters is in Price Park Campground, south of Blowing Rock. (All  access to the work site is from Blowing Rock because the Parkway is closed north of Goshen Creek Gorge.)

Contact Allen de Hart at email: adh4771@aol.com, or tel: 919-496-477l by September 8 if you plan to volunteer work (Saturday 8:30 a.m. to noon, or l:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. or both; and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to noon, or l:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m or both). For a reserved free campsite  at Price Park Campground indicate how many in your party and if for Friday or Saturday or both nights. After your response, detailed directions and answers to any questions will be provided.

September 11 and 13, 2008 - South Ashe Task Force workdays on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

September 27, 2008 - National Public Lands Day - Falls Lake Workday - Durham and Wake Counties.  At the last workday the Falls Lake Section of the MST has reached the 40 mile mark on it’s way to Durham, NC.

greatoutdoorprovision.com/mst

Ask any Rock/Creek employee what their top reasons are for working at Rock/Creek and it is likely that they will mention the flexible scheduling that allows us to take extended backcounty and trips abroad. The owners and managers not only permit us to take these trips, they also highly encourage it. How else are we to gather an intimate knowledge and understanding of the gear we sell? This also helps to keep the job exciting and reminds us why we entered this industry in the first place.

Currently Rock/Creek has a valued employee through hiking the Appalachian Trail. But Jessica is not out there alone, rather she is experiencing nature and the people of the Appalachians with her new husband, in celebration of their recent marriage. A week in the Bahamas simply wasn't enough for the adventurous two. The couple has documented their honeymoon on their blog site AndrewandJessicaGage.blogspot.com. On the site they are keeping a comprehensive trip report including pictures and videos from the trip. Don't be mistaken, its not all miles and miles of trees and brush. Jessica and Andrew have come across some interesting people, including a spirited bluegrass band in Monson, ME, staged at the local General Store.

We all would like to wish Mr. and Ms. Gates a safe and adventurous journey, both on the trail and in marriage.

Read more about Rock/Creek's diverse staff and their various adventures on our Staff Profile page >

Ask any Rock/Creek employee what their top reasons are for working at Rock/Creek and it is likely that they will mention the flexible scheduling that allows us to take extended backcounty and trips abroad. The owners and managers not only permit us to take these trips, they also highly encourage it. How else are we to gather an intimate knowledge and understanding of the gear we sell? This also helps to keep the job exciting and reminds us why we entered this industry in the first place.

Currently Rock/Creek has a valued employee through hiking the Appalachian Trail. But Jessica is not out there alone, rather she is experiencing nature and the people of the Appalachians with her new husband, in celebration of their recent marriage. A week in the Bahamas simply wasn't enough for the adventurous two. The couple has documented their honeymoon on their blog site AndrewandJessicaGage.blogspot.com. On the site they are keeping a comprehensive trip report including pictures and videos from the trip. Don't be mistaken, its not all miles and miles of trees and brush. Jessica and Andrew have come across some interesting people, including a spirited bluegrass band in Monson, ME, staged at the local General Store.

We all would like to wish Mr. and Ms. Gates a safe and adventurous journey, both on the trail and in marriage.

Read more about Rock/Creek's diverse staff and their various adventures on our Staff Profile page >

This Weekend, Massey’s Professional Outfitters will host the world Premiere of a new documentary that highlights the local and independent spirit of New Orleans businesses that were affected by Hurricane Katrina.  Please read the full release below for more information about the movie and the showing.

NEW ORLEANS, LA, August 27, 2008 – In the days and weeks after Katrina, New Orleans’
independent businesses—her coffee shops and cafes, her bars and bookstores and hardware stores
– offered islands of civility and community in a depopulated and demoralized city. These
businesses held the promise that New Orleans would soon rise from the ruins to be a livable city
once more.

From one of the city’s most celebrated chefs who manned a soup kitchen to the hardware store
owner who kept looters at bay while providing vital supplies, director Hanson Hosein and
producer Tom Powers have captured the spirit of resilience and innovation of New Orleans’
independent business owners in their documentary film, Independent America: Rising from
Ruins. It is the inspirational story of the small businesses that risked everything to resurrect their
neighborhoods after the worst natural disaster in American history — even as they are now
challenged by government policies skewed to favor corporate chain retailers.

Shot in full high-definition digital video, Rising from Ruins will have its worldwide premiere as
part of “New Orleans Speaks: We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting for,” a daylong conference
sponsored by The New Orleans Institute.

Seating is limited; to reserve a space, call 232-7821. To view a trailer, and for more information
about the conference, go to http://www.theneworleansinstitute.org/news4.php.

What: World Premiere of Independent America: Rising from Ruins
(http://risingfromruins.com/)

Where: Massey’s Professional Outfitters (upstairs), 508 N. Carrollton Ave.

When: Saturday August 30, 2008; 6-9 pm

6 pm - First seating
7 pm – Light refreshments and discussion with filmmaker
8 pm – Second seating
Who: Open to the public.

Suggested donation: $10, with proceeds benefiting Stay Local

Hard to believe summer is almost over, but like our founder says: it’s “Christmas every morning when the UPS man (brings) us new inventory” …

Incredible technical & casual outerwear from The North Face, Patagonia (check out the great new kids line), Mountain Hardwear & Columbia is already out on the sales floor. New styles from Arc’Teryx & more are on the way. Here are a few pics of the hot new products!

Our friend Jon Bowermaster is currently in Southern Louisiana, examining the area's wetlands and waterways. Follow Jon's journey through this magical landscape on his website, www.jonbowermaster.com.

Introduction:

By Jon Bowermaster

It's not news that water is a significant issue here in Southern Louisiana. [overview map] Much of the region lays below sea level and the waterways that surround - swamps & bayous, rivers & estuaries, man-made canals & the Gulf of Mexico - are never out of sight. Everyone debates concerns about its flow, purity and future at every level.

A dead zone the size of New Jersey - where nothing lives - grows at the mouth of the Mississippi River, thanks to chemical runoff. A recent oil spill in the big river unleashed 420,000 gallons of fuel oil that within 24 hours lined its banks for 100 miles. Old-growth Cyprus trees that anchor its historic swamps are clear-cut and turned into garden mulch. Wetlands are expanding, land is disappearing and New Orleans is still eight feet below sea level. Lots of grim news, right? So why does everyone we meet seem to be so damn happy? Follow along during the next two weeks as we explore Southern Louisiana from sea level and below.

Continue reading "Dispatches from the Bayou State: Jon Bowermaster in Louisiana"

by Todd Hancock, Cameron Village Staff

Through the years I have participated in, competed in and been a spectator of many events that involve an aspect of sport. Last month, after the recommendation of friends, I decided to participate in something that was quite different than anything before. Still sport, I guess.

Muddy Buddy is an event that occurs in some 9 locations nationwide. Lucky for us, one happens to be close by in Richmond, VA. This ‘race’ involves you and a partner covering 6-7 miles by foot and bike. You share one bicycle. There are 5 legs and at the completion of each leg you do a quick obstacle. Then, you change to cycling or running from what you just did on the last leg. The course was crazy. Lots of people were running with bike helmets on, wearing wild outfits, having fun and pushing themselves to the limit.

At the end, you find out where the name of the event comes from. One last obstacle awaits you. You and your partner rendezvous and join up together for the first time in the event. Only 100 feet remains until the finish line. However, there is a military style crawl through a giant mud pit that leaves you no hope but to be covered in mud, with your buddy, by the time you reach the line.

My partner and I are quite competitive and decided to give the event a solid go. At no point, were we not having tons of fun. The nice part is you yo-yo with your partner as you switch running and cycling multiple times, communicating along the way with yells and words of encouragement. There were balance beams and military style wooden obstacles. My favorite was towards the end as you climbed a rope to slide down a big inflatable slide.

After the event, you get to hang out in a huge water hose station where people just try to get cleaned off. It is not until you actually shower that you get rid of the mud behind your ears and underneath your fingernails.

I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for an event unlike any other. It is as hilarious to watch, as it is to participate in. We are already planning on doing it again next year. We will be looking to stand a top the podium next year!

Check out muddybuddy.com

Read this fascinating article about Pat Goodman's recent trip to India.

The Timbuk2 Key Fob we all know and love is a great feature if you’re looking for secure and semi-secret key stashing. However, it’s not-that-hot if you’re looking for quick, exterior access to your keys. Caught in this key fob dilemma, medium Messenger Bag owner, Phillip Z, took matters into his own hands. His hack details are below.

With a little help from Timbuk2 customer service, a few drops of Fiebing’s Leathercraft cement glue and a rivet, I started my Keychain holder hack . . . I simply applied the cement glue to the keychain holder red strap and winded it around the inside of the Timbuk2 Logo label (the one with the “HAND MADE IN SAN FRANCISCO” on one side and the “quality shit since 1989″ on the other side). Then a centered hole was punched and a rivet was attached…that it:)

See more photos of the key fob hack here.

Photo courtesy of Phillip Z.

A quick post about a couple cool things we’ve been up to because we love tooting our own horn. First off, our friends at core77.com have invited us to be guest judges for their back to school 1 hour design contest. If you think you’ve got a good backpack design, and can bust out the concept in under an hour click here for all the details. Doors close Monday, Sept 1, 2008 9 PM PST so get on it!

In related news, when my friend Emily from Global Exchange contacted me about Timbuk2 donating a bag for their 20th Anniversary Event and fundraiser, I happily agreed; but then it occurred to me that she should make the bag herself! It just seemed appropriate for a member of an organization focused on human rights in a global economy that she come into a San Francisco factory and make something. Hui, one of our lead sewers was awesome as always and helped Emily make a great bag. I’m hoping this can become a more regular thing where we can bring other non-profits in to make a bag for a fundraiser. It just seems more meaningful to be bidding on a bag that was hand made by someone in the organization.

Plane ticket to Denver: $250

30 zip-lock baggies filled with boiled potatoes: $40

20 gallons of water: $25

Rental of a 12-passenger van, aka "The Stank Tank": $800

Participating in the suffer-fest known as The Wild West Relay: Priceless

On Friday, August 1, 120 teams pushed off from Fort Collins, Colorado to begin the 2008 Wild West Relay, a 195-mile, running relay in its fifth year. The race took teams on a northwestern route from Fort Collins up into the Rockies, crossed into Wyoming then headed Southwest over the Continental Divide before finishing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The nonstop event took teams anywhere from 24 hours to 35 hours to complete and consisted of 36 individual legs or sections. A single member of each team would run one of the legs, tag a teammate at the end of the leg, and hop into the team van to ride to the next exchange zone.

The Wild West Relay welcomes all varieties of teams and we witnessed this on the course - the super competitive (some elite teams averaged close to 6:00 miles), the super ultra (a team of only three completed the entire course), and the teams that painted their faces, wore skirts (both men and women) and wrote crazy sayings on the sides of their team vans.

Our Rock/Creek team consisted of six runners placing us in the ultra division. Each of us had participated in endurance events of some kind before - triathlons, bike racing, ultras, adventure racing, etc. - however, this event presented a few challenges that would new to some of us. Elevation: The elevation during the race ranged from 6,000 ft to 10,000 ft above sea level. Elevation plus lots of running = lots of fun. Although our team was constantly moving, each runner had a couple of hours of "downtime" between each leg. Just enough time for your body to cool off and tighten up before the next run. Minimal sleep: I don't believe anyone got much more than 30 minutes of sleep. For adventure races, this is evidently the norm; however, for several of us, this was a new race addition.

There was also unanticipated (for some of us) fourth element - the heat. Chad Wamack had warned me that "it gets pretty hot in Colorado in July and August." I kept thinking to myself, "but it's a dry heat. That won't affect a Tennessee boy used to suffocating humidity." Well, a dry heat of 102, as it was on Friday afternoon, can affect you. The dry heat sucks the water out of your body exceptionally fast. So, we quickly learned (or at least I did) to get out of the sun and get in plenty of fluids as fast as possible after a stage. I started to run with a "technical" shirt because it retained just enough moisture to help keep my body temperature down.

After our team had gone through a complete rotation (each person running a leg), I believe we all got into our own routine for recovering from a leg, "cleaning up" (consisted of some combination of wiping off with moist "toilettes", changing clothes, hanging up clothes to dry out, etc.), getting in fluids and food, and "warming up" before the next run. As the race wore on, it became a challenge to continue to eat. After throwing down Power Bars, Cliff Bars, Gatorade, Pop Tarts, boiled potatoes, potato chips, and chocolate milk, your stomach just wants a break.

The one constant in the event, the great scenery provided by the Colorado countryside, made staying up well worth it. Covering the distance on foot (and staying awake for over 24 hours) really lets you soak in the landscapes and experience the Colorado outdoors - the mountains, the valleys, the rivers - at all times of the day - sun rise, high noon, sun set, and the pre-dawn, quiet hours.

Definitely a great experience. We finished as the first place flatlanders team (all team members residing below 2,500 feet sea level) and 22nd overall. A continuous relay of this length really made me appreciate taking the post-race shower, the post-race nap, and that I don't regularly live out of a van (aka The Stank Tank).

-Written by Kevin Boucher

2008 Wild West Relay Rock/Creek Team:

Sam "Lightning" Linhoss, Team Captain

Leigh "It never looks like I'm running hard" Linhoss, Team Accountant

Matt "Look me in the eyes when I'm talking to you" Sims, Team Outfitter

Natalie "Everyone Remain Calm, Heat Stroke is a Learning Experience" Sims, Van Decorator

Chad "Captain Lats" Womack

Lisa "Yes, I look at feet every day but even I'm not touching your feet Chad" Womack, Team Podiatrist and Driver

Kevin Boucher, Team Fighter Pilot

Press Release by Coral Darby, Darby Communications

Outdoor footwear manufacturer Vasque announces today that its Aether Tech Soft Shell trail running shoe is the recipient of the coveted ‘Best Debut’ award in Runner’s World magazine’s annual Fall Trail Running Shoe Guide. Considered a promising new addition to its category, the Aether Tech SS was selected for the award based on tester feedback for the following characteristics: weight, traction, cushioning, support, lacing system and upper material comfort.

“This award truly signifies our desire to create the best performance-enhancing trail running shoe on the market,” notes senior product developer, Brian Hall. “We consider this the highest of honors considering Runner’s World comprehensive and methodical testing methods.”
Testing at the Runner’s World Shoe lab is overseen by Sport Biomechanics, Inc. and supervised by the Department of Sports Medicine at Michigan State University. Testers are required to log a minimum of 25 miles per week for over a one month period. Runner’s World is the only magazine in the world to independently test running shoes in this manner to ensure an objective choice in determining award deserving shoes.

The Aether Tech SS, which has just made its debut for fall, was designed for fast paced runners who need a light but protective shoe. The shoe includes the successful Vasque Aether outsole and a Dual Density EVA midsole for enhanced cushioning under foot. The soft-shell upper is reinforced with a welded TPU and 30% recycled PU nubuck to keep out fine debris while combating moisture. The Aether Tech SS with MSRP $120, also includes the Boa Technology control lacing system for faster, cleaner lacing. Ideal for wet, winter running, the Boa does not freeze up or absorb water.

The Aether Tech SS and the entire fall 2008 Trail Running Shoe Guide can be found in the October 2008 issue of Runner’s World which hits the shelves September 9.
About Runners World
Recognized as the worldwide authority on running information, the mission of Rodale’s Runner’s World is to inform, advise, and motivate runners of all ages and abilities. Runner’s World aims to help runners achieve their personal health, fitness, and performance goals, and to inspire them with vivid, memorable storytelling. Currently Runner’s World publishes 12 international editions. Runner’s World’s award-winning companion Web site, www.runnersworld.com, is the largest running community on the internet, featuring interactive, searchable, and targeted content for runners of all ages and abilities.

About Vasque
As a company that designs footwear to fit the specific needs of its customers, Vasque has a team of accomplished athletes that report straight from the mountains and trails. This hands-on relationship ensures that Vasque shoes perform in real conditions time after time. Based in Red Wing Minnesota, the Vasque commitment to developing products inspired by those who wear them has naturally created forty plus years worth of long-term brand loyalty. The current product line includes award-winning trail running, multisport, hiking, backpacking, mountaineering and a kids’ collection. For more information about Vasque’s products and retailers, visit www.vasque.com.

Plane ticket to Denver: $250

30 zip-lock baggies filled with boiled potatoes: $40

20 gallons of water: $25

Rental of a 12-passenger van, aka "The Stank Tank": $800

Participating in the suffer-fest known as The Wild West Relay: Priceless

On Friday, August 1, 120 teams pushed off from Fort Collins, Colorado to begin the 2008 Wild West Relay, a 195-mile, running relay in its fifth year. The race took teams on a northwestern route from Fort Collins up into the Rockies, crossed into Wyoming then headed Southwest over the Continental Divide before finishing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The nonstop event took teams anywhere from 24 hours to 35 hours to complete and consisted of 36 individual legs or sections. A single member of each team would run one of the legs, tag a teammate at the end of the leg, and hop into the team van to ride to the next exchange zone.

The Wild West Relay welcomes all varieties of teams and we witnessed this on the course - the super competitive (some elite teams averaged close to 6:00 miles), the super ultra (a team of only three completed the entire course), and the teams that painted their faces, wore skirts (both men and women) and wrote crazy sayings on the sides of their team vans.

Our Rock/Creek team consisted of six runners placing us in the ultra division. Each of us had participated in endurance events of some kind before - triathlons, bike racing, ultras, adventure racing, etc. - however, this event presented a few challenges that would new to some of us. Elevation: The elevation during the race ranged from 6,000 ft to 10,000 ft above sea level. Elevation plus lots of running = lots of fun. Although our team was constantly moving, each runner had a couple of hours of "downtime" between each leg. Just enough time for your body to cool off and tighten up before the next run. Minimal sleep: I don't believe anyone got much more than 30 minutes of sleep. For adventure races, this is evidently the norm; however, for several of us, this was a new race addition.

There was also unanticipated (for some of us) fourth element - the heat. Chad Wamack had warned me that "it gets pretty hot in Colorado in July and August." I kept thinking to myself, "but it's a dry heat. That won't affect a Tennessee boy used to suffocating humidity." Well, a dry heat of 102, as it was on Friday afternoon, can affect you. The dry heat sucks the water out of your body exceptionally fast. So, we quickly learned (or at least I did) to get out of the sun and get in plenty of fluids as fast as possible after a stage. I started to run with a "technical" shirt because it retained just enough moisture to help keep my body temperature down.

After our team had gone through a complete rotation (each person running a leg), I believe we all got into our own routine for recovering from a leg, "cleaning up" (consisted of some combination of wiping off with moist "toilettes", changing clothes, hanging up clothes to dry out, etc.), getting in fluids and food, and "warming up" before the next run. As the race wore on, it became a challenge to continue to eat. After throwing down Power Bars, Cliff Bars, Gatorade, Pop Tarts, boiled potatoes, potato chips, and chocolate milk, your stomach just wants a break.

The one constant in the event, the great scenery provided by the Colorado countryside, made staying up well worth it. Covering the distance on foot (and staying awake for over 24 hours) really lets you soak in the landscapes and experience the Colorado outdoors - the mountains, the valleys, the rivers - at all times of the day - sun rise, high noon, sun set, and the pre-dawn, quiet hours.

Definitely a great experience. We finished as the first place flatlanders team (all team members residing below 2,500 feet sea level) and 22nd overall. A continuous relay of this length really made me appreciate taking the post-race shower, the post-race nap, and that I don't regularly live out of a van (aka The Stank Tank).

-Written by Kevin Boucher 2008 Wild West Relay Rock/Creek Team:

Sam "Lightning" Linhoss, Team Captain

Leigh "It never looks like I'm running hard" Linhoss, Team Accountant

Matt "Look me in the eyes when I'm talking to you" Sims, Team Outfitter

Natalie "Everyone Remain Calm, Heat Stroke is a Learning Experience" Sims, Van Decorator

Chad "Captain Lats" Womack

Lisa "Yes, I look at feet every day but even I'm not touching your feet Chad" Womack, Team Podiatrist and Driver

Kevin Boucher, Team Fighter Pilot

Plane ticket to Denver: $250

30 zip-lock baggies filled with boiled potatoes: $40

20 gallons of water: $25

Rental of a 12-passenger van, aka "The Stank Tank": $800

Participating in the suffer-fest known as The Wild West Relay: Priceless

On Friday, August 1, 120 teams pushed off from Fort Collins, Colorado to begin the 2008 Wild West Relay, a 195-mile, running relay in its fifth year. The race took teams on a northwestern route from Fort Collins up into the Rockies, crossed into Wyoming then headed Southwest over the Continental Divide before finishing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The nonstop event took teams anywhere from 24 hours to 35 hours to complete and consisted of 36 individual legs or sections. A single member of each team would run one of the legs, tag a teammate at the end of the leg, and hop into the team van to ride to the next exchange zone.

The Wild West Relay welcomes all varieties of teams and we witnessed this on the course - the super competitive (some elite teams averaged close to 6:00 miles), the super ultra (a team of only three completed the entire course), and the teams that painted their faces, wore skirts (both men and women) and wrote crazy sayings on the sides of their team vans.

Our Rock/Creek team consisted of six runners placing us in the ultra division. Each of us had participated in endurance events of some kind before - triathlons, bike racing, ultras, adventure racing, etc. - however, this event presented a few challenges that would new to some of us. Elevation: The elevation during the race ranged from 6,000 ft to 10,000 ft above sea level. Elevation plus lots of running = lots of fun. Although our team was constantly moving, each runner had a couple of hours of "downtime" between each leg. Just enough time for your body to cool off and tighten up before the next run. Minimal sleep: I don't believe anyone got much more than 30 minutes of sleep. For adventure races, this is evidently the norm; however, for several of us, this was a new race addition.

There was also unanticipated (for some of us) fourth element - the heat. Chad Wamack had warned me that "it gets pretty hot in Colorado in July and August." I kept thinking to myself, "but it's a dry heat. That won't affect a Tennessee boy used to suffocating humidity." Well, a dry heat of 102, as it was on Friday afternoon, can affect you. The dry heat sucks the water out of your body exceptionally fast. So, we quickly learned (or at least I did) to get out of the sun and get in plenty of fluids as fast as possible after a stage. I started to run with a "technical" shirt because it retained just enough moisture to help keep my body temperature down.

After our team had gone through a complete rotation (each person running a leg), I believe we all got into our own routine for recovering from a leg, "cleaning up" (consisted of some combination of wiping off with moist "toilettes", changing clothes, hanging up clothes to dry out, etc.), getting in fluids and food, and "warming up" before the next run. As the race wore on, it became a challenge to continue to eat. After throwing down Power Bars, Cliff Bars, Gatorade, Pop Tarts, boiled potatoes, potato chips, and chocolate milk, your stomach just wants a break.

The one constant in the event, the great scenery provided by the Colorado countryside, made staying up well worth it. Covering the distance on foot (and staying awake for over 24 hours) really lets you soak in the landscapes and experience the Colorado outdoors - the mountains, the valleys, the rivers - at all times of the day - sun rise, high noon, sun set, and the pre-dawn, quiet hours.

Definitely a great experience. We finished as the first place flatlanders team (all team members residing below 2,500 feet sea level) and 22nd overall. A continuous relay of this length really made me appreciate taking the post-race shower, the post-race nap, and that I don't regularly live out of a van (aka The Stank Tank).

-Kevin Boucher

2008 Wild West Relay Rock/Creek Team:

Sam "Lightning" Linhoss, Team Captain

Leigh "It never looks like I'm running hard" Linhoss, Team Accountant

Matt "Look me in the eyes when I'm talking to you" Sims, Team Outfitter

Natalie "Everyone Remain Calm, Heat Stroke is a Learning Experience" Sims, Van Decorator

Chad "Captain Lats" Womack

Lisa "Yes, I look at feet every day but even I'm not touching your feet Chad" Womack, Team Podiatrist and Driver

Kevin Boucher, Team Fighter Pilot

Plane ticket to Denver: $250

30 zip-lock baggies filled with boiled potatoes: $40

20 gallons of water: $25

Rental of a 12-passenger van, aka "The Stank Tank": $800

Participating in the suffer-fest known as The Wild West Relay: Priceless

On Friday, August 1, 120 teams pushed off from Fort Collins, Colorado to begin the 2008 Wild West Relay, a 195-mile, running relay in its fifth year. The race took teams on a northwestern route from Fort Collins up into the Rockies, crossed into Wyoming then headed Southwest over the Continental Divide before finishing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The nonstop event took teams anywhere from 24 hours to 35 hours to complete and consisted of 36 individual legs or sections. A single member of each team would run one of the legs, tag a teammate at the end of the leg, and hop into the team van to ride to the next exchange zone.

The Wild West Relay welcomes all varieties of teams and we witnessed this on the course - the super competitive (some elite teams averaged close to 6:00 miles), the super ultra (a team of only three completed the entire course), and the teams that painted their faces, wore skirts (both men and women) and wrote crazy sayings on the sides of their team vans.

Our Rock/Creek team consisted of six runners placing us in the ultra division. Each of us had participated in endurance events of some kind before - triathlons, bike racing, ultras, adventure racing, etc. - however, this event presented a few challenges that would new to some of us. Elevation: The elevation during the race ranged from 6,000 ft to 10,000 ft above sea level. Elevation plus lots of running = lots of fun. Although our team was constantly moving, each runner had a couple of hours of "downtime" between each leg. Just enough time for your body to cool off and tighten up before the next run. Minimal sleep: I don't believe anyone got much more than 30 minutes of sleep. For adventure races, this is evidently the norm; however, for several of us, this was a new race addition.

There was also unanticipated (for some of us) fourth element - the heat. Chad Wamack had warned me that "it gets pretty hot in Colorado in July and August." I kept thinking to myself, "but it's a dry heat. That won't affect a Tennessee boy used to suffocating humidity." Well, a dry heat of 102, as it was on Friday afternoon, can affect you. The dry heat sucks the water out of your body exceptionally fast. So, we quickly learned (or at least I did) to get out of the sun and get in plenty of fluids as fast as possible after a stage. I started to run with a "technical" shirt because it retained just enough moisture to help keep my body temperature down.

After our team had gone through a complete rotation (each person running a leg), I believe we all got into our own routine for recovering from a leg, "cleaning up" (consisted of some combination of wiping off with moist "toilettes", changing clothes, hanging up clothes to dry out, etc.), getting in fluids and food, and "warming up" before the next run. As the race wore on, it became a challenge to continue to eat. After throwing down Power Bars, Cliff Bars, Gatorade, Pop Tarts, boiled potatoes, potato chips, and chocolate milk, your stomach just wants a break.

The one constant in the event, the great scenery provided by the Colorado countryside, made staying up well worth it. Covering the distance on foot (and staying awake for over 24 hours) really lets you soak in the landscapes and experience the Colorado outdoors - the mountains, the valleys, the rivers - at all times of the day - sun rise, high noon, sun set, and the pre-dawn, quiet hours.

Definitely a great experience. We finished as the first place flatlanders team (all team members residing below 2,500 feet sea level) and 22nd overall. A continuous relay of this length really made me appreciate taking the post-race shower, the post-race nap, and that I don't regularly live out of a van (aka The Stank Tank).

-Kevin Boucher

2008 Wild West Relay Rock/Creek Team:

Sam "Lightning" Linhoss, Team Captain

Leigh "It never looks like I'm running hard" Linhoss, Team Accountant

Matt "Look me in the eyes when I'm talking to you" Sims, Team Outfitter

Natalie "Everyone Remain Calm, Heat Stroke is a Learning Experience" Sims, Van Decorator

Chad "Captain Lats" Womack

Lisa "Yes, I look at feet every day but even I'm not touching your feet Chad" Womack, Team Podiatrist and Driver

Kevin Boucher, Team Fighter Pilot

I recently took all the women in my life to Europe for a vacation and alloted them one lex pack each for all their luggage needs. My daughters are 9 - 13 years old, so it was quite a feat that they lugged their own stuff. They were stars on the streets of Budapest.

I recently took all the women in my life to Europe for a vacation and alloted them one lex pack each for all their luggage needs. My daughters are 9 - 13 years old, so it was quite a feat that they lugged their own stuff. They were stars on the streets of Budapest.

This weekend, we drove up to Yosemite National Park to meet some friends from out of town. We spent the day in Tuolumne Meadows, then met our friends at Curry Village for dinner. The high-summer crowds were out in full force. Curry Village felt like an amusement park, festive and a little claustrophobic. As we stood in line for our buffet dinner, I picked up a flyer with an intriguing headline.

"Park Planning Underway Now!" read the flyer. "Get involved."

Upon closer inspection, I realized that the flyer was an invitation to participate in the planning process for the Tuolumne and Merced River Plans, the management plans that guide the National Park Service's day-to-day operations along the Tuolumne and Merced River corridors. Both the Tuolumne and Merced Rivers are protected under the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, and the Park Service is required to preserve the rivers' Wild & Scenic character, while providing park visitors with adequate services and amenities.

The NPS is currently creating comprehensive management plans for the Tuolumne and Merced Rivers, which both run through Yosemite National Park. As part of the process, the NPS must solicit public comment on its proposed management plans.

The flyer invited park visitors to read planning documents on the NPS website, and then submit comments for the public record.

Producing these management plans is no cakewalk. Planners must balance multiple agencies (from federal agencies, like the Bureau of Land Management, to local agencies), often with conflicting interests, and comply with federal legislation. The planning documents are arcane and difficult to understand, and the Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) are even worse.

This may all seem like a tedious bureaucratic exercise, but the resulting Tuolumne River Plan/Tuolume Meadow Plan and New Merced River Plan will both have a significant impact upon our experience of Yosemite National Park. These plans will guide future development within Yosemite, and may change or even limit visitor access to certain areas of the park.

Continue reading "Help Plan Yosemite's Future"