Scared Shitless at HR100 (Pacing)

Congratulations to Scott for finishing Hardrock 2011 during his first attempt. 38 hours 22 minutes. 32nd overall. His conservative game plan early on paid off. He was something like 80th coming into Grouse (Mile 41.5) and slowly picked off the competition and looked stronger as the miles went by.

I had the pleasure of crewing and pacing Scott this past weekend down in the heart of the San Juans. Along with his friend Pat and wife Sharron, our team spent the day and a half driving around from town to town, aid station to aid station to ensure that Scott got what he needed.

(Scott and Pat about to leave Grouse)

My pacing started at Chapman Gulch(Mile 81.4) roughly around noon Saturday. By this time, his ambitious goal was to finish before it got dark. Up to this point, Scott's only rough patch was heading up Handies and being annoyed with having to venture all the way down to the Hot Springs of Ouray for check in.

Upon leaving Chapman, I spent the next 15 minutes trying to assess Scott's mental and physical state. He was tired, he was excited to have me march him into Silverton and that son of a bitch was looking strong (though he didn't want to admit that). I set the pace the whole way up Swamp Canyon. Passing folks who own double digit Hardrock finishes scared Scott but he kept on motoring along.

Finally got our first real view of Grant-Swamp pass from a few pitches below. Based on earlier landmarks, I was guesstimating that the group of 4 ahead of us had a 20 plus minute lead. They were also displaying a nice zig zagging route to scramble up during the last 1/4 mile steep pitch. About 100+ yards from where the pitch starts it happened.

Literally minutes ago the sun was shining. It got dark. The sky lit up with a flash and at the same exact time an explosion of thunder erupted. Easily the loudest boom I have ever heard and one of those bolts that start out with a long cracking sound followed by an explosion left with the echos ringing off the peaks. Scared the shit out of me so bad that I dropped to the ground. Scott, just feet away from me looked just as scared. We looked at each for an answer to the question neither of us asked. What now? Another loud boom just to remind us that we were in the heart of a storm.

Funny how the first thing I thought about upon hearing the lightening was whether or not I'd ever see my wife or daughter again. How pissed my wife would be once I told her of this occurrence. How if I did die by lightening that I hope it goes quick cause dying a slow death and getting thumped by that hail would really suck balls.

We quickly decided that heading up and over was our best bet. Going backwards to treeline simply wasn't an option. 1) It was to far and 2) You don't go backwards in a race. Rain, then painful hail mixed in with numerous flashes and booms. Scott and I bee-lined up Swamps face. Sprinted the short ridge line (yes we paid our respects to Joel Zucker by tossing a rock near his plaque) and literally ran fell and tumbled our way onto the switchback heading down Ice Lakes Basin. One more accidental tumble and we would have both been swimming in Island Lake.

That group 20 minutes ahead of us were just feet below the pass and we were on their ass. Didn't think much of it till all a few basically said "I think you just set a speed record heading up Swamps". The rain was still a downpour and every step was either in a muddy bog or in a cold puddle. All Scott or I cared about was treeline and we pushed it during the drop.

Once there the rain stopped. The sun came out. My shivering body warmed up. Cloths (which wasn't much) began to dry. The muddy & slippery drop down the Ice Lakes drainage didn't bother either Scott or I. The Kamm Traverse offered up the best sun rays and we took our sweet time cutting across the mountain face. Arrival into KT (miles 88.4) was awesome as it was being ran by lots of fine Durango folks who know Scott well and a few who remembered me from my days down there. Our split was under 3 hours. All those at the aid station were keeping tabs on Scott and were impressed by the time considering the terrain and conditions we were dealing with.

(Kamm Traverse heading to KT)

As crazy as the last 3 hours were, we still had 13+ miles left. In short, the remaining miles were like this:

South Mineral almost took Scott for a wild ride. How I was able to pull him in is beyond me. We had warm sun and a muddy climb up to the Porcupine-Cataract saddle. We got nailed badly with the most painful hail as we traversed the Putnam ridge. Arm warmers also make good neck gaiters. Once the hail stopped the rain just dropped at an insane rate. Lots of thunder and lightening and each one of them freaked the shit out of me. Dying once again entered my mind. Mineral Creek itself almost swept Scott clear to Durango. Going back out a few steps into the rapids to grab him completely exhausted me. Scott crossed the finish line before sunset!

(U.S. Grant with Grant-Swamp Pass too the left)

(Near the top of Putnam Basin - Enlarge to see hail & Scott minimizing the pounding)

(Scott not excited about crossing the gnarly Mineral Creek)

We crossed Greene St (Silverton's only paved street) completely soaked and freezing to death. We honestly thought we were dead at Swamps, dead above Putnam and for Scott, dead at Mineral Creek. Yet we were laughing our asses off at all the shit we had just went thru over the past 8 hours. Right then a car stopped along side Scott and yelled out something like "Hell Yeah! You rock!" The car drove off honking and thumbs up sticking out the window. Scott asks me "who in the hell was that magician driving around in a clown car?" I replied back laughing, "That was Ricky Gates complementing your soon to be kissing of the Hardrock."

Thursday night thru Sunday noon spent in the San Juan's. God's country. A place I would love to one day call home again. A place that some how gets more beautiful with each and every visit. I can't thank Scott enough for letting me help him out on his amazing accomplishment. Funny how a down right scary 8 hours and 20 miles are easily the most enjoyment I've ever had of running in my life. Hoping he gets in again next year so we can do it all over again!