From 2tbows@neworld.net  Sat Sep  7 14:31:16 1996
Date: Sat, 07 Sep 1996 14:23:28 -0700
From: Thibeault <2tbows@neworld.net>
Subject: The Eagle Has Landed

The Eagle Has Landed

The Eagle has landed and will now join the other Western 100 trail races
as a challenge to those willing to take the dare.  It was an unknown
quality to all 48 starters. Indeed the course designer Joe Marchand, was
surprised that lead runners were so far off of the predicted pace.  The
start at the Apex Ski Resort was pushed back to 4:00 AM, in order to get
the runners out of the high country before dark.  A wise choice.

Ten Californians were among the field of 48 starters.  Included were two
training partners.  Bill Roehr, a judge from Grass Valley and Lyle
Lutton who is running 150 miles a week just because.  Lyle never told me
he was coming up for the event.  Surprise!
 
I started my run comfortably as we trotted up out of the Ski Area and
then descended down a seldom used dirt road toward Hedley Creek.  The
trail soon becomes more complex as it narrows and twists down the small
gorge.  This trail hadn’t been used for 20 years and was very overgrown
and rocky.  Soon we were crossing the creek every 200 yards or so. There
were 13 crossing in all. The last three over foot bridges.  The first of
these was on a 12 inch diameter log with a cable strung across.  About
four runners were crossing at once and when the person in front of me
let go, I lost my footing and found myself hanging over the whitewater!
 On the third try I was able to return to the log and then terra ferma.
 All of this adventure in the first 12 miles.

The Hedley aid station (15 miles) was a very quick stop and I looked
forward to the promise of good footing.  NOT!  The two miles out of the
aid station were bushwhacking around the town of Hedley.  I just thank
God that the don’t have star thistle in BC.  Our next adventure was the
first crossing of the Similkameen River.  Lyle and I were together and
we decided the wise move was to snap our packs around our necks.  The
River at this point is 100 yards wide and mid chest deep.  Thankfully
the current is light, but noticeable.  I couldn’t help but think of
Suzi crossing up to her neck.  Will I told myself at least there will be
good footing on the other side.  NOT!  We faced another mile of
bushwacking in order to find the promised dirt road.  Once there we were
able to run.  Our weather was ideal. It was overcast and cool.  The
weekend before the temps had been into the mid 90’s. The good footing
continued all the way to the Ashnola aid station.  I felt that Lyle had
pushed the pace a bit but we were running in about 11th place.  No
problem.

Ashnola is at the 26 mile and It took 5:36 to get there.  Hmm a little
slow for the downhill section.  Here we start "the climb" up to Lakeview
Crest.  "The climb" begins very gently on paved, then dirt, then jeep
road.  I left the aid station ahead of Lyle, but he got me in a mile and
together we mostly ran up to the Lakeview aid station.  Here we were
greeted by the boy scouts who ran the station.  They were very excited.
 Immediately after we started to climb a steep trail.  I was getting
light flashes and light headed, a sure sign of hypoglycemia.  Nausea
soon followed.  Luckly lunch did not. I fought this problem for over an
hour on "the climb".  Through the light show I watched Lyle disappear up
the trail.  The climb goes on and on.  Soon it was raining and windy and
I found myself stopping with my hands on knees.  Just as I was really
getting depressed I caught up to another runner, Red Fisher from Oregon.
 Nothing will pick me up more in an Ultra than knowing someone else is
suffering more than me.  Another hour or two passed as I cursed the
person who marked every Kilometer of the trail.  Finally the trail
leveled and there were people around who were not dressed in shorts.
Must be close to the aid station! There it was, Quiniscoe Lake. (mile
43)  I got some soup and greeted Jim Swadling who was almost ready to
leave.  Together we jogged out of Quiniscoe and were told the toughest
part of "the climb" is about a mile ahead and it has been snowing.
Great!  Once above tree line, the panorama was spectacular.  Rugged
Peaks with snow clinging in the ravines.  Up ahead was the rocky summit
and on it was Lyle!.  We followed the rock cairns and ribbons up and
over.  Oh boy now for some down hill with good footing.  NOT!   First we
desended down out of the wind for about a mile above treeline on rocky
ridges.  The trail then goes through the Marsh, which was more dry than
wet, but not good footing.  I soon caught up to Lyle and he didn’t seem
to want to run, so I lead and soon heard his footsteps fall into the
distance. From this point the trail continues on the contour from many
miles with some steeps dips.  In general the footing was good and the
trail was downhill.  Within a mile of the next aid station the footing
turned sandy and the trail steep. However, there it was Ewart Creek aid,
just across the bridge.  I was greeted with “You’re halfway”, just as I
checked my watch.  I saw a 24 hour finish vanish right there and then.
Now the issue was finishing!

 I caught up with Jim again and we went off together.  His long legs
were too much for me on the downhill so away he went.  Soon however, I
caught another runner.  He said that this run is just “too tough”.  I
didn’t realize that this was Steve King, who had been leading the race
most of the day.  Shortly afterwards I heard footsteps.  Lyle!  Together
again we run easily through the forest until we ran into the trailhead
parking and realized that we were done with the “Loop”. From here we had
good footing down to the 64 mile aid at Ashnola.  Once more Lyle
disappeared.  I hit a real low spot here.  I knew that I faced a 18 mile
up hill toward then end.  I wasn’t having fun and I found myself walking
some of the downhills.  Could I even finish in the 30 hours?  Once on
the pavement, I know that I had one mile to the aid station and my
pacer.

Once at Ashnola, my spirits revived.  I drank soup, ate bread pudding,
changed socks, and glasses, and had caught three other runners,  Lyle,
Jim, and Gerry Van De Went, another 50 year old.  Maybe this can be a
good run after all.  Lets get out of here.  So with a replenished body,
full pack, and good company.  We left Ashnola once more headed toward
the finish.  The footing will be good out of here.  YES!  Ken Greenaway
and I, trotted off down the road at a good clip.  I still had legs.
Within an hour dusk settled in but we ran without lights.  That is
until I was nearly castrated by a woody, dried weed.  The bleeding
stopped by the river crossing.  Once again we placed our packs around
our necks, and were immediately into the cold water up to th nipples.  I
was shivering once out of the river and had only to walk 1/2 mile to the
Nickel Plate Road aid station.  Here I ate once more and changed
everything I had on.  We faced 25 more miles.  More than 20 of them
uphill.  I was told that of the 48 starters only 18 were left in
the race, and that I was in fourth place.  Unbelievable!

Ken and I started up the road in good spirits.  I knew that I would
finish.  The night and the hills just went on.  We passed the Nickel
Plate mine, with its orange lights.  A truck or two went by, I told lots
of bad jokes to Ken, we talked beer, running etc..., and the time and
miles were put behind me.  Seventeen miles out of Nickel Plate we
entered the last  aid station to find Steven Smucker wrapped in a
sleeping bag.  He had succumbed to hypothermia after having lead the
race much of the day.  We pushed on and up once more for the last loop.
Eight more miles, the first three uphill on jeep road.  Then down with
good footing?  NOT!  Just before cresting out on an open ridge we were
caught by Jim.  He seemed strong but lonely.  He said we would get
through this together.  We pushed along on animal paths, across some
steep scree slopes, and passed several herds of black faced cows.  I
took a nasty fall in this section as I realized that my feet and my mind
were not communicating anymore.  When we hit a very wide open area, it
seemed like the kind of area a ski resort should have.  We were close.
What are those things?  Lights?  Yes it must be the resort.  NOT!  It
was however, the bottom of a ski lift.  We looked at watches and saw the
25 hour time pass.  Now, I have always been told that I was a runner who
could “smell the barn.”  This time I really could smell the barn in one
hundred yards I could even see it.  We crossed the finish line all three
together in 25:06:33.  Tie for third and 2nd in the 50 year division to
Alfred Bogenhuber.

Suzi had a good run as well.  She enjoyed the people, scenery, and the
course.  Ken Geenaway’s wife Dawn paced Suzi.  Her downfall was
sleepiness.  She actually took several naps along the road between
Ashnola and the River crossing.  Although she walked strong uphill,  she
took a ride near the 90 mile mark when it became apparent that she
wouldn’t finish in the 30 hours.

Lyle did finish in 26:46 and was pleased.  Our friend Bill Roehr
finished 14th and was thrilled.  I thought of him often during the run,
because I talked him into going to the Eagle.  It turned out to be his
best race ever.

The 17 finishes out of 48 starters equals a 35% finishing rate.
However, I would recommend the race to those who want the challenge.  Mo
Bealieau, put his heart into this race.  The buckles, trophies, marking,
and volunteers are all first class.  At the awards ceremony, Joe
Marchand and Mo asked the audience for criticism and they were taking
notes. Hey! a race sponsored by a Microbrewery is going to make it.  It
looks like the race will cover much of the same trail next year, but the
Apex Ski resort may not be available again.  It is closing.  So the race
will be different and I think easier.  It will always be a good memory
for me, but can never be the same again.

Gene
2tbows@neworld.net
Gene