Mountain run falls into that category. The inaugural OG50 was scheduled to run around and over the Saddleback Mountains in the Cleveland National Forest on November 10. Baz Hawley and I, two members of the Old Goats Trail Runners, spent a year in preparation; designing the course, measuring the trails with GPS, double checking distances and elevations, clearing away obstacles, traveling around the State advertising the event, and recruiting support people. Applications were received, trophies and finishers medals were hand made, embroidered shirts, mugs, and t-shirts were purchased… and then some (expletive deleted) set a fire below the Saddleback Mountains. The Santiago fire burned into and up the sides of Silverado, Modjeska, and Live Oak Canyons and up to the route of the Old Goat Fifty. With three weeks to go, the Forest Service shut down all access to the Cleveland National Forest and by definition, the race. Baz called some of his ‘mates’ in the Forest Service and they assured him the forest would likely reopen in time for the race. But, because of the fire, applications stopped arriving and those pre-entered starting calling. “No Problems mate”, reassured Hawley. I e-mailed all the entrants, “We’re still a go”, though my gut ached as I typed. After two weeks, Newspaper and TV reporting switched to more interesting mayhem and information about the remaining Santiago hot spots became scarce. Though Baz and I grew more confident that the race would actually happen, our only source of information about the course was the Forest Service and they had more concerns on their minds than those of two ‘old goats’ who wanted to host a ‘jog’ over the burning mountain. With ten days to go, Hawley reached his Forest Service contact and received word that the race could proceed, though the course wouldn’t be accessible for maintenance until the following Wednesday. Three days to clear and mark fifty miles of trail? Doable I thought if I took time off from work and recruited a few volunteers. I relaxed for the first time since the fire started… My home near the fire was never threatened and the race could go on… I contacted the entrants with the following e-mail! Hello folks, We heard from the forest service today... The race is on!!!!!
BUT! They also added that permission could be rescinded at any time up to race day depending on the situation.
Steve
I was so excited about the first sentence that I overlooked the second. Big Mistake! On Tuesday evening the Forest Service informed Baz the race couldn’t use the Main Divide Truck Trail – the last twenty two miles of the course… We were out of the Old Goat Race business. We brain-stormed – what were the options – take the race south and into the San Mateo Wilderness? Over the environment lobbies dead body! Reschedule to April? Conflicts with other races! Offer my first born to the El Cariso Hot Shots? Hmmm…! Baz, being more practical, asked me to redesign the course to exclude the Main Divide on the fire side (north) of Santiago Peak, and he’d try to sell it to the Forest Service. I reviewed my trail distance logs - Fifteen minutes later I proposed a course that would meet Baz’s requirements. It was runnable but not with as many aid stations. And, it still afforded the tough scenic course we had promised the entrants. On Wednesday Baz, pleaded with his ‘good mate’ – and Virgil said Yes! I immediately pocketed one of the ‘special use permits’ and began clearing and marking trails that hadn’t been traveled in almost a month. Though I have fairly decent Ultra credentials, back to back twenty mile days are a part of my ultra-past! Clearing twenty miles of fallen branches, hanging ribbon and laying down flour arrows while doing it isn’t a part of any history! On Friday afternoon We placed the last turn direction sign at the highest point of the race, a mile from (and 250 feet below) the Summit of Santiago Peak, and then hung marking ribbons as we drove towards the races finish line - the last fifteen miles of the South Main Divide Road. On Saturday morning, November 10th, the Old Goat Fifty Mile Mountain Race – ‘the race that fire couldn’t kill’ started on time. Thirty One persistent individuals finished the race within the fourteen hour time limit. I credit the success to Baz Hawley’s persistence and his good mate Virgil’s willingness to expedite the requests (pleads) through the National Forest organization. But, even they could not make it happen had it not been for the efforts of the firefighters who keep us safe every day, even when we’re out playing on the trails!
Steve Harvey
|
