Draft Report
I had nothing but fun memories in this lake. Back in the day when I was so eager to train to be the best that I can be, I messaged one of the leaders of a peakbagging group and told him that I'll be driving by myself and can meet the group at Ansel Adam Wilderness. I was a newbie but full of energy.
2014 - July 12 & 13 weekend (Taper Weekend for TRT 100)
I visited a friend's (dying site) of where Tom actually died. My friend Thomas Heng met the unexpected and did not made it back to car parking at Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead in July 2012, where the rest of the group was waiting for him. I was at Tom's Funeral.
I had a permit of climbing Mt. Whitney (for us peakbaggers its one of the easiest 14ers). My goal is to run the downhill and to PR sub 8). The group I was in, preferred to do Mt. Russell to Whitney (a difficult traverse with lots of dangerous climb but they were understanding enough that I cant risk injury for TRT. Its tempting for me to do this adventure but TRT 100 is no joke, I've got to taper. On my way to the summit of Mt. Whitney (14508') my friend Tim Berger and his climbing friend were there.
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| I found Tim Berger at Mt. Whitney Summit |
I think I made it back down to Whitney Portal, a round trip of 7:30 hours, not bad considering that I carried a lot of layers, just in case a bad weather might come. This tells me that I am acclimated.
The Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run 100 Miles
Fast forward to the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 mile endurance run, we started off at 5AM. I had little or no sleep an evening prior. Where I was staying (Kings Beach), the town had some kind of event, concert in the park. The whole town was on party trail.
Few days before my run, I sent my pace plan to Kent (Bull) Dozier. He had commented that it was too fast for the course. I noted it. I really don't know what's going to happen on race day but I have the positive vibe that I will finish strong. I've been acclimating every weekend from altitude 8000 ft to 14000 ft. I was positive that running the TRT 100, I won't be huffin and puffin.
It was great camaraderie at the start line. Friends from the ultra distance community, a lot of us were on this race, either running, pacing or crewing.
TRT is my training run for the Tahoe 200 Club. It is a 200 mile endurance run circumnavigating the Lake Tahoe's - Tahoe Rim Trail. Therefore, I had no crew and I planned on no pacer either. Kent Dozier was too kind to offer to actually pace me. Knowing now what happened on race day, it was a gratitude that Kent paced me.
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| Alvin took a picture of us before the run @ Start Line. |
From Hobart to Diamond Lodge (30 miles)
I had a great run on this segment. Kent told me that I passed a lot of runners. Back in the day that I just started running or even back in the day that I just started my backcountry training, Downhilling is my favorite. I can really go fast on a downhill. So I can easily call myself a downhiller. Though it is my favorite, it is also the caused of my injuries (mostly patellar pain). I never understood it why I get injured on the downhill, until few race runs when it is a cold start, I noticed that my knees do not get the nutrients supply that it needs. In other words, my knees do not have blood supply. Whenever it is a hot day, even how extremely hot it is, my knees perform very well.
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| Trevor and I running towards Tunnel Creek |
From Bull Wheel to Diamond Lodge, the temps shoot up. Although it is much nicer to perform on cooler temps but my knees can take the pounding and beating on a hot day. I logged 12 minute pace on this segment.
Hobart Station, I must say I had a great run. I love the smoothies that was served at Hobart Station. I had 3 cups but I wanted to have a pitcher full of smoothie really. The fruit sugar is very good when one is doing activities at higher altitude.
To Snow Valley
Along the Ridgeline, I felt the strong breeze. I am sensitive with cold winds. My backcountry training provided me lessons on what it felt like and what type of winds that will bring bad weather. Mammatus clouds can be seen in the distance and its wind direction, Snow Valley is the most likely direct hit. I was observing the breeze, it was very likely that a hail storm is coming also. I can take the hail storm at this altitude, not sure of the lightning.
Lightning Storm
Before I reached the Snow Valley Aid Station, a lightning strike occurred, it hit a small granite rock not far from me, splitting the rock into two pieces. I felt the heat and its static. It brought me back memories of "my bad weather escapade" in the High Sierras. I used to downplay when bad weather comes. After all I came out alive. Until a close friend died from weather related storm climbing the mountain, since then I take storms seriously.
Tom Heng could still be alive by now and we could have done our 14er and higher mountain pursuit, only if he is alive.
I paused my running and think, what shall I do? Snow Valley is too exposed, there is no such place to hide. By then I reached the Snow Valley AS. A few of us were discussing what to do. One suggested to descend directly down. Most of us did not like the idea. One by one the runners started leaving. The tent was not equipped with Lightning suppression. A lightning strike could kill us all.
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| Runners at Snow Valley Aid Station Volunteers were evacuated Runners Serving Ourselves |
When the rain started to taper, I thought of taking the risk. My knees were getting cold, I might not make it to 50 mile mark. It was scary but I was confident. My knees were exposed to the cold but my GTX jacket protects my upper body. With 7 miles to 50 Mile Aid Station, I can handle it. I can run the downhill slowly so as not to risk of knee injury.
50 Mile Aid Station
I reached the 50 Mile happily. It was like a zoo. Everywhere is wet. I wanted to change to warmer clothes but no place to change. Eventually I was able to change my shirt. I was hoping I can change to warmer running tights and eat more high protein. I stashed in my bag, cans of oysters but I couldn't find these cans. I was disappointed....
Second Lap of TRT
By this time Kent started pacing me. Kent is a fast runner and I have lots of stories waiting to hear for and from him. Anything we talked about. Kent has become my great friend. He did TRT in 2013. I may have arrived looking good at the 50 mile mark, but what it was, a delayed onset of what was inevitable, "Bonking".
My last nutrition was in Hobart, three cups of smoothies, that's all I had. When I started the second lap, I had only two bananas and some soup. My last 100 miler run, I requested my Dad to bring me dinner. This time though, because it is a farther location, I did not ask my Dad to bring me dinner. I thought of it, it could make such a big difference if I only have eaten dinner. It would prevent this bonking that I really really hate.
I slogged up the uphill. John Gieng and his pacer Jesse, gave me some grapes. I had to forget about my 24 hour pace, to now my mission, is to chase the cut-off time of every aid station. I was not critically late but it would have been great to have much cushion.
The storm killed my spirit of running strong!
Aid Station Cut-off
Kent reminded me how much time I have left for the next aid station. Typically Kent runs behind and I run on my pace. The constant reminder wakes me up. So I run 30 seconds and walk for 30 seconds.
I swear I would really love to eat more. Food that I would like to eat, I didnt care if its gluten free or greasy....I just want 15000 calories and loads of potassium, to jump start my energy. I know my body was breakin down no matter how I fought for it to come back. Reality v science, the science won.
Bull Wheel to Diamond Lodge
This segment was the lowest of my lows, you combine bonking and sleep deprivation, I could crawl and not be bothered by mountain lions and bears. Kent was behind me, thankful for that. I had this habit of not calling for help, so if Kent was ahead, it is very likely that I would just crawl and be done.
Another reminder from Kent "its 3AM when the sun comes up you'll be awake". It did, the sunrise made me want to run. I again run the downhill to Diamond Lodge. However I was chasing cut-off time.
Considering that I bonked and ran the down hill, I did fine power hiking to Diamond Peak.
The Second Storm
While traversing the ridgeline to Hobart Station, I felt the same type of wind. The storm is again coming. This time it is stronger than Saturday. I was hoping that I could be wrong. I planned to drop. I left my gear at Diamond Lodge drop bag. I can't fight this storm and I can't fight nature. They always win! I have to drop before this storm catch me. It will only be a matter of time that I might get seriously injured doing what I love to do. It was only last week that I visited my friend Tom's dying site. Tom died below the crannies of Old Army Pass. Of all the dangerous places, Tom died at the easiest place to hike in the Sierras.
The trail to Snow Valley is not difficult but its exposed. I didnt want to be caught up there again! Alas, Hobart Aid Station is within sight. I descended directly. I looked up at those 4WDs, it will be nice to hitch ride back to civilization. I'm going to be put off my fear and be put out of my agony.
Before I even get the chance to say something, my pacer Kent drag me back to switch back, as if I had to return. I was delirious. I didn't understand what was he doing but I cant't wait to be riding the 4WD. They've got nice vehicles out there... the thought of heater, food and taking of my shoes and socks seemed lovely thought of luxury...
Kent was saying something. I didn't catch it. Another volunteer approached me, he asked what I would like to eat. I said I don't want to eat. I thought of......not that food again...its the same food. The volunteer offered smoothies.. .. That lights up my head, off I got up and finished the smoothies. I'd really like a pitcher of smoothies but the only way to get a pitcher of smoothies is to DNF. I didn't care if I DNF.. To DNF or risking to be caught on the approaching storm? DNF will give me the luxury that I want or the storm that I might die or risk of severe injury? Which is it going to be?
After consuming the smoothies, I was slightly back to life. Kent said, "let's go". I told Kent, I dont have 10 more miles. I didn't want to go back out there.
Kent's face shrunk and unhappy of what he heard from me. The thought of it looking at Kent - an argument is waiting to erupt. Kent sighed "Ingrid - if you are doing 200, this is your training. Its all in your head".
Kent talked to volunteers and I seemed to disagree of what he said. When Kent got back to me, " you have to hike out if you are to DNF here". Now this doesn't make sense..... I have no energy left to be arguing to the volunteers. I have no desire to even say a thing or two, but what on earth they got this idea from, that I have to hike out if I DNF?
Kent got his way, but for one last thing, I told the volunteers that I got caught in that storm yesterday... just giving them a hint.. The volunteer responded that this storm will come around 3PM. So Okay I got my hint, I have to hike out and now it doesn't make any sense to not to finish if I have to put more miles to my legs, just to DNF, I might as well run to the Finish Line.
I passed Snow Valley and a volunteer greeted me "Welcome Back". It was funny when I heard it. Yeah I made it alive on the first storm...with the second storm approaching, no idea what's going to be. As usual I made my pitch, how scary it was to be caught on the lightning storm - hoping that I could have a seat in one of the 4WDs but nadda.
To the Finish Line
On the descend to the Finish Line, there were few of us, runners and pacers, just doing a brisk walk and talking. Kent misses his family by now and looking forward to catching up with them at the Finish Line. Once again, a little sprinkle and then swooooooshhhhhh. The storm pounded the mountain, lightning strikes at every direction and then hail of varying sizes.
Kent loaned me his jacket and then he took off. My head was again, took me back to the days I got caught on Sierra storms, few came out bad and my friends were caught at it with injuries. At this moment, each of us runners and pacers were on our own. I heard David from Walnut Creek was yelling at me, "Ingrid some hails are bigger than others". My nose just got hit by a slightly bigger hail. Oh that really hurt. So I kept on running, I covered my face with my hands. My hands were hurting from receiving the hail strikes. So I kept going with my head down, just looking at the trail, hoping no bigger hail, no landslides, no chunk of trees falling or no down trees to fall over me.
It was a risk!
Alas the Finish Line was in sight. But it was abandoned. So officially 3 runners took the detour to find where a volunteer manning the Finish Line to see us.
Another visit to the abandoned Finish Line, this time Steve was there to get our Finish Time.
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| Finish Time TRT100 Endurance Run |
I was shivering badly. A runner whisked me the other tent. He said, "you need to be in the other tent, they have heaters there". As I went inside this tent, lots of runners, pacers, volunteers were there seeking cover. I stayed as closed to the heater. I was still cold. Tawnya Dozier (wife of Kent was there). Tawnya recommended that I change. The second time Tawnya offered, I changed my top clothes. I asked Tawnya if there are food.
Soon Noe Castanon gave us (Alvin and I) food to eat, a burritos we shared. It filled my stomach but I needed more food. Soon soups were served.
The isolated storm was apocalyptic in size, few inches of hail and rain in just few hours. It was, for a lot of us who got caught, an epic Finish and Im glad to be part of it (or not).
I can't thank enough Kent and his gracious wife Tawnya for being there. The couple have been nice with me. Kent particularly have been a great friend despite our geographic location.
TRT 100 is also a reunion of Kent, Trevor and I - the 4MPH trooper
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| Road trip during our 4MPH Challenge to Whiskeytown |
Conclusion
I finished my TRT 100 mile (training run) with a happy ending. I made it in one piece. I've got to learn to forget what my friends suffered during those bad storms. I have been cautious but I need to let it go.
Overall, I am still adventuring in the High Sierras. Its the place where I wanna be most of the time. Its the place that gives me peace and quiet and its the place that helped me forget stress, work and dealing with past relationships.
The High Sierra prepares me for bigger challenges and I am looking forward to Tahoe 200.
The High Sierra is the place that I always bounced back to life.
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