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This was a special anniversary for us....three years ago this was mine and
Weaver's first 50 miler...so now we have completed the ride for the third
time, and I'm happy to say that each year he does better. This year we
completed in 5th place in 4:36 ride time.
So guess what I forgot THIS time? My HELMET!! I felt uncomfortable thru
the entire ride, like something was missing (it was!)...I am going to pack
a spare helmet in the trailer from now on so that doesn't ever happen
again. I saw two riders come off on this ride, and rumor has it that there
were more than that! ;^) (gosh, even one of the vets commented about my
missing helmet!)
The first loop was 9 miles. Came back to camp, had to P&R and vet check
with no hold time. We weren't the first in, but was the first to P&R.
Vetted with a HR of 44! Went back out for the second loop - 11 miles. This
is where paying attention helps. I had been riding about the mid teens in
placing, and every mile or two a few of the riders would take a wrong
turn..or rather they would keep going down the trail and miss the turns. I
kept yelling at people to come back, turn left, turn right, etc., and kept
a lot of people from just continuing on into the sunset (or rather,
sunrise...)...and each time that happened we would move up a few placings
as we would turn on the right trail as we got to it and the others had to
turn around to come back. This part of the trail was cross country and it
was like a treasure hunt - find the ribbon!
The trail itself was really gorgeous. We were in the pine trees...with
awesome views of pastures, hills...and early on Twin Lakes. Everything was
beautiful and green. The footing for the most part could not have been
better. There were some spots to cross that would make you glad if you
were on a sure-footed mount. Later in the ride where were tons of creek
crossing and nice green grass...a perfect combination especially on a
summer day.
By the time I got back to camp the second time we had moved up a dozen
spots or so. This time again, Weaver was the first horse to P&R, he was
doing really well. We vetted thru just fine and had our hour break. The
next loop was a 30 mile loop, and the most enjoyable part of the ride. The
only drawback we had is that our out times were only about 25 minutes
behind the start of the 30 milers..which were doing the same exact trail
that we were. Most of the riders were courteous and allowed us to pass
easily and without protest.
That loop starts with a long gradual climb. This is the part of the trail
that separates the conditioned horses from the ones that aren't. I knew we
were ready for this hill, and we continued up it at a steady trot the
entire way. Weaver's heart rate reached a high of 156. He does a really
good job of rating himself. While he can trot a lot faster, he is so used
to me always having my alarm set at 165 that for some reason he knows not
to exceed the 'speed limit'. I wonder how he knows...but he does. I was
riding with a rider named Fred and we were both cooking right along. We
trotted thru the vet check area that upon returning from another loop would
be our final vet check out on the trail, before the finish. Weaver was
drinking well and felt really strong and the best he's felt ever. I was
only hoping to complete this ride...still worrying about whether or not he
would be bothered by the ringworm that he had just had.
This one last loop was fun. We continued to pass more 30 milers. My horse
continued to drink from all the creek crossings...and was grabbing bites of
grass everywhere he could. At one section, I gave him a squeeze and told
the other two riders I was with that we should move it unless we wanted a
bunch of others to pass us up. So Weaver took off and boy did he feel
great! Talk about exhileration! We were having a blast...flying thru the
wind. Then...hehe...out of nowhere comes a dip with a creek crossing.
ooooooops...so I pull back on the reins. (we ride in a vosal) Don't know if
that was good or bad...because he listened <g>...and did a nice sliding
stop...good thing for me I set back at the right time...not yet sure if he
was going to stop, leap over the water...or what. Just in the nick of
time, another horse came flying by and jumped the creek in front of us, so
made it easy for us to just continue going along at a trot. No sudden
leaps...and after I realized that I wasn't going to become airborn I was
grinning from ear to ear. (yeah, I did think boy I wish I had my helmet
on!) We were off again! We went thru a few gates...the kind where you have
to get off and open and close. We got to the part of the trail where we
were supposed to turn left..and luckily I remembered from the year before
that we turned here. The other two riders (if I had let them) would have
gone thru the gate and continued on. We crossed another creek crossing and
headed down the trail...back to the last vet check. We had more gates to
open and close, which allowed more riders to catch up to us. Some of these
other riders used the gate openings and closings to pass us. I am not that
aggressive of a rider..because I would not allow somebody to open and close
a gate for me, and then take off and leave them behind.
So we headed into the vet check. I get off at the gate and check the HRM.
Weav was already at - criteria. Yeah! By the time I got him down to the
creek and across to p&r he was well below criteria. If only I could get a
P&R person. I was not aggressive enough and people behind me were getting
p&r's taken on their horses before me! As it turned out, again...Weav
ended up getting the first P&R anyway...so we were to be the first horse
out at the 45 mile point. Vetted...was happy to receive straight A's on
the vet card...(from a picky vet too!)...yeah! :-)) Couldn't find an out
timer so I got out late and a couple of riders somehow ended up in front of
me. We headed off again for the last 5 mile stretch...an easy section that
we galloped most of the way. It was an all out horse race between four or
five of us. It was amazing to me how strong all of our horses were. We
lost the trail about a mile or two from camp...the cows had been busy
eating the ribbons (really!)...and so we spent some time riding around
trying to find the trail. Luckily, I remembered from the ride meeting that
they mentioned something about the cows being under the big trees and we
were supposed to ride thru them. So we did! Finally found the trail. In
the process, one of the riders who was galloping across the pasture was
sent flying as his horse came upon a creek and slammed on the breaks.
Luckily, he was only shaken, not stirred. <g> The remainder of the trail
was basically a road and flat. I was galloping along with the rest of the
four until we came to some final creek crossing. Weaver wanted to
drink....so I let him, while the others urged their horses on...racing for
2nd place. I don't feel comfortable going real fast without a helmet
on...and I didn't think it was that important and so allowed them to go on
ahead and ended up placing 5th within a few seconds behind.
I weighed in, pulled tack...and...from the scale to the camp area my HRM
came off (belt kind). I know I had it at the last vet check because I had
checked readings on it. Somebody said they saw it on my horse when I was
weighing in...so I have to assume that somebody must have picked it up. If
anybody knows anybody who may have found it, pleeez, pleeez, pleeez return
it to the Bumgardner's! (or me) It also had the watch attached to the
styrofoam. I am going to give up even trying to use a HRM. This is
getting too expensive!
We were done already...and it was only 11:15 a.m.! So we got to sit back
and enjoy the afternoon. It was a beautiful day. It looked like everybody
crossing the finish line had a smile on their face. After the awards and
BBQ we headed home. Weaver broke out of 'jail' (his corral) because I had
not latched the pin....so we look up to see his rear end trotting off
across camp...I finally rounded him up. Guess the grass is always greener....
What a day :-).
Saw a lot of ridecampers at this ride...Claire, Lynne, Kat, Rebecca,
Jim...and Jim, Sharon...and a few others, sorry if I forgot some of you!
Everybody seems to notice the horse with the red easy boots on so nobody
has any trouble spotting me. :-)
90 horses started the 50. I think 83 or 84 completed. 30 horses started
the 30, and all 30 completed. For completion awards we all got lights..the
kind that you can use in your camper or trailer. Really nifty.
Next year I'll have my helmet...watch out at the finish line! <vbg>
Happy Trails,
Karen
in Gardnerville
& Dream Weaver 825 miles :-)
& Rocky
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