Update: August 16 please read this!

Venue - Parking - please take a look at this so you know what to anticipate as you arrive!!

Belesemo Arabians has joined the list of sponsors of the AERC National Championship, Arabian Nights Endurance Festival! (see below - Wednesday dinner!)

The 55 and 100 mile rides are AHA sanctioned (AHA is a major sponsor of this event).

Clinics:
in addition to the shoeing/trimming and APEX clinics (on Friday) Stagg Newman will present his 'Moving Up' presentation on Thursday afternoon (happy hour - out back - 4-5pm).

Vet/Diagnostics:
Alex North will be bringing her blood analyzers to Oreana. She has the capability to measure, not only electrolytes, but also full chemistries, including muscle enzymes, in the field. If anyone wants to run some blood on their horses after the travel, before the race starts, we can do that. Contact Michele Rousch- bcm@gv.net - if you want to do this so they can estimate the supplies they'll need

Mike Foss is bringing his ambulatory unit with I-stat for diagnostics. Mike Foss DVM, Olin Balch DVM and Pete Knox DVM (Idaho Equine Clinic) are qualified for treatment. Pete Knox is the official treatment vet for Saturday (100), Olin Balch is the official treatment vet for Thursday (55). We will have plenty of fluids and supplies but PLEASE TAKE CARE!!! High temps will probably be in the 80's, it is very dry, horses dehydrate quickly out here. Water on the remote mountain trail is natural water, and some horses don't do well with cattle tanks and creek crossings. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THE CONDITIONS AND RIDE CAREFULLY!

Parking:
-There will be designated FEI, and AERC (general) horse parking. All FEI horses must be stabled within the designated camping areas, or in the FEI pens. If FEI horses are in the rented pens (FEI section) you may park your rig in either section. e.g. the separation only applies to the horse.
**We will post a diagram on the website - Venue - Parking - please take a look at this so you know what to anticipate as you arrive!!
-AERC (non-FEI) may park in any non-FEI area, including the small camping section immediately as you enter the venue on either side of the entry road. (no horse camping on the grass!!)
-We placed rails perpendicular to the pens, to direct you to park *perpendicular* to the pens so we can fit more rigs in. You may move the rails after/during your parking - they are there as a guide/reminder only.
-The camping area is weedy (sorry!) - it seemed better to leave the weeds than to drag the area and create even more dust.
-SPREAD the manure and straw please after you leave.
>We encourage you to use the straw to control the dust in your camp. You may also use the hoses and water to control dust. Please return hoses to hydrant area after you use them!!

>RV's (non-horse) and tents may park/camp in the grassy area along the creek (as you enter). Signs will be posted. Do not park in reserved areas please.

VetChecks:
-All of the VC's for the 55 mile ride are OUT. We will haul gear for riders, and/or try to coordinate crews to help each other out. We will have horse water, grass and alfalfa hay, and people water at each vc. Bag lunches are available ($5) at the vetcheck(s) if you let the chefs know in advance.
-Access to VC1 and VC2 is good, it will be easy for crews to go to both of these vc's. VC1 is at 14 miles. VC2 is at 50 miles.
-VC3 access Tis at the end of a 10 mile -very primitive- dirt road. VC3 is only 7 miles from the finish - and if crews go to this vc it will be difficult to get back to camp in time to meet riders at the finish. We highly recommend that you either combine crew rigs, or send stuff out with management. It will be a short (30 minute) hold. We should have enough volunteers at the vc's to help riders (hold horses, etc) that do not have crews.

For 100's:
-VC3 will be in camp. VC4 is at the Sierra del Rio ranch, north of basecamp (near the Snake River). Crew access is good. There will be a crew access point along Hwy 78 on way to the VC.
-VC5 is back in camp. There will be a final 8 mile loop, and finish in camp.

Hay: we will provide hay for the vetchecks and have very good orchard grass and alfalfa hay for purchase in camp. Certified Weed Free hay is not required in camp.

Trail:
The first 7 miles are fairly straight forward, one steep climb at 2 miles to get up on top, then road (rocky in places) to the first water point at 7 miles (also VC3). The next 5 miles have some of the most difficult footing on the entire course. Some very rocky gully crossings, some washed out trail - it will be very 'stop and go' - with constant changes and technical challenge. Be careful!! After VC1 you will have decent footing, with some rocky sections, a 2 mile cross country section (fairly technical) and then start climbing and climbing -with so-so footing alternating with rocky footing. Once you're on top you'll have rolling terrain, pretty good footing (with a couple short rocky sections) and then 2 miles of graded gravel road leading into VC2. From VC2 you'll have some nice road and 2-track and then drop down into the second most difficult part of the course. As you come down off the mountain there are some very rocky sections (sharp loose rocks) - take care!! It's bad for about 3 miles (but the views are great!) and then you drop down into VC3.
The desert loop (for the 100's) is pretty decent footing the entire way. A few rocky spots, a few sandy spots, probably dusty in sections, but this will be easy going, and relatively flat and fast.
The final 8 miles are trail and 2-track - mixed footing, but generally pretty good. The final 1.5 miles are along the dirt/sand road coming into camp from the canyon (the same trail you went out on for the 55 mile loop)
We highly recommend pads or easyboots!! Especially for the 55 mile section.

Farriers:
-Bruce Worman and Kirk Adkins will be here and will be going out to the vetchecks. Bruce is the offical ride farrier. If you have special work you'd like them to do before, during or after the race, please arrange work and fees in advance. They will have plenty of pads, packing and equithotics with them.

Comm:
Cell phones do not work at any of the VCs - although you can drive up to the top of the hill above VC4 and get signal. There is signal along Hwy78 and in Oreana. There is spotty signal in camp (by the hitching rail, on the hill tops, here and there)... but don't count on too much.
>Wireless internet - there will be plenty of signal in camp, wireless broadband link - so it's pretty fast. Teddy (Runningbear) and Susan (Healthy as a Horse)will have satellite wireless out at the vendor area.

Meals:
Belesemo Arabians is sponsoring Wednesday night dinner (no charge) for the 55 mile entries. Extra dinners may be purchased for $10. Belesemo Arabians is located in Caldwell, Idaho - about 40 miles from basecamp, we encourage you to take a visit!
-We will provide dinner (no charge) for the 55 and 100 mile entries Thursday night. Extra dinners may be purchased for $12.
-The Malaysia 2008 WEC Organizing Committee will be providing dinner (no charge) for everybody Friday night! (still pending, but probable).
-We will provide breakfast (no charge) for all ride entries Sunday morning. Extra breakfast may be purchased for $7.
-Meals and drinks (including wine and beer) may be purchased from the chefs (Blue Canoe Catering) at any time beginning Wednesday afternoon.

Clinics:
-Thursday afternoon (happy hour) Stag Newman will be in the back yard to give his 'Moving Up' clinic - how to start planning for longer and more competitve rides, and keeping your horses fit and sound.
-Friday morning will be a farrier (hands on) clinic - balanced shoeing and trimming.
-Friday mid-day will be an APEX min-clinic. (John Crandell, Stagg Newman, Troy Ball). Clinic and lunch (no host) out back on the shaded lawn.

Tourism:
Carol Brand has compiled a list of a few local attractions while you're in Oreana - link to tourism, local attractions
Carol and Rick (Lost Juniper Ranch) are doing all of the water sets for the ride. This is a big deal!! We are very grateful to have them as neighbors and as supporters of the Owyhee Rides!

Gas/Store/Feed/Misc: link to General Services infoM
**Crews will be doing a lot of driving make sure gas/diesel tanks are filled on arrival. Closest places to refill are Murphy 18 miles from camp, west on Hwy78 (just past the turnoff to VC4 at Sierra del Rio) and Grandview - 25 miles from camp, east on Hwy78.

Driving Directions: link to driving directions
- the last 2 miles into camp are ROUGH! very dry conditions have made the bumps and washboard awful. We'll try to get out and smooth the worst of it, but if you have 4WD you might want to use it over the rough sections and the one little hill you'll have to climb. (the bad road begins where it says 'Private Road")
-PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY past the houses along the dirt road. There are dogs and children and it gets terribly dusty from all the big rigs.

Travel Safely!!! see you soon-

Steph & John

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