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The Dynamite Ride!
This was a great event! We got really lucky with the weather - the forecast was pretty scary, but the storm held off until almost midnight. The last 100 milers finished just before midnight - just as a gentle rain started. - except for Carla who still had 25 miles to go and ride management felt it was too dangerous to be out in the dark, in the open desert, in the middle of a massive thunder and lightning storm. So she was asked to stop at 75 miles - disappointing, but wise.
The morning dawned dark and cloudy and warm making it a little challenging for the 75's and 100's to pick out the single track trail, but Kevin (and Far) were familiar with the trail and led the way until it got light enough to see the ribbons clearly. By the time the 50's started we had plenty of light to see, but it was still gray and cloudy. The cloud cover lasted most of the day - contributing to the fast times - and the footing was perfect! Recent rains had softened the granitic soil trails, and made the sand washes firmer. (the rocks were still rocky, but there wasn't much of that). Temps stayed in the 50's and 60's - perfect riding all day. The skies cleared in the late afternoon, with a little breeze - and the air cooled quickly when the sun set - welcome relief for the 100 milers.
It was a neighborhood affair - lots of locals came out to help. It's a very horsey area so there was a lot of tolerance for traffic and ribbons and glowsticks on roads and trail - and horses trotting by all day and into the night. The folks that volunteered their big yard for base camp were amazing - they loved having everybody there, came out to watch, let everybody know how welcome they were at the ride meeting - and brought their daughter out Saturday evening to talk to the ride vets (she had graduated from vet school a couple years previous). It was a very very nice atmosphere- lots of smiles and laughter - it really helps when the ride manager is smiling and laughing all day too!
This was Rusty's first time putting on a 100 mile ride and it was just about perfect. Twelve starters, and twelve finishers! Fastest time was 10:16 (Crockett Dumas riding OT Sara Moniet) and Best Condition was fifth place finisher Kevin Myer's horse Auli Farwa (Far). The turtles came in before midnight with a 14 hour ride time.
There were only two entries (and Carla by default at the finish) in the 75 mile distance - Sue Summers finished first with a time of 6:51, and Dana Weary's horse The Reverlying TGE took Best Condition.
The 50 milers were fast!! Sue Nance brought Excaliber+/ out of semi-retirement for yet another win as she and Dennis Summers riding Rasa (aka Superman) tied for first place with a ride time of 3:36, finishing an hour before the rest of the pack. Rasa won the Best Condition award. The trail was winding and scenic but fast, with a few sand washes and couple short climbs, and otherwise perfect going.
It was a FUN trail! so amazingly beautiful with the ground carpeted green from the winter rains, the saguaro cactus dotting the landscape, palo verde, cholla, jojoba, agave - classic sonoran desert scenery.
And I have to comment on my own ride - nothing spectacular in time - but my horse Jaziret was spectacular for me! This was my first ride (at speed) in glue-on boots and it was amazing. He was sure footed (a previous stumbler) and eager and moved better than I've felt him move in years, maybe ever. He'll be 19 this year, and looks and acts like a 9 year old. I'm in awe of this beast. He pulled my arms out for the first 25 miles, I parked him behind Leslie Spitzer who was riding Kevin's horse Farrabba and tolerated his buddie's manic moves, and we had a blast. He never ever asked to slow down, and the second loop was a little more sane but still a blast. We walked them up half of the long sand wash up to the top of Maynard's loop, and then flew back down the other sand wash on the way back down - moist and fairly firm sand, it felt like slalom skiing, dodging in and out of the cacti - it was a blast.
And we (I) had a ridiculous little race for the finish (for 14th place - the kind of silliness that makes the old timers shake their heads :) . We piled up in a long line-up on the single track trail coming in to the finish - no place to pass w/o getting impaled on a cactus, so we just trotted along, then Brian gave an evil grin and said "I think if you pass those horses you can top ten" - I didn't want to hear that, and honestly didn't care, but my horse felt SO GOOD, and after we went over the step-over rail at the Forest Service boundary, with a nice little jump, I let him go and we galloped down the road, of course all the horses were lively and joined in the gallop, and barely made the turn back into camp where we pulled to a trot with Rusty's stern reminder "if you gallop into camp you'll be disqualified! it's not safe!" ringing in my ears. So silly, and so much fun. And - the most amazing thing to me was that Jaziret was at 40 pulse for the final vetting - he has always been a poor recovering horse - I'm usually happy with a 56 at the finish. Was it his feet? less concussion? more fluid motion? I don't know...
Great ride. I'll post the full results soon.
Steph (happy)
Saturday update
quick post for now- still some 100's on the trail but some have finished
100 milers that have finished - (I don't have horse names - will have results tomorrow)
Crockett Dumas
Clydea Hastie
Kim Abbott
Kevin Waters
Kevin Myers
Stephanie Palmer
Matt & Colton Medeiros
75 milers - I only know of two: Sue Summers, Dana Weary
50 milers - Dennis Summers and Sue Nance tied for 1st
that's all I know for sure. I finished somewhere between 12th and 15th (riding with Leslie Spitzer) we came in with Brian Malkoske, Amanda Washington, Bill Bennett, Rick Potest) and a few others whose names I didn't know and had a fun and silly little race off at the end. My horse Jaziret was AWESOME all day, I was thrilled, he felt perfect, no stumbling at all, energetic, and his recovery at the end was the best it's ever been.
perfect day, the weather was great, incredibly beautiful trail, a good ride.
I'll have more tomorrow plus some photos
Steph
Now it begins. After having a basecamp panic (two weeks before the ride the ranch that was going to host basecamp pulled out) and then securing a new basecamp (a wonderful neighbor with a 5 acre lot and a great attitude) everything came together and the ride is set to start in the morning. 6am start for the 75's and 100's, 7am start for the 50's. I don't have a full count of ride entries, but I think there are around 20 doing either the 75 or 100, and 40 or so in the 50. A good size ride.
It's an Arizona crowd with a few sprinklings of elsewhere. Carla drove down from Colorado for her 1st hundred, Leslie is here from California riding Kevin's horse 'Redford', I'm representing Idaho, Crockett from New Mexico. Brian from Canada. Sue and Dennis from Washington. Sheri from Utah... It's a fun and friendly group so far. Robert Washington (from Idaho!) is vetting the ride, his wife Amanda (yeah Idaho) is riding one of Garrett's horses. Steve Bradley (from Idaho!) is here to take photos - it sort of feels like 'old home week' to me :)
I'm doing my second shoe-less ride - again in glue-on boots, put on by Garrett who makes it look soooo easy. I'm planning on leaving them on and then going down to Sonoita for Marilyn's 3 day ride next week. (plans).
Rusty is holding up well - such a relaxed happy demeanor - it's very contagious, everybody around him relaxes too. Kevin put in his last day working for the Arizona Ballet today. wow! A half-day at work, then zoom back to the ranch and getting himself and his horse ready to ride 100 miles. (weather permitting... more later on this). He starts on Monday working full time for EasyCare Inc. A major life change.
So - we'll have to see what the day holds. The forecast is pretty ominous, especially for riders doing the 75 and 100. (read the forecast here !!!!!)
till tomorrow-
Steph
Welcome to the Dynamite Dash!
Welcome to Club Gotta Go Ranch! All fees paid have entered you into Club Gotta Go and entitle you to enjoy our free club ride at Dynamite Dash.Due to a last minute cancellation our ride camp location has changed!
We will now be camping on private land just feet from the owner’s home.
The new base camp is at 164th Street and E. Wildcat Dr in Scottsdale. Because of the convenient location, we will still be able to enjoy the same trails we had planned for this ride.
A few other things to know –
1. Please do not come to ride camp before noon on Friday. If you need a place to stay before that time let me know via return email and we will arrange place for you to stay before in the area.
2. We will have a Parking Guru to make sure we all fit. Please make sure you follow his instructions.
3. Please come prepared to leave no trace. Pack it in: pack it out.
4. It would be best if you could leave your canine friends at home. If you cannot, please keep them confined or on a leash at all times.
Ride Schedule
* Pre-ride vetting will take begin at 4pm on Friday.
* Ride meeting will take place at 6pm.
* A catered dinner by l’Amore Restaurant will be on Friday night immediately following the ride meeting. Dinner for the riders is included in the entry fee. Additional dinners are $10 and must be requested and paid for no later than Thursday before the ride.
* 75 & 100 milers start at 5:30am Saturday February 27th.
* 50 milers start at 6:30am Saturday February 27th. times are subject to change -
* If you have questions, please contact the ride manager at 480-390-9854 or rusty@endurance.net.
February 27, 2010 . Limited Entry . Preregistration Required
This ride will be under a FULL moon!
Entry fee is $100 for all distances! All checks will be cashed. A full refund will be given prior to Feb. 21, 2010, a $25 administration fee will be deducted after Feb. 21, 2010.
All entries will be taken in a first come first serve basis.
Please feel free to contact ride management with any questions; rusty@endurance.net 480-390-9854
Elevator information -
* You may only elevate one distance 50- 75 or 75 - 100.
* Once you elevate into a new distance your completion expires for the original distance.
* Upon completing an elevated distance you will receive a "completion only" with no placing.
For Entry Forms and further information, click HERE.
SPONSORS
EasyCare
Endurance.net
Farnam
Special Weather Statement
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
337 PM MST FRI FEB 26 2010
AZZ024-271115-
SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY/TONTO NATIONAL FOREST FOOTHILLS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GLOBE...MIAMI...SAN CARLOS...SUPERIOR...
TOP-OF-THE-WORLD...ALSO INCLUDING APACHE...BARTLETT...CANYON...
HORSESHOE...ROOSEVELT...AND SAGUARO LAKES
337 PM MST FRI FEB 26 2010
...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED AT SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...
A STRONG AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE THROUGH SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA
SATURDAY AFTERNOON. A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE
REGION SATURDAY EVENING WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACCOMPANYING
THE FRONT. AT THIS POINT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP NORTH AND EAST OF PHOENIX LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO
SATURDAY EVENING. PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED...WITH A
HALF AN INCH...AND UP TO NINE TENTHS OF AN INCH POSSIBLE OVER THE
HIGHER TERRAIN NORTH AND EAST OF THE PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA. WHILE
WIDESPREAD FLOODING IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME...LOCALIZED
FLOODING OF CREEKS...STREAMS...AND NORMALLY DRY WASHES IS A
POSSIBILITY.
STRONG GUSTY WINDS CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THIS FRONT. SUSTAINED
WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH POSSIBLE. CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...AS WELL AS SMALL HAIL...COULD ACCOMPANY THE
STRONGEST STORMS.
PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. SNOW LEVELS WILL
FALL TO AROUND 4500 FEET SUNDAY MORNING AND RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW
ACROSS THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS OF SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY AND FAR
NORTHEAST MARICOPA COUNTY. ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW
ABOVE 5000 FEET ARE POSSIBLE BY THE TIME THE STORM DEPARTS THE AREA
SUNDAY NIGHT.