Post by nilspedersen on Oct 21, 2008 22:13:32 GMT -5
Officially, this isn't a race report but rather a run report. To some degree barely a run report, maybe not even a report.
On one of these great Tuesday runs I heard some talk about a rim-to-rim-to-rim trip and had to ask what that was. Crossing the Grand Canyon twice in one day, totaling 44 miles and more than 10000 of ascent/descent! I had to think about that for a while. Nonetheless, the seed was planted and it just kept growing.
I learned that beyond the physical challenge of the descents and ascents, there would be drop-offs where a misstep would send you flying into eternity, temperatures of more than a 100 degrees. To top everything off, the hardest part of the course would be above 8000 feet. However, the ultra-sirens voices were clear. Knowing that I would be in the company of very experienced runners that had done this trip several times before gave enough comfort to consider this journey. Over the summer, I managed to finish the Leadville Silver Rush 50 Miler and to complete 44 miles in Hot-2-Trot. That was just what I needed to book my ticket to Arizona. It was time to get excited and even put in a few training runs.
Grand Canyon in late October has about 12 hours of "civil daylight". We started just as the day broke but still got beat by the first mule train (there is no transport access to the bottom of the canyon except for goods delivered by mules!). We were lucky and only had to wait a couple of minutes before the mule "driver" let us by on the otherwise narrow trail down the canyon. The first part downhill was very exciting but no doubt that the early quad-pounding was going to hurt later. The trip was absolutely spectacular and it makes no sense trying to describe it, so please see the picture below. I was running with Marty and Steve and this point and we had hoped to get out again in 12 hours and avoid getting caught in the dark.
The trip is divided into the following main stretches (approx).
South Rim to Phantom Ranch on South Kaibab Trail, 7 miles, 4600ft drop
Phantom Ranch to Cottonwood, 7 miles, 1500ft gain
Cottonwood to North Rim, 7 miles, 4000ft gain
North Rim to Cottonwood, 7 miles, 4000ft drop
Cottonwood to Phantom Ranch, 7 miles, 1500ft drop
Phantom Ranch to North Rim via Bright Angel Trail, 9 miles, 4600ft gain
The first stretch was fantastic and the legs still strong besides the pounding. Plenty of time for photos and even some video. We reached Phantom Ranch in 1:45 and recharged before heading out to Cottonwood. This was a runnable stretch and we made good time before the climb up the North Rim. Temperatures were still cool and the sun was still sitting low and rarely reached us. The climb from Cottonwood to the North Rim was the hardest for me. There were several places where I was only step away from dropping into the bottom of the canyon. I really do not like drop-offs and I was walking close up against the canyon wall. Additionally, it was getting warmer, steeper, and the altitude started affecting me. Finally reached the top of the North Rim where Marty had already waited a while. I regrouped, got some fluids and solid food and soon felt better. With just over six hours gone, and more than half the distance still left, we already knew that we would be spending some time in the dark!
Downhill from North Rim was quite a trip, and we made some good time. Another good stretch from Cottonwood back to Phantom Ranch got us to the store 30 minutes before it closed at 4pm. This was a good break but with 9 miles to go with most of it uphill and only little more than two hours of daylight, we knew we were going to spend quite some time in the dark. Both Marty and I were getting tired and soon after we left Phantom Ranch, Marty's stomach started getting upset. What once was a run became a death march. We made steady but slow progress and still had miles to go when the dark came. "Luckily", we had brought headlights just in case.
With a couple of miles to go, we caught up to a hiker who hadn't planned for being out there in the dark. I guided him in my headlights and he was able to pick it up. He was feeling weak and told me how he had already hiked 15 miles. I replied that I had gone 41 miles so far for the day. His only reply was, "Are you Maverick?" That comment still makes me chuckle, but more than that, it made me realize why I might be doing all this in the first place. Maverick Wannabe!?
We finally made it out of the canyon in 14 hours and 10 minutes. What a great day and it is just fantastic to be able to do this. SUre the legs will hurt for a couple of days, but the memory will last forever. Thanks to everyone that participated in making this possible and enjoyable.
They say, "Don't stop running marathons until you have run New York City Marathon." I say, "Don't stop running ultras until you have run rim-to-trim-to-rim."
On one of these great Tuesday runs I heard some talk about a rim-to-rim-to-rim trip and had to ask what that was. Crossing the Grand Canyon twice in one day, totaling 44 miles and more than 10000 of ascent/descent! I had to think about that for a while. Nonetheless, the seed was planted and it just kept growing.
I learned that beyond the physical challenge of the descents and ascents, there would be drop-offs where a misstep would send you flying into eternity, temperatures of more than a 100 degrees. To top everything off, the hardest part of the course would be above 8000 feet. However, the ultra-sirens voices were clear. Knowing that I would be in the company of very experienced runners that had done this trip several times before gave enough comfort to consider this journey. Over the summer, I managed to finish the Leadville Silver Rush 50 Miler and to complete 44 miles in Hot-2-Trot. That was just what I needed to book my ticket to Arizona. It was time to get excited and even put in a few training runs.
Grand Canyon in late October has about 12 hours of "civil daylight". We started just as the day broke but still got beat by the first mule train (there is no transport access to the bottom of the canyon except for goods delivered by mules!). We were lucky and only had to wait a couple of minutes before the mule "driver" let us by on the otherwise narrow trail down the canyon. The first part downhill was very exciting but no doubt that the early quad-pounding was going to hurt later. The trip was absolutely spectacular and it makes no sense trying to describe it, so please see the picture below. I was running with Marty and Steve and this point and we had hoped to get out again in 12 hours and avoid getting caught in the dark.
The trip is divided into the following main stretches (approx).
South Rim to Phantom Ranch on South Kaibab Trail, 7 miles, 4600ft drop
Phantom Ranch to Cottonwood, 7 miles, 1500ft gain
Cottonwood to North Rim, 7 miles, 4000ft gain
North Rim to Cottonwood, 7 miles, 4000ft drop
Cottonwood to Phantom Ranch, 7 miles, 1500ft drop
Phantom Ranch to North Rim via Bright Angel Trail, 9 miles, 4600ft gain
The first stretch was fantastic and the legs still strong besides the pounding. Plenty of time for photos and even some video. We reached Phantom Ranch in 1:45 and recharged before heading out to Cottonwood. This was a runnable stretch and we made good time before the climb up the North Rim. Temperatures were still cool and the sun was still sitting low and rarely reached us. The climb from Cottonwood to the North Rim was the hardest for me. There were several places where I was only step away from dropping into the bottom of the canyon. I really do not like drop-offs and I was walking close up against the canyon wall. Additionally, it was getting warmer, steeper, and the altitude started affecting me. Finally reached the top of the North Rim where Marty had already waited a while. I regrouped, got some fluids and solid food and soon felt better. With just over six hours gone, and more than half the distance still left, we already knew that we would be spending some time in the dark!
Downhill from North Rim was quite a trip, and we made some good time. Another good stretch from Cottonwood back to Phantom Ranch got us to the store 30 minutes before it closed at 4pm. This was a good break but with 9 miles to go with most of it uphill and only little more than two hours of daylight, we knew we were going to spend quite some time in the dark. Both Marty and I were getting tired and soon after we left Phantom Ranch, Marty's stomach started getting upset. What once was a run became a death march. We made steady but slow progress and still had miles to go when the dark came. "Luckily", we had brought headlights just in case.
With a couple of miles to go, we caught up to a hiker who hadn't planned for being out there in the dark. I guided him in my headlights and he was able to pick it up. He was feeling weak and told me how he had already hiked 15 miles. I replied that I had gone 41 miles so far for the day. His only reply was, "Are you Maverick?" That comment still makes me chuckle, but more than that, it made me realize why I might be doing all this in the first place. Maverick Wannabe!?
We finally made it out of the canyon in 14 hours and 10 minutes. What a great day and it is just fantastic to be able to do this. SUre the legs will hurt for a couple of days, but the memory will last forever. Thanks to everyone that participated in making this possible and enjoyable.
They say, "Don't stop running marathons until you have run New York City Marathon." I say, "Don't stop running ultras until you have run rim-to-trim-to-rim."