Big Bottom 42K Race Results

Race Notes:

     Afterward, I heard the word "epic" used a lot, as in, "Man, that was an epic ski!" I also heard "silly", "crazy", "nuts", and "gruesome". Yes, conditions were a little tough.
     We arrived at the start to find 4-5 inches of new snow covering the track that Kenton and John had groomed an hour earlier and fresh stuff was still coming down. Conditions were far from ideal but not so bad that we were dissuaded from launching. So off we went into it. Onwards!
      For some the grim reality set in quickly and they developed alternate plans like skiing shorter loops in the trees or just heading for the car. The initial leg out the open side of Lions and the first portion of Scales Lake Road were a little rugged. Coming along behind, I could see where the leaders had occasionally floundered for a stroke or two off the side of the hidden track before veering back to find it again. Not good for rhythm or pace. However, the fresh layer on top was light and not too deep yet and the base underneath was solid and reasonably fast. Onwards!
      For me, grave doubts began to creep in as I descended to the lower portion of the Dog Loop and discovered I had lost any semblance of glide. Plus, it was still snowing and blowing and getting deeper all the time. But I was warmed up by then and feeling loose and energetic. I was skiing with Chuck Bodie so had some much appreciated company. Onwards!
      The ski out Loop 3 to the overlook was still not too bad. In fact, there were moments in the trees when the wind calmed and the big flakes were floating down and we were chugging along and all was quiet and beautiful. I even gave a whoop of joy (or was it self-encouragement?) a couple of times.
      But then we turned the corner at the overlook. We were a very long way from the warm car by then, we were now headed into the wind, the snow was getting ever deeper, and we were headed for open country. Onwards!
      We built a lot of character humping past the microwave tower and out across the corridor on Kannah Crossing through the drifts and the blow. When we finally made it to Vista Loop we got a boost when we found Kenton had come out the valley with the roller, turned around at the Kannah intersection, and returned leaving a decent trail.
      In the section before descending the big hill we met Dave Aschwanden coming back out for his second lap. He asked us if we were doing alright and if we were going to ski the second lap also. I was still feeling OK even though a somewhat battered and had illusions of continuing. I told Dave if we met others coming back out we probably would follow.
      Well, those illusions were quickly dashed as we entered the Vista valley and began a long disheartening trudge into the teeth of the blizzard. Thank goodness all of the other racers were sensible enough to bail out after one lap and did not come skiing back out to tempt us to do the same. It was miserable.
      Also, we saw Dave again very quickly. He had reached the end of Kenton's grooming at the Kannah intersection, surveyed the state of the piled up trail beyond, and correctly concluded, "It was just totally silly to go on!"
      Well, that was pretty much it. We finally made it off Vista and made our final slog around Sunset feeling rather wet and windscarred and chilly. Back at the trailhead there was no doubt that we should follow everyone else's example. We punched the clock and went looking for dry clothes and hot tea. Only 21 K but "epic"!

Thanks everyone for giving it a shot and especially thanks to Kenton for the grooming. The scrambled results follow.

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