Hardrockers in the Silverton Fourth of July Parade
Jim Swett
Stan Ferguson
Elise
Andy Hewatt, from down under
Howie Stern
Allan Holtz
Robert Andrulis
Former Hardrocker Bob Boeder, campaigning for county commisioner
Barry Oelrich
Steve Pero
Margaret Heaphy
Mark Heaphy
Phil Murphy, also an Aussie
The town waterfight following the parade
Fireworks, from the balcony of the Avon Hotel. This is actually after the show when everyone is trying to get out of town. This year's show was the best fireworks I've ever seen, anywhere.
Giant Gentian
Hiking from Cunningham to the finish with Rebecca.
Barry Oelrich, relaxed
Looking down toward Arrastra Gulch
Barry and I ran in to Jim Ballard on the way back. Jim was tweaking the placement of the course markers.
Giant Gentian, popular with bees of all types.
Arrastra Gulch
Note the old aerial tram going up to one of the mines.
Hiking with Rebecca from Cunningham to Maggie Gulch.
The Green Mountain traverse
That's the site of the Maggie Aid Station, far below. Fourteeners Redclould and Sunshine are on the horizon at the far left.
We ran into Jennifer and Gerry Roach atop what Gerry calls "Hardrocker Point" - the second highest point on the course after Handies Peak.
The Buffalo Boy Mine. The course used to go down that road to Cunningham Gulch before we added the Green Mountain traverse.
The Buffalo Boy repeater, part of our extensive radio network.
Mark Heaphy and his doppelganger
Don Platt gets his medical check
Tyler Curiel, a good friend and an amazing guy. Everytime we get together, I'm more impressed by his class and the depth of his life experience and good works. And the same goes for his wife, Ruth Berggren - remarkable! Tyler has this impression that I'm a better runner than him, probably because one of his first years at Hardrock was the year I won it, but he's beaten me nearly every year since then. I owe him at least one dinner on our long-term bet over this.
Rodger Wrublik and Jamil and Nick Coury drill holes in the street for the Hardrock finish chute. Yes, this IS the wild west, where drilling holes in the street doesn't attract attention. Man, these guys were hard workers!
Rodger
Jamil
Nick
Bringing the Hardrock over from Kendall Mountain.
The finish, complete! Rodger came up with a flag from every state (all 25) and foreign country (all six) represented in our starting field.
My family and crew
Great-grandpa Wood (my Dad) and Aislinn (my granddaughter)
Can you feel the nervous energy?
On run morning, Deb Pero was #1 on the wait list.
Minutes before the start, Steve Pero gave up his slot so that Deb could run. Here she gets a quick medical check.
Steve Pero - what a guy!
Our starters, as Dale was still out of town.
We're off!
The Nute Chute
Overlooking the Mineral Creek crossing. Streams were low this year, so this was easier than usual.
Roch Horton and Mike Farris
Stephane Marchand, from France
Sue Gardner
Kristina Irvin put on water shoes before crossing.
Gordon Hardman and Margaret Heaphy
Still a little early in the morning for Bill Geist.
Charlie Thorn
Charlie with George Velasco
Rebecca Clark and Steve Pero
Entering Putnam Basin
The leaders, way off in the distance
Garett Graubins
Putnam Ridge. I was near here that Bob Combs was knocked off his feet by a lightning strike during the second night last year.
Looking at our route across Cataract Creek Basin
Daniel Benhammou
That's the Kamm Traverse angling up the mid-distance slope, and Grant-Swamp Pass on the skyline, right of center.
Grant-Swamp Pass
The Comm guys - Steve Blaylock and Charlie Schmaltz
KT Aid Station, with the Kamm Traverse beyond
Chris Twiggs, leaving the KT aid station
Approaching Grant-Swamp Pass
Island Lake
Betsy Kalmeyer and Garett Graubins
"That's the way down!"
Looking down the other side of Grant-Swamp Pass
Our next major climb, Oscar Pass, on the skyline
The best line to take is to the right of where these guys are, in the fresh scree.
Tyler Curiel and me. Tyler felt really bad that he had let loose a big rock that threatened to smack me, but luckily I was able to dodge it with his warning.
Brett Gosney
Descending toward the Chapman Gulch aid station, with the Oscar pass climb beyond.
Garett Graubins got a bit too much sunscreen in the Chapman aid station.
The Chapman Gulch aid station. They were a lively bunch. That's Ricky Denesik in the blue shirt and Jon Teisher in the black.
Starting the climb toward Oscar Pass.
Looking back at Grant-Swamp Pass (left skyline) and the Chapman aid station (white tent at lower right).
The final pitch to Oscar Pass. The Ophir Pass road can be seen below.
Way up here! Looking back at Grant-Swamp Pass and the Chapman aid station.
The traverse to Wasatch Saddle.
Descending into Wasatch Basin, on the way down to Telluride.
This is about where Tom Chapman's property lies, but he gave us permission to cross it.
Telluride, far below.
The Telluride aid station.
Scott Jaime
Jared Campbell, crewed by wife Mindy.
Diana Finkel. I wonder if those clown shoes feel funny?
Roch Horton, the center of intense crew activity.
Paul Sweeny
Bruce Grant
Me, stopping for a quick shot.
Looking a bit more old and grizzled than I had realized.
My family and crew.
Dave and Kristine Coblentz
Tom Stockton's daughter, Megan
Betsy Kalmeyer
Kathy Hipwood, helping to crew for me and the rest of the Los Alamos crowd (Tom Stockton, Dave Coblentz, and Kris Kern.)
Tyler Curiel, feeling fine despite a bum ankle.
Rob and Kathy Hipwood
Granddaughter Aislinn. Note the nifty Moeben sleeves!
Jon Teisher approaches Mendota Saddle
Looking back toward Telluride
Kroger's Canteen on Virginius Pass
Neal Taylor on the final scramble up to Krogers Canteen
Real yoeman duty by the folk who run this aid station all day and into the night!
Tyler and me, again
The first pitch off Virginius Pass is much easier when it's snow the whole way.
Fourteener Sneffels
The Mountaintop Mine
Governor Basin aid station, far below
Governor Basin aid station
Down the Camp Bird Road toward Ouray
David Coblentz in Ouray
Coming into the Ouray aid station. Looks like I'm carrying a lot of extra stuff, but it actually wasn't much.
Hydropel on the feet. Worth it's weight in gold when combined with Injinji toe socks.
Mom and Dad
Tom Stockton arrives in Ouray. I was really excited by how well Tom was doing!
When you find a good crew chief, marry her!
Heading out into the evening.
Kris Quandt and pacer
Ouray from the Bear Creek Trail
The Engineer aid station, 10 pm.
The end of a rough night. I picked up daughter Heather to pace me at Grouse Gulch, got to the summit of Handies at 3:45, and stumbled down the trail, half-asleep, until she asked me to start telling her poetry. I still couldn't swallow anything solid without gagging, but at least the company was great!
The Sherman aid station. I just wish I'd been able to eat some of the great food they had there!
Scott Brockmeier, paced by Matt. Fourteener Sunshine Peak in the background.
On the Continental Divide
As you might guess, it was way easier to take pictures than it was to run.
Pole Creek aid station comes into view!
The Pole Creek aid station. I was feeling pretty low here, but decided that as long as I was going to feel like crap, I might as well be moving.
I felt terrible every time I tried to run, but it was really a rather pleasant and beautiful hike. Since I figured we could make it in before dark, we decided to just walk it in from here and enjoy the day.
Starting the decent into Maggie Gulch.
The Maggie Gulch aid station below.
Looking down at the Buffalo Boy mine. Ominous clouds in the distance!
Atop "Hardrocker Point" with Green Mountain in the distance and the Needle Range on the horizon.
Starting to rain! Stoney Pass below.
Descending from Green Mountain.
Descending into Cunningham Gulch
The Cunningham aid station
The ESPN crew that was there to shoot a piece on Diane Van Deren
Heather and me in Cunningham
Leaving the Cunningham aid station for the last leg to Silverton!
Rebecca paced me in from Cunningham!
Tom and Katie Stockton in Cunningham
Little Aislinn loves dogs!
Looking back down at other runners crossing the creek at Cunningham. Think this trail climbs steeply?
Looking back across Cunningham Gulch toward Canby and Green Mountains.
Rebecca, waiting. She really wanted to get to Silverton before dark.
Kirk Apt and pacer
The traverse atop Little Giant-Dives Pass
Heading down into Little Giant Basin
Rebecca, grooving on the wildflowers
Looking back up toward Little Giant-Dives Pass
Silverton comes into view! We're almost there!
Unfortunately, I only brought my perscription sunglasses from Cunningham, and it was too dark to wear them. Sorry if you were insulted when I didn't recognize you at the finish, but I don't see too well without glasses.
Kissing the Hardrock for the 15th time!
This jaunty pose masks how tired I was. I forgot to take anything to eat out of Cunningham, and hadn't been able to stomach much for a day before that, so I was pretty depleted.
With my folks - they'll drive anywhere, anytime to crew for me. Dad paced me for my first few years at Hardrock and in other hundreds.
All four generations!
Tina Ure with RD Dale Garland
Tom Stockton, paced by wife Margie, at the Kendell Mountain Ski Hut on the outskirts of town. He's going to make it!
Tom with Jason Halladay at the finish
All the Stocktons and cousins.
Mark and Margaret - two of my favorite people.
Marty Fitzhand
Margaret's family, with Kathy Lang.
Mike Smith
Rick Hodges, 47:20
Betsy Nye and Diana Finkel
Checking the board, chatting with the finishers, and standing around wondering if the last two runners will make it in before the 48 hour cutoff....
Andrea Feucht's finish line aid station
Race Director Dale Garland
Jennifer Roach appears around the corner in the distance! She's going to make it!
Jennifer Roach, with less than three minutes to spare!
Gerry Roach, the self-described "pacer from hell". Well done, Gerry!
The seconds tick down on Leonard Martin...
... but Leonard is just a little too late.
48:02
How disappointing to run for two days straight, and miss the cutoff by two minutes. But Leonard is a true gentleman, and accepted the result with unique grace.
Gordon Hardman and Dick Curtis. Gordon is one of the founders of the Hardrock Hundred, but hadn't finished it in 10 years. When I first started running hundreds, Gordon is one of those I looked to as an example, and he gave me the good advice that kept me from dropping out of the 1996 run at Ouray. I was extremely pleased that he finished this year.
Leonard Martin
The post-run breakfast
Gordon Hardman's daughter, Maria.
Molly and Gordon Hardman. This is the first time in years that Gordon hasn't ended up in the hospital with HAPE after Hardrock.
Little Aisy
Jared and Mindy Campbell
Megan Finnesy - aid station captain for Chapman.
Krissy Moehl
Betsy Nye with daughter Lizzie. Betsy has won Hardrock a bunch of times, and always runs fast here.
Hardrock being a "post-graduate" hundred, Dale and Lois Mackenzie don academic robes for the awards.
Aid station coordinator Lois Mackenzie
Paul Sweeny and Lizzie. Paul is also a former winner of Hardrock.
John Beard
George Velasco being congratulated on going back to help another runner who was in trouble, and thereby spoiling his chances of a finish.
