Gold Rush 24 Hour Challenge 2002

Results

The Gold Rush Fall Adventure Challenge finished with six out of eleven teams crossing a snowy finish line. ‘Team Sunsweet’ captured first place honors in 21hr 25:27 followed by ‘Team Radioactive Beagles’ a mere 20 minutes behind. Run at between 3500’ and 7000’ in the central California Sierras, around the town of Pinecrest, the race bore the full brunt of the first winter storm of the season. The race started from Camp Oski in Pinecrest at 10 am Saturday and competitors enjoyed clear weather and beautiful views as they hiked and mountain biked to Beardsley Reservoir and paddled the length of the lake. By late afternoon teams were heading into a long climb out of the Stanislaus River canyon when the rain began. As dusk fell and teams gained altitude the rain turned to snow. With a couple of tough sections included in the route, the climb through the evening to the assistance point at CP 16 became the crux of the race with several teams dropping out when they reached it’s snowy location. Those that continued, cycled through the snow to the race headquarters in Pinecrest and another rendezvous with their crew, a welcome opportunity to warm up and resupply. The following section of the course headed uphill to the ridges behind the ski resort of Dodge Ridge. The highest of these sections was cancelled as it was impassable with 18 inches of snow at 8000ft. Thus the racers headed out toward 7000ft and 8 inches of snow through which they trekked returning eventually through the forest to Camp Oski. One more section of the race remained. Racers headed through the village of Pinecrest carrying paddles and life vests and picked up their boats on the lakeshore for a short paddle to the climb site on the far side of the lake where a rappel course awaited. The lake was quiet and cold, a light mist lay gently on the water and a thin layer of snow contrasted sharply with the black rocks of the lake shore. After returning across the water the teams managed a slow jog for the mile back to camp and a welcome finish line.

Thanks go to Camp Oski and the Stanislaus National Forest.