2008 BERRYMAN ADVENTURE, Big Spring Park, Van Buren Missouri, September 27
At the prerace meeting, we received our maps and learned race start would be 7am. This was a nice time meaning usually we don't get to sleep that late before a race start. But that was soon ruined as we learned we would have to go to the canoe takeout (cataract landing) before the race start to drop off bike gear and water/food. As we plotted our checkpoints and route we learned we would be swimming across the current river twice, UGH!
As the race began, it looked like 80% of the 12hour races headed south, with the remainder of us heading north to the switchback trail taking us up to CP1. I thought at the time it was weird the other teams would take a longer route to CP1. CP1 on the hilltop was easy find, but the lungs were already starting to burn with Tim's pace up the hill. We followed winding trail down the hill just like last year at a fast pace. As we passed over hwy103 we chose a direct route crossing the curved jeep trails till we hit the one that CP2 resided by. CP2 was a old foundation 20meters off the jeep trail.
To get to CP3, we would follow a jeep trail 2.5k's till we hit the offshoot to the lookout tower. CP3 resided in a saddle about 300m directly south of tower. We shot a compass bearing northeast on the same elevation to get back to jeep trail. It was between CP3 and CP4 we started to cross with teams heading the other direction. I was mentioning to the other 3, that how could these teams be going in this direction. Then Joe stated that on the CP/cluesheet it said CP1-6 could be hit rogain style (any order) and he mentioned it last night. I totally missed it and plotted the first 6 points by there numbered order. Luckily this route was 1 of 2 possibilites, the other being hit the CP's in reverse order which most of the teams did. Afterthought is I liked this order better, plus we didn't have teams using us for navigation. After about 1k on jeep trail we headed southeast in reentrant to find CP4.
After getting CP4, we headed north up the other arm of reentrant to back to the jeep trail. CP5 would be another kilometer down the jeep trail then make left at hwy Z then immediate right on another jeep trail. Immediately after getting on jeep trail we would make a left on single track trail (not on usgs map, but on big spring park map) to CP5. We would follow this trail down into the camping area to CP6 on an overlook of river. The overlook was on the higher of the two parrelel trails. From CP6 we would follow trail back to the main park road and pass Start/Finish to the park boat launch. Joe and I made decision night before to carry minimum water/gels for this section and we would stop at van at start to load up on food/water for remainder of trek and canoe section. Tim and Matt did not and headed straight for boat launch. At this point we did not see another 12hour team till the upcoming fiasco CP18.
It is now 8:30. As we get to CP7, race directors inform us we are in 4th overall (this is pleasing as not knowing about the rogaine style of CP1-6). We put on life jackets and pack over our jackets, then get in water. We would have to carry the life jackets with us on the remainder of trek section to the canoes. We were able to walk half of the crossing, then we had to swim the remainder as the current pulled us downstream. Joe got a big mouthfull of the current in the process. As we climbed up the other side we hooked up with Tim and Matt looking for the best route to CP8. We would have to bushwack west to hit a dirt road. From there we had a 1k run till we hit an open field to left where CP8 resided at pond about 300m north of dirt road. We then would follow terrain northeast till we got to high ridgeline then turn east and follow ridge to hilltop where CP9 was. It was at CP9 where a hunter was in tree stand and was clearly upset racers were interrupting his hunt. I told him to expect it for another couple hours. The map showed trail from CP9 to carry us 1k to CP10, but this trail was stop and go most of the way.
CP10 would be 150m to the left of trail on hillside. The map showed us making this left after decending from hilltop, but we turned to early. We searched the hillside to no avail, so we went back up to trail where I suspected we turned to early. This time making a left as the slope increases on map we found the CP10. As we climb back up to trail Joe's blister from few days before is really starting to both him. Tim had some extra strenght pain reliever that Joe uses. Back on the trail we planned to follow it to where the map showed it ended on hilltop. At this point the trail splits into two heading northwest and northeast. We start down the the northeast one then stop. I am starting to think we are on the wrong one and tell the other we need to go back to the other. As we get back to it we follow till a low point in ridge we would need to turn directly west down to CP11 which was at top of quarry. Right were I was planning to turn off trail was a steep trail heading west. We jumped on it and it led all the way to top of quarry. We knew at this point we followed the correct trail split. CP11 was on large boulders at top of quarry with a great view over the valley. From there we skirted the quarry down to jeep trail in valley.
Once onto jeep trail it would be about 2.5k to CP12 located in reentrant that the road curved around. The trail turned to dirt road and we came across curve but no CP12. We then continued up road as it turned to paved. As we came to another curve we could easily spot CP12 down in the reentrant. At this point, Joe is feeling no more pain of blister. We would follow road another 2k before we turned south to cross river again to CP13 and canoe put in. By now it was warmer the swim across current felt much better than this morning. As we come out the water, we are greeted with a gear check. It is now 10:40 and both teams are still 3rd and 4th overall. Once finished with gear check we get in canoes for the 13 mile paddle. After wearing pack and life jacket past 2 hours running, I have some nasty rub burns underneath arms due to using sleevless shirt. I am just happy the remainder of race I only need to wear one at a time.
Myself and Tim had the race support transport our kayak paddle so each canoe would have 1 kayak paddle. Since I had the kayak paddle I jumped in front to keep a constant kayak stroke while Joe would handle steering with canoe paddle. The paddling section was relaxing and fun. We were telling stories and talking smack and occasionally as the canoes came together, we would try to slow the other canoes progress. Luckily Joe had some sunblock as the sun was directly ahead for most of the trip. The current was strong for most of the paddle, and we would finish the this 13miles in 2:10 as we checked into CP14. We did not get passed on canoes so we knew were still in 3rd/4th as the volunteer stated to us.
It is now 12:50 and after pulling canoes 100yards, we changed/got on bike gear, loaded up on our supply stash and headed out on bike at about 1pm. The bike section, we had marked each leg with mileage the night before, and as I had map mounted on bike bars, Joe could then mark the mileage with odometer. Unfortunetly as we started on bike, his odometer was not working. Tim and Matt had working odometers so as long as both teams continued together this would not be an issue. From the canoe takeout we had about a 2mile ride to cemetary where CP15 was. The road turned from gravel to pavement and it was hot. Shortly after starting the bike section, I noticed I was not able to sustain a higher gear/power as I was accustomed to. I was carrying alot of weight with wet clothes/shoes in pack, full 3-liter bladder and two full bike bottles. I actually contemplated dumping some of the fluids as I figured we would only be on bike at most 4 hours, and I could easily go 6 with the supply I was carrying. As I learned later I was glad I didn't.
After CP15 we headed 1.7miles to road/trail intersection where CP16 would be. After CP16 we would have about 1.2 miles of down the trail to another trail intersection where CP17 would be. I was clearly stuggling to keep up with the other 3 on the bikes on uphill sections. From CP17 to CP18 was about a 5 mile trail/jeep road trail on the map heading due west and seemed like it was pretty clear for navigation. But unfortunetly the trail curved much more than the map showed. There were many trail shootoffs to left and right. Tim and Matt had pulled ahead of us so I did not have odometer to compare to map. We all somehow took a wrong turn north and founds ourselves at hwy Z (see map). This was not good. We actually road a ways on hwy to find out the road it was because we had no clue where we were. A passing car told us were on hwy Z. Disappointed, we headed back on the trail south. Tim chose a turn onto another trail to the right instead of heading the way we came. I wasn't sure it was the right choice but it turns out that somehow landed back on a main jeep road that we would eventually find a fence line. At this point we started running into other teams searching for CP18. We followed the fence/jeep trail and eventually found CP18. From CP18 till end we would not see another 12hour team.
From CP18 to CP19 would be about 3.5 miles of trail/jeep roads where CP19 would be at jeep trail and ozark trail intersection. Joe ran into a series of issues at CP19. His shoe stap failed, front derailer failed and he ran out of water. I gave him one of my bottles. We headed up the ozark trail for over 4 miles to CP20. From last year myself, Tim and Matt knew this part of trail and bike/ankle breaking rock sections ahead. As I stated from last year alot of the trail looks like someone just came through with a leafblower and not a real trail. CP20 was right on trail and only couple hundred meters of trail lay ahead before we would hit the skyline dirt road. As we hopped on the road I was relieved the trails were behind us. We had a 5mile ride to CP21 where the dirt turned to a paved road. We came across Jim and Bill (mid rivers adventure 36hour team), we stopped and chatted. They looked extremely well considering they have been going for around 18 hours or so. In fact they looked better than I felt. They said the remainder of route in was just rolling hills and mostly downhill. Don't know if they were just trying to cheer us up but the next 1mile had some nasty climbs.
It was at this point Joe was starting to struggle as I was earlier to keep their pace early in the bike. I was ok feeling as strong as I had at the beginning (which wasn't real strong). I ran out of water and asked Joe if he had any left and he said no, so we were without for the last few miles. We would turn off of skyline onto another park road about 3.5 miles from finish. Matt and Tim had pulled away from us this time, but I noticed Matt was stopped at this turnoff. There was a church next door and I didn't see Tim so I made the comment "Tim in the church praying?". Joe and I continued on, Matt passed us on the downhill into CP21 which was a barn hundred meters off the road. Tim was already there punching card and as Joe was getting our card punched they took off to the finish. While Joe punched the card, I chatted a bit with Team Suburu (36hour team). We then headed back to finish for the last 1.5 mile down into the low valley of the park and crossed finished line at about 6pm.
Was a challenging but fun race (with the exception of CP18).
Tim/Matt - Mid Rivers Adventure 3 - 6th/37 in division, 9th/58 overall Time of 10:57 Mike/Joe - Mid Rivers Adventure 2 - 7th/37 in division, 10th/58 overall Time of 10:59
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