Post by cjscotch on Feb 6, 2013 10:01:13 GMT -5
Chris Scotch
Los Gatos, CA
Double Arrowhead Crossing - MN Arrowhead Trail - 270 Miles - In conjunction with the official Arrowhead 135 Ultra, which I successfully finished and recorded an official time.
On Foot (without a kicksled).
Total Time - Monday, January 28 at 7:04 am to Sunday February 3 at 3:20 pm
6 days, 8 hours, 16 minutes.
I carried the mandatory gear required by the race, and all the gear I would need for my return trip, from the beginning of the official race in International Falls. I did borrow a fellow racers sled at the turnaround as my sled had broken during the first leg of the journey. As allowed by the rules of the race, I did purchase food and beverage from businesses along the trail, but returned to the trail in the same spot I left. I did also use the Finish Line and Melgeorge's Checkpoint (halfway spot for the official race) for shelter, as allowed by the race.
______________________________________
From www.arrowheadultra.com :
"135 miles Deep Winter across Northern Minnesota on rugged, scenic Arrowhead State Snowmobile Trail from Frostbite I-Falls to Tower, MN Fortune Bay Casino. Pick mode of transport at start: bicycle, ski or foot. . . . Historically coldest gosh darn race anyplace even the Arctic, check average temps, virtually every year luck has us -30 to -40C/F, we have frostbite to prove it. "
Rules of the race:
"No outside help except other racers or race officials. This means no support crews of any kind, no pacing, and no rides/tows accepted from snowmobilers, trains, planes, automobiles, llamas or other vehicles except of course in emergencies. If you take a ride, you are disqualified but hopefully still alive. Participants encouraged to help each other. Buddy system good way to race dark and cold. We encourage spectators but no assistance allowed any time, no teams greeting you at every possible spot. Arrowhead is about you, the wilderness, your inner dogged spirit and self-sufficiency."
" MANDATORY GEAR from race start to race finish.
Minus-20F degrees sleeping bag or colder rating. Colder than -20F almost all previous races. If you skimp here you are foolish. And we will not allow you to skimp. So do not skimp. Fool. 2011 it was -42F on trail.
Insulated sleeping pad.
Bivy sack or tent (space blankets/tarps do not count).
Firestarter (matches or lighter).
Stove.
8 fl. oz. fuel at ALL times (either gas, alcohol or 2 canisters of propane/butane 100 g. each or 12 Esbit tablets).
Pot (min. volume is 1 pint)
2-qt (64 fl. oz.) or just under 2 litres, insulated water container. (Yes, Camelbacks count)
Headlamp or flashlight. Suggest minimum ~100 lumen good for 12 hours/bike or 20 hours on ski/foot.
Flashing red LED lights, both on front and back of sled or bike (or on backpack if skier). Everyone have at least 10 square inches of reflective material on front and back of the person for this race. Two lights total are required, one on the front of the bike, sled or racer (runner or skier with backpack), one on the back of the bike, sled or racer (runner or skier with backpack). Each light must have minimum three flashing red LEDS. Keep ON ALL THE TIME. HIGHLY IMPORTANT....THIS MAY WELL PREVENT YOU FROM BEING HOOD ORNAMENT ON LARGE FAST-MOVING SNOWMACHINEs.
Whistle on string around neck to call for help, because your mouth is too numb to yell.
1-day food ALL times (3000 calories) (tip: pound of butter or jar of peanut bar 3200 calories).
___________________________________
On Monday, January 28, 2013 at 7:04 am I started my Double Arrowhead journey of 270+ miles. (Like most ultras, the Arrowhead 135 is actually a bit longer than 135 miles). The first crossing was part of the official Arrowhead 135 race. The finish line is at the Fortune Bay (Lake Vermillion) Casino in Tower, MN. I arrived at the finish on Wednesday, January 30 at 5:19 pm.
I began the return trip on Thursday, January 31 at 12:30 pm. I arrived back to Kerry Park (the start of the official race) on Sunday, February 3 at 3:20 pm.
Total Time - Monday, January 28 at 7:04 am to Sunday February 3 at 3:20 pm
6 days, 8 hours, 16 minutes.
Proof of my trip:
First crossing - My official race time is recorded at www.arrowheadultra.com/index.php/results/2013-results
Return crossing - I left Fortune Bay Casino in the presence of Matt Long of Poplar, WI and Kevin Mackie of Brule, WI. I arrived at the finish in the presence of Anton Oveson, of International Falls, MN.
I have a GPS log as recorded on my Suunto Ambit, but the file has some noise on it and needs to be cleaned up by someone smarter than I. I also have a number of GPS tagged pictures from the trail that I would be happy to provide if requested.
Challenges - the first crossing, during the official race, temps were 25 degrees F at the start (too warm) and on the first night 4-10 inches of heavy snow fell on the trail making conditions difficult. My sled broke around mile 90 of the first crossing. Staying ahead of the cutoff times was in my mind, but never a big fear.
On the return crossing, temps dropped considerably and I was consistently walking into a NNW wind. Temps reached a low of -34 F on Thursday night/Friday morning. Daytime temps didn't climb above 0 degrees F until Sunday. There were periods of light snow on the return trip. Wolves were everyone on the trail (tracks), and while there is no rational fear of wolves, sleep deprivation and darkness can sometimes make you imagine fears that seem real. Same goes for the mountain lion that has consistently been seen near Melgeorge's. Sleep deprivation and general fatigue accumulated and the last 24 hours of the return trip I had trouble focusing on simple tasks, and slowed my pace considerably. (the last 50 miles taking me approximately 24 hours to complete).
Los Gatos, CA
Double Arrowhead Crossing - MN Arrowhead Trail - 270 Miles - In conjunction with the official Arrowhead 135 Ultra, which I successfully finished and recorded an official time.
On Foot (without a kicksled).
Total Time - Monday, January 28 at 7:04 am to Sunday February 3 at 3:20 pm
6 days, 8 hours, 16 minutes.
I carried the mandatory gear required by the race, and all the gear I would need for my return trip, from the beginning of the official race in International Falls. I did borrow a fellow racers sled at the turnaround as my sled had broken during the first leg of the journey. As allowed by the rules of the race, I did purchase food and beverage from businesses along the trail, but returned to the trail in the same spot I left. I did also use the Finish Line and Melgeorge's Checkpoint (halfway spot for the official race) for shelter, as allowed by the race.
______________________________________
From www.arrowheadultra.com :
"135 miles Deep Winter across Northern Minnesota on rugged, scenic Arrowhead State Snowmobile Trail from Frostbite I-Falls to Tower, MN Fortune Bay Casino. Pick mode of transport at start: bicycle, ski or foot. . . . Historically coldest gosh darn race anyplace even the Arctic, check average temps, virtually every year luck has us -30 to -40C/F, we have frostbite to prove it. "
Rules of the race:
"No outside help except other racers or race officials. This means no support crews of any kind, no pacing, and no rides/tows accepted from snowmobilers, trains, planes, automobiles, llamas or other vehicles except of course in emergencies. If you take a ride, you are disqualified but hopefully still alive. Participants encouraged to help each other. Buddy system good way to race dark and cold. We encourage spectators but no assistance allowed any time, no teams greeting you at every possible spot. Arrowhead is about you, the wilderness, your inner dogged spirit and self-sufficiency."
" MANDATORY GEAR from race start to race finish.
Minus-20F degrees sleeping bag or colder rating. Colder than -20F almost all previous races. If you skimp here you are foolish. And we will not allow you to skimp. So do not skimp. Fool. 2011 it was -42F on trail.
Insulated sleeping pad.
Bivy sack or tent (space blankets/tarps do not count).
Firestarter (matches or lighter).
Stove.
8 fl. oz. fuel at ALL times (either gas, alcohol or 2 canisters of propane/butane 100 g. each or 12 Esbit tablets).
Pot (min. volume is 1 pint)
2-qt (64 fl. oz.) or just under 2 litres, insulated water container. (Yes, Camelbacks count)
Headlamp or flashlight. Suggest minimum ~100 lumen good for 12 hours/bike or 20 hours on ski/foot.
Flashing red LED lights, both on front and back of sled or bike (or on backpack if skier). Everyone have at least 10 square inches of reflective material on front and back of the person for this race. Two lights total are required, one on the front of the bike, sled or racer (runner or skier with backpack), one on the back of the bike, sled or racer (runner or skier with backpack). Each light must have minimum three flashing red LEDS. Keep ON ALL THE TIME. HIGHLY IMPORTANT....THIS MAY WELL PREVENT YOU FROM BEING HOOD ORNAMENT ON LARGE FAST-MOVING SNOWMACHINEs.
Whistle on string around neck to call for help, because your mouth is too numb to yell.
1-day food ALL times (3000 calories) (tip: pound of butter or jar of peanut bar 3200 calories).
___________________________________
On Monday, January 28, 2013 at 7:04 am I started my Double Arrowhead journey of 270+ miles. (Like most ultras, the Arrowhead 135 is actually a bit longer than 135 miles). The first crossing was part of the official Arrowhead 135 race. The finish line is at the Fortune Bay (Lake Vermillion) Casino in Tower, MN. I arrived at the finish on Wednesday, January 30 at 5:19 pm.
I began the return trip on Thursday, January 31 at 12:30 pm. I arrived back to Kerry Park (the start of the official race) on Sunday, February 3 at 3:20 pm.
Total Time - Monday, January 28 at 7:04 am to Sunday February 3 at 3:20 pm
6 days, 8 hours, 16 minutes.
Proof of my trip:
First crossing - My official race time is recorded at www.arrowheadultra.com/index.php/results/2013-results
Return crossing - I left Fortune Bay Casino in the presence of Matt Long of Poplar, WI and Kevin Mackie of Brule, WI. I arrived at the finish in the presence of Anton Oveson, of International Falls, MN.
I have a GPS log as recorded on my Suunto Ambit, but the file has some noise on it and needs to be cleaned up by someone smarter than I. I also have a number of GPS tagged pictures from the trail that I would be happy to provide if requested.
Challenges - the first crossing, during the official race, temps were 25 degrees F at the start (too warm) and on the first night 4-10 inches of heavy snow fell on the trail making conditions difficult. My sled broke around mile 90 of the first crossing. Staying ahead of the cutoff times was in my mind, but never a big fear.
On the return crossing, temps dropped considerably and I was consistently walking into a NNW wind. Temps reached a low of -34 F on Thursday night/Friday morning. Daytime temps didn't climb above 0 degrees F until Sunday. There were periods of light snow on the return trip. Wolves were everyone on the trail (tracks), and while there is no rational fear of wolves, sleep deprivation and darkness can sometimes make you imagine fears that seem real. Same goes for the mountain lion that has consistently been seen near Melgeorge's. Sleep deprivation and general fatigue accumulated and the last 24 hours of the return trip I had trouble focusing on simple tasks, and slowed my pace considerably. (the last 50 miles taking me approximately 24 hours to complete).
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