Run To the Clouds 2010 Results

Hey Peter, sorry I missed out on the post event. I did pick up garbage and i thought you had made a note of that.  Turns out that unlike my elbow being scraped, the majority of my injuries from my tumble on the Eagle trail were internal in nature. Xrays confirmed that i don't have a punctured lung but ribs are definitely bruised if not cracked. Still, what are you going to do? That's trail running. And yes, Ean, I still ran 23 miles on Sunday.

Hey Pete, Di,

Many thanks for a fine day of running on the trails. 

One of the things I like most about CFA events is that there is no pressure.  Folks like Matt and Chris can go fast as the wind while folks like Rob and I can make a call 1/2 way through to "roll our own" route with a little detour, then run back to the start with our hosts!

To put this note into perspective, it was you, Pete, who put the bug in my ear 2 years ago. 

We were running together at the far end of Buntzen Lake.  I was sharing how I found the concrete road up Dilly Dally Trail to be a wonderment.  When was it built?  Why was it built? I recall you upping the mystery a notch and telling me that you'd heard there was a ghost town somewhere up Indian Arm.  I've been haunted by the thought of that ghost town ever since.

Yesterday, after stuffing my face with kettle chips as we left your most awesome aid station at the north end of the lake, I was reminded of the ghost town.  No arm-twisting to get Rob's attention.  We zigged right at the penstocks when everyone else on the 25K route zagged left.

Yes, it was a bit of a gamble.  Neither Rob nor I had a clue where we were going or even what we were looking for.  The dirt road was clear, however, so we figured at worst, we'd get in a few bonus Ks without getting miserably lost.

The road lead along a ridge up Indian Arm, under the power lines and fairly steeply down to the ocean.  The first sign of civilization was a late model 4X4 with a smashed-in windshield.  When we reached the water, we found a small community of a dozen or so houses and shacks... most in fairly rough shape. 

The dwellings appeared to be lived in, at least part of the time.  From the architecture, I'd guess some dated from the early 1900s.  Most cool was the old Model T or Model A Ford (6 cylinders, as Rob pointed out) that sat rusting in front of the crumbling foundation of a former house.

We poked around a bit, took a few photos and videos, then ran back up the hill.

How much of a detour from the Run to the Clouds course did we take?  Neither Rob nor I had a GPS.  Our guesstimate of total distance (out and back) is 5-6 kilometers.

A totally worthy diversion.  Ruff and Jackson give it five stars!

Jackson

PS  I did some research this evening on the "ghost town" that Rob and I "discovered".  The place has a name:  Buntzen Bay.  It was apparently a logging camp at one time and a home for workers on the power project in the early 1900's.

Here's some background on the power plant that you might find interesting, as well.  'Betcha didn't know it was over 100 years old!

Also, a short story about what it was like to live in the area as a kid in 1903.

A big Thank You to  Pete and Di for organizing and the goodies. I enjoyed the pband j bagels and a few worms.

Thanks to the first aid crew and to Chris L. It sure was nice to see Chris, as it was literally downhill once we reached him.

Also yeah to the weather gods.

I am glad the run wasn't today.

It would have been much much shorter if it had.

Thanks again.

   Thanks Pete for putting on a great event. Excellent aid stations and lots of support. Plus good weather. Lysanne will confirm that I also picked up some trash as well. Thanks for the draw prizes and I 'll be back next year  

Cheers

Des

Sure did appreciate your hospitality, enthusiasm, and on-course support!

Thanks again,

Reagan