Training Log Archive: silkychrome

Event: Maya Mountain Adventure Challenge (ARWS)
 

update for G.

race morning. turn in boxes at 9, start at 10. foggy and cool. we made some clothing cuts to our oasis box but fit all the food in. lots of energy in the air but it's not frantic!

C • Facebook 1

MMAC.

TREK 1 (road run to put in) CP 1, 9ish miles
road run to CP 1 on the Western Highway. it was hot and we started middle of the pack but gradually picked off fading teams. a few very encouraging spectators! plus cars were super nice. arrived at CP1 (500m east of Guatemalan border) just as AMK was putting in. got 2 decent boats.

PADDLE 1 (canoes) CP 2-4, 23ish miles
started downstream on Mopan River. a beautiful river! and fun too w Class II-III (?) rapids scattered throughout. JD and Ryan flipped a few times but then got their positions sorted out (JD moved to middle). Erl and I did not flip but had to stop a few times to bail. our boat developed a crack but not enough to drown. we got to visit Xunantinuch/Stone Lady ruin and Atuncan ruin. Xunantunich was super impressive. caught up to Nordic AR towards the end where we paddled on the Macal River to the take-out in San Ignacio. one of the best paddles i have been on.

TREK 2 (road run back to bikes) CP 5
took out in 3rd and short road run thru town back up to Cahal Pech

BIKE 1 (the long bike) CP 6-12
quick TA to our already-built bikes and out on the roads to El Pilar ruin. made it there just after dark and with Nordic. punched and passed them on the way to CP 7 Spanish Ferry. the road north of the river was amazing...everyone out partying on Saturday night! even Spanish Ferry was human powered w hand crank!

then on the way to CP8 Ryan started puking. a semi-normal thing for him in hot weather conditions. we let him rest a little bit, took his pack and bike, and kept moving in between puking sessions where he would lay down. Ryan was fairly confident he would recover but it just took some time. we got passed a lot but did not let it bother us, with the thought that if we got Ryan recovered on Night 1 we could make up loads of time on Night 2 onwards. i got to nav a bit as Ryan recovered and thankfully did not get lost!

so we made it to CP8 (Mai Gate) and thru Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve to the Chiquibul National Park. Ryan was feeling better but still sick as we got to CP9 Big Rock Falls. we mis-read the map thinking the access trail on north side of river continued thru. so we hike-a-biked down a super sketch trail to the CP. and no trail, that we could see, on the other side! whitewater, big rocks, and bike shoes made us not want to carry bikes across. also Ken from Seek Adventure arrived and told us about the bridge to the east. so we hike-a-biked BACK up the "trail" and around. time and effort lost. turns out AMK attacked this from the south and said a trail existed but v faint. rode w Seek to CP10 Rio Frio Cave and CP11 Tapir Camp where the sun was rising and we chatted w the Rangers. rode past Millionario (start of big trek) as Columbia Bosi was transitioning but we continued to Las Cuevas. by this time Ryan was feeling much better so we loaded up packs w climbing gear and food. hot breakfast of rice, beans, and eggs from Scottie was amaze!! also saw the scarlet macaws.

short bike Las Cuevas to Millionario. muddy. heavy packs.

TREK 3 (the big/jungle trek) CP 13-19, 30ish mi (+ 9mi)
started this in the morning around 9 or 10 AM? trekked out and after about 1hr realized we were on the wrong trail. the trek was a loop and we were going backwards. whoops. saw a cut-thru trail on the map not too far away so decided to find that. well we were not able to find. so only option was to trek back to Millionario and start over. sad, but we have all made equal or bigger mistakes and at least we knew where we were! so made the return trip and re-started the trek in about last place.

we were following these tractor wheel tracks and at times it was extremely muddy. we trekked about 4 hours to CP 13 where we saw AMK outbound, a few hours before sunset. they let us know of a course change, CP18 Natural Bridge was relocated and therefore our original loop trek was now a lollipop out-n-back (as shown on tracking map). their trek was taking longer than planned and they were concerned for us. Mari shared some of her food.

from that point we split and continued trekking west to WP3. i don't think we ever saw it? there was a trail in real life but not mapped. we guessed that we had to keep following this trail to get to CP14 Group Camp. [POST-RACE NOTE: i really didn't like that AAC knew about this trail but didn't map it] it kept getting fainter and harder to follow, especially in the dark. there was no way to stay in contact w terrain features on the map so i was getting really nervous about losing the trail and becoming real deal lost. i told the team this but Ryan was pretty good about keeping track of the "trail" and we kept pushing forward. we kept at it but i was losing confidence (not in Ryan, but in the trail). trees were down everywhere and it was harder and harder to find the "trail" on the other side in the dark. at one of the trickier down trees, we were struggling when we saw another racer...Boris from Chiquibul Grisons. Boris is a Park Ranger. we told him we were struggling and he offered to take us to CP14 Group Camp, if we could deliver a message to CP16 (his team had quit but he had to tell the ropes staff at CP16 to not wait for them). we eagerly accepted and what seemed like mere minutes later, we were at CP14. i was so relieved. then he took us to WP4 Saddle and got us on the "flagged" trail to CP15 Overlook.

the flagged trail was sparse and kept climbing up. we couldn't understand where the climb was coming from! but kept going, slowly to keep track of the infrequent flagging. as we got closer we started seeing lights from other teams. we called out to ask where they were but no answer. this was annoying. we finally found the overlook after walking up to their faces and asking them directly. they had already found CP15 Overlook but couldn't find CP16 Ropes from there. [POST-RACE NOTE: teams were relying on flagging in this area and the flagging was pretty poor, but it was hard to switch back to navving off the actual map]. Ryan took charge of these lost souls and we led at least 2 teams to the ropes, maybe more. and once we got there we had to ask to get on the ropes ahead of them. common AR courtesy, people!

the ropes was a 200' or so rappel and actually fit into the scheme of the route. plus the ropes crew had a dog which i chatted with for a bit. so we all made it down safely (in the dark still) and then received some horrible directions to WP5 Ceiba Tree. it would have been better if they hadn't told us anything. but we tried to follow their instructions to find another unmapped trail. [POST-RACE NOTE: again, it really bothered me that there were trails out there, leading directly to CPs, that AAC knew about but didn't map. they took time to "flag" them but not map].

we were with about 3 other teams (swedish, french, Nordic, and maybe columbia) all thrashing about trying to find this stupid tree and unmapped trail in the dark. after a bit of flailing and conferencing, Ryan studied the map and told JD to go sniff out the trail to our right. what do you know, JD found it! we snuck out before other teams could see. but we weren't sure exactly where we were so had to verify with a quick hike in opposite direction as CP17 Kabal Cave. once we verified the trail (at an unmapped intersection but flagged with "Kabal Cave -->" tape) we turned around and hiked to the cave. i slept-walked most of this section. on the way we saw all of the other teams, hiking in the opposite direction, saying that they didn't find it. but Ryan was pretty certain we were good so we continued and found the entrance! we were super stoked. Kabal Cave is massive, even in the pitch dark we got a sense of its scale. we all filled water at the bottom. it tasted cave-y but cold. then we kept on the trail to CP18 Natural Arch which had been relocated (reason unknown but we heard there were too many bees in original location). punched CP18 and then were on the same trail we trekked in on. we were all sleepy but we just had to follow the tractor wheels out to Millionario, about 5hrs, before the cutoff. JD made tuna sushi and i finally woke up.

we worked really well as a team to keep pushing thru the sleep monsters. trekking poles, trekking tow, pack switching, singing, chatting, excedrin, chewing gum, we used every trick in the book to keep moving and didn't take any rest breaks. AND MADE THE 9AM CUT-OFF BY TWENTY MINUTES!!!

once at Millionario we took a 20min sleep but i didn't sleep.

BIKE 2 (out-n-back to Caracol) 30ish miles CP 20-21
then we got moving and started the out-n-back ride to Caracol ruins and Tapir Camp (again). it was hot and pretty hilly. i didn't enjoy this section at all. so thankfully it was mostly paved and "fast" riding. the store at Caracol wasn't open, but JD started hailing tourist vehicles and asking for cold sodas. success! 1 Coke, 1 Fanta, and a couple bottles of water. also i got stung by a bee on my inner lip! ow. but the swelling went down before we got back. we picked up our stuff at Millionario and rode back to Las Cuevas.

super long TA at Las Cuevas, we had to pack bikes and i was useless.

TREK 4 (w pack rafts to put in) 4ish mi CP 22
we loaded up all of our packraft stuff for a trek down to the river. stuff everywhere but Erl took most of my gear. i was in a low spot after taking so long in TA. plus it was almost to Night 3. so we held hands most of this trek and i worked on cheering up. we reached the put-in right as Seek Adventure was launching, and Bosi Columbia was extracting themselves with a 6" gash in their Sevylor pack raft. this freaked us out a bit.

PADDLE 2 (Monkey Tail pack raft) CP 23
we launched in the dark. Erl and I hadn't paddled the Gnus in an actual river before, and with Columbia's fate we were really cautious about rocks. it was hard going since the river was really nothing but rocks for the first 6 hours. we would paddle 30 seconds, then run into shallow water, then get out and maneuver around it, then get in and repeat. eventually the best system we found was for me to not have a paddle and lay superman-style on the front of the boat, scouting for rocks and using my hands to steer around them. Erl would have the paddle and spin us off of rocks that i missed. then when it was too shallow for anything we would get out and i would walk, and Erl would take the boat. just super slow going. and in the dark. at first it was warm enough but we gradually got colder. caught up to some teams including No Boundaries and got around them. but we were all falling asleep. we flopped over a few waterfalls unintentionally! and Erl fell out of the boat in a pool. but around 4 AM we were just losing it (intense hallucination of Joe's Special Banyan Tree arts n crafts for me) and "decided" to sleep. Erl clocked us for 10min but we were unresponsive so he let us go for 30 all snuggled up in the Gnus. upon waking i was the most disoriented i have ever been. i wasn't sure what was real life. maybe i was dreaming? just whacked out. and super cold. but i didn't want to put my drywarm clothes on bc they would just get wet. so i shivered. but turns out we were really close to the end of the shallow part and pretty soon the river opened up again. we hooked they boys up on tow bc they were still sleepy, but accidentally paddled upstream for a bit in lapse of focus. then saw No Boundaries who got us turned around (except they weren't quite sure they were paddling downstream, either!). finally the sun started to rise and we were in a beautiful jungle. no sign of humans. very peaceful. we found Seek Adventure but they were confused about the lake. Ryan was not so we continued paddling into Challilo Lake. a big lake with a big tail wind and weird current against us. but we all woke up a bit with Ryan and JD's packraft karaoke. and then, around the corner, the beautiful dam!!! it was magnificent.

we portaged around it in full sun. then put back in in the Macal River for a few extra miles to the take-out. and some more rapids! Erl and I ran the ones immediately after the put-in and they were fun. the boys did not but their Gnu was a bit leaky in back so prob a smart decision.

BIKE 2 (to Mountain Pine Ridge) CP 24-28 but we skipped 27, 40ish mi
we got to the take-out around noon and knew we had to turn and burn to make the CP28 cutoff at 3 PM, which was about 25mi away. we built bikes and TAd in 30min (record for us) but still had no chance to make it. but the Mountain Pine Ridge was exceptionally beautiful. my favorite AR biking section. fire roads the whole way and amazing, pristine, multi-ridge views. it was incredible. we had a team chat that we wouldn't make the cutoff so decided to drop CP26 (out-n-back) to get out faster. our team vibe was so mellow and the sun was setting and it was just a really enjoyable bike ride.

we met up w Happy Mutants just before CP27 and they were in rough shape, but had gotten CP26. we punched just ahead of them and enjoyed a really beautiful full moon rise. just wow. then descended forever into a thick fog and into Hidden Valley Resort.

the volunteers met us and explained our short course - some CPs were closed (29-32, 34) but we could go get others (33, 35, 36). i assumed we would not get credit for these since we had missed cutoff. with HM ahead by 1 CP, we thought the race was pretty much over (not a bad thing). but then Doug arrived and said we were still "full course" and would get credit for future CPs. this kinda made everything awkward and i didn't like it. were we supposed to throw down w our friends on HM and race to the finish? sure it was still a race but i felt the rules had changed. so it was tense for a bit and everyone was whispering and it was just weird. but we all decided to eat dinner and sleep. Erl and I worked out the times and felt that we didn't have enough time to sleep properly and then get more than 2 of the remaining available CPs (to move ahead of HM). so we told HM that we wouldn't try to pass them and all went to sleep at 10 PM. it was a tough sleep since the bar closed at 11 PM and kicked us out and then we slept by the pool. HM woke at 2 or 3 and left but we accidentally slept in til 5.

which was fine since we didn't have anyone behind us. so we rolled EZ in a beautiful sunrise to CP33 Barton's Creek aka Mike's Place. we paddled into a cool cave for the CP and then enjoyed a delicious breakfast burritos (although we had to wait for them). then we took the paved route home, skipping CP36 but not caring.

stopped by a store in San Ignacio for cold Belikins before climbing the final hill to the finish line.

C • Amazing 10

update for G:

we started the day with an 8:00 AM race check in and map giving. in a the Mayan ruin of Cahal Pech, suuuuuch a cool place. 2 maps, supposed to be 1:50 but they got printed a but wrong so more like 1:54k. then a third smaller map of a ruin site, El Pilar. we spent the morning transposing CPs and WPs and highlighting, in pink of course.

at 12:45 we went back to Cahal Pech ruin for pre-race interview and photos. that was fun and a cool way to highlight the ruins which will certainly be featured throughout the course.

then built Ryan's bike and headed into town for a bit of course recon and lunch. after lunch we got a few final supplies and spent the afternoon organizing food and gear. v hard to fit everything we want in the allowed 35gal team bin. but we think we can get everything we need, just no "luxuries" like hot food or dry shirts.

ride to Hode's place for lunch and WiFi

back to Cahal Pech

update for G:

we arrived safe and sound at the Cahal Pech Hotel. shared a shuttle w AMK, Jo and Wendy from Nordic, and Will and Jason from No Boundaries, and 2 others. And Legendary. all boxes and bags made the trip no problem although we have yet to unpack. solid rain over night. temps in the 70s and v humid. first order of business today: coffee.

spent the rest of the day building bikes and giong shopping. no major issues w bikes, JD swapped a tire but that was planned. thx to Argentinian team Sectretos de Ullom Aromon for letting us borrow their floor pump!

then we went shopping in town. a fun trip and we purchased 3# of fresh tortillas, among other staples like Belizean cookies and crackers. and cokes. which we don't think can fit in our single Oasis Box but we are hopeful.

the Ryan arrived safely around 7 PM and we went to dinner at The Mayan Prince w Katie from YogaSlackers. delish dinner again!

slept w the balcony door open and was even slightly chilly.

C • Piddle factor 1

update for G:

team SEEK has checked in to STL successfully. 2 bike boxes @ 69# each. 2 TNF duffels @ 49# each. and 1 smaller TNF duffel @ 30#. for a total of $390 on American. the smaller duffel has the race food we are bringing, about half of what we plan to consume. the other half will be purchased in country. Erl is excited about going shopping!

we had a smooth morning. early but that paid off with a smooth check-in. so now we are in the hands of American's baggage folks.

update: met up w JD at DFW. now we are on a plane. Belize-bound !

C • Good luck! 6

Valentine's Day MMAC packing/piddling marathon w Erl. pack slow, race fast, right ?

C • Have fun! 3