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Re: [RC] FYI Llano Estacado Riders Stuck at Ride Site - Kristen A FisherThe weather we were getting at Llano was actually
from a low pressure system coming out of NM as it turns out [not Ivan as we in
camp suspected]. I was one of the last ones out in a 36' RV [we had to wait as
if we got stuck, no one else could leave!]. By about 4pm, 4x4s had no problem
making it out on their own even with trailers, and 2x4s were doing OK too,
although the horses were still being wisely ponied/walked out and loaded once
the rigs reached stable ground as some of the terrain was still a bit dodgy
for a horse to be in a trailer [although one person did, it was not
wise]. We got out under our own power with the blessing of Ray and his
Wonder Pickup [who pulled out most people] at about 4:20, there were maybe 10
rigs left in camp [most of whom were RM I think], so if they left then, they
beat the rain. Gail Conway and his 26' motor home + trailer [horses waiting
out on the road] got out under his own power just fine too. Actually we were
only about 4-5 hours behind schedule all told.
Huge kudos to Mechelle Taylor and her whole RM
staff. There were 30+ in both 25 and 50 on Sat; weather was overcast and pretty
cool. The terrain is tough and challenging, the trails were very well marked,
there was plenty of water for drinking & sponging throughout the trail and
at VCs [much of it brought in by cute firemen], and the awards were great. The
downside to the amazing views were the jillion skillion mosquitoes chasing you,
but RM even provided each rider with a can of Deep Woods Sportsmen's Off
[30% DEET!!!] which worked great [we used 2.75 cans of our 3 cans!]
Even though only 7 rode in each ride on Sun in
the downpour everyone in RC was in high spirits throughout the weekend.
Many people who didn't ride on Sunday had a wonder "joy ride" in the good
weather on Monday morning [including me!] waiting for things to dry out and
since the wind shifted from out of the west the skeeters were at bay for a
while. [The joy ride also gave Rosie the opportunity to lose her front 2
shoes/pads, which apparently she had not been able to do on Saturday - a girl
and her shoes...] Mechelle gave an interview to 1 or 2 TV stations who
dropped a reporter/cameraman; there are blurbs about it on their web
sites:
Mechelle & Team and Ray were the real heros;
as you can see from the articles the Park Service wasn't overly concerned. [I
*think* someone's husband called them to light a fire under the PS to get them
to send the grader...?] They did send a grader that made one pass, but
RM/volunteers [ponying horses], Ray and the sun were what eventually got all the
rigs out. And no food/water airlifts either [although I kept imaging them
dropping a pig in a crate out of the sky so we could all chase it through the
mud] and we went home with plenty of human water, beer & tequila that we
could have shared if needed!
I'd be happy to support this ride next year
wherever they have it!
Cheers,
Kristen & Rosie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ridecamp Guest" <guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 9:37
AM
Subject: [RC] FYI Llano Estacado Riders Stuck at
Ride Site ========================================== Wish to pass on word to people who have family or friends at the Llano Estacado Ride near Amarillo TX. With extreme weather conditions from Ivan, the riders are stuck at ride site and cannot get rigs out until ONLY accessible road is usable. Riders/horses are all OK and are at no risk but earliest hope to get them out appears to be this upcoming Thursday (9/30). Food and water is being airlifted to them. This information is provided by the Lake Meredith National Recreation Office.
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