Starting from a new ride site will change things a bit, but it is on the
original trail so the change will be minimal.
Most of the trail will remain the same. No changes, except
maybe going through the canyons instead of down the road just for
variety. The only change would be the Adelaide trail.(six miles)
The Forest Service is refusing to let us through there again this
year. So we have several options. #!1 - We are thinking of
completely scraping the Adelaide trail and bringing people around by the
dinosaur tracks. But, the Adelaide trail is the most beautiful part of the
trail and it wouldn't be the Big Horn 100 without it. #2 - use the trail we used
last year, but run it in reverse. #3 - Just go half way, turn around and go
back! #4 - find a trail that doesn't go through wilderness (ha, ha, it's
Wyoming, there is only one road to someplace.) #5 - Sue the Forest Service and
get our trail back!
I guess the part you need to understand is that in 37 years, we have NEVER
had anyone in the dark on that section of trail! NEVER! We at the Big Horn
100 don't think that the trail was blame. It was slower moving. But,
an 80 year woman and someone completing their first 100 on a throughbred mare
were able to make it though. It is a matter of timing on the Big Horn 100.
You have to keep moving at a good clip. Several
people have commented that when riding with seasoned Big Horn riders, they felt
very pushed at the beginning of the ride. They thought the people were
moving too fast, but later realized that you can't lolly gag or you won't make
it. I even noticed this when waiting outside the Jack Creek stop. Seasoned
riders were in no mood to talk, they were moving out. A wave was all
I got. Newbie riders, stopped and talked and visited, picked up water, let
their horses eat and graze. They seemed to not be in any rush.
Being raised around and have ridden the Big Horn 3 times, the Adelaide
trail is the critical point fo the trail. It makes or breaks the
ride. If you keep your speed up through there, you complete in time.
If you loose speed, you don't. It is that critical. Big Horn 2006
was a prime example of this.
People on the Tevis were mad when someone held them up for 15
minutes. Riders on the Big Horn 100 need to have the same thoughts.
Keep moving. From a personal stand point, they underestimated the
mountain. But, I can promise you, they won't do that again! We
escepecially hope Dave Rabey(sp) comes back. He was so close!
He of anyone needs to complete this ride.
Well, that was probably, much more than you wanted. But, people need
to know that things went pretty well on the ride this year. Tevis's
completion rate was 45%. The Big Horn completion rate was
35%. The low completion was partly do to many new riders, new
horses and new trail. Not problems with the trail.
