Re: 2nd Annual Rocky Mtn Ride

Brad Patterson (mbp@holly.colostate.edu)
Tue, 25 Nov 1997 00:00:03 -0700 (MST)

Greetings Trish & Husband!
I will send you the ride mailer as soon as it is ready, probably early
January. What I can easily tell you now is:

DATES: July 29-August 2 (Wednesday-Sunday)

EACH DAY IS A SEPERATE EVENT: You can ride one horse all five days, five
different horses - one each day, two horses - one every other day, etc.

DRIVERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HIRE TO MOVE RIGS: $30 per day.

LOCATIONS: Starts in Arlington, Wyoming (40 miles NW of Laramie, WY on
I-80) and travels to Centennial & Mountain Home, WY and then Gould, Red
Feather Lakes and ends at Stove Prairie, Colorado, about 25 miles west of
Fort Collins, CO

LENGTH: 275 miles, 55 each day; also, Limited Distance (25-35 mile) Rides
on Saturday and Sunday

ELEVATION: Between 7,160' (Rustic, CO on Day 5) and 11,160' (Montgomery
Pass, CO on Day 4)

SCENERY: Spectacular! The Snowy & Medicine Bow Ranges, the North & Middle
Forks of the Little Laramie River, Douglas & Pelton Creeks, the Rawahs,
Montgomery Pass, Joe Wright Reservoir & Chambers Lake, Dead Man Lookout,
the Bald Mountains, the Cache La Poudre River . . . beautiful, often
breathtaking high country scenery!

TRAIL: Mostly single & 2-track, some dirt roads, 1/2 mile asphalt;
generally good footing, but remember, this is the Rocky Mountains! Several
large stream/small river crossings, but none that were a problem for any
riders this year. For 1998, it looks like at least three days of the
course will have permanent markers up.

WATER: Excellent all along trail; provided for horses & humans in camp and
at vet checks

VET CHECKS: Two on Days 1, 4 & 5; one on Days 2 & 3

VETS: Drs. Barney Fleming from Deming, New Mexico (Head Vet) and Ute Jung
from Livermore, Colorado (both vetted the ride this year) and probably a
third vet.

SHOWERS: Available for $2-5 every night except Stove Prairie

MEALS: Judy Blandon's sack lunches (plenty to eat) and dinner
(Tuesday-Fried chicken and watermelon; Wednesday-? at the Old Corral;
Thursday-Monster Burgers at the WyColo Lodge; Friday-Spaghetti from the
Elkhorn Cafe; Saturday-Barbequed beef & chicken at Beaver Meadows Resort
Ranch; Sunday-Teriyaki from Teriyaki Wok, watermelon, and Fat Tire beer
from New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins) is included every day for riders
and is available for purchase for crews, etc.

SUNDAY NIGHT FINISH BANQUET BASH: See meals for food & drinks, awards,
country/folk strolling music by the T-Band, a big campfire, and lots of
celebration!

AWARDS: Beautiful pewter sculptures by world renowned artist Michael
Ricker of Estes Park, Colorado. Each day's completion award is part of a
pewter train (Day 1-Engine, Day 2-Horse on flatcar, Day 3-Moose on flatcar,
Day 4-Ram on flatcar, Day 5-Dog wearing hat on flatcar; more will be added
for return riders) with those completing all five days on the same horse
also receiving a caboose. Overall awards are fairly large pewter
sculptures on bases with plaques for Best Condition (large pegasus with
crystal ball), Runner-Up BC (smaller pegasus with mountain background), 1st
Place (large Bighorn Ram), Runner-Up (smaller Bighorn Ram), and
Sportsmanship (Cowboy Joe). There are a lot of other daily awards
(Patagonia jackets, heart rate monitors, tack, etc.), including three
treasure hunt "treasures" each day!

1997 RIDE RESULTS HIGHLIGHTS:
Day 1 - 43 starters, 41 finishing
Day 2 - 35 starters, 34 finishing
Day 3 - 36 starters, 30 finishing
Day 4 - 29 starters, 26 finishing
Day 5 - 24 starters, 18 finishing
Overall - 167 starters, 149 finishing = 89% completion rate; nine riders
finished all five days on the same horse, and four more finished four days
on the same horse. A wonderful time was had by all!

ENTRY FEES: Have not been set yet - I will let you know.

PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE: July 1st, 1998

This is a challenging, but tough high mountain course through beautiful
sections of Colorado & Wyoming country. I know you will enjoy it!

Happitrails!
Brad.

>Could you please send me (by email is fine) more information about this
>ride? My husband and I are thinking
>of making the trek down for it.
>Thanks in advance,
>Trisha
>
>Trisha Dowling, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM & ACVCP
>Associate Professor, Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology
>Western College of Veterinary Medicine
>Saskatoon

BRAD'S RIDES
1997 ENDURANCE CALENDAR
* December 20: 3RD ANNUAL RESOLUTION RIDE 25/50 & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride
(Boxelder Trails, Wellington, CO)

1998 ENDURANCE CALENDAR
* April 11: PAWNEE GRASSLANDS I 25/50/75/100 Elevator & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride
(Briggsdale, CO)
* June 20: BEAVER MEADOWS 25/50/75/100 Elevator & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride
(Red Feather Lakes, CO)
* July 29-August 2: 2ND ANNUAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN RIDE 55/55/55/30-55/30-55
(Wednesday-Sunday; Arlington, Centennial and Mountain Home, Wyoming &
Gould, Red Feather Lakes, and Stove Prairie, Colorado - Each day
is a seperate
event, and rig drivers are available - Pre-Registration deadline
is July 1st)
* September 5-6: HORSETHIEF PASS 30-50/30-50 & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride (Walden,
CO) * The thief has removed the pass! *
* October 17: PAWNEE GRASSLANDS II 30/50/75/100 Elevator & 15 mile ROOKIE
Ride (Briggsdale, CO)
* November-December: Winter rides to be announced.

Also, look for in 1998:
* COLORADO RIDE & TIE 10 & 20
2 humans & 1 horse teams running & riding!
* THE GREAT COLORADO WHACKY RELAY!
1-3 humans (Single, Due & Trio Divisions), 1 horse & 1 bike = 5-7.5
mile run + 15 mile
horseback ride + 20 mile mountain bike ride!
* COMPETITIVE TRAIL RIDES?!

***All Pre-Registration deadlines are ten days (postmarked) before the
ride unless otherwise noted.

***PLEASE, IF YOU DON'T RIDE THE RIDE, VOLUNTEER!***

"There is no better way to see the world than from the back of a horse."

- Teddy Roosevelt

RIDE INFO:
Email: mbp@holly.colostate.edu
Mail: 2740 West Elizabeth Street, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
Phone/Fax: 970-484-5560