November 14-16, 2003
Los Angeles, California

After a couple of interesting days in Apple Valley, California visiting France's parents and sister, brother-in-law and family and touring the California fires, Team Enviromark arrived in Santa Monica with a great deal of confidence and enthusiasm. It was the general feeling of the Team that the Masters Division of the Balance Bar 24 Hour Adventure was up for grabs and that after the fiasco in Beaver Creek,the title was achievable.

As has been the case at all the Balance Bar races, check-in day was hectic and pressure filled. After dropping off the bikes at a remote checkpoint/transition area in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Team arrived at race headquarters located at the Santa Monica Pier. After the obligatory paperwork was completed, it was into the Pacific Ocean for the sea kayak test.

Surf entry went smoothly on the three person kayak. Surf exit was another story. Talk about a yard sale! Oh well, there's always next year to work on technique. The Los Angeles County Lifeguard explained, between outbursts of laughter, that you handle the kayak the same as a snowboard, lean with the wave, ok! Yea right! The water was only in the low sixties, but when your trying to breathe and get the kayak off your head, temperature is the least of your worries.

Because we had raced in the Beaver Creek, we received an exception from Race Director, Johnaton Denison on the rappelling and navigation tests. The race briefing was held after a buffet by the New York Catering Company? In LA? The wrinkle in this race was that the UTM's for the start and PCs 1-4 were going to be given out in a progressive manner, meaning, there was to be a 1.5 hour bus ride to the start at an undisclosed location, PC1's coordinates were to be given 5 minutes before the start and upon arrival at each PC, the next PC's coordinates would be given. Naturally, this was met by a lot of nervousness and apprehension.

The buses loaded at 0430 sharp with a departure time of 0445. One team, arrived at the buses without their maps, talk about a cluster! Fortunately, the race director produced another set of six topo's for them. All team navigators closely paid attention to landmarks on the bus ride up the Pacific Coast Highway. In a cruel twist, the buses actually left the maps as they headed north. You have never heard a quieter bus load of racers. Everyone had the same four letter word come to mind. Some I recall, actually said it loud enough for the others to hear.

Finally, the buses came to a stop upon entering the NPS Rancho Sierra Vista/Satiwa Culture Center located on the northwest edge of the Santa Monica Mountains. As 100 teams and 300 racers lined up in anticipation, Race Director, Jonathon Denison gave out the UTM coordinates to PC1. After 5 minutes, the race began.

Teams quickly spread out, with some heading to the east and the majority running south on a blacktop trail. This trail began at 800' of elevation and ended only one mile later at 500'. Talk about burning quads! It was then onto a single track trail for approximately 8 uphill miles to PC1 located at the summit of Tri Peaks, elevation 3010' . Initially, the team was making great time and actually was passed twice by Rebecca Rusch and Team Montrail. We were racing with an elite team which had competed in and finished the Primal Quest, made up of a male and two females.

Then, as we approached the summit of Tri Peaks, Randy abruptly began to slow. He was sweating profusely and complaining of his heart racing. At this point, approximately 2 hours into the race, we had to stop and then proceed slowly with Randy on tow. Finally, we arrived at PC1, after 3 hours of ascending. While plotting the coordinates to PC2, Randy began to experience dry heaves. PC2 was located 1.6 miles away to the south east, at the summit of Sandstone Peak, elevation, 2950'. This decrease in elevation allowed a brief break from the uphill grind and allowed trail running for the entire length. Randy appeared to have substantially recovered. Off tow, he was able to run the entire distance. Between these two PC's we were able to begin catching up and passing many of the teams who had passed us earlier.

The weather was mainly overcast and cool with slight wind. The approach to PC2 was extremely steep over exposed rock. Upon arrival after only 30 minutes of trail running from PC1, the coordinates to PC3 were received and plotted. The route selection from here to PC3 was critical. Two options presented themselves, one to stay on the trails and run downhill for approximately 2.6 miles or take a chance on a much shorter route, but one where bushwhacking through the thick chaparral was necessary.

Due to Randy's condition, and the belief that the trail run would be faster, the Backbone trail was back tracked to the Mishe Mokwa Trail, past the Split Rock area with a short side slope bushwhack to Balanced Rock, where PC3 was located along with the Ropes section located at Echo Cliffs. The downhill run was uneventful, with Randy keeping up and not complaining of anything. In fact, he took a quick picture at Split Rock.

As we began to bushwhack, we we moving fast with a couple if elite teams pushing us from behind. Due to the thickness of the chaparral and the other teams, we briefly lost sight of Randy. Frances and I arrived at Balanced Rock in less than 20 minutes from PC2 and quickly got into our climbing harnesses so we would have an advantage over the next arriving teams at the rappel. We noticed that Randy was not behind us. We then began to backtrack and found him slowly, struggling to climb the steep approach to Balanced Rock.

Upon his arrival, he appeared to be quite pale and complained of severe stomach pain. He was laid down and attended to by myself, a ICU nurse, who was actually the volunteer at the PC and two EMT's who were stationed at the rappel site. Oxygen was quickly applied and he was field stabilized. Due to his decreased consciousness level, the decision was quickly made that he needed to be promptly helicopter evacuated off the mountain.

Balanced Rock is located in the Circle X Ranch National Park so permission to fly over and land had to be granted by the Ranger. Within an hour, the rescue helicopter from the Ventura County Sheriff's Office arrived. There is no more comforting sound than the thud, thud, thud of a Huey helicopter. I can appreciate what the soldiers felt in Viet Nam. He was quickly and professionally stabilized at the scene by Flight Paramedic, Cesar Mendingo. Prior to the copter arrival, space blankets, a wall of rocks, and body heat from team mates kept him as warm a possible.

The weather had begun to change with strong winds from the north, overcast skies, and rapidly falling temperatures. After a side slope, litter carry to the hovering helicopter, Randy was flown to the Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura. I was impressed with the care Randy received from responding medical staff members, medical emergency preplanning organization of race officials and the communications to the Ventura County Dispatch Center and to the NPS. The Search and Rescue crew on the ground and on the helicopter were absolutely top flight, Kudos' to all.

After a prayer for Randy's improvement and recovery, Frances and I were met with the realization that we were still over an hour from PC4/TA1. Following a bit of bushwhacking down a steep wash into a deep, rocky ravine and back up a narrow steep rocky wash, we arrived at the Mishe Mokwa trail which would take us to the PC/TA. On the way up the steep wash, which Frances questioned as to whether it was a trail, we were met by a NPS Ranger who was hiking in from the trail head to investigate the medical emergency and rescue. His first comment was how he appreciated the fact we were on the "right" trail and were not bushwhacking like others had done. After giving him the particulars of the rescue we trail ran the remaining mile to the PC/TA. Our main concern at this point was to find Becky and advise her of the situation.

Upon arrival at the PC/TA, the weather had turned windy and cold. The sea kayak leg had been shut down at 1:30 p.m. due to high winds and large waves. We were advised to transition to our bikes and pedal down 6.2 miles on the Yerba Buena Canyon Road to PC5. PC4/TA1 was located at 2080' and PC5 located at sea level. Needless to say, the downhill ride was effortless and fast. While at the transition, we gave food, drink, and morale support to teams continuing to arrive. In fact, one all male team went on to complete the course!

We arrived at PC5 located on the beach across the Pacific Coast Highway from the famous seafood restaurant, Neptune Net. We arrived to find Becky anxiously wondering what had happened to us. She had actually overheard the radio traffic of the helicopter rescue, not knowing or anticipating that it was Randy. We quickly loaded up the bikes and proceeded to Ventura, a thirty minute ride, where we once again united as a team. After many rounds of tests, and no conclusive diagnosis, Randy was discharged from the hospital in the evening on Tuesday, November 18, 2003. We continue to pray for Randy's complete recovery so he can continue to pursue his dream.

- Gerry