With high hopes and expectations, Gerry and Frances joined Mike Ehredt in Beaver Creek, Colorado, to race in the Balance Bar 24 Hour Adventure Race, the first stop in the three race national series. This series brings together the best teams in the world. As Team Enviromark, we once again competed in the masters division. 42 teams started the race, of which 22 were elite, 10 coed, 5 all male, and 5 masters.

To acclimatize to the altitude, we trained in Crested Butte for four days prior to the race. The race started at 0700 on July 17, 2004 on the shore of the Colorado River at State Bridge. Over the serenade of a slide trombone, a mad scramble ensued on race director, Jonathon Denison's go. Teams coasteered down the shore of the Colorado River for approximately one mile to the kayak put in. Down the river through multiple class 1 and 2 rapids we paddled for 14 miles. The skies were sunny and the air temperature cool. The water temperature was warmer than expected making the wet suits hot and uncomfortable. We had a great paddle reaching TA1 at 9:40 a.m. in 12th place! 2.5 hours to paddle 14 miles, approximately 5 1/2 miles per hour! After a quick transition, it was on to the trekking leg for what we had been told was 20 miles in length with a 4500' vertical elevation gain. Up we went under the hot, energy sapping sun. To the west the skies began to cloud up with large thunderheads. As we approached the summit of a mountain, the storm had reached us. Dangerous lightening was about. A ground strike, way to close for comfort hit. We quickly exited the mountain and dove into a deep erosion gully for safety. We took shelter in a quaint log cabin. Mike explored the cabin, I sat on the floor and ate, Franny stood outside in the rain due the smell in the cabin. Apparently, in one corner was a decaying deer. Mike took off after Frances with a couple of the deer legs. That got the gagging started. The stop was much appreciated. I had chugged a latte flavored Ensure at the TA. Bad mistake. Between leg cramps, arm pit cramps, and a bad stomach, I was suffering more than I ever had. Thanks to Mike who carried my pack and towed me, I was drug through the first four hours of the trek. At PC2, Mike had inquired as to which route the leaders had taken to PC3. He was told that the trails to the right of the mountain were what "most" teams seemed to be following. We had planned to follow the roads and trails to the left of the mountain as we felt there were more catching features and handrails. Less chance to miss the PC we thought. Once we left the log cabin, we went across a large valley and up the side of a mountain. The trail was steep, the rain continued and I was cramping like a big dog. At one point in a grassy meadow with wild flowers I pleaded that they pick up rocks and just bury me there. It was so beautiful and peaceful and I was dying. They wouldn't do it. The tow rope went taut, I had to go. Then a funny thing happened, I completely recovered! Stomach - check, Cramping - gone, All systems a go! The highs and lows of adventure racing and ultra-endurance sports. We were now moving good and fast. Up and over ridges we went. We thought we knew where we were. OOPS! We had somehow gotten three ridges and valleys too far east.

Once we quit justifying where we thought we were, we got back on track. At this point we had trekked for about six or seven hours. We were out of water. We took a bearing and followed a new road up a mountain where a new housing development was planned on Horse Mountain. At the top we found a picnic table, a new gas grill, a new port-a-potty, and of all things, a 5 gallon container of fresh drinking water. Not a house for miles, as far as I could see. Thank you God! Refreshed, we continued up ridges, across valleys and back up. Finally, at 6:46 p.m., nine hours and six minutes after beginning the trek, we arrived at PC3. Our spirits were soaring, we were not lost! The volunteers at the PC proudly announced that they had been "looking for us" and that we were the next to the last team to make it. We didn't really care at that point. Now, we had to start reeling teams in. On the steep bushwhacking descent down the side of a mountain and four mile run down a road to PC5 we actually passed two teams. We arrived at PC5/TA2 at 8:15 p.m. After changing clothes and getting a bite to eat we were off. We were only in transition for 29 minutes, leaving at 8:44 p.m. Jonathon assured us that we would make the preset race cutoff times. The route to PC6, the Tyrolean traverse, was up, over and down Bocco Mountain. As darkness took over, the single track mountain bike trail became quite dicey. It was steep, deeply rutted, and chewed up. Apparently, dirt bikes used it more than bikes. After a rather steep climb, Frances started feeling quite bad. She continued. After a steep descent, she became quite ill. What little food and water she had in her exited rather violently! Dehydration was of great concern. After a brief rest, we continued, reaching the edge of the traverse at 10:49 p.m. We were connected to the static rope over a 100' high canyon dragging our bikes behind us by a piece of webbing. The traverse was 200' long and uphill the last half. The first half was easy and quick with the last half quite difficult. The last 20' seemed to never arrive. Finally, it did. Arms were noodles! We missed the view over the canyon due to the blackness of the night. Headlamps only illuminated the bikes dragging behind. Frances was the last to complete the traverse. As she was being unclipped from the rope, she experienced another violent upheaval. The nausea and vomiting continued. Once reunited, we pondered whether to continue on the 65 mile mountain biking leg with a 7800' elevation gain. The decision was made easier when the race official at the ropes refused to allow Frances to continue. We were driven back to the finish line and the medical tent by Billy Mattison. A sincere thank you to Billy for his concern for Frances and support he gave all of us.

In retrospect, I believe we were at a substantial disadvantage over the other teams due to the fact that the topo maps we were given were black and white copies. Vegetation types and bodies of water or streams were difficult to distinguish. Altitude may have played a role in both France's and my condition during parts of the race. Mike was strong throughout. Our team chemistry was outstanding and we moved well together. The Balance Bar 24 Hour Adventure races continue to provide the ultimate challenge for us. In this race, 18 of the 22 elite teams, 4 of the 10 coed teams, 2 of the 5 male teams, and only 1 of the 5 masters team finished. As they say....we'll be back.

- Gerry