Pikes Peak Ascent August 16, 2008

I survived the August 16th Blizzard of 08.

First look at Pikes Peak the next day

Starting the race in the rain By Memorial Park in Manitou the temperature was around 48 degrees but above tree line every thing changed. Blinding snow and hail, below freezing with 25+ miles an hour wind, Ice covered rocks, and white out conditions. The common theme with people I talked to went from thinking of finishing the race to survival.
The race officials stopped and turned runners around when it got dangerous, 1927 started and 760 finished.

You runners who were turned around Be Thankful many who thought they were prepared were not, a windbreaker was far from adequate the EMS people were very busy dealing with Hypothermia.

The EMS people and all the volunteers in the medical tent went above and beyond.
Everyone connected with the Ascent today did everything humanly possible to make sure we were safe and taken care of in the absolute worst weather conditions.

6:00 AM Race Day not many here yet

6:15 AM Runners starting to show up

Staying out of the rain

Stop laughing at the guy that’s looks like a duck, it’s me.
By the time I got through town to the trail head it got very hot under that plastic rain poncho so I pulled it up around my neck with it streaming behind me, which worked great until it got hung up on a fence post and just about put me down. About twenty runners passed me before I could get it loose.

6:50 AM

7:00 AM Wave One

7:30 AM Wave Two

The Finish Line

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Click here for Article by Kate Crandall from the Gazette

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Read my Pikes Peak Ascent post from Friday August 15th.
What I did to prepare.
IT WAS NOT ADEQUATE!