Part Eight This time, the 2 mile climb seems steeper and much more difficult than the last time we were here. At one point War Cry just stops, while going up a hill. Jennifer passes me and continues upward. War Cry is panting so I ask Jen to stop for awhile cause I can tell Rebel is breathing hard, also. The weather has warmed quite a bit, maybe close to 60 or so, and that, added to these mountain climbs, are starting to take their toll. We walk up the last stretch of climbing and stop again where the trail levels off. The horses catch their breath, and we proceed to trot, but it's not a fast one. As soon as we branch off where the Pink and Yellow separate, the trail turns into the rocks from Hell, everything becomes incredibly steep and rugged. The footing is the worst I've seen all day. We get to an area appropriately named "Slick Rock Trail." Some of these rocks protrude upward of 18 inches or so and they are everywhere. And, we have found the mud Michelle was so worried about, remnants from last nights rain. This is the Leatherwood I remember from three years ago when it took me six hours to do 25 miles. And the steepness just increased dramatically. We walk down the hills and are lucky to get a trot out of the horses going up. I think the canter just said Bye Bye for the day. On and on it goes. We stay behind our newly elected leader, but quite often she'll get ahead of us, and then we eventually catch up to her. Jen stays ahead of me on Rebel, who seems to be faring quite well but I think it's because he has "The Flea" on his back instead of me. It's at this point, midway on the yellow loop going up an incredible incline, that I know I made the right decision not entering that 50 miler here. Whoever came up with this route has one sick sense of humor. We reach the last water stop and a volunteer tells us we have 4 miles left to go. He then announces there are only 5 riders ahead of our group of 3. Uh oh, someone just threw a carrot in front of us. I did not want to hear that and I'm wondering what happened to the 17 riders I know were in front of us after that first loop? And the answer is we passed them all at the vet check, no doubt about that one. So, of course, we all take off, knowing that riders behind us will be gunning for our positions. I make the mistake of telling Jennifer how this ride offers the coolest prizes of all the rides I've attended; even to the LDers. I see the look of greed on her face as she whispers something in Rebel's ear and he begins to canter up another steep incline. And, as I predicted, three other riders from our rear gain ground and try to pass. One of the riders from that group says, "50 miler coming through," so I slow down and let her pass. As she does I see a W on her horse's butt and realize she pulled a fast one on me; she's a 25 miler, with a very good sense of humor. I've seen some riders do unusual things to get that coveted top ten award, but this one is a first, and I did think it was quite clever. The other two riders, young girls who look to be 16 or so, pass me and Jennifer. As the three of them canter up the hill while Jen and I walk I tell my daughter that we'll get them in the P & R. "Their horses looked tired, Jen. And remember, we're here to train and ride all week long so if we come in at eleven and twelve it's still pretty awesome." No comment from my teenager. Sometimes, I wish the volunteers wouldn't tell us what place we are in cause I'd rather not know. The last 4 miles were the most toughest, grueling miles I've ever experienced anywhere. The sun is out, I'm now wearing only a sweated up T-Shirt, with my jacket wrapped around my waist, and I'm started to think of getting off and walking my horse. The only thing that stops me are these Ariat boots I'm wearing, that are not made for walking. Next time I'll be wearing sneakers if I can find a pair that will allow me to keep my spurs on. I've never experienced this kind of fatigue so early in the game. It will be quite interesting to see how the 50 milers do as far as completions. Last year, here at Leatherwood, the 50 mile completion rate was less than 50 per cent, and it's no wonder. Quite a few folks exceeded the time limit. Up to the very last mile we're still climbing. This has got to be the toughest and longest 4 miles I've ever experienced. I will keep this loop in mind and will avoid it like the plague during my week long stay. I will experience the Blue loop, which I hear is almost as bad, just so I can do it, but I think my week will be spent traversing, over and over again, the lovely, much more level, ridge line pink trail. Princess, my mare, looks great in pink anyway. We come upon a rider who is walking his horse, our former leader earlier this morning, wearing his American Flag designed helmet. He hears us coming and mounts up, not wanting us to pass. We start descending and I swear if this isn't the final trek into the valley I'm going to seriously question the distance of this loop. Down and down we go, leaving the rocks from Hell, and finally, praise Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, and all other spiritual entities, we get to the paved road that takes us back to the barn. I'm exhausted, War Cry is definitely tired, and I will never forget this loop till the day I die. Yellow has just become my least favorite color. We lumber back to the barn trying to avoid Princess' gaze. It's going to be difficult enough to get our horse's rate down to 60, which will signify the order of the 25's. That's our finish line and it's one of the rules that really do make the LD a learning experience. Even though I do feel Jen and I have an advantage by doing 50 milers, I know that we would never have completed one here at Leatherwood. If you complete a 50 here you should seriously consider stepping up to a 100 miler. Michelle is fresh and perky, compared to Jen and myself. She helps us again, wanting us to top ten. I think it's a Florida thing; we all do feel kind of out of place up here in these mountains and stick together. Out comes the magical monitor and Rebel is mid 70's. We sponge, scrape, sponge, scrape, over and over again. Michelle checks out War Cry and he's just a bit higher than Rebel. I'm wondering how he's going to do his trot out for completion once he does come down? Well, I won't drag this out much longer. Aren't you glad I'm not writing about a 50? We'd still have two more loops to go if I did that. haha, Howard at Leatherwood, part 49. Bear with me just a little longer. Because Steph and John have this 17K limit put on any post to Ridecamp, I will have to go to part nine, but it will be the final part, I promise. You do want to hear about that downed horse, right? Besides, I'm really anxious to hear Lisa's version knowing how some of her ride turned out. Get to typing Lisa, and don't forget those Wendy jokes. Wendy was one of the few folks brave enough to visit my cabin, and when I took her up our driveway she screamed louder than Jennifer and Erica combined. lol. |
