Hardrock 100

On this trip we took the camper to the San Juans (again) where we climbed a couple easy mountains and volunteered at the Maggie Aid station of the Hardrock 100. The Hardrock 100 is a very difficult and well-known 100 mile Ultramarathon. The course is a loop through the San Juans starting in Silverton and passing through Ouray, Telluride and Lake City before heading back to Silverton. The race is very difficult to get into and attracts the best Ultramarathoners in the world.

On the way to Silverton we stopped in Lake City so we could climb 14,000 foot Uncompahgre Peak. Uncompahgre has a beautiful trail most of the way to the top. Driving the dirt road to the Nellie Creek trailhead was much more difficult than the hike to the summit.

The start of the trail to Uncompahgre Peak.

Columbines are plentiful between 11,000 and 12,000 feet.

Nearing the summit on the top right.

Looking west at Matterhorn and Wetterhorn from the summit.

Rich and Staci with Vanessa and Larry at the summit.

Heading back down the steepest section from the summit.

Looking down at the trail.

One of several beautiful meadows.

The town of Lake City is very remote, about 75 minutes south of Gunnison. In the summer you will find more Texans than Coloradans. It is a mecca for 4WD and off-road vehicles because of the large number of rough dirt roads. Although Lake City is only 30 miles from Silverton, the drive takes three and a half hours because of the mountains separating the two towns.

We passed Blue Mesa Reservoir driving from Lake City to Silverton. Like Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the water level in Blue Mesa is very low.

The cute mining town of Silverton has become a haven for mountain adventurers and trail runners in the summer.

Our friend Fred had a great 4WD truck and we drove over Cinnamon Pass to American Basin.

The trailhead to Handies Peak, another 14,000 foot mountain, begins at American Basin.

Looking out at the start of the Handies Peak trail.

The view of the San Juans from the top of Handies Peak.

Before heading out to our aid station we ran part way up Kendall Mountain which overlooks Silverton.

This is the Maggie Gulch aid station where we spent the next 30 hours.

Maggie Gulch is at 12,000 feet in a spectacular valley surrounded by 13,000 mountains. We had rain, hail, lightning and lots of beautiful sunshine.

At 12:30 AM the race leaders, Killian Jornet and Francois D’Hane passed through our aid station. Killian went on to win the race and set a new course record. Killian, who is from Spain, commented on how much food we had.

The Hardrock finish line.

Sunday morning was the awards ceremony where the Woman’s winner Courtney Dauwalter and Men’s winner Killian Jornet were recognized. They are the two top Ultrarunners in the world and may be the best of all time.