Escarpment 2008 – THE STORM
-Hunt Bartine

Getting Ready ( skip on to “The Run” for less gibberish )

My 8th attempt at running the Catskills 30K Escarpment Trail run seemed like most others. I had what I thought was OK training and was hoping to do and feel better then last year( and I did feel better, except for sore arms).

The course is a point to point on the mountainous ridge of the eastern Catskill mountains by an escarpment that is formed before they drop over 3000 ft to the Hudson valley.
As a result, on a clear day the panorama is spectacular and its told that 4 states can be viewed from the peaks.

The weekend started Sat am with the trip up from Pa after picking up Jim Cramer a runner and Escarpment veteran from the Reading area who would share the ride and accommodations at the infamous Mountain Bike Inn. It’s infamous primarily due to the character of owner/ operator, Ernie who has hosted me now for the last 10 years on and off for the run and for a few ski trips. Our 4 ½ hour drive was uneventful other then my stubbornness in trying to navigate the last 10 miles without map, GPS or directions. We arrived in Palenville mid afternoon and had time to meet and greet at Dicks “Cliffhouse” pre race get-together. After a short stay we made our way farther up the switchback road to Haines Falls which is the race finish site.
Passing waterfalls and a brisk running creek along the drive gave a prelude to conditions for the following day. Ominous clouds as we made our way farther up the mountain drive may also have been a portend for further weekend conditions. Upon arriving at the Mountain Bike Inn , we encountered Ernie doing 10 ft “drops” on bikes off ramps in his back yard with his nephew, and had the usual lively conversation with him of latest happenings, status of sale of the Inn, and info that several other runners were also guests.

After getting settling at the Inn, Jim and I left to meet a group of 7 others from Lancaster for a prearranged 6 PM dinner at Pancho Villas In nearby Tannersville. Andy Charles his wife Zoe, Peter Berlanger, Greg Foster, Bob Bergman, Ed Stauffer and Amy Harmon, Jim and I, ate, talked running and planned shenanagins for the remainder of the eve.
I opted not to join the group heading to a nearby Brau Haus where some might partake in the obligatory chicken dance after sampling liquid carbs. I made my way back to the Inn and settled in appropriately watching Bruce Willis in the original Diehard movie.

The Run

5:30 AM came early , after a night of semi restless sleep mainly due to numerous thunderstorms from midnight till 4. After coffee, and a quick bfast, Jim and I were off to the bus ride from finish to start. Dick still has not added a small bus to go with his admonition to those running that most will lose a few MORE of the precious few brain cells remaining. We arrived in time to linger for a bit before boarding and said hi to the Lancaster folks and a few others we knew including Joe Clapper and Michelle Harmon from Va. Jim saw John Geesler who he was hoping to run with.
During the 45 min hilly bus ride it was interesting to contrast some in almost meditative preparation versus the more typical chatty, excited group. I was somewhere between those styles.Arriving at the start, everyone seemed a bit anxious and would have preferred not to have another ½ wait to get numbers, hear announcements, cautions and confirm non-attendees.
At a few minutes after 9, RD Dick Vincent also running again this year, gives the signal and we are off but only for a few feet since the 180+ person field backed up due to single track and a literal lake that formed from the past eves storms. Most tiptoe around to avoid the ankle deep muck without realizing its minor compared to whats in store farther on. The first section is a 3 mile 2000 ft climb to 3600 ft Windham High Peak. Runners are commenting on prior Escarpments, other recent runs and about anything and everything that’s talkable during this first section in naive excitement of whats to come. Contrary to past years, I purposely kept back a bit, walking every climb of much consequence, having a number of people I've been with at past years go by. As a result, upon arriving at Windham peak and knowing there was a short section of steep switchback downhill I opted to pass a crowd of 10 or so to pull ahead on the down.
While the rocks were slippery the footing at this point was not bad since washout conditions hadn't started yet. I made the downhill well, although had already started a tree grabbing technique to slow some and had plenty left to do a good pace on a small plateau to the next 500 ft climb up Burnt Knob. By this time the weather had started to change from a steamy overcast to more threatening clouds. Stopping for just water at the aid at the peak, I could see the dark clouds to the west were about to descend.
Shortly after the descent from Burnt Knob the skies opened with a deluge, and thunder could be heard nearby. Ascending to the next peak at Acra , the thunder became closer and the first lightening strikes were seen. Shortly after Acra and another aid I began to see what I thought were odd seeds hitting the ground. The “seeds” in fact were hail as I quickly found out as they enlarged to a size just bigger then a pea and I began to wonder what I might do if they became any larger. I saw Joe Clapper ahead in the distance at this point with Michelle and wondered even more what he and others not wearing shirts were thinking now. From this point on I essentially kept with a group of Joe, Michelle, and a portion of the Lancaster group of Amy, Bob and Ed , but only by leap frogging with moving ahead on the steep downhills, dropping back on more level and maintaining on the climbs.
The major climb of the run is about halfway through the course to 3900 ft Blackhead Peak. It’s over a mile climb but includes several hand over hand sections and definitely takes the longest of any section, even more so with conditions which while not including hail any longer still had heavy rain, nearby lightening strikes and for a few times clouds so dark sections of trail were hard to see. The balloons, streamers and music with cheering volunteers despite the rain were very much appreciated as I made my way to the Blackhead aid. Taking a bit more time at this stop, I found I still had ample reserves to work the next downhill to Dutchers Notch , although passing a few smoldering trees that had just been hit , was a bit disconcerting. With another aid at the Notch I was told I had a 10 k to finish which sounded not unreasonable with only one major climb to Stoppel point and then rocky downhill to finish. By this time I had forgotten that the last 4 miles even though downhill seems to take forever. I hadn't checked my watch yet during the run and was determined not to till closer. I finally broke down and with a few hundred yards to get to Stoppel Point glanced at my watch which read near 1:15. With just over 4 miles to go I figured I could make my unstated goal of a faster time then 2007. Knowing that helped to keep me positive and determined to run most sections remaining. The best view of the day was at this spot and with some clearing the Hudson and valley 3000 ft below could be seen. By now the rain had subsided to an occasional burst but not the relentless stuff we had earlier. Finally Passing North Point without its usual good view of the mountain lakes at the finish as I leap frogged past Joe and Michelle for the last time I was chided about scampering downhill again as Michelle offered up a comment on combining genetics that used my ability down and her and Joes for climbing up. Finishing after 2:15 PM, I was greeted by Jim who had been ahead by an hour and a host of other tired and glad to have made it again runners.

Post Run
The post race feed had a welcome assortment of fruits, pasta, sodas and bagels that were fine to hold me over for more on our ride home. After comparing notes and experiences for a bit at the finish, Jim and I headed off for the 5 hour drive back.
Jim and I both agreed that although less distance and time then most much longer runs, the effort expended competes with most 50ks, and arranging a day off and another night over as many from the Lancaster group had might be good to shoot for in the future.
Surprisingly other than slight stomach cramps which I think may have been as much hunger pains as anything, I felt decent enough to drive back for the 1st 3 hours and let Jim do the remainder. By 11 PM I was very much ready to collapse as I pulled into my place.
With no significant lingering aches on Mon other then very sore arms from tree greeting I experienced on the downhills, I am counting my 8th run a moderate success.

An older picture from nice weather year:

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