Lassen Challenge - September 2000

Quicksilver members Bing Voight, Jennifer Kurtzhall, Kay and Connell Allison,
Jennifer(?) McCrary(Barbara's niece), and Mike Maul rode at the Lassen
Challenge last weekend.  The ride was put on by Sandi Hess in Lassen Park
with well marked trails, beautiful weather, and great scenery.  This time was
the 19th for the ride and the second for the 25.

There were 46 starters in the 50 with 44 finishers. Winning time was 3:45 compared
to the course record of 2:43.  There were 27 starters in the 25 with all finishing.
The ride is mostly flat on sandy and gravel logging roads.  There was a 1 hour hold
at the midpoint with a trot-thru and quick check at the others.

Nusaam - Kay and Connell's stallion did his first endurance ride in the 50 and
finished very well in 32nd place with all As during the ride. Bing rode him with
Jennifer crewing.  Jennifer has been conditioning Nusaam for 2 months in QS Park.
We watched video tapes of him winning some of the track races and kidded Bing
about keeping him slow in the ride the next day. His ride time was 7 hours.

Mike Maul and Thor were bridesmaids this time - just out of the top ten at 11th
with a ride time of 4:29. Jennifer(?) McCrary finished but I don't have a placing.

The ride is an easy one - some say a little short of 50 miles with the fast
finishing times...  It's all pine forest with an occasional spectacular view
of the volcanic peak of Mt. Lassen.  Further away was Mt. Shasta with a lot
of snow still on the peak.  Most the ride was at 5,000 ft above sea level - we
noticed that in hauling water and the trot-outs...Hunting season was just
finishing so we were sharing the campgrounds with hunters.

There was a nice potluck dinner before the awards dinner Saturday evening. We all
had a good time socializing and learning some of the history of the QS club
and riding in the 60s and 70s from Kay and Connell.  Cliff Lewis is
still doing this after many years -
placing 6th in the ride.  Another person crewing at the ride(Harold or Gordon Palmer)
talked about riding with Julie Suhr a long time ago and said he introduced Virl
Norton to mules.  He was surprised to hear Leroy was still at Marybens. He
had a number of stories about Virl as a steeplejack.

We all really enjoyed the ride and hope Sandi puts it on again next year.
It's been running for 19 years now but sanctioning times have made it more
difficult to get a good date. This year - the Chamberlain Creek ride -
was held at the same time and even though more than 150  miles away
likely had an effect.  Plus with the altitude being well above the snow
line at 5,000 feet - the weather can be variable this late in the season.

It was an enjoyable easy ride and a chance to see a different set of riders
than we normally see.  We all enjoyed it and plan to go next year if it is
held.

Mike