Friday, July 9, 2010 This and That

Several things today:  We attended a memorial service this morning for (another) Charles' wife, Ann.  They have been coming here every summer for many years from Texas.  Ann died this past year and is was her wish to have her ashes scattered in a wildflower field she loved.

The Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run started at 6:00 a.m. this morning.  Every year, I say we should go take pictures of the start, but at six, my bed seems much more important!  These may be the craziest people in the world.  The race starts in Silverton every year and the runners have 48 hours to complete the run thru the mountains, across game trails, running day & night!  The run takes them through the San Juan Mountains thru Ophir, Telluride, Ouray, Sherman (Lake City) and back to Silverton.  It is 100 plus miles with 33,992 feet of climb and 33,992 feet of descent for a total elevation change of 67,984 feet.  Average elevation is 11,16 feet; low point is 7,680 feet; high point is Handies Peak at 14,048 feet. 

I like to tell the story of listening to the lady that finished first in women's; 3rd overall last year.  Someone asked her how she had trained as she had bested her time so much from the previous year.  She said "I just didn't get lost as much."

When the runners come in, they have to kiss the big "hard rock" in front of the school gym to stop the timer and record their time.  We think they should have a big truck backed in and just load them up and haul them off to the mental hospital, because they are crazzzzzzy! You can see pictures and read details at Hardrock100.com/

 Next, an update on the accident I told you about a couple of days ago.  Here's where the 1990 Toyota went off the road.  That's a creek way down at the bottom where the car came to rest.  Just imagine driving your car off the 45th floor of a building!  There was only the driver; no passengers as previously reported. Those "little" trees at the bottom are actually very large, mature trees.

Orange marks on the dirt show where the car went off:

Looking down to the creek:

I took this picture from where the vehicle went off the road; our Jeep parked on the shoulder.

Here's the car:

Now here's the interesting part from The Durango Herald:

"Driver survives car's 496-foot plunge off  Red Mountain
Pass" 
by Shane Benjamin
Herald Staff Writer
Article Last Updated; Friday, July 09, 2010 12:00AM
A Denver man was in "good condition Thursday after he plunged 496 feet off an embankment on Red Mountain Pass, five miles northwest of Silverton. 
Anthoney L. Buckner, 33 was driving a 1990 Toyota hatchback southbound when he lost control and went off the right side of the road and down an embankment with a slope of 40 - 45 degrees, said Trooper Jonathan silver with the Colorado State Patrol. 

His crumpled vehicle came to rest almost 500 feet below the road in mineral Creek.


A witness said Buckner swerved into oncoming traffic, overcorrected and went off the right of the road.  it was pouring rain, and the roads were "extremely slick," Silver said.


Rescue workers detected an odor of alcohol at the crash scene.


"There was alcohol involved, and charges are pending," Silver said.


The accident occurred on a curving section of the road at milepost 74.6, halfway between Silverton and the summit of Red Mountain Pass.  The posted speed limits is 40 mph.  It didn't appear Buckner was speeding, but he likely was traveling too fast for road conditions, Silver said. 


Rescue members used ropes and a litter to pull Buckner up the mountain.  


"When he came up to the top, he was in amazingly good condition considering what he went through." Silver said.


Buckner was wearing a seat belt. 


"That's what saved him," Silver said.  "In a crash like that, you wouldn't think even a seat belt would help you." 


Buckner was airlifted to Mercy Regional medical Center where he was listed in "good" condition Thursday, said David Bruzzese, spokesman for the hospital. 

Crews worked to recover the vehicle Thursday. 


"It was pretty mangled," the trooper said of the car. 


Well, it's Friday night, so that means Mike singing at the Velvet Lounge.  Hopefully things have calmed down for awhile!  After we close down the lounge, we'll head over to the gym and see if any runners have made it in yet.