Event: West Elk Trail Marathon
Volunteers: Cynthia, Pamela and Juleen
Date: October 5, 2024
WSCSC gave back to the community by volunteering to help with the West Elk Challenge on October 5th. Runners, walkers and hikers started at Crawford State Park, ran past Needle Rock into the Gunnison National Forest, over Mt. Lamborn to the top of the Inter-Ocean Pass. Then descended past the Lone Cabin Reservoir and emerged into Paonia.
Cynthia, Pamela and Juleen were staged at the intersection of Coal Creek Trail and Little Elk Basin to make sure runners went in the right direction. They also LOUDLY cheered the runners, walkers and hikers as they continued down the correct trail.
Kookie carried the club banner up the 4 mile trail, assisted by Hickory and Tulsa. The 3 horses stood calmly in the aspen among the “Naked Lady Forest,” even as everyone was whooping and hollering for 3 hours.
The ladies did provide some “Vet Wrap” to help one of the runners who was having some knee pain. Cheering, laughing and providing directions and riding horses in the West Elks, it was a great day.
The challenge was a fundraiser for the Nature Connection’s Scholarship Fund, whose mission is to break down barriers to get kids and families outside. The Challenge organizers reported that the runners really enjoyed seeing the horses and the loud, cheering women! Might be something the club wants to get involved with every year.
