Brody
May 18th, 2009, 08:13 AM
Just a couple of suggestions for future runs here. When LaDawn and I got involved with Front Range, we were having trouble finding a group of folks to go wheeling with. As Front Range has grown, so have our trail runs. What used to be a group of 4-5 on a run has grown to groups of over 10 rigs. This is great, but...
When we have a large group doing a run like China Wall, Metberry Gulch, or Missouri Gulch...something easy where the obstacles are easily surmounted by everyone...a large group works well and the run progresses smoothly. If the same large group attempts something like Eagle Rock, Wheeler, Old Chinamans, etc, where there are many obstacles and other groups on the trail, and a lot of time is spent getting everyone over the obstacles, it doesn't work very well.
Here are a couple of suggestions, most based on talking to pretty much everyone on yesterday's run on Eagle Rock.
If it is a harder, technical trail, especially one with many obstacles, it would be beneficial to split the rigs into groups of 4 or 5 rigs, with one 'anchor' rig per group. The 'anchor' rig would be a set up rig with a winch (ideally) that has either run the trail before and knows that they can do the obstacle, and, again ideally, have a winch, straps, etc, to help other rigs through it.
Stagger the groups about 20 minutes apart or so, and set up a meet place for lunch or a break. This gives a welcome amount of spacing between groups and will help with the bunching up and traffic jam effect you get with a long line of rigs. When the meet time and place is established, get together with PMs and have the first group meet a little earlier, ready to leave the lot as soon as more people show up. When the next group of 5 or so gets there at the 'real' meeting time, this groups gets going.
It would also be better if there are good spotters spread out amongst the groups as yesterday our best spotters tended to be at the front of the pack, leading to more time spent waiting for them to get back to their rigs so that the whole posse could get moving again.
This is even more important where there aren't many places to pull over to let another group by that is moving faster...like Eagle Rock.
This is something that everyone needs to think about and suggestions are more than welcome. These are just mine...
When we have a large group doing a run like China Wall, Metberry Gulch, or Missouri Gulch...something easy where the obstacles are easily surmounted by everyone...a large group works well and the run progresses smoothly. If the same large group attempts something like Eagle Rock, Wheeler, Old Chinamans, etc, where there are many obstacles and other groups on the trail, and a lot of time is spent getting everyone over the obstacles, it doesn't work very well.
Here are a couple of suggestions, most based on talking to pretty much everyone on yesterday's run on Eagle Rock.
If it is a harder, technical trail, especially one with many obstacles, it would be beneficial to split the rigs into groups of 4 or 5 rigs, with one 'anchor' rig per group. The 'anchor' rig would be a set up rig with a winch (ideally) that has either run the trail before and knows that they can do the obstacle, and, again ideally, have a winch, straps, etc, to help other rigs through it.
Stagger the groups about 20 minutes apart or so, and set up a meet place for lunch or a break. This gives a welcome amount of spacing between groups and will help with the bunching up and traffic jam effect you get with a long line of rigs. When the meet time and place is established, get together with PMs and have the first group meet a little earlier, ready to leave the lot as soon as more people show up. When the next group of 5 or so gets there at the 'real' meeting time, this groups gets going.
It would also be better if there are good spotters spread out amongst the groups as yesterday our best spotters tended to be at the front of the pack, leading to more time spent waiting for them to get back to their rigs so that the whole posse could get moving again.
This is even more important where there aren't many places to pull over to let another group by that is moving faster...like Eagle Rock.
This is something that everyone needs to think about and suggestions are more than welcome. These are just mine...