Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Mono SAR rescues ultra-marathoners.

I am puzzled by the morphing of the title of this thread relating to ULTRA MARATHONERS to ULTRALIGHT MARATHONERS.

Personally, I have done medical work at many, many marathons, and I don't believe in those thousands upon thousands, I've ever seen a marathoner with a full pack.

I guess they are all unprepared. Of course, they compete in the Olympics, and we don't, so perhaps there is something to that.

Ultra Marathoners (100 miles, typically) is a different sport than hiking....so are simple marathons. I can't quite imagine what an Ultralight Marathoner would be----nude, I'd guess.

I'm not sure I'd be quick to criticize them for doing their sport that way it is usually done, because it is not done the way our sport is usually done.

L

Ken, you are quite right to remind us of some definitions. I think the discussion , though, boils down to location, location, location. The guy I saw might have been fine running the Boston marathon three times in a row with lots of available help if needed, but ankle busting trail at 14,000 ft carries more or at least different risks.

I just took an arch-exploring hike around Alabama Hills today with no water, no compass, no itinerary left behind. All I had was a nearly useless book full of GPS coordinates and I don't use a GPS, "just" a map. I could have slipped while scrambling and gone missing. Was I guilty of being unprepared? It all is a matter of degree.

I have some familiarity with the Angeles Crest 100 Km race. For those not familar, it a race in Angeles National Forest from Wrightwood to JPL in Pasdena along the PCT most of the way.

I have seen people practicing for the race, backpacked the crest when it was set up for the race and day hiked during the race itself. This is a lot different that two guys going out on their own. There is support stations every time the PCT crosses Angeles Crest Highway. The trail has surveyors tape marking the route along the course...which stays out there long after the race; and there are blocks set up so the racers do not end up on any of the many peaks along the way...confusing some who are hiking during the race.

An organize backcountry ultra marathon is a lot different than two guys going out unsupported. Since they are on their own and in the High Sierra, don'cha think they take a bit more than a supported runner in the Angeles, Ken?

Pretty much my take, Harvey. No surprise that we agree, again.

WB, I am not a marathoner, and definitely not an ultramarathoner. so I don't particularly have any comment as to what their sport involves.

I just know that they are not ultralight hikers, and should not be confused as such.

I am reminded of BobR's wonderful story of competing with the racers to climb Whitney.....Ultralight hiker vs. trail racers. Very different form, very different outcome.

I was lucky to live in Wrightwood for a year back in the 90's. Best air I've ever smelled, like vanilla most all the time.

Ken, I think there's a difference between running a race vs training for a race. These guys were training in remote wilderness with no support team when they hit their SPOT SOS button.

It seems like it would be helpful to train with a couple extra pounds anyway. Have a survival system during training runs, and then go without it on race day when you have a support team. You feel a couple pounds lighter when it counts. Winner winner, chicken dinner.

Ken,

There is a commonality in the UL hiking and backcountry running, the desire to go very light. This is ok for the ultra distance backcountry runners if they are supported. However, if they choose to go on these long runs without support, as these two did, they are obligated to take enough clothing and gear survive a night out in the conditions they expect to encounter, no different than any other hiker/runner in the wilderness. They did not and hit the free to them helicopter ride button putting others at risk.

WB, agreed. but they are not ultralight backpackers/hikers, who, by definition ARE adequately prepared for most reasonable conditions.

No, they are not by definition. No more than a standard hiker is prepared. Chances that both groups backpackers are prepared and skilled enough are high...but not all. Every group is standard, light and ul have a Bell Curve distribution of great, good and substandard members. The latter category get most of the attention and bandwidth usage.

I agree, WB. All it takes is an accident to level the playing field between UL and non-UL, whether they are prepared or not.

Perhaps we need to define what "prepared" means in regard to mountain travel.

Since this thread started because of ultra-runners being caught unprepared in cold and wet conditions: Simply carrying a garbage bag with holes cut for head and arms could well have prevented the hypothermia that stopped them.

Steve,

A 33 gallon trash bag does not have a hood...the user would have to have a hat to retain some noggin heat. It is been than nothing but not by much.

I carry a few with me all the time give to me people caught betwix and between...since I do not count grams.

Here's how to make a poncho that covers both your head and your pack using a trash bag

trashbag survival tips

A bright orange bag will give you a signalling function with no extra weight.

Just don't try it with a white bag.

Harvey,

Thanks for the picture. I only seen people use them with their head out. I never had the need to use one myself.

For a practice run of this magnitude, I think they should be able to carry more substantial survival gear than a trash bag. Yeah, it's better than nothing, but for 19 ounces of gear like I showed above, they could have a tarp shelter and an insulation layer under an actual waterproof breathable jacket. The 11 oz poncho-tarp Steve uses would be another great alternative to ride out a storm, but difficult to run with.

Ultra-marathon runners could learn a thing or two from ultralight or superultralight backpackers. Now if I could only learn to run that far...

Unless you're doing the AT