Beavish

 We had one more Saturday full of fun to end off the 2022 race season!

Not that I was racing, but that's beside the point

Of course, this meant getting up at stupid o'clock to be there well ahead of the 7:45am 25km early start for The Beav.

Heading into the burgeoning sunrise

Just barely enough light when we arrived to make our way from parking lot to start area

Said early start had been moved back 15mins from last year, presumably to allow the sun a little more time to have itself a cup of coffee and a stretch before sending off the first wave of 25k runners. While headlamps had been necessary in 2021, that extra quarter hour meant I could safely leave mine behind when I crept into the back of the start corral.

Definitely a clear view now - the 50k would start at 8:30, with the 10k an hour after that, and the standard 25k start at 1pm

Race Director Jeff was saying stuff up at the front that I couldn't hear, but I just barely caught the countdown, and then everyone was off!

Fast people being fast - I wasn't through the starting arch yet!

In a reversal of the usual fortunes of this race, it was actually an unseasonably warm morning - 16c/61f at start time, predicted to go up to 21c/70f for the afternoon. I was comfortable with bare legs even before I got moving, and the sky continued to amaze through the first couple of kilometers.

This is always a great spot for a photo

Conga line up the escarpment

Wide open views past the stile

The climbs certainly hadn't shrunk since last year, and the proliferation of maple and oak leaves on the forest floor concealed most of the roots and rocks with which the trail is strewn.

The trees were as bare as I ever recall seeing them

More than one person stumbled or fell around me as we made our way up the Bruce Trail into the park proper - fortunately everyone I saw was ok, but I think it was an eye-opener for a few people!

You can get a bit of an impression of the concealed hazards here

A quick dash along the groomed park trails, then a left turn to head through one of the most spectacular parts of the course - I saw a couple of runners ahead miss the turn and yelled at them to come back, but I don't think they heard me correctly, or understood what I was saying.

Their loss

Cloudcover had rolled in muting the sunrise, but the view from the upper falls is always gorgeous!

Even if the falls themselves are a bit difficult to see

I had hooked up with a lady named Dawn from Michigan who was actually running the 10k - she was happy to have someone who knew the way down to the main falls (where she'd have to pick up her Beav button to prove she'd gone down the staircase and back up again), and I just hoped I wouldn't hold her back too much!

..while taking a ton of photos along the way.

It's just such a stunning course!

We eventually made it back out onto the groomed park trails, then to the aid station at 4.5-ish kilometers.

..where they already had the fire going, so I requested the wonderful volunteers have a s'more ready for Dawn when we got back up from the falls

Down the stairs we went, and I was unsure if the falls would even be flowing - it's been such a dry summer and autumn, with water levels as low as I can ever recall seeing. Fortunately, though, there was enough flow to give is a charming view!

Whether a torrent or a trickle, it's always worth a trip down to have a look

There are some neat rock formations that are only visible from down the stairs

Dawn grabbed her button (and I took a photo of her with it in front of the falls), then we headed back up.

It was nice to have some company, and with her sporting a sore knee I was just about able to keep up!

Back up top again, we paused to take in the beauty of the landscape of roots and rocks.

Such a special place

Then Dawn - grabbing her s'more that the aid station staff had kindly prepared for her - headed back toward the start/finish, while I filled my little water flask and meandered off further along the course.

Which gets decidedly interesting past the 5k mark

I'd forgotten quite how rocky the next couple of kilometers were - I hadn't actually done this section since the first running of The Beav in 2018. 

I'm glad I wasn't in a hurry

I could only run little bits here and there, because I am a clumsy oaf and didn't wish to fall and crack my head off a chunk of rock.

The shoes I'd worn were not giving confidence-inspiring grip on the dew-wet stone

They did, however, match my outfit - priorities, people!

I bopped along as best I could, basically walking all the technical stuff and running bits of the groomed trails, while popping my last handful of fuzzy peaches in my face. I still wasn't feeling what I'd call recovered from the 24hr three weeks prior, and knew that Tank had help at the start/finish aid station (where there wouldn't be much demand for food or drink until the first 25k runners finished anyway), so I could afford to take things a bit leisurely.

Including checking out some new improvements to the Beaver Dam trail for which the race is named

Eventually I spotted the little hill in the hardwoods that would lead up to the other on-course aid station.

Known as Russell's Roost

I'd actually come out to see who was working, as we hadn't seen Dion's name on the volunteer list. I was delighted when I discovered he was there anyway, captaining his namesake aid station as usual!

Louis with the photobomb!

I stayed to chat for a few minutes while I filled my little water bottle again and ate an Oreo, then ran off into the woods again to finish the Beaver Dam trail loop - I had no intention of doing the full 25k course, and figured this route would give me a solid 10 miles of the prettiest parts of the trail.

With a bit of wan sun beginning to emerge from the cloud

I walked and trotted along on varying surfaces, finally coming to the other end of the stream for which the Beaver Dam trail is named.

Again looking the driest I'd ever seen it - a far cry from last year, when it was underwater, or that time I ran through it while it was flooded with meltwater a few years back.

Such a lovely view

Despite being one of the "main" park trails, the Beaver Dam trail is far from the groomed, crushed gravel that most of the others offer.

Slow going, so I had another cookie

There are some runnable sections, though, so I tried to take advantage.

As the 25k leaders began to come flying past me - I kept out of their way!

There are a couple of boardwalks over streams before you come off the end.

One of which has a highly stimulating approach

..then you're back on to Bruce side trail for some more rocky, rooty wandering.

Absolutely gorgeous, and at least it wasn't icy this year!

I might be completely pants at covering it in any kind of hurry, but I adore this kind of trail!

Soon I found my way back to the first aid station near the top of the stairs to the falls, where I was able to fill my water bottle once more for the final 5k back to the start/finish. From there it was pretty easy cruising on the park trails, but I was walking a lot anyway as I was starting to tire a bit, and also feel a rising need..

Fortunately Hilton Falls Conservation Area trails are full service!

After relieving myself, I ambled off again through the woods.

Autumn's colours still blazing, even though most of the leaves were down

Not much further up, I saw a familar figure on the the side of the trail aiming a massive chunk of glass at me!

Nothing quite like ending up in the official photos for a race you're running very unofficially -
thanks for making me look good (well, as much as possible), Sue!

Sue Sitki had found herself a lovely backdrop to capture all of the racers coming through, and I stopped to chat with her for a bit to see how she was doing. It turned out she was having a tough day, so I hung out for awhile to see if I could help cheer her up a bit.

I'm not sure whether I did or not, but it was lovely to visit a bit anyway

When I finally got moving again about 25mins later, I'd got a bit chilled and things had rather stiffened up: something in the inside of my right leg was not at all happy about my attempts to run, but it eventually eased off enough that I could trot a bit here and there.

I didn't follow the course exactly, taking another pass by the upper falls instead of sticking to the groomed trail

Slower but definitely prettier!

I even found this lovely little remnant of summer

Another stretch of groomed trail, then back onto the Bruce side trail to begin my descent.

The fastest 50k runners were beginning to pass me now

I was actually running a bit, though!

I always think of the final kilometer or so being all downhill, and end up mildly surprised when I come to the small uphill that has always been there.

It didn't feel small to my legs, so I walked

A couple of 50k runners were starting to come back the other way from the start/finish for their second lap, but I had the stile all to myself this time

Wheeee!

One final little descent, then back across the bridge at the bottom of the reservoir into which the upper falls drain.

It almost feels weird to see it without frost these days

I finally got back to the start/finish area just before 11am - I'd taken nearly three and a quarter hours to cover just over 10 miles! After popping in to the aid station to make sure Tank knew I was back, I got myself changed up into dry clothes and spent the rest of the day with my sweetheart passing out food, drinks, and encouragement to the actual registered runners.

I'm pretty terrible at keeping my banditry a secret

It was great fun cheering on friends and strangers alike, and getting to see some people I hadn't encountered in quite some time. There's no better energy than an aid station at an ultra!

We stayed until the last of the race materials - tents, the finish arch, and even the course markings (brought in by a couple of sweepers) - were all loaded into the truck and the sun had sunk once more. I was exhausted by the end, but can't think of any way I'd rather have spent a warm, windy, beautiful autumn day!

I even got an extra hour of sleep that night (thanks to the time change)

Hope you all have an amazing weekend!

Banditry

 Well, not really..

Maybe just call it "unofficial running"

Tank and I had signed on to volunteer all day at the start/finish aid station at The Beav, but I knew I would hate myself if I went out to Hilton Falls and didn't go exploring at least a little. The day before the race, we leafed through the participant guide to see when the start was, as I thought it was 9am but wanted to be sure. To our surprise, there was a 25k early start option that began at 7:30am! The 50k would go at 9am, the 10k at 9:30am, and the standard 25k start would be 1pm - all measures taken to avoid crowding due to the pandemic. This should work perfectly: I'd show up in running kit, take off with the 25k early start and follow the course out to the aid station at the top of the falls, take a few pics of the falls themselves, then head back 5km to the finish. So, basically banditing the 10k route, and hopefully getting back before the 50k set off. No-one would be back to the start/finish from the 25k early start until at least 9:15am and there were some other volunteers signed on to help Tank get set up, so I shouldn't be missed or interfere with anyone's race.

I dressed warm for the chilly morning, brought a huge bag with a full change of clothes and thermos of oatmeal (2 of the requirements for cold weather post-run survival), plus some other snacks, and grabbed my headlamp as an afterthought: I seemed to recall it was pretty dark when we were tearing down after the 2019 edition of this race, at which I'd volunteered as well (I ran the 50k in 2018 - its inaugural year).

As it turned out, I'd need the headlamp right away: sunrise wasn't until 8:01am, which meant it was barely light enough to see when we arrived - later than we'd hoped after I scrambled to get ready, not having done any preparation at all the night before - around 7:15am. I did manage to spot Dee, though; since it turned out she was running the 25k and had taken the early start option, I asked if she'd mind if I tagged along. To my great delight, she was happy to let me tag along!

She's such a wonderful lady, and we could keep each other company for the first 5k!

The first light was just creeping up over the horizon as the pre-race meeting ended and we headed for the start line. 

I mostly tried to stay out of people's way

Jeff sounded the horn bang on 7:30am, and we all trotted through the little loop at the start/finish before prancing off into the woods. We quickly reached the first climb, thickly blanketed in leaves: the hard frosts of the prior couple of nights seemed to have led all the maple trees to dump their foliage all at once, obscuring the many roots and rocks that littered the Bruce side trail as we climbed through the darkness.

Yeah, definitely happy I grabbed that headlamp!

The trail wound along the side of the escarpment, as the dawn glow grew over Kelso to the south.

The runners look so tiny, like they're being led along by their pools of light

I'd forgotten just how aggressive the climbing is in the first mile or so of the course, and was pushed close to the limit of my current abilities trying to keep up...while also standing off to the side to take photos, then running to catch up. I've been feeling quite fatigued and un-fit since the 72hr (which  admittedly was just shy of 3 weeks prior), but I hope I didn't hold anyone back too badly!

I was pleased to get a bit of a rest while waiting at the stile, but disappointed by the number of people who weren't patient enough to do so and just stepped over the fence instead.

Emerging in the field - thickly blanketed in frost with the fall colours blazing beyond - I paused for another photo, hoping to catch some early action shots for Dee.

That's her in the black, moving strong and getting away from me!

I mentioned that she might want to be a bit cautious through this bit on the way back out, as the melting frost could make things a bit muddy and slick, both through the field and the woods above and below. Then we dove back into the forest, for the second - even bigger - climb.

That one.

Dee was moving really strongly as we ascended, getting more comfortable as the dawn began to filter down through the trees to aid our headlamps. While she says she isn't very happy on trails in the dark, you'd never have known it from the way she danced up the steep, root-strewn hill!

Moving and grooving

We reached the top of the climb, and moved through the forested plateau with the first bits of pocked limestone littering the trail. Dee asked if the whole trail was like this, sounding a little intimidated by the idea of 25km of technical trail: I reassured her that only about the first 3km was a bit tricky, then we'd get onto some wide-open groomed trail to the falls, with only a couple of additional sections of rocky, Bruce Trail goodness beyond that. The whole Beaver Dam Trail loop at the far end would be groomed - though flooded, coincidentally enough from a beaver dam - with just a flowy loop of singletrack mountain bike trail off that. 

It's really a nice mix of chancy-but-beautiful and easily runnable terrain

There isn't even much in the way of elevation change once you get up on the plateau where the park is properly situated - just some fairly gentle undulations, though that's not to say they won't tax the legs and lungs.

We weren't quite there yet

We bopped along as the daylight rose, and I switched off my headlamp as we neared the main park trails - I've spent a lot of time on trails past dusk, and have pretty good night vision, so my comfort level is pretty high in low-light situations.

Head of the conga line!

As we reached the groomed trail, I pulled my headlamp off and stuffed it into the back pocket of my vest, running the short stretch to our turn off onto singletrack once more. We paused before the turn so I could pop Dee's headlamp into her pack, then we were treated to one of the prettiest parts of the course!

The rocks, the stream, and a bonus waterfall!

I don't even know if these falls have a name - Dee asked if this was the "Hilton Falls" for which the park is named, but that's further along and not actually a part of the 25k/50k course. We hit them at a gorgeous time, though, with the rising sun turning streaks of cloud into fiery brands across the sky over Kelso.

..and reflecting in the reservoir below

The cascade itself is a bit tricky to see, requiring you to cautiously step out to the edge of a protruding bit of cliff. 

Fortunately my sense of self-preservation is a bit under-developed

Dee and I definitely did not move as efficiently as possible through this bit, because we both appreciate that one of the best things about trail racing is the amazing sights you get to see - we paused to take it all in.

Definitely worth an extra moment

Then it was off through the rest of the rocky Bruce Side Trail section along the cliff edge

This doesn't invite particularly fast progress, either

It's probably the most interesting portion of the park, and in some ways the most unnerving - there are great fissures in the rock, some of which form cave-like structures, others of which go right out to the cliff face.

Don't slip don't slip don't slip

Dee took it all on like a champ, moving gracefully over the landscape of root and stone while I snapped photos.

One day I'll have to go exploring down in those cracks

Soon we were back on groomed trail again, before the sun had even crested the escarpment to the south. 

No, the forest isn't on fire - it just looks that way

I'd told Dee earlier that the trails we'd be on after the singletrack were wide enough to drive a truck on, but imagine our surprise when we actually saw a vehicle coming right for us. I mean, it was a van instead of a truck, but still!

Think you took a wrong turn at Albuquerque there, buddy!

I put it together that it was likely to be the Happy Trails Racing van just a moment before Race Director Jeff stuck his head out the window to offer some encouraging words while we ran on past. Just a couple of minutes later, we reached the first aid station - our paths would now diverge as Dee would carry on along the 25k route, while I was just going to head for the main falls and then back to the start. I got a hug from my lovely friend and sent her on her merry way; upstream along another section of Bruce Side Trail littered with rocks.

I'd have loved to stay with her for the rest of the loop, but I didn't quite feel up to 25km

Down the staircase to the falls - after allaying the aid station volunteers' fears that I was going the wrong way, assuring them I wasn't racing the 25k - I spent some time just watching and listening to the torrent of water rushing over the terraced cliff into the bowl below.

Such a beautiful place

The falls are the turn-around for the 10k course, and to prove that you went down (and back up) the stairs, you take a button with the race logo and present it as your proof when you reach the finish.

I didn't take one, as I wasn't racing
(I also already have one from a past year!)

One more dorky selfie at the falls, then I got on my way - I'd already been out for 52mins, and didn't think I'd be any quicker on the way back!

The ladies at the aid station offered food and drink, but I wasn't racing, so took nothing but photos

Carefully through the rocky bit at the top of the staircase:

Gorgeous, but a bit tricky if you wish to emerge un-damaged

All distances follow a slightly different route back to the start/finish, with more groomed trail and less singletrack.

Bright green: singletrack from the start
Darker green: mostly groomed trail to the falls
Bright blue: 25k course continues
Purple: route back to the start/finish

Runnable, so I ran

I did do some goofy stuff, like setting my phone up on a rubbish bin with a timer:

..which is not a precise science

I was also getting a bit worn out, because I have the speed, agility, and energy of an elderly sloth at the moment. So, I walked some, and paused here and there to take photos as the sun came bursting through the trees.

How kind of you to join us at last!

As I rambled along, I spotted a little side trail that went back out to the smaller, upper falls - I mean, I wasn't racing, and it would be awhile yet before the 50k runners started, so why not pop back over for another look?

The sun really made the colours pop, and the frost glitter

I hit the cliff edge at the perfect time: the rising sun was reflected on the reservoir, casting its golden glow over everything in view.

..and I had it all to myself.

(..so there would be no-one to hear me scream if I fell of the cliff while staring at the falls..)

I am not a morning person, and had not been terribly happy about levering myself out of bed at 5:30am in order to get there before the 7:30am early start...but this view? Totally worth it.

Even apart from the joy of sharing the trail with my wonderful friend earlier.

Back onto the groomed trail after my diversion (the actual course does not go back along the upper falls), I ran into the official photographer Sue on her way out to start shooting! So despite not being a part of the race, I ended up in the photos she posted from it.

Definitely better than my trash can selfie!

I was really starting to feel a bit tired and beat up by the 7km mark - I haven't done any runs longer than about 6km, and most have been between 4-5km in the past few weeks - and a glance at my watch showed me there was no way I was making it back to the start/finish before the 50k runners set off. The best I could do was try to move as efficiently as possible, and hope I wouldn't be in a narrow bit of trail when I met the pack coming the other way.

Unfortunately, despite the rocks being more visible in the daylight, I'm still utterly pants at moving quickly over them

I also couldn't resist taking some more photos, as the sunshine was so gorgeous in the already-stunning forest.

This is why I run trails

As I'd made my way back, I'd wondered if the sun had burned off the frost that had lay so thickly on the grassy field. To my great delight, it had survived so far!

Such a neat effect

As a matter of fact, it was still cold enough at ground level that the footprints from the 25k early start runners - which had stirred up a bit of surface mud - had re-frozen along the trail.

I was definitely happy I'd dressed warmly

Unfortunately, I found myself in the narrow, forested trail of the lower section of the opening climb when the 50k pack appeared coming the other way.

Not a great place for passing

So, I stood off to the side of the trail, leaving as much space as possible for the runners to get on with their race. I even took a few steps alongside the trail here and there, but of course - at this time of year - that comes with consequences in the undergrowth.

I picked up some hitchhikers

I saw a lot of familiar faces, and wished everyone well as they went by - all of them were past me by the time I reached the stile again, and looking back behind me I could watch the line of gently bobbing runners make their way along the grassy field toward the next climb.

Against a background of riotous fall colours

I was grateful to have the stile to myself, so there was no chance I'd hold anyone up while I climbed over it.

..and I could be my dorky self in peace.

Alone once more, I took my time getting down the last bit, as the dirt had been loosened up quite a bit by the ascending runners. I didn't want to slip and fall, as running downhill on the harder, groomed trails had already beaten me up a little.

I didn't need a rock or tree to finish the job

Down at the bottom, the sun had yet to cast its golden glow on the stream below the reservoir - the wild grasses still a mass of frost for the time being.

I could hear some critters rustling in its tangles, though

Even the footbridge over the stream was still frosted over, despite the passage of runners' feet

..though they had clearly tracked some of it off of the woodwork

There was still some lingering mist over the stream itself, too, which I hadn't noticed on my way out

I was grateful I had the time to see it now.

One last little ramble through the jewel tones of autumn

I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day

..then around the corner to see the sun peeking over the top of the finish arch.

Yes, it took me an hour a forty-three minutes to "run" 10km

I changed out of my sweaty running clothes and into wool leggings and a warm, fleece dress, threw my Beav hoodie from 2018 on overtop for extra warmth, ate my oatmeal, and spent the rest of the day at the aid station with Tank and the other volunteers.

..and didn't take a single photo for the rest of the day, so here's one that Sue got while I was out banditing the course!

I made dozens of cups of hot chocolate, congratulated runners on the results of their hard work, served up hot soup and cold drinks, and generally tried to make myself useful. When the sun dipped below the trail-filled plateau far above us, I lent a hand with tearing down and packing everything into the UHaul truck. Along the way, I got to visit with so many friends - some of whom I hadn't seen for the entirety of the pandemic - and was spoiled with my very own 2021 Beav hoodie.

Which I threw on - tired and with sun- and wind-burned cheeks - after a shower once we finally got home.

So I'm either the world's worst race bandit - in that I have completely failed to keep my secret, didn't take any advantage of the offers of the aid station, and didn't even try to score myself a medal or fake a bib! - or possibly one of the better ones, for giving more of a damn about other people's race than my own goofing around. Either way, it was so much fun, and an absolute delight to have company for the first half!

Even if my selfie skills took a little longer to wake up than I did

Huge congrats to Dee on a fantastic run on a course that certainly isn't easy - you did amazing out there, as did everyone else who came out and gave it a shot! I know I'll be back again next year for...well, something. 

We'll just have to see whether or not I make it official next time..