Patrol Race Revival

Way back in the 1930s, there was a race that ran an 18-mile route between two Mountaineers lodges, from the original Snoqualmie lodge that was located at Lodge Lake to Meany Lodge at Stampede pass. The race ran for 12 years but was discontinued during World War II. For about 10 years, the idea has been tossed around amongst Mountaineers to revive the old race, and this year it finally happened.

The plan was for twelve 3-person teams to race from Summit West (the original start was at Lodge Lake about 30 minutes further along the modern route) roughly following the Pacific Crest Trail, to Windy Pass, along the flanks of Silver and Tinkham peaks, across Mirror Lake, over Baldy and Stampede pass, finishing at Meany Lodge near Stampede Pass. Teams could stay for dinner and lodging at the lodge. It sounded pretty adventurous and cool so Heather and I signed up.

Lowell (one of my teammates) and I got out for a scouting trip a couple weeks before the race. 

Lowell near Lodge Lake...

note that there is NO snow!

Lowell, skating across smooth Mirror Lake with Tinkham Peak in the background

Pretty firm conditions, could have ice skated!

Conditions on the scouting trip were pretty treacherous, here ski edges can't even penetrate the hard ice (photo: Lowell Skoog)

Me skinning along the Cascade Crest near Baldy Pass (photo: Lowell Skoog)

Heather and her team ended up bailing due to illness, childcare issues, and various concerns about the unknown (avalanche conditions, getting lost, etc.). Seth, Lowell, and I were set to go. But then, unfortunately, Seth blew out his knee ski racing on the night before the race. We were now a 2-person team so we couldn't race officially but we decided to participate anyway.  Conditions couldn't have been more perfect for the day. Temps were pretty cold but travel was good.  Despite getting slightly detoured in route finding in a few places Lowell and I managed to finish in 5 hrs and 39 minutes, with a approximate 30 min deduction for the Lodge Lake traditional start we would be around 5 hrs, still 23 minutes shy of the course record set in 1941!  Can't figure out how those old timers moved so fast back then, with far inferior gear!  At Meany lodge we were greeted with hot soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, thanks Meany for the hospitality!

Lowell and I at the start

For some more history about the race, check out Lowell's excellent in-depth article.