Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Bighorn Mountains - 100m

The Song of the Bighorn Mountains
                
Listen carefully and hear the song of the Bighorn Mountains as the Tongue River passes through the Tongue River Canyon.  Look up and read millions and millions of years of the song meticulously written into the canyon walls.  What a perfect day as 170 plus head into the mountains, running to the rhythm of the Bighorn Mountain song.

Oh for the want of the shirt left behind,
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

Up up and out of the canyon and onto a meadow high.  Listen carefully and you will hear the song of the Bighorn Mountains as the rustle of the wind as it wines its way through high meadows grasses filled with endless wild flowers, accompanied by the a chorus of song birds singing high.

Oh for the want of the shirt left behind;
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

Through ponderosa pine forests and aspen groves, the song of the Bighorn Mountains continues in perfect harmony.  Clouds roll in, light rain falls, and the Bighorn Mountain song continues it sweet, sweet ever changing melody.  What a perfect day for a run in the Bighorn Mountains of Western Wyoming.

Oh for the want of the shirt left behind;
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

Through medieval seeming forests, down steep mountain trails, passing by a camp filled with mules, the Bighorn Mountain song continues to grow with each additional step.  In and out of Cow Camp, Bear Camp and Dry Fork Camp, for those willing to hear, the song inspires us to continue ever onward.  How can anything be more inspiring than a day running to the melody of the Bighorn Mountain song?

Oh for the want of the shirt left behind;
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

Listen carefully, and you can hear the thunder of a river soon to be crossed, adding depth and courage to the Bighorn Mountain song.  As the song grows and grows, it strengthens those who listen, filling one’s heart and soul with strength and resolve.  Across and into Footbridge runners cruise, with added strength from the Bighorn Mountain song, to prepare for the final push up to Porcupine.  Forever strong, forever powerful, the song inspires us all. 

Oh for the want of the shirt left behind;
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

A quick change to warmer clothes, base layers, outer warm shell, knit hat, gloves, Black Diamond Storm headlamp, hand held light, extra batteries and food galore, the runners plan is executing perfectly.  The tempo of the Bighorn Mountain song continues to grow and becomes the driving force to our resolve for the final push up to 9,300 ft to Porcupine.  Warm clothes and well fueled, runners leave Footbridge for the last long epic climb in the dark, all to the melody of the Bighorn Mountain song.

Oh for the want of the shirt left behind;
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

The power and force of our strength, resolve and determination drives us on.  The sound of the rushing Little Bighorn River to our left adds even more power to the Bighorn Mountain song.  The feeling of invincibility is upon us all.


Oh for the want of the shirt left behind;
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

As the clouds clear and the brilliant stars come out to light our way, as day becomes night, the heat of the day escapes and the cold clear night descends.  Hush now, but listen carefully as the sound of the Bighorn Mountain Song changes once again.  It is still there, but like the night, it is but a whisper, as if to say, quiet, listen carefully to the Bighorn Mountain song and enjoy the dark of night, with the stars lighting the way. 

Oh for the want of the shirt left behind;
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

The ever changing song calls on us to put on our warm outer layers, to drink fluid and increase our fuel intake in order to stay warm and to better hear the music of the Bighorn Mountain song.  Wait, wait, where is my warm outer layer?  I had it at Footbridge, I set it on the chair to make sure I would not forget…. Yet forget I did, all to the melody of the Bighorn Mountain song.

Oh for the want of the shirt left behind;
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

Brilliant night, amazing stars, cool breeze coming down off the mountain, all to the Bighorn Mountain song.  Chattering teeth, frozen core, a bog of cold cold snow melt, and then a fall in the mud.  What happened to the music of the Bighorn Mountain son?  I try to listen but it keeps escaping, I try to hang on, but it has become elusive, I try to be strong, too tough it out, but I’ve lost the track of the Bighorn Mountain song, it is gone.  Where did it go?!  So very sad to have lost something so amazing, so powerful, so beautiful.

Oh for the want of the shirt left behind;
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

Two hours sitting at Porcupine trying to get warm, to find the power of the Bighorn Mountain song.  But it is gone and so is my race.  My race in the Bighorn Mountains to the magic of the Bighorn Mountain song ending before its time.

Oh for the want of the shirt left behind;
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

Listen, listen carefully, the music of the Bighorn Mountain song is out there, calling, calling, ever so sweet.  The magic of the Bighorn Mountain song is not gone, it is there for us all.  I can still hear it, it is calling me back, and next year, I will see it through to the very end.

Oh for the want of the shirt left behind;
The song of the Bighorn Mountains ended too soon for one.

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