JULY FOURTH 2003 BADWATER HEAT TRAINING CLINIC

07-03-2003 to 07-06-2003

There were 16 parties with 14 invitees and a total of 40 people attending the July 4th Badwater Heat Training Clinic. The high temperature for the weekend was 126. Most of the attendees arrived on Thursday afternoon. We met and visited by the pool. Four of the invitees were new to us (me and Denise as well as to many others): Tracy Bahr (Oregon), Jim Bodoh (Florida), Conrad Daniel (California), and Dan Martin (California) so it was nice to finally meet them. We went into the saloon, which also served as a restaurant. There was a moderate amount of delay getting seated and later getting the bill. We weathered these difficulties however. Next we met in the auditorium and I went over the rules and regulations and explained the liability situation and medical coverage with everyone. Denise gave an excellent spontaneous presentation of aspects of crewing. I briefly discussed some aspects of intake of fluids, electrolytes, and calories. We planned for the next day's activities.

At 0645 Friday 07-04-2003 we left Stovepipe Wells (SPW) and drove to Badwater (BW). The construction and renovation project is almost finished now. My "office" is about the same - it's the men's commode on the right. The Badwater sign is now in place. We assembled on a new platform for the voluntary-obligatory pictures and then headed for the highway. The start-line is now gone so we lined up even with the weather station. A water pistol was held in the air and fired by Dan Manns and we were off. The road condition was greatly improved with a solid white line along the side and a nicely packed clay shoulder. I held back at an 18-20-minute-per-mile pace and let every one go. Several times I was shuttled forward in order not to have us get too spread out. Fortunately there were no medical situations this time. There was a paucity of traffic. We only saw one tour bus the whole weekend. There were a number of test cars on the road. The only time we saw a DVNP Ranger was when we got to the area of Furnace Creek Ranch. All of us went to and beyond Furnace Creek Ranch (FCR). Tracy Bahr and her sister, Kelly, alternated 10-mile segments and made it to SPW. John Radich settled for a 50K and others for a marathon-distance. The rest of us did around 15 to 20 miles and called it a day (after about six hours). Most of us relaxed at the pool and then went in to the restaurant for dinner. The menu was about the same as the night before. After that we again assembled in the auditorium and rehashed the events of the day. Denise, the “blister Queen” entranced a large audience with her foot care techniques and recommendations. The next day’s agenda was discussed. About half of the attendees wanted to do the climb toward Towne’s Pass and the others wanted to go 15 miles toward Furnace Creek and again progress to SPW.

At 0800 on 07-05-2003 we met in front of SPW for the usual voluntary-obligatory group photo. After that about four groups headed toward Towne’s Pass. The rest of us waited until 1000 for the heat to build up and then headed 15 miles toward FC to start our trek. We were soon joined by two of the Towne’s Pass groups as they decided they wanted more heat. Day #2 was purposely shorter but not necessarily easier. We had plenty of time afterwards for the pool. Some departed for home however there was a residual crowd for the restaurant that evening and the next morning. Several parties went to Lone Pine to do the Portal Road and one to Telescope Peak.

Next year I am thinking of starting Day #1 at 0900 instead of 0800, as the group photos will be more in the sunlight and it will be “warmer.” I will probably keep Day #2 the same as we did this year.

I hope everyone made it home okay. I had two crash victims from Keeler who died in a drunken spin out at the 117-mile mark waiting for me when I got home.

Two weeks from now we all will be heading for the pre Race activities. See you all then.

The attendees are listed below:
01) Bahr, Tracy; invitee; rookie; with sister, Kelly//
02) Bodoh, Jim; invitee; rookie/; with Michelle Mochalski//

03) Daniel, Conrad; invitee; rookie; unsupported//
04) Fromm, Anita; invitee; veteran; unsupported//
05) Haines, Norm; invitee; rookie; with Shelly Swetzof (granddaughter), Kerry Holland, and Tim Dutton//
06) Jones, Ben; invitee; veteran; with Denise (veteran), John Rosmus (veteran), and Rick Nawrocki (veteran)//

07) Kashurba, Mary; invitee; rookie; with Ron Hamilton and Daria Kelley//

08) Levet, Jan; invitee; rookie; unsupported//
09) Lockton, Bill; invitee: rookie; with Laurie Woodrow, Dan Manns, and Rodney Bassett//
10) Martin, Dan; invitee: rookie; with wife Vicky//
11) Parker, Ian; invitee; veteran; with family (two children//
12) Radich, John; invitee: veteran; unsupported//
13) Shura, Nancy; invitee: rookie; with Larry Derwin, Heather Shura, and Saundra Whitehead//

14) Stern, Howie; invitee; rookie; with Kari and Ashley Marchant, Angela Brunson, and friend//

And

15) Henebry, Mike; veteran; volunteer//

16) Mejia, Vilma; veteran; with husband, Oscar//

Thank you,

Ben and Denise Jones
PO Drawer "S"
Lone Pine, California, 93545
760/876-5354 (home)
760/876-5687 (fax-office)
email: badwaterbj@qnet.com