Rise to the Occasion: Sunrise to Summit, Pilot Butte Challenge, Reverse PPP

If you're up for it, consider taking on these events.

SUNRISE TO SUMMIT

On Saturday September 5, the 12^th Annual Sunrise to Summit starts at 10:30am from Sunrise Lodge at Mt. Bachelor. Run three miles from the lodge up Marshmallow to the top of Sunrise Chair and then follow the trail up to the Summit. Total elevation gain is 2,595 feet.

The event also includes the Bend to Bachelor Duathlon/Relay that starts at 9:30am at the Seven Peaks Elementary School. Cycle 20 miles from the school to Sunrise Lodge and then run to the summit, either individually or as a relay team.

New this year is the Mt. Bachelor Hill Climb Time Trial that starts at the Seven Peaks School at 10:00am and ends at the Sunrise Lodge parking lot. It is an OBRA sanctioned event with a time trial format with starts at 30-second intervals. Total elevation gain is 2,770 feet.

For more information, visit www.mbsef.org/events/sunrise2summit.

PILOT BUTTE CHALLENGE

If up is to your liking, you can follow up with the Pilot Butte Challenge on Saturday, September 26. It's a one-mile climb with 493 feet of elevation gain. Gain notoriety in Bend by getting your name posted on the sign at the base of the butte for setting an age group record.

All net proceeds will benefit The Pilot Butte Trust which helps maintain and enhance Pilot Butte State Park. Register online at www.signmeup.com/66364 or in-person at the packet pick up on Friday September 25 from 4:00 to 7:00pm at REI or on race day from 7:30am to 8:30am. For more information contact the Oregon State Parks office at 541-388-6055 (Susan x22 or Scott x27).

REVERSE PPP

"Hey, who wants to do the Pole Pedal Paddle backwards?" That's the question I tossed out by e-mail to some friends last June, just to see who might take me seriously. I actually got four takers.

So, bright and early on June 6, Rick, Bob, Ron, Lisa and I were up and at 'em. We gathered enthusiastically at the dirt lot in the Old Mill with boats, bikes, skis, snowshoes, running shoes and whatever other gear we could think of. The first order of business was to shuttle gear for the nordic and alpine ski legs up to the Mt. Bachelor parking lot. It was about 9am and pretty warm by the time we walked over to the Les Schwab Amphitheater for the start of the Inaugural Reverse PPP.

At the "Finish Line" in front of the stage, we took off on the sprint leg to our kayaks waiting at the PPP takeout. We hopped in our boats, paddled downriver to the turnaround, upriver to the turnaround, and back to the takeout. Our transition was a little slow because we loaded the boats back on our vehicles before donning our running shoes and following the PPP run course, backwards of course. We returned to the cars, dropped off our running shoes and got on our bikes for the ride up to Bachelor. There, we locked our bikes in the pickup and pulled out our cross-country gear. By then it was about 1pm, not to mention it was June, so it took us nearly an hour to trudge our way through the dirty slush from the Nordic Center, around the PPP course... backwards. At the Nordic to Alpine transition, we were all pretty bonked, so our transition time included chips and salsa and cold drinks. Eventually, we began the ascent to the top of the Red Chair. I used snowshoes, while others hiked or skinned. And, of course, we finished with a mad sprint about 100 yards down the hill to the "Start Line." It was a tie. All told, transitions included, it took us 6 hours and 42 minutes to complete the very first Reverse PPP.

Let's face it. The real PPP is for pussies! I proposed the concept of the Reverse PPP to Molly Kelley at the MBSEF and she replied, "You guys are crazy and gluttons for punishment!"

So, who wants to do the Reverse PPP next year? I'm serious. Put it on your calendar for the Saturday after PPP. This is a completely unsanctioned event with one rule - you have to wear an old PPP T-shirt backwards or inside-out. Visit www.tsweekly.com/outside/outdoor-recreation and comment if you're up to the challenge.