Four Crown Quest challenges Young and Old
He's at
it again. Gernot Dick has put together another crazy back-country challenge.
This time it's cycling, running, and paddling.
Back in April, Dick spearheaded the Teresa Island Quest, a 75 km. ski around
Atlin Lake's Teresa Island, the tallest mountain in the world surrounded
by freshwater.
Despite the event being pulled together in a few short weeks, nearly a hundred
skiers came out to take part in this unparallelled event. Though some completed
the course in just one day (Stephen Waterreus did it in under four hours)
most skiers completed the circuit in two days, staying the night at a camp
set up on the ice in First Narrows.
All the skiers' gear and tents were flown out by Beaver or hauled out by
volunteers on snowmachines. Luxury.
Dick, 66, reflects upon the event, "There are not so many humans who
want to ski 75 km at -20 C just to get around an island. After 75 km we
came to where we started from. The only goal was to rise to the challenge."
And people came, challenged themselves, and left smiling.
"When I saw the human spirit in the Teresa Island Quest and how it
rises," says Dick, "It gave me my motivation to create the Four
Crown Quest."
Saturday, August 17, 2002 will see participants lining up on their bikes
at the starting line at the Atlin Inn. The first leg is 20 km up Discovery
Avenue (mostly gravel) ascending 250 m to Surprise Lake. There participants
will park their bikes at the boat launch, under the watchful eye of local
volunteers, and continue running up into the high country. They will run
for 20 km rising up 400 m up the Ruby Creek road and then pass into the
Cracker Creek drainage. The trail then descends down to the Cracker Creek
Campsite on Surprise Lake.
"The campsite is a power place," says Dick. Across the lake looms
Four Crown Mountain.
Dick has hiked extensively in the Atlin and Surprise Lake valleys and in
his opinion, "Four Crown Mountain is the most (visually) exciting rock
face in the Atlin vicinity. It's really inviting to go and touch it."
But the participants in this challenge can enjoy the magnificent site, the
romantic campsite and the mountain across the water. By the time they get
to this campsite their tents, gear, and cook utensils will have been already
transported to the site by volunteers in boats.
Down on the beach there's a salmon BBQ. Who could ask for anything more?
In the morning the participants will climb into their canoes and kayaks
and paddle the 20 km back up Surprise Lake to the boat launch where their
bikes are waiting. Then it's just 20 km downhill to the Atlin Inn and the
Closing Banquet.
Of course, if you're the extreme type, you might want to do the course in
just one day. And so, Dick has planned in a program B starting Sunday the
18th, 2002 at 9 am for those who feel like logging 80 km in one day before
downing their lasagne and garlic toast at the banquet.
There are prizes in the 2-day and 1-day programs as well as cash awards
of $50 for the fastest person(s) in several different categories.
Dick reminds people though that this is a "Friendly" event and
participants can take it as slow fast as they like. He encourages people
to bring their cameras. "It's just a dream that valley," exclaims
Dick referring to the pass from Ruby to Cracker Creek.
"I'm afraid that people might lose focus. The landscape might be a
big distraction from getting to their goal."
Dick, an artist and an art teacher by profession, elaborates on his inspiration
for this event. " I look at the mountains and lakes and I get excited
because I see the possibilities. It's like shaping a sculpture or composing
a painting to create a quest that can awaken a spirit in people, the same
spirit that helps to vercome difficult tasks."
Dick admits, "I don't do a feasibility study. I respond with my senses
and let my imagination fly and that breeds energy." And energy indeed
is what he has stirred up. The list of volunteers already numbers thirty
and the sponsors number close to forty.
"The spirit in the community is marvellous," gloats Dick, "They
have a feeling: yes we need this event."
Registrations forms are available at Coast Mountain Sports and must be in
by August 10, 2002. Mail to Atli Quest, Box 207, Atlin B.C., V0W 1A0.
For info call 1-800-651-8882. For reservations of kayaks, canoes or accomodations
in Atlin call 1-877-399-2665.
When asked why someone would want to spend their Discovery Day weekend 2002
busting their body, Dick responded, "Some will come for the scenery,
but the majority will come to feel the height, the satisfaction that comes
when you push yourself to your limit."
--Stephen Badhwar