[Author’s Note: This is the first article in an 11-part series celebrating legendary aid stations. You can read about the series here. Also, for this article, a special thank you goes out to Telluride, Colorado’s Sarah Lavender Smith, whose article “How Hardrock’s Kroger’s Canteen Got Its Start” provided valuable historic background for this article.]

Every July, deep within the coronary heart of the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado, a bunch of six or seven intrepid volunteers climb 5,000 toes from the valley ground on the outskirts of Telluride, to a small notch within the mountains, sitting at 13,100 toes. This notch, Virginius Cross, for a couple of days, turns into dwelling to the Kroger’s Canteen Support Station for the Hardrock 100. Named after Chuck Kroger, Telluride native, six-time Hardrock finisher, and the primary captain of the help station, Kroger’s Canteen supplies important assist to runners traversing the rugged part between the cities of Telluride and Ouray.

The rope-assisted strategy or deproach, relying on which course the occasion is touring, to Kroger’s Canteen’s spectacular location. All pictures courtesy of Blake Wooden.

In years when the race is run within the clockwise course, the vast majority of the runners arrive at Kroger’s in daylight, because it marks the 32.7-mile mark of the course. In that clockwise course, after filling up on meals and fluids, runners normally run/slide down an enormous snowfield instantly upon leaving the help station, on their method to Governor’s Basin, and ultimately Ouray. Within the counterclockwise course, entry to the help station is rather more tough as runners usually must ascend that snowfield, normally with the assistance of a set rope, earlier than arriving on the assist station in any respect hours of the day or night time, marking the 69.8-mile level of the course.

For years the help station was staffed solely by Hardrock 100 finishers, and whereas this requirement has been loosened barely in recent times, volunteering at Kroger’s isn’t any joke, because it requires the flexibility to hike up and down an enormous climb, usually a number of occasions, loaded down with gear and provides — after which spending up quite a lot of time on a tiny slab of rock over 13,000 toes above sea stage. Most years, the help station employees at Kroger’s is a who’s who of Hardrock 100 legends.

Runners passing by means of Kroger’s Canteen in the course of the Hardrock 100.

I requested longtime Hardrock 100 race director Dale Garland what makes Kroger’s so distinctive and particular, and he had this to say, “Particularly within the counterclockwise course, Kroger’s stands like a lighthouse to welcome the runners as they navigate one of many hardest sections of the course. Moreover, the distinctive historical past and the custom of the help station, from Chuck Kroger to [former aid station captain] Roch Horton, make it stand out on the planet of path operating assist stations.”

Dale additionally famous what he felt have been the 2 greatest challenges the help station faces. “One, if there may be unhealthy climate on the mountain, and there usually is, there may be little or no, if any, place to cover. And two, in years when there may be quite a lot of snow, it’s a daunting problem to get all of the gear and provides as much as such a distant and harsh location.”

Whereas the number of meals and drinks obtainable is proscribed by the situation, the employees on the assist station have historically served quite a lot of each hot and cold meals, in addition to the customary tequila shot, which is obtainable to every runner as they cross by means of the help station.

Establishing tables at Kroger’s Canteen’s distinctive location requires some creativity.

For instance, in my case, on the 2 events I ran the Hardrock 100 — as soon as clockwise and as soon as counterclockwise — I loved contemporary grilled cheese, sizzling vegetable soup, grilled dumplings, and heat tater tots to go together with the requisite tequila. At present, after I look again at my expertise on the run, these two visits to Kroger’s stand out as highlights of your complete occasion for me, and offered recollections that may final a lifetime.

Bottoms up!

AJW’s Beer of the Week

This week’s beer of the week comes from Telluride Brewing Firm in Telluride, Colorado. Below The place? dry hopped pilsner is a novel tackle a traditional selection. Crisp and clear with simply the correct quantity of hops, Below The place? Is a incredible pilsner that pairs effectively with absolutely anything, and stands alone properly too.

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A four-legged volunteer serving to out at Kroger’s Canteen.