2009 AdventureCORPS Badwater Ultramarathon

PLEASE NOTE: Two nearby campers reported "giant trees just across the creek from our campsite engulfed in flames" to us while we were stationed at the Whitney Portal finish line on Tuesday night at about 930am. Approximately 28 runners had completed the course when I radioed in a 911 call via our race headquarters down the mountain in Lone Pine. Within 45 minutes, an Inyo County Sheriff's deputy arrived with lights flashing and tires squealing. He pulled up with his window down, saying something to the effect of "Get out of here immediately. There's a fire. Do not stop to pick up anything. Get in your cars and LEAVE NOW!" He then raced off to alert others in the area. We scrambled to grab the bare necessities (finish line tape, medals, buckles, cameras, and computers) while rookie entrant Dennis Koors literally sprinted around emergency vehicles and the deluge of departing cars to cross the finish line at 10:13pm. I took his photo (minus the finish line tape as there was nobody to hold it up), then jumped in my van as he jumped into his support vehicle.

We headed down the mountain, discovering a serious forest fire less than 100 yards from the road, not one mile from our finish line. Dozens of giant trees were engulfed in flames from bottom to top. Firefighters and fire trucks were everywhere and a scramble of cars was disgorging down the mountain. I raised our Mile 131 time station on the radio and they told me they were aware of the situation above them, but had been told by the authorities that they could remain at their location. We made the decision to make that location the official finish line from that point onwards. We were all lucky that the wind was blowing down the mountain, not uphill towards our finish line located at the end of a dead end road.

We salute every race finisher and their tremendously positive response to a difficult situation. Thankfully, no lives were lost and the fire was contained during the night. We also salute the US Forest Service, Inyo County Sheriff's Department, and CAL Fire for their fast response and professionalism, and for allowing us to maintain the mile 131 finish line just at the periphery of the fire zone while they did their job.

Race Slideshows

Finisher Slideshows

 

Video

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All Starting Waves, Thalia Kostman Sings the National Anthem

Men's Champion Marcos Farinazzo at the Finish Line

Women's Champion Jamie Donaldson at the Finish Line

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Race Staff

Webcast Production Team: Keith Kostman, Anna Leeg, Elizabeth Jefferson, and Chris Kostman

Webcast Video Team: Rachel Schmitt, Lauren McMachon and Angel Rincon

Photography: Chris Kostman, Keith Kostman, Poosa Kostman, Anna Leeg, and Dave & Margaret Nelson

Race Operations Team: Mike Angelos, Poosa Kostman, Jack & Mags Denness, Leon Draxler, Scott Dakus, Andy Dakus, Joe Garza, Don Meyer, Steve and Karen Gray, John Wiley, Phil & Kari Marchant, Chris Frost, Jay Hodde, Cory Linkel, Mike Henebry, Scott Wall, Randy Klassen, Bruce Gungle, Thalia Kostman, Mary Kashurba, Sophie Kashurba, Dennis Hinman, John Marino, and Chris Kostman

Retail: The ZombieRunner.com duo: Don Lundell and Gillian Robinson

Medical Team: Lisa Bliss, Tim Englund, Dave Heckman, Woofie Humpage, Kim Keeley, Jeff Lynn, George Miller, Alene Nitzky, Steve Teal, and Mary Kashurba

Foot Care: John Vonhoff, Denise Jones, and Jacqueline Florine

CNN Video Team: Dan Dominy, Lana Corless, and Jon Gay