Leg 4: Hamel Assault (34km)

I only knew a couple of things about Leg 4:

• It has the longest climb + highest peak of the race; and 
• We would be doing a lot of this stage in the dark.

It felt pretty awesome to be running together again. Almost enough to dull the over-exertion from Leg 3. We set out from the transition area still sorting our kit and going over what had happened since the end of Leg 2. I just about had time to finish an energy drink before the climbing started, and after the relatively solid logging trails and old mine road we found ourselves back in the mud. Thick in places, the trail felt greasy. Step and slip, step and slip, left leg, right leg, left, right. 

Mt Hamel is 6986 ft high (2129m), and around 3836 ft/ 1123m above the transition area. The climb is 10 km long. There was nothing much to do but set shoulders and keep stepping.  The path was narrow and steep, and about 8 of us were in single file for the first couple of k's - everyone was relatively quiet as we saved our lungs for the mountain. As we got higher up, the trail started to dry out, and we also started to get some beautiful views, especially with the sun going down.


Sunset from Mt Hamel

I don't mind the uphill. We weren't going fast but we were getting it done. After the pressure of the previous cut off this felt a lot more relaxed. A pleasant hike in the Rockies... the mountains looked incredible. Just ignore the fact that you're still going up, it's starting to get dark, and you have a marathon left to do.

We were speculating with other runners about whether or not there was an aid station on the way up (we had heard a rumor that the 'Hamel Escape' was just an emergency pick up point this year) so it was a nice surprise to find a well stocked respite at around 6000 ft. We took the time here to dig out headlamps and I got my gloves and hat on, then we pushed up past the tree line. 

Into the night

The wind started to get a lot stronger once we were out of the trees, and I was grateful for my solid windproof jacket. We summited Mt Hamel at last light and the wind at the top was crazy. There is a short out and back to retrieve a 'prayer flag', and the whole way along I was having to walk leaning sideways into the wind, and the stronger gusts kept pushing my poles around.  I started to wonder how fast the wind would have to be to knock me off my feet... it felt pretty close.

I don't mind the ups, but I don't like the downs. My knees and quads were hurting more and more as we worked our way down off the top - but by now I was just keen to reach the trees and get out of the wind. The poles were invaluable here for saving my legs.


© Raven Eye Photography

Around halfway down we got to Ambler Loop which is a 4-5 km circuit on mainly logging roads (with some extra muddy bits for fun) and an amazing aid station. My watch died here around 90 km/ 18 hrs after the start (a little annoying after it lasted nearly 24 hrs for a previous event). In the middle of the night the circuit was eerily quiet, and in complete contrast to the aid station: bonfire, broth, noodles, hot chocolate, instant coffee - and the excellent volunteers.

From Ambler it was down the Beaver Dam Road, which we were told was 6km but felt like at least 16, especially without being able to see the distance ticking by on the watch. Luckily the gradient was gentle enough to be able to do a decent pace (which still felt endless) and we felt like we were doing ok for time.

With a km or two twisting along the roadside trails we were finally at the last transition area. Tired and sore but feeling like the biggest obstacles were behind us (other than the grim reaper and the Smoky River of course).

© Raven Eye Photography