consisting of packed sand. Since the location of the
ride is in the desert, the only trees riders will see are
Joshua Trees, found no where else in the world other
than the Mojave Desert.
Wildlife in the desert is
plenty, with common
sightings of desert
tortoises and rare (and
to be avoided)
encounters with the
infamous Mojave Green
Rattle Snake. Burrowing owls can be heard hissing if
riders get near their nests in the ground. Scenic
views of the Sierra Mountain Range are abundant
once riders have
climbed up to the ridge
above the town of
Ridgecrest, leaving the
valley floor below. The
winning riding time is
expected to be
approximately 5 hours
with the winning horse
and rider expected to
cross the finish line
between 1:00 and
2:00 pm. The 100-mile
ride will be the same
course as the long
existing Twenty Mule
Team 100-mile ride, hosted by Hall of Fame
endurance rider Jackie Bumgardner and the Valley
Riders for many years. It is so named after the
famous twenty mule teams that hauled massive
wagons loaded with borax from Death Valley to the
railroad at Boron. Although the teams only ran for six
years from 1883 to 1889, they made an enduring
impression of the Old West and Death Valley. The
100-mile ride takes riders through remote areas of
the desert with sightings of ancient petroglyphs,
returning to base camp for a veterinary checkpoint.
Most riders start out on the second 35-mile loop as
darkness is approaching, and riders will be following
glow bars towards the finish line. The ride can be
deceiving in difficulty level as there are no visually
impressive climbs or technical aspects to the ride
such as water crossings and narrow ledges.
However, it only takes a
glimpse back over one’s
shoulder to realize how
much climbing in
elevation has occurred.
The winning horse and
rider will typically have a
riding time of
approximately 12-13 hours, thereby crossing the
finish line around 6 pm. Night riding in the expansive
desert is a unique experience to be cherished. There
are hundreds of miles
of open desert that
offer a dark sky location
where glimpses of the
Milky Way and a
star-filled sky are a
welcome treat and the
only sounds one might
hear are those of
desert owls
and coyotes.
The 2019 AERC
National Championship
Ride will be a weekend
extravaganza where
riders from all over the
country will meet to try
to become the next
AERC National
Champion; where
vendors and sponsors
will come and showcase their products; where
endurance riders, crew members, volunteers,
veterinarians and spectators will enjoy camaraderie,
good food, and good fun.
For more information, see 2019NC.com
or follow us on Facebook at:
facebook.com/AERC2019NC
Mr. Burton Frasher’s iconic
photo of a twenty-mule team
transporting borax in Death
Valley, California.
“THE ONLY TREES RIDERS WILL SEE ARE
JOSHUA TREES, FOUND NO WHERE ELSE IN THE
WORLD OTHER THAN THE MOJAVE DESERT.
WILDLIFE IN THE DESERT IS PLENTY ...”
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AHW > 73 < 0 8.19
sharon
(sharon)
#1