Team Santa Fe Adventure Racing

Fifth Annual Ben Myers Ridge-A-Thon
Taos Ski Valley Taos NM
March 30, 2001
By Carl Gable

Carl Gable recently competed in the Ridge-A-thon held at Taos Ski Valley, NM. The Ridge-A-Thon is a ski race to benefit the Mountain Home Health Care Hospice of Taos NM and is held in memory of Ben Myers, a former Taos resident who died of cancer. Overall, the event raised $16,000. Team Santa Fe Adventure racing member Carl Gable, contributed $700 to that effort. Special thanks to TSF members Barb Dutrow, Slate Stern and Walter White for their sponsorship support.

According to a short piece in the March 29 Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, "Other than the 24 Hours of Aspen ski marathon, the Taos Ridge-a-Thon is probably the toughest ski event in the American West."

In this event, one must hike and ski menu of ten double black diamond chutes on the ridge at Taos (Billy Sol, Ninos, Juarez, Hidalgo, Spitfire, Oster, Stauffenberg, Zdarosky, St. Bernard, Elevator) for 5 hours. This is some of the steepest and most demanding terrain Taos has to offer. The hike from the top of the chairlift to the beginning of the chutes is a 5-8 minute lung buster at elevations* above 11,000 feet.

There was also a final bonus. Due to marginal weather, Kachina Peak had been closed most of the day. However, when two oÕclock rolled around, the ski patrol allowed those in the race to hike the peak. ÊThe 1000+ vertical foot hike was slower and harder than I've ever experienced (gee I wonder why?) but the rewards made it worthwhile. We gathered at the top to toast the memory of Ben Myers with champagne and then ripped our way down the untracked North face of Kachina Peak.

Carl's final tally was 18 chutes plus Kachina Peak for a total of 21 points. This years top two teams finished with 24 points. This was the first year that Team Santa Fe had competed in the event.


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