Hardrock 100, mile 89: KT Aid Station

In the counter-clockwise direction, KT is the next-to-last aid station before the finish. At mile 89, the runners have just come up Grants Swamp three miles earlier, a harrowing climb, and then descended via the Ice Lake Trail followed by an animal trail to the aid station, which is on a rocky stretch of jeep road.

There are still 11 miles, a couple of stream crossings and some good climbs to go. We headed up to KT to so Andrea could pick up a runner to pace the last few miles. It was early evening, and these would be 40+ hour finishers. The runners we saw had been on the course a long time. They were haggard and tired, but they could also smell the barn. There was a very quiet, worn-out excitement.

These few shots were taken with my phone.

There are more Hardrock Galleries here:

Cunningham Gulch

Ouray, mile 56.6