the baddle

Jerry's Baddle was a blast last Saturday. Over one hundred racers competed despite the rain. The party/transition area was at Wilderness Cove Campground. It was a great venue. Steep descents and bad weather made road hairier than the river. At one point both of my feet were unclipped, my chain was off the chain ring and I was swerving across both lanes of traffic on slick pavement. Somehow, I pulled it all together.

Transition area.

Later in the day the kegs were tapped and the sun poked out, providing a perfect setting for a kick ass party. Jed Hinkle and Clayton Gaar were fired up about winning the team event with the fastest time overall.

I was excited to bring this trophy back home. It will continue to be passed around the winners circle.

Green Man:

1. Adam Herzog 1:57:22

2. Mefford Williams 2:06:21

3. Tim Bell 2:07:44 (Tim crashed his bike on one of the hairpin turns)

Green Woman

1. Mariah Noakes 2:22:22

2. Jennifer Cribbs 2:25:30

3. Robin Betz 2:25:53

Teams

1. Clayton Garr/Jed Hinkle 1:56:37

2. Nathan Silsby/Nathan Wyatt 1:57:20

3. Brian Douglass/Adam Douchac 2:03:33

Full results.

Thanks to Brooks, Brid, Stephen, Liquid Logic, Pro Bikes, Wilderness Cove and all the volunteers, timers, and coordinators for making it happen.

russell fork "off season"

The off season is on in Elkhorn City. Drew Austell and I made the trip yesterday for some high water action. The level was 2900 cfs (fall releases are 800). Tower and Fist were scary as hell, and when we got to Triple Drop we portaged the first one. This is Drew lining up for Second Drop.

Triple Drop is one of the most serious rapids on the Fork at high water. The bottom of Third Drop is nasty.

Me at Second Drop. All pics of me were taken by Drew.

Buried at Third Drop. The Grande performed well on the big water.
Calm before the storm at El Horrendo.
The storm.

The only thing sketchier than running the meat of Tower and El Ho at three grand is walking through this tunnel to get back to the put in (to do some more sketchy shit).

hell fuck 2008

Last year, on the first Saturday after the summer solstice, Caleb Paquette and I initiated the First Annual Nolichucky Hell Fuck. The Hell Fuck started at my house in Johnson City with a 45 mile road bike ride to the top of Roan Mountain. The last 8 miles gained 3500 feet of elevation. At Carvers Gap we transitioned to a 25 mile run on the Appalachian Trail to Indian Grave Gap. A short downhill on TN 395 (we used cruiser bikes) brought us to the put in of the Nolichucky gorge. After running the gorge in long boats, we transitioned back onto road bikes for a 25 mile ride back home, completing the loop.
The Hell Fuck took me over 14 hours. It is the longest, most brutal event I have taken part in. This year the shit hits the fan on June 21st. If interested get in touch with me at herzog_adam@yahoo.com or 828 279 7230. If you would not want to attempt an Iron Man, this event is probably not for you.