The Hopeless Crew, a group of volunteers and llamas who staff the highest aid station in the Life Time Leadville Trail 100 Run, have survived 100 mph winds, 6-foot snow falls so heavy they collapse tents, injuries, illness and more — but it may not survive the retirement of long time organizer Gary Carlton.
“It’s a lot to put together,” Carlton said Thursday while hiking up to the Crew's spot on Hope Pass. “You’re responsible for all these people.”
Alamosa, left, and Linus relax in a great big salad bowl above the tree line on Hope Pass on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette)
After 22 years on the Hopeless Crew, 63-year-old Carlton said he's ready to retire from the responsibilities.
”If I knew in April what I know now, I would have quit right then.” Carlton said, lamenting the lack of volunteers this year.
The past few years have been especially hard for organizing volunteers, Carlton said. Every year finding volunteers is harder and communication a little worse.
When the Leadville 100 started in 1983, the Hope Pass aid station was just one man with a few llamas handing out cups of water. Since then it has become one of the most important aid stations of the race, providing food, water, shelter, and medical aid to runners as they cross the 12,530-foot high pass twice. The runners pass the aid station on mile 43 and then again at mile 55 as they cross the highest and steepest part of the race.
Gary Carlton pets his dog, Ruger, during a lunch break on their way to the tree line on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 to prepare the Hope Pass aid station for Saturday’s Life Time Leadville Trail 100 Run. (Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette)
This year, the crew took 17 llamas, four mules, nine volunteers and roughly 2,000 pounds of gear up the 5-mile trail to the pass. The volunteers will camp out from Thursday until Monday after the last runners come through late Sunday night.
Race organizers pay for the supplies, but Carlton decides what to bring. Last year, organizers wanted the crew to take a generator up. He nixed the idea: "Who is going to carry that up?"
The team uses a 100-lb. water purifier, so they can use the water from a nearby lake and avoid having to haul it the five miles it takes to get to the top.
"A jug of water weighs 25 pounds," Carlton said. "That's a lot of trips up and down the mountain."
The hike used to take about two hours and 15 minutes decades ago, but Thursday it took almost three-and-a-half hours. Carlton still prides himself on keeping his record of being the first, and oldest, to reach the top every year.
“I am super nervous as I tend to be the day before” Carlton said. “Things can go wrong between here and the Pass, and I have seen it all over the last 22 years.”
Randi Pepper, left, argues with Alamosa about when break time ends as they head up to Hope Pass on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 to prepare the Hope Pass aid station for the Life Time Leadville Trail 100 Run on Saturday. (Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette)
As Carlton carefully organized the saddle bags for his llamas Thursday morning, only three volunteers had showed up, including Randi Pepper. This was Pepper’s second year as a volunteer, but she had quickly proven herself as one of the most reliable volunteers of the race. When asked if she’d consider taking over Carlton’s responsibilities, Pepper said it had occurred to her — but she worries she’s “too ADD for all the details.”
Until someone steps up to take Carlton's place, the Hopeless Crew may be living up to its name as a hopeless cause.
Anyone?
