[Author’s Note: This is the sixth article in an 11-part series celebrating legendary aid stations. You can read about the series here.]
The Vermont 100 Mile is a classic race held in the southeast corner of the state each July in one of the most idyllic New England landscapes imaginable. The course is a blend of gravel roads, singletrack trail, converted snowmobile trail, and cross-country sections. While there are no huge sustained climbs like you would find in the Western U.S., the course is relentlessly rolling as it packs in over 15,000 feet of climbing in the 100 miles. The crux of the race, in my opinion, is the 10 Bear Loop, which is a 26-mile section from miles 44 to 70. At the beginning and end of that loop is the iconic Camp 10 Bear aid station.
The Camp 10 Bear aid station, with its own tagline, “it’s so nice you visit it twice,” is set up on a small triangle of grass that is at the confluence of three dirt roads. Some 364 days of the year, it is simply a nondescript crossroads, but on race day, it turns into the biggest party on the course. The aid station is hosted by the Trail Animals Running Club (TARC), the largest and most active trail running club in the U.S. Northeast. According to Vermont 100 Mile race director Amy Rusiecki, “TARC always brings their special brand of flair, enthusiasm, and experience to make Camp 10 Bear THE party on the course.”
The Camp 10 Bear aid station on the Vermont 100 Mile is a hive of activity. All photos: Bruno Hamann
Rusiecki goes on to point out, “Runners pass through Camp 10 Bear twice during their race. The exit (after Camp 10 Bear #1) is the same roughly half mile as the entrance (before Camp 10 Bear #2), and therefore it’s a place where runners from the front, middle, and back of the pack all interact and cheer each other on. It also means that, say, the top runner will be coming in and doing a crew stop at Camp 10 Bear #2 at the same time that mid-packers, sub-24 hour hopefuls, are having a crew stop at Camp 10 Bear #1. That many folks, and that intersection of different parts of the field at the same time, are what makes this place truly special.”
TARC does face a significant challenge in managing the aid station as the grass triangle is relatively small and runners’ crews all come to hang out there to wait for their runners. Cars park up and down the three roads leading into and out of the aid station, providing a gauntlet of crews and traffic for runners to navigate. It’s an awesome spectacle, which pumps up the runners, but also a bit overwhelming with a lot of energy in a very small space.
Crews line the roads in and out of the Camp 10 Bear aid station.
I asked Amy to share a story with me that exemplifies the spirit of Camp 10 Bear, and she shared this:
“I remember hearing one year where the cut-off time at Camp 10 Bear #2 was approaching, and there was one last crew anxiously awaiting their runner. One of the TARC volunteers ran out on the course to find the runner, and encouraged them into the aid station ahead of the cut-off so they could continue on. I just can’t emphasize enough what an amazing crew TARC is, and how awesome it is to have experienced runners at aid stations along the Vermont 100 Mile course to ensure that runners get this sort of treatment and support.”
Anyone who has run the Vermont 100 Mile has a Camp 10 Bear memory as it truly is one of the most meaningful places on the course. And for anyone wanting to experience this special place themselves, the race registration lottery opens in December each year.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, Vermont, is generally recognized as one of America’s finest craft breweries. Celebrating their 15th anniversary this summer, they have released a series of anniversary beers. One of them, 15th Anniversary Blonde Ale, is a simple, yet classic blonde that is crisp and clean with just a hint of bitterness. A great summer beer weighing in at 4.4% ABV, this anniversary blonde is perfect on a hot summer evening at Camp 10 Bear.
Call for Comments
Have you run the Vermont 100 Mile? Do you remember Camp 10 Bear? Tell us your stories!
