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| Chad hard at it setting course markers Wasatch Powderkeg 2012-Courtesy Chad Brackelsberg |
The evening sun is now staring to lazily die out
over Millicent peak. The winds are mellow and the last snowstorm was
four days ago. At 8,000 feet, with a pack that was once filled with
trail markers is now a bit lighter as a tired man rushes to his
final review of a perfectly set finish line. The course is ready for the
serious but friendly battle that will occur the next morning.
Chad Brackelsberg, 5 year running president of the 11 year standing
Wasatch Powderkeg
smiles with satisfaction as he gets into his rig with his faithful race
and adventure partner Emily, who happens to also be his wife.
The
Powderkeg is one of the country's most demanding ski mountaineering
races. While driving down Big Cottonwood Canyon to the prerace meeting,
he and Emily reflect on the thousands of hours they have spend this
year. Some of their efforts included planning, obtaining underwriters,
working with the venue of the race, snow studying every three weeks,
race planning, marketing and course set up. This year's work all started
less than 1 month after last year's race. Why do they do it, year after
year? According to Chad, "it's seeing the community of back country
skiers all coming together to compete. The winner could beat one of
his/her best friends and the whole rest of the day they will hang out
together and laugh." He continues, "it is the smile at the finish line
that makes it all worth it." Chad, no stranger to suffering, is the
mastermind behind this epic event.
Today, while sitting
in a local coffee shop, I was able to squeeze some fun facts out of
this busy body and learn more about what his penetrating blue eyes
experience in a year's time. Chad is a super thin man filled with smiles
and consumed with living life to the its fullest. His aura of intensity
is complimented by his genetle kindness that can be felt while spending
time with him.
At the age of 6, Chad's life was
forever changed. He met the mountains for the first time while skiing at
Big Sky Montana with his Mom and Dad. His parents that day made an
impression on their son that would be unalterable. Already a seasoned
skier of 3 years, this young boy was enthralled with the size of these
mountains when compared with his 300 vertical foot slopes back home on
the plains of North Dakota. In 2002, Chad became a local to Utah,
landing a job that allowed him immediate access to the wilds of the
Wasatch Range. Today, Chad runs 100 mile endurance races, races mountain
bikes and is most content in the high white peaks traveling on skis.
Perhaps his greatest accomplishment physically was his very recent
completion of the Leadman. One of just 124 folks to complete the Leadman
in 10 years, Chad finds himself today recovering from the physical pain
it dished out. A notoriously punishing event held in the high peaks of
Colorado, the Leadman is made up of a 26 mile trail marathon, 50 mile
trail run, 10K run, 100 mile mountain bike race and to cap it off the
100 mile mountain run. The last three distances are completed in just 8
days and all held above 10,000 feet in Leadville, Colorado. Each step
of the 100 mile run served to remind Chad of his mortality while causing
his mind and crew to push him to the end. This is the kind of man
behind the Wasatch Powderkeg.
In 2003, the Powderkeg
was unveiled coincidentally upon his arrival to Utah. That year, Chad
did his first Powderkeg diving into the steeps of its history.
Eventually in 2008 when founders Andrew and Butch started to be pulled
in other directions, Chad and Emily stepped in. In 2008, there were 102
racers and last year they had 160! Chad praises the many volunteers and
the sponsors including
Brighton Ski Resort,
Scarpa,
Voile and
Outdoor Research.
Combined these folks are key to making this event one of the most
successful races of its kind in the country. They need more volunteers
and Chad invites us to get engaged and help. The setting is cast among
the beautiful Wasatch peaks with excellent March backcountry skiing. In
2004 and 2005 the Powderkeg was on the World Cup Ski Mountaineering
circuit, while still open to anyone desiring to race and participate.
Chad
ekes out more that 25 hours a week training in preparation for
ultrarunning events, yielding fruits like sub 23 hour 100 mile trail
races and pushing himself further each year. His life and diet have
been influenced by his days with Emily in the Himalayan range, trekking
in the Everest and Annapurna Circuit regions. Both 8,000 meter peak
districts. When asked what food he could live off, he easily responded,
"Indian Food." Chad has learned a great deal during his years of
mountain travel. He lives by the mantra "you can walk off something and
go ski it later, as hard as it is to do at times." If he could ski
anywhere locally it would be Coalpit. Chad has very few regrets in life
but one is missing the last Grateful Dead concert in Chicago to which he
had tickets but couldn't get away from life's many demands. Jerry died
shortly thereafter.
As we look back on our turns in
deep powder we see our own imprint of experience. Chad and Emily
Brackelsberg have left two prominent, perfect tracks in the Wasatch
Mountains, providing each of us that special opportunity in March to
create and renew close friendships sharing sweat on two skis. We have
Chad's parents to thank for that special day under Montana's big skies.
You can learn more about Chad and Emily by visiting their website: http://thebrackpack.com/
To learn more, sign up or volunteer for the Wasatch Powderkeg go to:
http://wasatchpowderkeg.com/
By Chad Ambrose-- ambroseut.blogspot.com
