This Team did BEAT IT!

From: Jennifer Hoover
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 1:44 PM
To: Mel Monkelis
Subject: Re: Ski to Sea News Alert March 2009
 
Hi Mel,
I just read the section in the S2S newsletter about reducing your team's carbon footprint -- can you beat it? This year, our team will complete the race entirely car-free. I'm not sure if any other teams in the past, or this year, have attempted this -- obviously, we're not trying to  set any new speed records; we're more inclined to enjoy the spectacular wild wonders of our region while inflicting as little harm as possible upon our ecosystem.

Have you heard from any other teams who decided to compete car-free this year? If so, perhaps a new race category might be created, "Whatcom County Carbon Lite" or something similar, to encourage others to take this challenge in future years. We'll be employing a bikes at work to haul the canoe and an xtracycle to tow bicycles. Here is our race-day scenario:

Skiers: Ride up the night before. One skier tows runner's bike down to DOT station to meet runner.

Runner: Rides bike up and camps at campground night before race, rides own bike back into Bellingham.

Road Biker: pulls trailer with canoe into Everson on race eve, camps the night before at Douglas fir, then rides to DOT station for race leg.

Canoeists: Ride bikes to Everson race morning. Road biker hauls canoeist's bikes to Hovander to meet them at the end of their leg.

Kayaker: pulls kayak to Zuanich Pt. via bike trailer. Retrieves kayak post-race with bike trailer.

That's the basic plan of action for our team, "absolute zero." Should be a fun day!

Thanks,
Jenny Hoover, race captain