Photographs from the Photography on the Run post: Leona Divide 50 Mile 2014
The Spunky-Edison Aid Station was the first to setup and the last to break down. Both 50K and 50M runners enjoyed its amenities three times. Many thanks to all the aid station volunteers!
There was more growth and wildflowers along the trail that you might expect in the middle of a drought. This is at about mile 4.5. The lead 50K runner passed us here.
Just about to the top of the first climb on the PCT where the trail is very near Leona Divide Fire Road. From here there's about 4 miles of downhill to the Bouquet Canyon Aid Station at mile 8.6.
Chia was blooming all along the PCT.
It had rained and snowed a little overnight and the weather was amazing. This is at about mile 10.6 looking back at Bouquet Canyon and Reservoir and the course beyond.
Running through the oaks at about mile 11 on the way up to Sierra Pelona Ridge from Bouquet Canyon.
Continuing up the paintbrush-lined PCT toward Sierra Pelona Ridge.
Looking up at runners nearing the top of the climb to Sierra Pelona Ridge.
Just about to the top. The weather was so spectacular, you barely noticed the climb. This is about mile 11.5.
Runners starting the 6 miles of (mostly) downhill running to the Aqua Dulce Aid Station. This area was burned in the 2007 Buckweed Fire.
Jay Bonthius, the eventual winner of the 50 mile, cruising up the hill from Aqua Dulce. He's at about mile 22.5 and I'm at about mile 12.5.
Jay Bonthius, winner of the 2014 Leona Divide 50 mile
Eventual second place finisher Ricardo Ramirez hot on the heels of Jay Bonthius. The gap is about 0.6 mile at this point.
Ranch land about 2.4 miles into the 6 mile climb from the Aqua Dulce Aid Station to Sierra Pelona Ridge.
Runner nearing the top of the climb on the PCT from Aqua Dulce to Sierra Pelona Ridge. About mile 23.2.
Smiling at the top of a 6 mile climb!
Snow in the Angeles high country. From left to right on the crest: Mt. Baden-Powell, Mt. Burnham, Throop Peak (in clouds) and Mt. Hawkins. From Sierra Pelona Ridge.
Google Earth overview of the 2014 Leona Divide 50M and 50K courses.
2014 Leona Divide 50 mile elevation profile generated in SportTracks. Using DEM corrected elevations and smoothing the profile, the elevation gain is estimated to be around 8500'.
Overview of the Leona Divide area that shows this year's course (yellow), last year's course (purple), and the perimeter of the Powerhouse Fire (red). As shown in the next slide, the actual closed area is much larger than the area burned by the fire.
The Powerhouse Fire closure area as of April 25, 2014. See the Angeles National Forest web site for details and the most current information.
Most of the 2014 Leona Divide 50M was on the Pacific Crest Trail.
The tribute to Bob Kimmerly, whose vision resulted in the first Leona Divide 50 mile race in 1992. The bench is about 0.8 mile from the Spunky-Edison Rd. Aid Station.
Click here to read more about these photographs. Click on any of the following categories to see additional photography: ABSTRACT - QUIRKY - LANDSCAPE - WILDLIFE - INSECTS - WILDFLOWERS - ADVENTURES PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE RUN
Copyright © 1995-2024 Gary Valle'. All Rights Reserved.
