ZION TRAIN
            22 May 2004

Full Train ~ 39 Miles
Isaac Hart     10:40
Paul Hart       10:40

First & Last Train  ~ 30 Miles
Kathie Utley            8:11
Linda Wahlquist      8:11
Doug Wahlquist      8:11
Tom McFarland      8:20

Last Train ~ 16 Miles
Kathy McFarland    5:30
Joan Moellmer        7:30
John Moellmer        7:30
Steve Maybe           7:30
Tonya Maybe          7:30

Middle Train ~ 9 miles
Irv Nielsen        2:31

   Cooler than normal temperatures greeted the small group running the varied stretches of the Zion Train.  This is a bonus for the runners and the aid station support crew since it can hit a 100 plus down at the South Entrance this time of year. It only made it up to 78 degrees F and was much cooler up high on the trail from Lees Pass in the  Kolob Section to the Grotto.  Sam and Barbara Hill took up most of the major support duties as they drove the 10 miles from Virgin up to the Hop Valley trail head, then to the Lava trail head and then to the finish at the South Entrance to Zion National Park.  I aided and abetted by taking a run up the middle section and manned the aid station at Lava for Paul and Isaac where the Last Train participants had left my Tahoe.  I even brought a toy train whistle to let them know the Zion Train aid station was open at Lava but I don't think the effort was viewed quite as humorous as intended.  Having Sam and Barbara help is the greatest!   What a treat. 
   Careful and very good plans were developed by Sam Hill  and the Moellmers as they spent quite a bit of time Friday laying it out on paper.  The renegade factor was Tom McFarland.  Tom took a mystery departure from the expected scenario and left Sam and company wondering where he was when they picked the first and last section participants up at the Hop Valley trail head  and headed up to the Lava trail head.  A phone call from John Moellmer from the West Rim area confimed no one had seen Tom and also that Kathy stayed at Lava to wait for Tom.  When I came into Lava, no one was there.  The mystery remained unsolved as Irv arrived at the finish near the Imax parking lot to find Sam puzzling about the McFarlands whereabouts.  We started worrying together which helped share the load but wondering what we could do about the whole thing anyway.  A big sigh of relief was heard as Tom and Kathy came in together.  Mystery solved.  Tom got a ride 10 miles up the road to Lava from a friendly fellow who used to hunt in this area years ago and wanted to see the old places he used to camp.   He found Kathy there and they took off before I got there but were behind the Moellmers and Maybes.  Then they took the optional and shorter trail down Telegraph or Telephone Canyon instead of out on the south edge of the West Rim.  So they missed each other but regrouped before or at the Grotto and took the shuttle down to the Visitors Center and the short walk south to the pedestrian bridge by the Imax parking lot.  So we the last section group started 1 hour ahead of Tom & Kathy who started 1 hour before I came in and I was about 40 minutes ahead of Paul and Isaac.  Paul and Isaac left 3 hours behind the first group but caught the Moellmers and Maybes just before Angels Landing.  It was a great run and satisfied everyone.  The course was filled with pleasant scenery, gorgeous flowers, wild birds, lizards, and adventure.  What more could you ask?   
Irv