“...fell asleep while riding and ended up in the roadside ditch.”

Hugh Gapay at the start of Lewis and Clark 12 hour and 24 hour bicycle race

Riders turning out for the Lewis and Clark Ultra were greeted by one of the northwest´s nicest days of the year. The temperature on race morning was mild, the skies were clear and the sun was shining brightly. The parking lot at the Hockinson Middle School was buzzing with pre-race activity as the thirty-eight 12 and 24 hour riders readied themselves for battle.

The Lewis and Clark Ultra was held in Brush Prairie, WA on May 23rd. The second annual event is the second of three races comprising the UMCA´s Ultracup Western Triple Challenge, the Davis 12/24 Challenge and The Ring of Fire are the first and third races respectively.

Hugh Gapay - Bike switch at Old Man Pass, photo by Alia Gapay

The day loop is 140 miles with a reported 5700 feet of climbing. This loop starts in Brush Prairie and winds its way through the rural countryside finally reaching the Columbia River Gorge and the mighty Columbia River. As riders leave the Columbia River Gorge they are faced with a gradual climb up the Wind River highway eventually reaching Old Man Pass, the longest climb on the loop. After climbing for about five miles riders are treated with long descents and some of the most spectacular views of Mt. St. Helens available in the area. At Cougar the route begins to turn back to the south through the rolling countryside bringing the riders once again back to Brush Prairie.

Martha Walsh and Angela Horton Gapay at the finish, photo by Alia Gapay

The night loop is a short, but not so sweet, ten miles with a reported 480 feet of climbing. There are some short but steep climbs scattered over the ten miles, which ends with a screaming downhill that dumps you about three blocks from the start finish at the middle school.

Hugh Gapay with race director Glenn Johnson at the finish

Glenn Johnson started thirteen 24 hour riders including the father-son team of Mike and Jed Bingle, twentyone solo 12 hour riders including five women and two two- person teams. The racing was fast from the start. Chris Ragsdale and John Caton were the first two riders to complete the day loop. However both of these riders would suffer race-ending complications. Caton rode until 8 p.m. and then withdrew due to illness. Ragsdale rode until just after midnight when he reportedly fell asleep while riding and ended up in the roadside ditch. Fortunately Ragsdale was not injured but he would not return to the race course. This opened the door for Hugh Gapay to ride into first place. Gapay would hang on to defend his championship posting 342.3 miles. John Pearch rode to a second place finish with 323.1 miles. Sandy Earl was the lone woman in the 24 hour race and rode a predictably strong race racking up 302.3 miles for her victory. Mike and Jed Bingle rode 372.1 as the sole 24 hour team.

Sandy Earl off the bike after 24 hours

The 12 hour race was hotly contested in the men´s division. Todd Duncan would hold on to win this race, posting 214.9 miles with Mick Walsh hot on his heels. At race end there were only two miles separating these two racers. The women´s division of the 12 hour race had some strong competitors as well. Martha Walsh was able to defend her title as women´s 12 hour champion riding 190.7 miles with Angela Horton Gapay a not too distant second. Julie Leasure and Thomas Walker won the two-person 12 hour race posting 205.3 miles.

Overall the second annual Lewis and Clark Ultra was a huge success. The field more than doubled in size from the first event in 2008. Glenn Johnson had an enthusiastic group of volunteers that helped make the race go off without a hitch. There were a good number of folks that stayed awake to the bitter end and as always the camaraderie and cooperation that are the hallmark of our northwest ultra events was in no short supply.

Complete Results