ARTICLES / NEWS

New, Permanent Water Trough for the Cool Staging Area!

Paul Klentos, American River Classic ride manager, and David Schurr, local professional mason---ultra-runner and good friend, stand smiling next to their work at the permanent trough at the Cool Staging area. Funds for the trough were generated from the American River Classic Endurance Ride along with donations of some of the stone from Cool's Teichert Company quarry.

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                                             "The ride wil use the Cardiac By-pass trail this year"

"New Campsite, ARC 75 Cancelled This Year"

The American River Classic started 39 years ago in downtown Sacramento. Due to development, encrochments and financial reasons, the start was relocated 20 miles north from the original point---now, history repeats itself and we are forced to relocate the camp again.

Since 9/11, the construction around the Folsom Dam, along with the amount of pavement in the first 6 miles of the ride, made it undesirable and unsafe for the riders, and most of all, for the horses. For these reasons, the Folsom Sector of the California State Parks allowed us to relocate our camp to an area that is very safe and desirable. The new camp is near the Granite Bay Horse Assembly Area, and it is large enough to accomodate the ride. Keep in mind that the new location is not a new horse designated camping /assembly area for the public. We were granted this new location strickly because of our history, the good relations that the event has with Park Authorities, and the exeptional behavior of our riders and their crews towards the Park's regulations. The downside is that we lost almost 8 miles of our trail. Therefore, we had to adjust our ride and cancel the 75 mile event for this year.

The 75 mile ride also requires repairs for parts of the trails east of of Hwy 49 in the Cool area, trails that have become almost unsafe for any equestrian event. We hope that we will have those repairs done soon so that we can have the 75 mile ride by next year. Although the 75 miler can be a financial and logistical liability, it is part of the ARC and we intend to have it again as soon as possible.

Fortunately for the American River Classic and all who have enjoyed it, the resiliance of the various managments through the years secured a place in history for this event. We are committed to follow our river upstream as far as we have to---thereby insuring the longevity of the event.

On behalf of the horses, their crews, and their riders that have competed in the past and are going to compete in the future, I would like to thank the Folsom Lake Sector of the California State Parks for their understanding and their willingness to accommodate our needs for a new staging area.

This is a new era for this historical event and we welcome it.

Paul Klentos

"New trail ............."

The start will be adjacent to the new campsite in Granite Bay. It will follow the lower trail towards Beals Point; at approximately 1/2 mile before the levy it will make a sharp right turn (and I mean sharp, ....spotters will be on sight) to the top of the hill; there it will meet the Pionner Trail and follow it to the Granite Bay Horse Assembly Area where a trot by check will be in place. From that point out it will follow the trail to Auburn as always.

The 50 milers, when they reach the Cool area after lunch, are going to do the entire Olmsted Loop. These trail changes wiil replace the miles lost from relocating the camp.