Clubs, Events, Places
Heels, Wheels, and Water
Jack N. Hodgson '60 sent the following report on the Western Washington Club's entry this year in an 85-mile "Ski-to-Sea" relay race:
It was a long and exciting day that started in a wintery early-morning cloud near the top of Mt. Baker and concluded in the sun on the shores of Bellingham Bay. We spent the night before camped near the base of the mountain. Jovial despite some rain, we sang songs, joked, ate by the fire, and enjoyed the camaraderie of two Dartmouth generations. After dragging Jack Crowley '56 and his son Dick '83 from their tent in the morning, we drove tjo the ski area, registered, and waited anxiously until the starting gun was fired and 240 contestants started up the mountain in the first two legs of the race.
Ginger Cox '77 (who two years earlier distinguished herself by rowing 1,300 miles from Seattle to Alaska) had to cross-country ski a three-mile course up the mountain. At the same time, Dick Crowley had to race up the almost vertical lift line for three-quarters of a mile wearing heavy ski boots and carrying his skis and poles on his shoulder. The snow was waistdeep for the leaders and he was among the first ten to the top. Dick was featured on local T.V. as Ginger passed him the baton and he started down, skating and poling at full speed. Upon finishing the downhill section, he had to run the final 300 yards to the lodge where I grabbed the baton and headed down the mountain on foot.
The nine-mile downhill run was easy on the wind but tough on the knees and kidneys. It was a beautiful mountain road with views of forested valleys and streams below. After crossing a river the bicycles came into view. Another quarter-mile and it would be up to Jake Haertl '6l to cycle the next 37 miles. (Jake had never been on a racing bike, so the week before the race Jack Crowly and I took turns driving him 30 miles out of town after work every day and letting him pedal home.) I passed him the baton and he was soon out of sight on a course that started in mountain wilderness and gradually dropped down into rolling green farm lands and ended on the banks of the Nooksack River where the canoeists were waiting.
We next met Jake at the canoe exchange point where he cycled at full speed right past us down the muddy path along the riverbank. Brad Weeks '79, our canoeist, sprinted behind yelling, "I'm back here!" We finally stopped Jake and got the baton to Brad who scampered back to the canoe, pushed off with his girlfriend Jennifer, and started the 26-mile paddle. We were not to see them again until four hours later when they arrived exhausted at the mouth of the river on the Nooksack Indian Reservation with an empty bottle of wine and a little leftover cheese in the bilge. That was where the last leg started: 12 miles of Hobie Cat sailing across Bellingham Bay with fortunately for our crew of Jack Crowley and Chris Simpson '79 a gentle following wind.
When we arrived at the river mouth it was a colorful scene of 119 Hobie Cats with bright sails, their crews, and crowds of spectators but no Jack and Chris. After some frantic questioning we learned our crew was last seen toasting each other on the porch of the Bellingham Yacht Club. Finally, we spotted their sail on the horizon and, in a race against time, they beached their boat just as our canoeists came into sight. The baton and the beer were transferred and we set off for the finish line to wait for the boat.
Once again we were reminded that it was still a race against the clock. The official clock stopped at 6:00 p.m., it was getting late, and our sailors had just come into binocular range. There were tense moments for everyone except for our casual crew when they ended their 12mile junket waving and smiling at 5:58.43 p.m.
There were over 1000 individual participants and our group was the 93rd team to finish out of a field of 120, but we still placed seventh in the "mixed" class. Wait until next year. We plan to field two teams, plus a third from the Northern California Club, Mark Gates '59 captain. If anyone else is interested, let us know and we'll find an appropriately sized campsite for the weekend.
President Kemeny's visits toalumni clubs
Fairfield County, Conn. November 19 Pittsburgh, Pa. November 20 Princeton, N.J. November 21-22 Washington, D.C. February 9 Sarasota, Fla. February 11 Palm Beach, Fla. February 12 Philadelphia, Pa. April 7 Boston, Mass. April 9 Oklahoma City, Okla. May 27
Alumni Continuing Education
Dallas, Tex., November 14-16 "Choosing Books and Records" Twin Cities, Minn., January 23-24 (topic to be announced) Bergen, N.J., January 24 "The American Character" Hanover, N.H., January 24 "Weaknesses in the Political System" Caribbean, January 31-February 14 "Voyage to Leeward/Windward Islands" Princeton, N.J., February 7 "Robert Frost" Boston, Mass., February 7 "Ancient Cultures in Egypt and China" Hanover, N.H., February 14 "Ancient Cultures in Egypt and China" Hanover, N.H., March 7 (topic to be announced) Orlando, Fla., April 25 (topic to be announced) Hanover, N.H., August 9-20 Alumni College 1981 China, August 16-September 5 Alumni College Abroad
