Paul,
I was coming down to the Whitney Portal this year just as the first runner was getting there. Most of the participants and support crew are awesome. I chatted with one guy for bit before leaving with my friend.

The issue I faced as I was coming down the road at night was that a lot of vans parked by the road and following the runners. Whenever I saw a runner, I slowed to a crawl and carefully passed. Many of the vans parked or support crew vehicles (I'm guessing) following the runners didn't care about anyone else. They had their high beams on and blinded oncoming traffic and refused to turn it down. The issue is that some, a minority, seemed to think the road belonged to them and acted like overzealous police.

I happened to be back in late September and once again there was some bicycling event up the Portal Road. With this event, there were issues stated in the article with cyclists riding abreast and generally oblivious to everyone else. I'm not saying every participant or even the majority do this, but that it does happen and not something made up in the article.

I do not believe these events should be cancelled. They are awesome as far the people involved and their feats of human endurance. Some participants and their support should be more cognizant of others just as drivers should be cognizant and respectful to these runners and cyclists.

Originally Posted By: Paul
I wonder if safety is the real reason for this decision? Just a thought....

I have run 7 Death Valley marathons over the years put on by Dave Horning and Envirosports (mostly through Titus Canyon, a couple road races also). The races have always been professionally organized and run with port potties at the beginning and end of the races; busing to and from the start and finish, AND the requirement that when you picked up your number, you showed your park entrance pass. The hotels were always booked for the races.....

Yes, park rangers were always present to oversee the race. But I always thought that the cost of the rangers being present was offset by the entrance fee that runners paid to the park and by the cost of the accommodations.

Anyway, this is sad if carried out and all organized events are cancelled.

paul