Race Dates: January 14 - 17 2009

Welcome to the Eagle Cap Extreme

View from the Starting line…

Mark 15 Jan 2009 on your calendar as a date to remember! That is the start date of the Eagle Cap Extreme at Wallowa Lake State Park. The teams will thunder out of the Park to pursue their winning strategy as they enter the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Northeast Oregon.

This is an exciting time in our Race preparations as Volunteers and Members pull together to coordinate the race and surrounding events. There is plenty of coordination to accomplish..so cinch up that drag line and let’s GO…

First thing to take note of is the improved look of our Web Site, www.eaglecapextreme.com . Working with your suggestions, Michael and his design team will post news and events on the Home page with links to additional information. You will be able to learn more from our Home Page..

With support from Glen McDonald, our web now posts a much improved interactive GPS driven Trail map. Take the time to click away on Checkpoints and other locations for more information. Knowing exact GPS locations on the trail, help us track the Mushers and if required, dispatch help to the Mushing teams. The Eagle Cap Extreme does uphold its earned name of EXTREME in the depths of snow, elevation changes and endless turns along the trail.

Communications across the trail…Communications is the backbone for our race time coordination. Working with both current and new technology, the Communication Volunteers will handle Dog traffic, Logistic needs, Health and Welfare messages, General messages along with any required Emergency Response required through an array of Communications modes. This year we are please to add the Pendleton Amateur Radio Club as an active participating sponsor of the 2009 Eagle Cap Extreme. Their participation and expertise will allow us additional connectivity for the Race. Through the collaborative involvement of Mr. Jack Davis,KC7URF, President of the Pendleton Amateur Radio Club (PARC) and it members, they will provide Amateur Radio Operators the opportunity to hone their emergency preparedness skills in actual conditions while supporting the Race. PARC will act as the core group and help integrate Amateurs from around the state into the network. We are also pleased to announce that Mr. Scott Hampton, KB7DZR will work as the technical interface with the ECX Race to develop the Amateur Radio topology and select Communication Volunteers for deployment to the Checkpoints. When the final list of Amateur Radio Operators is decided on, we will feature an article to recognize the participating Amateur Radio Operators and clubs. Amateurs Radio will be the primary Communication mode at a number of our Checkpoints. Please visit PARC web site at www.w7pl.com/page1/html . There is still time to volunteer as an Amateur by dropping an email to volunteers@eaglecapextreme.com ….soon !!

Our annual “Volunteer and Membership Drive” at the Joseph community Center, Saturday 25 Oct 2008. is a success! We hosted a Job Fair where we listed all the Volunteer opportunities available in support of the Race and its community programs. Tables were setup for specific groups to recruit volunteers. Lorna and Pepper, Checkpoint Coordinators assembled a Checkpoint Tent just like on the trail. Complete with cot, stove, sleeping bag…all the amenities. This was to provide a “Real Life” view of Volunteering on the trail. Our Merchandise Coordinator, Lorie, displayed for the first time our line of EXTREME apparel. These items were available for purchase during the Fair and will be available through our Web Site store on or about 1 Nov. Admission was free with light snacks provided

We attended the season’s first meeting of the Panhandler’s Snow-machine club in Halfway on 4 Oct. We were invited by Whitey Bloom, President, to join in the meal and discussions for the coming snow season. We discussed the Jan 2009 race along with the need for two (2) additional Checkpoints between Checkpoints Ollokot and Halfway. They will be called Trinity Creek and Fish Lake and be near mile 80.1 of the trail. Mushing team movement through the suspected area will be monitored by Checkpoint staff equipped with communications.

To maintain closer ties to the communities the Race travels through, we will be looking for Volunteer representatives for these communities. If you are a community member of Halfway, Pine Valley or Eagle Valley, please consider being a community Volunteer. You will work directly with the ECX Directors and Coordinators in collaboratively relationships. This is an excellent opportunity to develop community’s activities around the Race event.

And this just in…Eagle Cap Extreme along with Eagle Cap Ski Club and Lions Club have agreed to conduct the 2009 race Finish at Ferguson’s Ridge Ski Area ! This is very exciting move that allows three local organizations to work together for the good of the communities. Plans are in the works to open the lodge to the public for food and beverage service, along with viewing areas for finishing Mushing Teams. These areas will be up close and personal. The Ski Area will be open for skiing and then pausing to allow the Mushing Teams the right of way around the slope. Look for more details on our Home page and through media outlets.
We would like to acknowledge the instrumental work of Charlie Kissinger and Jerry Hustafa for their diligence in pursuit of this arrangement. We wish to also acknowledge the foresight of both the Eagle Cap Ski Club and Lion’s Club for their confidence in this arrangement.

Eagle Cap Extreme Members and Directors are very excited about this opportunity to build local activities together.

We look back at how far the race has progressed through your support and contributions. We continue to strive for a family-oriented event with exciting activities in the local communities. There is always a need for volunteers so please drop a line to our volunteers@eaglecapextreme.com address to learn more on supporting this Race at race time or year-round opportunities. Watch our web site for news and information on the Start time and location.
So, Until next month..Mush On…. Clyde