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On the First 99 Gear Review we usually talk about gear attached to your body; shoes, clothing, watches, stuff like that. But today, we are sitting down with Auburn’s very own Doug White to talk about the gear, time, and volunteers it takes to pull off the successful Dusty Corners Western States Endurance Race Aid Station.
Mile 38 of the WSER is no joke. Dusty Corners is a hot, dry, and dusty place (except for the year of snow and hypothermia). When you finally make it through the high-country snow, Duncan Canyon, and leave Robinson Flat and Miller’s Defeat behind, you will be more than ready for some refreshing watermelon and an ice-cold sponge bath. Doug is the Sheriff of this 1-day tent city and he runs a tight but fun ship. His 25-years of military history of leading a nuclear weapons facility has prepared him well.
Over the decades in between earning his masters degree in pharmaceutical antineoplastic chemistry, leaving the Ph.D program to stand up & serve his country in the U.S. Navy, and rising to VP of R&D in the aerospace/defense industry, Doug is also an accomplished rock climber, mountaineer, and ultramarathon finisher including of course WSER 2001.
Doug was first introduced to the WSER in the mid-90s as his father and famous Tevis Cup step-mother Barbara White were early volunteers of the WSER. He took over AS Captain at Last Chance between 1997 and 2000 for the Steven Creek Striders. His family took over Dusty Corners AS around 2001. Doug took over the reins in 2011 and created the experience we know today.
For most of the year planning is just him, but two weeks prior to the Big Dance the wheels start to churn. All the gear comes out of the Tuff Shed, laid out on his basketball court, sorted, counted, and cleaned. Knives are sharpened, ice is ordered, and logistics are finalized. Dusty Corners is not just an AS, it’s a well-oiled party. On any given year 300 folks and 50 volunteers will pass through this dusty tent city in the mountains.
Thanks to Doug’s leadership and his tireless/loyal crew, your visit to Dusty Corners will be unforgettable. You will be taken back in time to an actual mining town, and come face to face with Sheriff White and his trusty deputies. Tip your hat, take a drink, but get on your way.
Tune in to this episode of the First 99 Gear Review to get all the details on hosting a successful Dusty Corners WSER AS.
Stevens Creek Striders: https://www.facebook.com/stevenscreekstriders
Tevis Cup: http://www.teviscup.org/
WSER: https://www.wser.org/
Tuff Sheds: https://www.tuffshed.com/
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Your hosts: Greg Larkin / Mike Turner / Jessica Harris
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