Flytepackin’ on a Sunny Day
I realize LBL is still fresh on everyone’s mind, but today I want to talk about the CAC. Luke and I have been hard at work selecting CP’s for this year’s non-race, and yesterday we went out to see how the course flowed. Since he couldn’t get there until later in the day, I took the opportunity to hit Cedar Creek in my Flytepacker. Hiking upstream afforded me the opportunity to take in some of what I think is a beautiful landscape.
For those who just want to get out and walk in the woods, the Cedar Creek area has a lot to offer. It’s easy to get carried away taking photos. I’d say this one is postcard-worthy:
A game trail lead to a low-lying area where woodland critters cross the creek:
This photo shows one fully inflated Flytepacker, one inflated bedroll for an ass-pillow, and all my other stuff, (including backpack), in the drybag attached to the back of the boat. I made sure the water was deep enough to float, then headed downstream:
There are few things more relaxing than floating downstream in a packraft. I bet you’re wondering what I used for a paddle..
I was nearly back to the truck when Luke and I made contact. I sent him up a re-entrant to checkpoint “waterfall” and found a place to take the boat out. Most of the creekbank is mud, but I got lucky and found this beach-type area to use for a takeout.

I'm pretty sure this is the rock face locals refer to as the "Redneck Waterpark". I'm told that people jump from it when the water is high.
Luke and I spent the next 1-2 hours scouting the first O-section of the CAC. I don’t want to give away too many CAC details, but in the interest of recruiting more non-racers, I’ll offer a couple photos:
Even the best photos don’t do justice to how gorgeous these areas look in real life. For example, you probably can’t tell from looking at this photo that I am INCHES away from a vertical drop that would mean certain death for anyone foolish enough to take another step:
In the very-near future, we’re gonna be ordering maps for the CAC. Expenses add up pretty quick when you’re putting on a free race, so we’d REALLY like it if you would RSVP in the comments section or send us an email. Do it quick, cuz this is one CAC you’ll never forget. And if Don Daly show up, it’ll be the cheapest CAC he’s ever gotten. (Couldn’t resist)
Posted on March 31, 2012, in Adam masturbates, Gear, Non-Races. Bookmark the permalink. 11 Comments.
I can’t wait. I’ll be there. 🙂
It has been confirmed that I can make it. Tardy Rooster will be there as a team of 2.
I’m in. =)
WTFAR is in, but we request that you make it mandatory that Beau shacks up with Adam instead of keeping us up with his snoring. We’ve fired him as navigator, so he really has no other job, so Todd and I need our sleep.
I want to do this, but I’m a newbie at adventure racing, so I need a more experienced teammate.
No problem. If you can’t find anybody, one of us can go with you. I’m not the best navigator, but I know these woods like they’re my own.
We’ll be posting a recommended gear list in the next week or two.
Cool, thanks. If I can’t figure out how to navigate, I need to find a different job. I make maps for a living.
Brian, are you sure it’s a good idea to fire Beau? I had the map upside down the whole time at Lightning Strikes. But I do like the idea of him sleeping far away from me.
And I could be wrong, but it looked like there was an awful lot of thorn bushes. I’m not too fond of thorn bushes. I request that a path is mowed for me from checkpoint to checkpoint.
All thorns, ticks, mosquitos and angry birds have been completely removed from Callaway County.
You’re welcome.
How come I get the feeling that our map is going to send us over to Boone County while everyone else is racing in Callaway County? You’re going to do something to screw with us, aren’t you?
Who, us?