by Marie Boyd, November 2019

The first race, a 50 miler, was held in 1994. With about 50 entrants, and 47 finishers, the racers endured a surprise snowstorm, with over 6” of snow on the top portions of the course.

The Edison Loop needed to be re-marked with ribbon, that morning, as all chalk markings were obliterated. Dr Bill Carter did this task on horseback!

The 20 miler was added the following year, although it turned at The Junction. Falling just short of 20 miles, the following year runners continued to Buttermilk Road aid station, giving almost 21 miles instead. The 20 mile Race record was hotly contested for several years, now at just over 2 hours.

In 1996, the fifty mile course was re-calculated, having been mistakenly measured 3 miles short. An extension was added to the Edison Loop, with the Overlook aid stationed being the turnaround. Often unmanned, the station had a hole punch for runners to puncture their race bib as proof of their reaching the aid station.

The 50k was added in the following year, 1998, a product of many requests for an intermediate distance. Measuring just over 51k, the race turned at Edison Loop.

As a result of the 50 miler being a qualifier for Western States, and many runners asking for an additional challenge, a further 12 miles was added by a 6 mile out and back over Tungsten Hill. This too was a Western States qualifying race. The 100k was an immediate success, with runners taking the left turn at Tungsten City aid station for the additional mileage. Many didn’t rise to the occasion, opting for the 1.5 mile downhill run to the finish line. These same runners often returned on following years to “take the left turn”, many after several attempts.The turnaround, unmanned and marked with a flashing light, offered a numbered poker chip, good for a chance at many prizes.

Volunteers have been the backbone of this event – Bishop Amateur Radio Club provided communications from the first event, growing their club and its capabilities over the years. Ventura Radio Club assisted for the last few years, adding much needed bandwidth. Stacey Brown M.D, and his wife, Ceal Klingler, completely managed the aid stations, with an extensive spread sheet that documented runner visits, and calculated supply needs for hot and cold weather. Their help was essential!

Trail Boss, Jan Gnass, managed a crew of trail marking experts, who marked, and then cleared, their allotted section of the trail, year after year. Aid station crews returned every year, taking pride in “their” aid station, usually offering a specialty item, unique to that station – chocolate dipped strawberries, fruit skewers, hot cooked soup, quesadillas, etc.

Unique race finisher medals and coffee cups for age group winners were handmade by Theresa Otto, and became much prized items. The race logo, an iconic and instantly recognized backdrop of Bishop’s Mt Tom, Basin Mountain and Mt Humphreys, was sketched and donated by late Bishop artist, Peggy Grey, and was featured every year. Local photographers offered many wonderful scenics, which were framed and mounted for awards.

Runners frequently commented on the quality of the event, being impressed with overall race organization, aid stations, trail marking, t-shirts and finishers awards. Many returned frequently, enjoying the uniqueness of the Bishop event, with its stunning scenic backdrop, challenging trails, altitude and vertical gain.
Funds raised from the race benefited the Altrusa Club for the first 2 years. After the club declined to support the race, the Northern Inyo Hospital Foundation readily accepted the challenge of sponsoring the event, with funds raised benefitting the hospital. Money raised provided equipment to several departments, whose budgets didn’t extend to these items. In later years, the Healing Garden, at the hospital’s south-eastern corner, was planned and constructed, with all funding coming from the race, over $120,000. A plaque was placed to honor the efforts of race participants, volunteers, and the Race Director.

In 2013, Race Director, Marie Boyd, stepped down. An unsuccessful search for a permanent race director followed. Tim Stahler, from Inside Trails, a race series held in the Bay area, attempted the task once, but realized the difficulties of directing a race of this magnitude when living out of the area.

The race went into hiatus, until Todd Vogel accepted the challenge in 2018. He still wonders what he was thinking! 

Now the beneficiaries of the race are the Eastern Sierra Youth Outdoor Program, and Inyo County Search and Rescue.