By Ashley Lodato
The fact that the Cutthroat Classic had to be rescheduled from August to September due to fires didn’t deter about half of the 400 original entrants from returning this past Saturday to complete the 11-mile race, which goes from Rainy Pass up 2,000 feet in elevation to Cutthroat Pass and then down 2,300 feet in elevation to the Cutthroat Trailhead. Upon reaching the end of the knee-slamming race, most runners are relieved to call it a day and head back down to Mazama for some refreshments and music. But not runner Ben Nelson, who ran the race, reached the Cutthroat Trailhead, and then turned around and retraced the route right back to Rainy Pass for a 22-mile day. Either he forgot something back at the start line, or he is building up his knees for a punishing run in his future.
About 150 people ended summer with a good laugh on Sunday afternoon, watching Liberty Bell High School graduate Toby Childs and the two other members of his improv group, the Peter Comedy Trio, perform at The Merc Playhouse. All Western Washington University alumni, the three actors met while performing with the campus improv troupe, the Dead Parrots Society. It’s always fun to see what homegrown Methow kids are up to once they’ve flown from the nest, and it’s especially great when they return to share their talents with the community that helped raise them.
It was Zen sand garden time at the Winthrop ice rink over the weekend, as a crew of volunteers raked sand and leveled the site in preparation for pouring concrete before the weather gets too cold. True, it was a little more rigorous than your typical desktop sand garden, and the raking was methodical and precise as opposed to meditative and artistic, but the meditation and artistry will come this winter when skaters can swoop and glide to their hearts’ content with a steady supply of ice underfoot.
Most of us probably haven’t put much thought into ice lately — we’ve been more interested in rain — but come winter we’ll be glad to have a more reliable ice rink. Volunteers are needed in the next few days to finish up the leveling, lay down plastic and foam layers, and then fasten rebar. Call or text Laurie Ulmer at (509) 341-4416 if you are available to help.
