The Western States Endurance Run is billed as the world’s oldest “official” 100-mile trail race. And to put such an event on, year after year, takes a lot of people and a lot of attention to detail. One of the most popular spots on the epic run from Olympic Valley, California, to Auburn’s Placer High School stadium, is the Rucky Chucky checkpoint, at mile 78, where the trail crosses the American River just below class 6 rapids.
After a season with low snow, water flow rates can be controlled through retention at an upstream dam. When the water levels can be lowered, runners cross the river on foot, with cables and volunteers to help. But for years like 2023, after epic snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains, flow goes over the dam and cannot be controlled.
This year, like other big snowmelt-induced, high river flow years on the American, rafts were required to transport runners across. Chris Thornley, the younger brother of race director Craig Thornley, is in charge of all things that have to do with the river crossing.
“Since Craig took over 10 or so years ago, he put me in charge of river crossing safety,”…
