The Low-Tech Times

Daniel de Vise at The Washington Post reports that Montgomery County (Maryland) Schools may increase the distances that students have to walk to school. The potential change is a result of record high diesel fuel prices:

The Montgomery County school board last night approved a change to its transportation policy that gives officials emergency powers to extend the distances that students walk to school next year if rising diesel prices leave the school system in fiscal distress.

Students typically have bus service if they live more than one mile from an elementary school, 1 1/2 miles from a middle school or two miles from a high school. The board last changed walking distances in 1996, extending the greatest walking distance to high schools from 1 3/4 miles to two miles. Dozens of parents telephoned the school system to protest, and several petitioned the board in person.

Staff at The Low-Tech Times are not enjoying the recent higher fuel costs; however, the Montgomery County move is seen as a positive development. With more pre-teens and teens having to walk to school, this move could not only save the suburban county outside of Washington, D.C. some money, but may also help combat childhood obesity. In this age of video game addictions, children spending more time outdoors is definitely a good thing.

Last week, The Low-Tech Times reported that David Horton was attempting a human-powered speed record of the Continental Divide Trail. Unfortunately, David’s attempt ended the same day it started. It sounds like it was a very rough day:

Yesterday, when David lost the trail in the last few miles, he was in really bad shape. So bad that he was on the verge of passing out. David was completely out of water, severely dehydrated with cramping and swollen hands. He found a windpump (hikers use these and are scattered throughout the area) and, before he laid down, hung up his shoes and hat so he could be found in case he passed out. David laid there for 50 minutes drinking the water and eating what little food he had left. He told me that at that point all he thought about was survival and not wanting to die.

Shortly after he finished the 45 miles yesterday he tried to eat some dinner. He was so dehydrated and now, nauseous, he started to throw-up whatever he ate. David decided he might as well go to bed but cramping in his stomach and extremities, especially his hands, kept him awake all night.

We wish David a speedy recovery and wish him better luck on his future endeavors. While Amazon.com is apparently no longer selling his A Quest for Adventure book, it is apparently still available on David’s web site. It is a good read.

In other ultrarunning news, Charlie Engle and Marshall Ullrich are apparently still preparing for a record-breaking run across America:

Welcome to Running America,
Thanks for putting your address on the RunningAmerica08 mailing list. Charlie Engle and Marshall Ullrich are preparing and the Nehst Studios crew who will be filming the feature documentary are in pre-production.

If you are interested in running along with Charlie and Marshall, please sign up at Nehst’s casting site and if you have friends who’d be interested please let them know.

As the run approaches there will be further news and enhanced functionality on www.runningamerica08.com - you will be able to follow the run along an interactive map, and there will be live and recorded video along the route. We’ll let you know when that happens. Thanks again.

I had originally read in Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine that their attempt was to begin in May.

David Horton appropriately chose National Trails Day, June 7th, to begin his speed record attempt of the 3100 mile Continental Divide Trail. Previously, David Horton completed record setting runs of the 2150 mile Appalachian Trail and the 2650 mile Pacific Crest Trail. David also competed in the Trans-America footrace. In addition to ultrarunning himself, he also directs the Lynchburg Ultra Series each year to provide an opportunity for others to run distances beyond a marathon (26.2 miles). Several years ago, I finished the Holiday Lake 50k, which is now part of Horton’s race series.

David does utilize a satellite phone and relies on support crews to carry supplies. However, even with support, running 50 or so miles each day for months at a time over rugged mountain trail is an incredible display of low-tech human-powered transportation. We wish David well on his journey and will be following the attempt on the eco-x blog.

I previously enjoyed reading A Quest for Adventure, a book by David Horton about his Appalachian Trail and Trans-America runs. While the book is currently unavailable from Amazon.com, there is an interesting video available about Horton’s Pacific Crest Trail speed record: