The photography team made this a challenging process, but after reviewing thousands of mind-blowing, jaw-dropping images, I narrowed it down to these from Day 1. Plus a recap from race director Patrick Farnsworth (aka me).
Photo Credit: Nathan Khalsa, Ben Corda, and Megan Maanao
DAY 1 RECAP
Day one began with 52 riders rolling out onto their respective routes. We left Terlingua at 7:30 a.m., just as the sun crested the Chisos Mountains—an epic backdrop to the start line.
After a brief neutral rollout, the race officially began at the base of “40-Mile Hill” (named for its proximity to the national park, not its length). The 2.3-mile, pitchy climb offered the first real test and an early signal of who came to race. The field shattered quickly as riders crested the top, Patrick yelling through the bullhorn as gaps opened behind them.
From there, riders caught their first glimpse of what the coming days would hold: a 10-mile gradual descent into the vast Chihuahuan Desert. The scale opens up, the isolation becomes immediately apparent, and the desert calls—at first as a polite whisper, an invitation.
That invitation doesn’t last long.
Riders soon hit their first singletrack on Dog Cholla Trail, officially entering Big Bend Ranch State Park. The first 18 miles inside the park offer a false sense of comfort: well-maintained singletrack, graded doubletrack, expansive views, unfamiliar cactus to whack, and oddities to stop and marvel at.
Then comes Fresno Canyon.
Here, the polite invitation turns into a warning.
This is where riders discover how prepared they really are. Over the next 10 miles, progress slows dramatically as the terrain constantly shifts. Riders steadily climb deeper into the park, where the riding eventually calms—but not before Fresno delivers a true desert wilderness experience. The trail weaves in, through, up, and down countless arroyos. Trailheads rarely announce themselves. Cactus has reclaimed long sections of singletrack. Riders are unceremoniously spat from one arroyo into the next, where—if lucky—they might average 3 mph before sand swallows tires and forces yet another hike-a-bike.
Fresno Canyon is the real introduction to what lies ahead. The full picture begins to sharpen. Realities set in. Sublimation turns into submission. This is going to be harder than expected. A few riders arrived well prepared, but even they couldn’t yet comprehend the full breadth of carnage still to come.
Despite Fresno’s best efforts, it claimed no victims. In fact, the pointy end of the race was right on pace with what I believed was possible for the 41 miles from Terlingua to the Sauceda Ranger Station—an oasis tucked deep inside the park that serves as the only resupply, water, and first aid for miles and hours in every direction.
In the Showdown, Kyle Gilbert arrived first, with Dennis Lastochkin close behind—a detail that would later feel like foreshadowing. In the Slowdown, a tight group rolled in nearly together. After quick resupplies all around, the race was back on.
Both routes exit via the main park road, but the Showdown takes a hard left onto lesser-maintained park roads, leading ominously toward West Rancherias Trail—on a good day, barely walkable. The Slowdown continues out of the park and turns north toward Marfa, TX (famous for the Prada Store—Google it—and the Marfa Lights).
Kyle entered West Rancherias first and held his lead until mile 90, when Dennis caught him. By mile 95, Dennis had carved out a gap and reached the aid station first. Kyle followed about an hour later. Both refueled and rehydrated, but their strategies diverged sharply: Dennis pushed on into the night, while Kyle pitched his bivy for a four-hour nap.
While Kyle slept, Dennis and Brad Sutton were introduced to the Black Hills section—affectionately dubbed the “Onermaa Loop” in recognition of his many contributions to route development. It proved too much to tackle in the dark. Both Dennis and Brad stopped to nap.
Meanwhile, on Pinto Canyon Road climbing toward Marfa, Chris Mountain had opened a gap in the Slowdown and arrived with a 50-minute advantage over Wojciech Felendzer. Once again, strategies diverged. While most riders chose to sleep in Marfa, three Slowdowners pressed on: Chris Mountain, Tom Elliott, Jennifer Real, and Cayden Boll.
They would be the first to reach Pinto Canyon—under the dark night sky of Big Bend.
Come back soon for Day 2 recap.
