"In Purgatory"
Roark at the High Lonesome 100
There is a certain beauty found in wreckage. Stripped, raw, human. This July, we found ourselves at mile 65 of the High Lonesome 100 - one of the harder foot races in the West. With a large percentage of the race over 12,000 feet, 23,000 feet of climbing, and ever changing mountain weather looming over every pass, runners have nowhere to hide.
It’s a battle of the mind - you can disregard the physical torment. When the sun disappears, the race begins. With that in mind, we posted up at Purgatory - the highest aid station of the race. Through the darkest hours of the night we cooked soups, helped runners and filled the night with sounds of Dark Wave synthesizers. Focus was on the immediate goal to get runners out, pushing them to lower elevation, where their bodies would start to recover in the thicker air. These images are a testament to the will of the athletes, their desire to better themselves through the pursuit of the unknown, and the energy and sacrifice volunteers bring to the table in order to make it a reality.
