Abe - the King of Arkansas 

Day 1 - ARHC

Ark-Who?

All photos by Kai Caddy - @kaicaddy

He's done it - __Abe Kaufman__ of Virginia is the 2023 Arkansas High Country Race Winner! He finished in Downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas setting a new FKT of 4 days, 10hrs, 8 min!!! Congratulations Abe! This is his first time to Arkansas, it sure didn't disappoint and he's mentioned a return to the southern state in the future. 

In Abe's words, from his victory post on Instagram:

*A tremendous amount of planning and preparation went into making this a reality and I couldn’t have done it without the support from my family and friends along the way! I was totally blown away by the sheer beauty, remoteness and ruggedness of the Arkansas terrain and have never finished a race and immediately wanted to come back and do it again. This route is most definitely the real deal and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a serious challenge. Thanks to @arhighcountryrace for putting on this amazing event and for the community of folks down here that makes this so special!*

Many of Abe's followers noted how clean shaven he was throughout the race. It remains a speculative mystery whether or not he packed a razor and if this tactic contributed to #aerogains. Either way, upon arrival he received a great welcome from family and dotwatchers, and race director Chuck Campbell handed him a bottle of bubbly. 

![d57b9be3-2872-4104-9c46-5e72ac71a71e](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4Pyw3tWeexJ7FWXW8O52Dz/b1ef13ebac797cc1e9f2afdcc3ffc51e/d57b9be3-2872-4104-9c46-5e72ac71a71e.JPG)
*A memorable moment - Ernie Lechuga (previous FKT holder) and Andrew Onermaa facetimed with Abe at the finish.* 

As a strong contender from the get-go, __Cory Ostertag__ came home in a very respectable second place. Cory just snuck under the 5 day mark, finishing in a time of 4D 24H 36M. 
![d90f8470-2d0f-4de7-a087-1e9c84831d85](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5FeQAtnNbHHXr6FuZ1jXBq/5481cd5e13c89d0be2560437b8cd1d54/d90f8470-2d0f-4de7-a087-1e9c84831d85.JPG)
Some 8 hours later, __Xavier Chiriboga__ arrived back in Downtown Hot Springs to round off the podium in a time of 5D 8H 37M. Xavier looks to have been through the wringer, having suffered from Shermer's Neck and implementing various strategies to support his head. Shermer's Neck occurs when the neck muscles give out due to fatigue. In the latter stages of the race Xavier made use of a foam neck brace before inventing a chin rest in the form of an upside down bottle strapped to his chest. Don't try this at home! Check him out on Instagram for the chin bodge: @chiriboga_xavier.

In other news, our first single speeder __Corey Kronser__, has finished, setting a new singlespeed FKT in the process! Corey arrived in a time of 5D 23H 11M, which is around 24 hours faster than the previously set time by Brett Stepanik in 2021. Congratulations Corey! 

There are still 8 people out on the full route course, with __Aaron Ray__ due to finish shortly. Also on a singlespeed, __Maggie Livelsberger__ is back for another strong ride having taken the win last year. Currently in 9th place, it was Maggie's birthday yesterday, so what would be a better present to herself than to break her own singlespeed FKT!? Rather, she woke up in a post office, before seeking out a birthday pancake and plenty of french fries to try and keep the tendonitis in her wrist at bay. Give her a follow and some birthday cheer on Instagram: @large_marge03.

![Screenshot 2023-10-13 at 19.45.50](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/11vTPTAdXHwY2nphUiygTN/e2523694e6ca287428210ecbba5e461f/Screenshot_2023-10-13_at_19.45.50.png)

Calling early predictions for the race are nigh on impossible, with many riders unknown to me, the the help from on-the-ground photographers __Kai Caddy__, who returned to photograph the event again, is very useful. His call on two riders: __Xavier Chiriboga__ and __Cory Ostertag__, as ones to watch ring true as the race unfolds and Xavier and Cory are chasing down leader __Abe Kaufman__ (on the Full Course).

__Abe Kaufman__ is well known within the Dotwatcher community, taking part in many races. He finished this years Tour Divide in 4th place, finishing in 15d 15h 31m. He holds a number of FKTs (fastest known times) - TNGA, TransVA, Massanutten Ring and AML400. Based in Virginia, he’s no stranger to the terrain presented in Arkansas (the Ozarks), with Virginia nabbing one fourth of Appalachian Trail and a good number of national parks and 8 mountain ranges dotted through the state. 

A new podcast covering Bikepacking Races - __Detours__ - recently interviewed Abe, it offers a wonderful insight into his racing. You can find a link to the podcast on their [Insta](https://www.instagram.com/detourscycling/) account and you can find Abe on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/abe__kaufman/). 

__Xavier Chiriboga__ 
The quickest way to learn about Xavier would be to follow this Hunt-Beyond [link](https://www.huntbikewheels.cc/blogs/news/xavier-chiriboga-the-man-behind-the-racer) to found out more about the man behind the racer - I couldn’t do a better job, so I won’t. You can find Xavier on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/chiriboga_xavier/) too.

__Cory Ostertag__
Cory took first place in the 2022 BC Epic 1000, between Merritt and Fernie in British Columbia, Canada, finishing in 2 days, 17 hours, and 37 minutes. He also holds the FKT for the Log Drivers’ Waltz, taking the overall win in 2022. As a contributor to the Dotwatcher race coverage his racing knowledge from the Log Drivers' Waltz showed in his brilliant coverage of the 2023 edition and gave him is debut reporting job. Follow Cory [here](https://www.instagram.com/full_beans).

__Maggie Livelsberger__ took the women’s win at the 2022 ARHC completing the course on a single speed. She returns this year to defend her title and appears to be holding good form on day one. There is an interview with her on Bikes or Death Podcast, Episode 154 which will give some insight into Maggie and her single speed endeavours. The links are not yet available on the [Bikes or Death homepage](https://bikesordeath.com/podcast/), but you can find it on your favourite app and you'll find Maggie [here](https://www.instagram.com/large_marge03).

## The Ouachita Triple Crown
The CounterClockWise (CCW) route appears to be the most popular, with 13 riders taking to the CCW route versus 3 for the clockwise route (CW). There are 7 finishers so far on the trail, with all three riders on the CW route back home. __Josh Tostado__ took the CW win in 23H 12M, followed by T__ravis Jolly__ on a singlespeed 7 hours later. __Ryan Volt__ took the CW win in 28H 36M, a whooping 5 hours slower than the CCW route, showing the reason the CCW route appears to be more favourable. It was a close match with only hour separating 1st and 2nd places with __Mike Chapman__ chasing hard to try to take the win off Ryan. 

There are three singlespeeders on the Ouachita Triple Crown and two women, __Ariana Khu__ and __Shannon Allison-Leszek__. Ariana holds as 20mile (32km) lead over Shannon. Much of the remaining track is the famed IMBA Epic trail, making it hard for Shannon to make up any ground on Ariana, baring incident it looks like Ariana will sew up the win in the women’s field.
[Ariana Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ari.khu/).

## The Southern Loop
The clockwise route (CW) is the most popular, with 15 riders taking this option versus two on the CCW route. __Andrew Onermaa__ is back home on the CW route in 39H 26M, giving him the win. With a playground like the Ozarks on his doorstep and a route creator and Event Director, the High Country terrain is familiar to Andrew. Perhaps more so as he was the race director for the event before handing the reigns over to __Chuck Campbell__ for this year’s event.
[Andrew Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/onermaa)

![Andrew Onermaa](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2Sgx5UZXOVnlX5xmturNyt/25314fabcf74544000d49f0bdc8f6348/image.png)

## High Country race
No doubt that the CW route for the main race is the peoples favourite, 13 riders are heading in this direction with only one person headed CCW. __Dylan Parrish__ just needs to finish the CCW route to scoop the win. Anyone else loving this format for producing so many winners in one race?

__Abe Kaufman__ retained his lead and is moving at an average speed of 11.9mph (19.1kph) versus 10.6mph (17kph) for __Xavier Chiriboga__. That speed difference sees Abe holding a 32 mile (51km) lead in the main race. He’s taking time to sleep in Fayetteville, just short of the halfway mark. There’s still plenty of climbing and a good batch of off-road ahead, so that 51km lead is still not in the bag, especially given the two chasers, __Xavier Chiriboga__ and __Cory Ostertag__, are still riding their bikes. Xavier holds a 20mile (32km) lead over Cory, but out there in the hills neither will know how close the other is and this will drive them to keep going. I’m not sure if phone coverage is available in the area, so can’t say if the riders are able to check up on their competitors while away from the bigger towns, but I’m assuming in the area they are now phone coverage may not exist.

## Rider of the day
__Peter Rajcani__ - a veteran ultra racer and at 60 years, he’s still going strong. An ethos of never giving up saw him nab a place in the history books as the Lantern Rouge - though unofficially - in the Unbound XL course. Finishing in twice the time as the winner of Unbound XL, he arrive in Emporia 48 hours after the start to find a group of supporters still available to cheer him over the line. You’ll be please to read Peter is still mid-pace on the AHCR and is holding good form with those around him and you can read up [here](https://escapecollective.com/seven-questions-with-an-ultra-veteran-the-other-peter-from-slovakia/) a bit more about his Unbound endeavours.

![Unbound](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4iUnWwjxhmCJPZxHio4kQL/0d8d6ac0c9e2f59876dcfb88428d3c99/image.png)

## Race social media
You can head over to the [AHCR Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/arhighcountryrace/) stories to follow the race. The onsite photographer is [Kai Caddy](https://www.instagram.com/kaicaddy/).

## Dotreporter
Your Dotreporter for the race is me - Peta McSharry. I'll post up new articles in my stories on [Instagram.](https://www.instagram.com/petamcsharry)


If you’ve not received an education requiring you to learn the 50 states of the USA, you can be forgiven for not really knowing where Arkansas lies within the fabric of the USA geographical landmass.

Nestled amongst it’s neighbours: Kansas to the northwest, Louisiana to the south and Oklahoma to the west, it is no stranger to fame with a number of films being set on location. Winning it’s first Oscar for a coloured film, Little Rock Arkansas featured it’s Mill in *Gone with the Wind*. While the race does not venture past this little historic gem, it will venture through other parts of Arkansas captured on the big screen. Johnny Cash haled from Arkanas, with the film depicting his life, *Walk the Line*  was filmed on location, capturing the state and is historic buildings, like his childhood home in Dyess. The famous Roundtop Filling station also a recognisable feature on the big screen, it serviced vehicles on the once a well-traveled section of U.S. Highway 67 between St. Louis and Little Rock. 

![Mill Little Rock](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2uC22vvgykarasXOAA04SG/467d3c53ac8de704cec15660fa2187d9/image.png)

But that’s not why the riders congregated in Arkansas this weekend. They’re on location to do justice to the High Country and to ride bikes as fast as they can. And they’re spoiled for choice with three routes available and the option to ride each one clockwise or counterclockwise.

The options are:
- The Full Route
- The Southern Route
- Ouachita Triple Crown

## The Full Route
- 1,634km, 23,057m of climbing with 341km of unpaved roads (race info taken off RideWithGPS).
This takes in the outer perimeter of the Red and Pink Routes on the race tracking page.

![Full Route](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4qmAscfpBgqgSywSblp7iR/cafa0880cecfb3470068cec11c24a7c3/image.png)

## The Southern Route
- 782km, 9,878m of climbing with 204km unpaved.
This is the Red Route on the tracking page. 

![Southern Route](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2MTVgj5JXyfxTelbfRmUN2/151498e1a9c002032e9e62818dd2f455/image.png)

## Ouachita Triple Crown
- 298km, 5,394m climbing with 188km unpaved
This is the blue route on the tracking page. The Triple Crown title comes from it covering 3 of the Ouachitas’ IMBA Epics in the race. The IMBA Epics are mountain bike single track trails: ‘EPICS are demanding, majority singletrack trail experiences in a natural setting and at least 20 miles in length’, according to the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA).

![Triple Crown](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4JkpoYf2FuKIMCYUQFE3fB/7134296a56ec36ef45aa4346afe2a835/image.png)

## Get un-confused
Presented with an varying number of coloured dots, knowing which colour represents which route and whether it’s clockwise or counterclockwise, Dotwatchers can ‘un-confuse’ themselves by heading to the ‘Replay’ button above the map. The ‘ants’ crawling over the routes will give you the best idea of what’s happening in the race. 

## Previous editions
The 2022 edition, the second running of the event, saw a number of FKTs taking place over the different options and with it some familiar names in the bikepacking world. __Ernie and Scotti Lechuga__, who you’ll know from the SilkRoadMountRace, or if you’ve followed the previous editions of AHCR (Arkansas High Country Race), Scotti taking the overall win in 2021 and Ernie take the overall win in 2022. While they also rode as a pair, setting the FKT for the pairs category. These wins are for the Full Route - the red one in the 2023 race.

__Ezra Ward-Packard__ and __Hannah Simon__, both completing this years Tour Divide also competed in the AHCR 2022 edition, so it’s fertile ground for honing skills needed in some of the tough off road races. 

## What’s so High about the Arkansas Country
Mount Magazine is the highest point in Arkansas, at 2,753ft or 839m, it’s temperatures reach the mid 30s in the summer and below freezing in winter. It’s a flat topped mountain capped by hard rock and rimmed by precipitous cliffs. The Full Race heads over Mount Magazine.

A closer look at the routes shows the trails heading along ridge-lines when the country below opens up from the forested roads leading up to the ridges. While the elevation may not be that high, the undulations mean you are either going up or going down and with a shortly lived descent, this is leg sapping terrain. Gradients are steep, some reaching 19 or 20° and with rough and lose surfaces, riders will find themselves hike-a-biking in several places.

## Weather
The Indian Summer we’re experiencing in much of the northern Hemisphere grants the riders a balmy 23°C in the day time, while temperatures in Hot Springs are dropping to around 8°C overnight. At higher elevations this may drop lower overnight but not below freezing. Forests and warm weather usually means plenty of insects, so  to sleep out overnight may not be the most restful. Black bears are also present in the area and while not aggressive like their Grizzly counterparts, riders will stlll need to take precautions with the food if sleeping out overnight. 

## Race social media
You can head over to the [AHCR Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/arhighcountryrace/) stories to follow the race. The onsite photographer is [Kai Caddy](https://www.instagram.com/kaicaddy/).

## Dotreporter
Your Dotreporter for the race is me - Peta McSharry. I'll post up new articles in my stories on [Instagram.](https://www.instagram.com/petamcsharry)


Peta McSharry

Arkansas High Country Race 2023 Tracking + Commentary: 

Arkansas High Country Race 2023 Tracking

The Arkansas High Country Route has it all, there are three route options available taking in a plethora of sparkling streams, hills and hollows, shady rivers, mountain views, waterfalls, swimming holes, historic sites and bustling cities.

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