MT Alpha Cycling: Missoula Cyclocross Race #3

Series leader Pari Kemmick, Zoe Glas currently third in series, and Jen riding for MT Alpha in 2nd place in Series.
Start Line for Men and Women's B Race - Photo by Tom Robertson http://www.tomrobertsonphoto.com/

This race was my favorite for course design.
I love racing at Fort Missoula, there are rail road features, historic buildings and lots of fun hills to climb. I loved the crowd at this race, so many folks turned up to cheer on the hill climb.

I had a good lead on the next rider behind me, so I stopped at the top of the hill to chug a spectators beer that he was offering. Surprisingly, it didn't make me feel bad. (probably because of the cheering squad). I jumped back on my Specialized Crux and did 2 more laps to finish in 2nd for Women's B.

LITTLE HISTORY LESSON - Fort Missoula was established as a permanent military post in 1877 in response to requests from local townspeople and settlers for protection in the event of conflict with western Montana Indian tribes. Intended as a major outpost for the region, area residents were also quite aware of the payroll, contracts and employment opportunities a fort would provide. Fort Missoula never had walls; rather, it was an “open fort,” a design common for posts located west of the Mississippi.
Open forts required troops to take the offensive and actively patrol the areas to which they were assigned.
Tipi-Burner, (cone structure on the left) c.1946; moved 2006 Tipi-Burners were once plentiful in the Missoula Valley, being used by every sawmill to burn waste from the milling operation. (1)
. References (1) Fort Missoula Flyer