Thanks Jeff, that’s great news however "anticipates" is the key word in the announcement and presents a problem for those who organize this event.
It might surprise some of you to learn that the Officers and Event Committee Members at NEXterra start planning for The East Coast Xterra Challenge the week after the previous year’s event ends.
Dates need to be determined and locked in. Venues need to be determined, and secured for “Home Base”, wheeling, Friday Night Party, Saturday night BBQ, etc. Food for the Saturday night party needs to be figured out and ordered. Sponsors need to be contacted and donations need to be collected. Staff needs to be solicited and organized. Sign up must be put together and maintained. Event shirts, stickers, Trail Leaders…I could go on and on.
Even if Rausch can open and NEXterra decides to go ahead with the event I doubt most of the things we have been lucky enough to enjoy during past would be happening.
AOAA has made no such announcement about opening to date. I don’t even know the status of Twin Grove or any of the Hotels in the aera around Rausch.
That said, I was told that in mid-May a decision by the NEXterra Officers would be made about moving forward with ECXC 2020 or not.
Personally:
Right now, Brooklyn and the rest of NYC are a fucking war zone with folks in the hundreds dropping dead every day (over a thousand last Monday).
I haven’t kissed or hugged my parents or adult children in over six weeks. I’m lucky if I see them occasionally. My family have all been okay, but I personally know many folks who have/have had it and recovered. I personally know a few that did not recover.
This shit is real.
They say they might start opening NYC on May 15th and see how it goes.
I want to wheel but at this point driving to PA to hang out with a large group of my friends for three days seems somewhat scary, irresponsible and selfish.
Just my view today.
Stay safe my friends, I hope to see you all on the trail sometime soon.