I thought the coldest I ever would be taking pictures on the sidelines at the Mountain West Tournament at War Memorial Stadium, but I was wrong.
At 9:30 in the morning on Saturday, I waddled into my friends’ truck wearing two pairs of socks, snow boots, leggings, jeans, a long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt, flannel and a Carhartt jacket, gloves and a beanie, unprepared for the journey that I was about to encounter.
We reached Centennial around 10:30 a.m. and the adventure only began from there. As we pulled into the parking lot, I heard nothing but the clamor of strangers becoming friends. There were people dressed up like gorillas, fairies and people wearing horns. I was overwhelmed by the excitement of the surrounding crowd and felt apprehensive as I was about to tackle this unknown expedition.
Others felt this same feeling as they embarked on their first poker run as well.
“I was kind of unsure what to expect, I had never gone before,” David Case, senior in engineering, said. “It was great, we had a lot of fun.”
Somehow I then found myself in the bed of a pick-up truck with a group of others going 40 mph up the mountain in Medicine Bow National Forest. There was nothing stopping me from flying out but a railing that went up to about my mid-calf. The wind cut through my throat like needles and yet I never thought about turning around.
At the top of the mountain, I assembled my overly large tennis ratchets on to my feet and quickly learned how to walk in them without falling. My first steps caught me muttering under my breath, “what the hell have I gotten myself into?”
The Barber Lake trail was six miles of a phenomenal calf workout. We ran into to other groups along the way, becoming friends and growing larger in number. Many people on the trail were returners and looked forward to this event every year.
“No matter how cold it is I try to go every year. At Poker Run, everyone you bump into is a friend,” Zachary Bryla, geology student that participated in the Poker Run, said. “I started the trail with a group of five close friends and ended it with over thirty. It’s like a reunion of strangers.”
The trail consists of all ages, either snowshoeing, skiing or snowmobiling. The idea of the Poker Run is to obtain either the best or worst hand of poker, in which you would receive a prize. When you sign up you get your first card and you obtain the next four down the mountain and in various places downtown.
According the promotional video of the Poker Run 2016, the run first started in 1989 by Murray Self and friends, because they were just looking for an excuse to party in the winter. The run continued to grow and in 2011 Robert Kirkwood continued to keep the tradition alive and now has grown to over 500 people.
“The Poker Run is something I look forward to all year, it is a great event that gives you the opportunity to have fun with friends and make new friends,” Brittany Miller, UW student that participated in the Poker Run, said. “I can’t wait till next year.”
At the bottom of the mountain, the hikers and skiers rejoiced in a huge celebration. A bonfire lite up the sky as participants roasted hot dogs on sticks found in the woods. The Poker Run provided the group with free hot dogs, buns and beers.
As I continued to snowshoe for what felt like an eternity I realized the importance of it and why people continue to come every year despite the cold. While on the hike and in nature not once did I see someone look at their phone. It was a time to be with the people around you and to enjoy your surroundings. It was a breathtaking experience.
After celebrating at the campfire, the next part of the day took place in downtown Centennial. With over several bars located in the town, the excitement could and did last for hours. The different local bands that played at each venue contributed to the dancing scene and the all day party.
Although I may have lost most of my hair due to the frigid arctic conditions, the experience of being on the mountain with friends and tackling this trail together is worthwhile. While I was on the Barber Lake trail I would have said no to partaking in this adventure again, however looking back I realize how amazing the experience was, and I was not the only one who thought so.
“It was really cool, I enjoyed the lawlessness,” Tyler Klopp, community member, said.
I encourage everyone to participate in the Poker Run at least once, to start the day with a bunch of individuals sitting in the back of a pick-up truck and end the day by crossing the finish line as a community.
