The annual trip to Ashland for the Book Across the Bay is one of the most fun races we do. The race occurs on the frozen water between Ashland and Bayfield in Wisconsin. Participants can snowshoe or ski and the race distance is 10K. However, the most unique aspect of this event is that it begins just as the sun is setting. Therefore the race is run almost entirely in darkness. It is dark other than the luminaries made of ice that line the entire length of the run. It finishes in Bayfield for a massive party under a large tent filled with hundreds of participants who warm up to chili and hot chocolate while they listen to great music and catch up with family and friends. This is the seventh time I have participated in the event. My wife and I made the trip up to be part of the event. This year was one of the coldest times I have participated in the event. Temperatures hovered around the zero mark, but being on the open ice like this race is, the wind can certainly be a factor. I finished the event in 55:45, which was good for seventh overall out of 748 snowshoers. The most important factor was finishing the event with no frostbite.
