Point Reyes Light - November 20, 2003

Hornets attack Stinson runners

By Andrew Pridgen

Runners on Stinson Beach’s Matt Davis Trail stirred up a hornet’s nest Saturday during 12-kilometer, 20-kilometer, 30 kilometer, and 50-kilometer footraces sponsored by the Pacific Trail Runs.

Apparently a runner Saturday morning disturbed the nest in some bushes, said Stinson Fire Chief Kenny Stevens. By noon 23 people with multiple stings had made their way from Table Rock into town.

Four runners showed "signs of mild stress and anaphylaxis [an allergic reaction to a sting]," Chief Stevens said, and paramedics were summoned from Point Reyes Station at 10 a.m.

However, all those with allergic reactions were treated in Stinson Beach and then released.

"It looked like there were a lot of people in the [park’s] picnic area rubbing sore areas and getting treatment," said Stinson Beach resident Scott Tye.

Meanwhile, a county firefighter went up the Matt Davis Trail and created a detour to take runners away from the swarming hornets. Point Reyes Station-based firefighter Eric Scovel said up to 80 runners were still on the trail at the time.

Until the detour was set up, however, numerous runners took their chances and bolted through the mass of angry insects. "You gotta have a screw loose if you’re going to run through a swarm of angry hornets," Chief Stevens commented.

Stevens explained he’d never heard of any kind of hornet, bee, or wasp swarm attack people on the Matt Davis Trail, but said the incident proved wildlife in the area should be left alone. "They were probably just going about their business and got agitated," Stevens said.

"It probably could’ve been a lot worse," he added.

The incident, however, has not dissuaded other running groups from holding footraces on Mount Tamalpais trails, and more than 20 are scheduled this winter. The next race, which will be sponsored by Bay Area Ultrarunners, will be a "quadruple Dipsea Race" Saturday, Nov. 29.

"Hopefully, they won’t stir anything up," Stevens said.

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