'Thumbs Up' for the Armpit Festival
By Forrest Newton
Battle Mountain Bugle Staff Writer
All photos by Battle Mountain Bugle
Events like bed races and wet sweatshirt contests kept smiles on every face at the Old Spice Festival in the Pit at Battle Mountain
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The Old Spice Festival in the Pit held last weekend was declared a success by organizers and participants alike. Battle Mountain Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shar Peterson gave a “conservative” estimate of 3,500 people attending the three-day event.
“I am very pleased,” she said. “It took the whole community.”
Lander County Commissioner Mickey Yarbro couldn’t remember crowds that rivaled those that gathered for the Pit Festival. The only event that came close, he said, was when Battle Mountain played host to the state high school rodeo finals.
“I think it’s going great,” he said Saturday morning. “I hope this works so well that we can look forward to another year of it.”
The three-day event, which was sponsored by Old Spice, came about because of an article that Washington Post writer Gene Weingarten wrote dubbing Battle Mountain “The Armpit of America.” Weingarten came back for this year’s event and said he was treated warmly by most people.
The Old Spice Festival in the Pit generated press coverage all over the USA. This cameraman sent the story to a TV station in Salt Lake City
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He also said he was happy that the community had rallied around the title and used it to their advantage rather than sitting back and licking their wounds over it. That, he added, was always his intention for the story.
“I’m very impressed with how the people in Battle Mountain reacted to this,” he said. “They’re not going to take any crap from the Washington Post. I think it’s terrific.”
Most of the people who participated this year were from the Battle Mountain area, but many were from out of state — and even the world. Battle Mountain Bugle staffer Jan Ehlert kept a sign-in book at the newspaper’s booth and recorded visitors from Austria, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Indiana, Idaho, New York, California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois and Washington D.C.
In addition, Nevadans attended from Sparks, Reno, Carson City, Fallon, McDermitt, Winnemucca, Elko, Owyhee, Austin, Las Vegas, Spring Creek, Valmy and Golconda.
The activities began Friday with tours of Newmont’s Lone Tree Mine and continued into the evening with team roping and the Old Spice armpit talent contest at Elquist Park.
Vendors from all over were putting up booths Friday and Saturday displaying goods ranging from food to blacksmithing and jewelry to wood products. In all, 81 vendors plied their wares to participants during what most of them said was well worth their time.
Golf as it is played in Battle Mountain
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A variety of events took place Saturday, including bikers, runners and walkers competing in a poker run, a show ‘n shine car gala, a golf tournament, airplane and balloon rides, a parade, the Basque Festival and the grand opening of the new Battle Mountain Skate Park.
Sunday brought a pancake feed, bed races and the mud bogs before wrapping up whatever is hoping will become a regular event.
Old Spice deodorant toss, sweat T-shirt, beauty and talent contests were held throughout the weekend with winners collecting T-shirts, water bottles and, of course, Old Spice Red Zone deodorant.
The poker run Saturday morning brought out 24 bikers, runners and walkers to compete in a poker run along a 5-mile course on the Copper Basin Mountain Bike Trail south of Battle Mountain.
Organizer Pam Jarnecke said that this was the first time the event had been held and was appreciative of all those who helped.
“This involved the county, BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and Newmont lands,” she said. “I really want to thank the Battle Mountain Smokeshop and the Colt for donating the water.”
Balloon Ascensions beautified the sky above Battle Mountain
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The tethered-balloon rides were also popular. Teenagers Tia Monahan, 16, Nicole Edgar, 15, and Jordan Snapp, 14, had a great time after they had taken a ride together. Monahan said, “It was fun!” Snapp said, “It was cool!” Edgar said, “It was kind of hot in the basket, but it was fun being so far up.”
Vendors were united in their praise of the festival and the town’s willingness to take a negative and turn it into a positive. Karen Wines from Spring Creek of Designs for You said, “There are some very nice people here. Battle Mountain deserves a pat on the back for the clean-up. It’s been a good experience.”
Annie Casaus of Battle Mountain, whose son wants her to get a web page for her wood products business BIRDHOUSECASAUS, said, “I truthfully had not read the article all the way through. Too bad someone couldn’t appreciate hometown goodness. I’m glad I live here.”
Vendor Marty Sondermann of Star, Idaho, is a 1990 graduate of Battle Mountain High School and now owns a computer store and restaurant in Ontario, Ore. He said, “I’m seeing a lot of good friends and I still have a lot of family here. I’ve been in quite a few states; I’ve never found any place better anywhere else.”
Riding the Bull
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Jerry Vincent, owner of Flying V Saddlery of Middleton, Idaho, takes his trailer of tack to festivals all over and had a lot of good things to say about his first time in Battle Mountain.
“I actually came over about three weeks ago and visited with Shar (Peterson) after someone gave me a brochure about the festival,” he said. “She was very professional. I appreciate the way we have been treated here.
“I think there are some pretty good armpits here. Controversy is fine as long as it is used to make something good out of it. I think it will grow.”
It wasn’t just the vendors that appreciated the people of Battle Mountain and the area desert and mountains the town sits in.
Joe and Helena Nevin of Oklahoma City, Okla., came to Elko on a gambling flight and wanted something else to do besides gamble, so they went to the Internet.
“When we booked the flight I looked under ‘events northern Nevada’ and found this,” Joe Nevin said.
Skateboard pro Jordan Richter, who was on hand to christen the new Battle Mountain Skate Park that he was commissioned to design, said he was having a great time and didn’t believe the Armpit hype.
“It’s easy to think that because of all the propaganda,” he said. “But ultimately, it’s like any other town in the United States.”
Former Battle Mountain resident Melissa Atwood, a middle-school student in Reno, returned to help volunteer during the golf tournament at Mountain View Golf Course. She said she lived here from the ages of 5-8 and thought the festival was a great idea.
“If we’re the armpit, we’re right next to the heart,” she said. “It’s a good way to raise money. There’s a lot of great things to do here and the people are really nice.”
Several Lander County leaders were on hand to review the activities.
During a walk through Elquist Part Saturday, county commission chair Gene Sullivan said, “It’s a good turnout. I think it’s making good use of an opportunity.”
A smiling Sheriff Ron Unger said Saturday, “I stayed out till 3 a.m. this morning and there were no problems. People are just having fun.”
Even hard-nosed news people saw the good in the town.
Cameraman Kevin Ross of CoverEdge Television News Services in Las Vegas was filming for use by anyone who wanted to buy their product.
“I love this kind of stuff,” he said. “This is a good town.”
Verónica Villafañe of Alter Ego Video Productions, the producer for this filming, was perplexed by the title “Armpit of America.”
She said, “I’ve been in worse places. I don’t know why people call this an armpit. I don’t think it is.”
Bugle Managing Editor David Gouger contributed to this report.
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CNN covered the Festival on The Money Gang.
The Associate Press story was picked up by newspapers and radio stations around the USA.
"My wife and I want to thank you for all your hard work in putting together a great weekend of fun and activities. We drove four hours from Carson City to attend the "Festival" — and we LOVED it. We both took Friday off from work so we could participate in all three days. Even though we ended up missing some of the contests on Saturday (including the "wet sweat shirt" contest which I entered) due to car trouble in the desert, we enjoyed every bit of what we DID see. I guess we should have never left the Festival... We made it back in time for the parade however, and we were firmly planted in the parking lot for the "Bed Races" on Sunday morning.
We met some really nice people while wandering around all the vendors and exhibits, and we gained a whole new respect for Battle Mountain. You just can't beat "Small Town America".
We think our 'town' of Carson City was probably once like this 20-30 years ago, but no more. It's taking on a bigger-city look more and more. Wal-Mart is here, and Best Buy, Border's Books, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond are opening in about a month. Sigh, what's next? The new "Mall of America"?
We told all our friends what they missed, and they find it hard to believe that we had such a good time — in Battle Mountain?
I wrote to Old Spice and told THEM what a great time we had as well, so now they know people from somewhere besides Battle Mountain attended the Festival. I thanked them for their participation, and I already heard back from them. They were "thrilled" to hear from us and were hoping for reaction like ours. We'll be back next year, and hopefully we'll be able to drag some of our reluctant friends. Anyway, thanks again for the good time. The Washington Post be damned!
T. M.
Carson City
Reno
A Visitor's Diary
Driving through Battle Mountain, the businesses with marquees had various welcoming sayings referring to "Pit Stops", etc., so the spirit was obvious.
Our room was perfect, and we were okayed to use the pool after hours as long as we "don't make too much noise".
In the lobby, we bumped into Jordan Richter, a shy 28-year-old from San Diego with a great, 10-12-inch beard, and a world-class competion board skater. He was in town to open a new skate park he had designed for Skateway.
We spent the evening at The Owl Club, dancing to a great band called "DESPERADO", from Klamath Falls. The dancers held their beer bottles in theirhand. Either folks were too anxious to dance to put down their beers, or they didn't want to give up their beers to dance. Subsequent dances proved the former.
Also in the Owl Club were the reps from Old Spice, all very young, early twenties. There was a tall, black young man with dreadlocks, a tall, East Indian young man of obvious American birth, and a girl. As the evening went along, they found their way from the pool tables to the dance floor. They watched for a couple of songs, and the culture shock was evident, but soon the mood kicked in and they were dancing with each other, the locals, and us.
The next morning we attempted to make the 10 a.m. opening of the Skate Park, but we got lost — yes, lost in Battle Mountain — and missed the ribbon cutting. But we did manage to see Jordan do his stuff afterward.
Jordan Richter in Action
Among a crowd of kids, he's a different person. His skateboard is just another appendage, and as a mother, it made my stomach cramp to watch some of his stunts.
This park was like none I've ever seen before, and apparently is the trend. Manufactured by Skatewave, it's built of modular pieces that can be rearranged as the kids' interest lags.
We next found the "heart", shall we say, of the Pit celebration, at the Lions Park. There were vendors of crafts and food, mostly independent, local organizations and families. Of note was a Basque shepherd's wagon that you could go inside, and a traveling blacksmith with his portable fire, hammering away at his anvil. 
There was also a Show & Shine of very cool classic cars.
The Old Spice kids were taking signups for the Pit contests. They had a Pit Talent contest (remember those little boys in gradeschool, with their hands cupped into their armpits?), the Wet Pit contest, and the Pit Beauty Contest, among others. Being in the parade has its drawbacks, and I was unable to see any of the actual Pit Contests, but I did see Jordan congratulating kids for their performances at the Pit Talent Contest on Friday.
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We spent some pool time at the motel before the 7 pm parade. The Hot Stix team lined up at six o'clock, and as entry #4, we were able to observe quite a few of the other entries. 
My personal favorite was Santa, in a sleeveless red shirt, atop a prancing "reindeer" and white "armpit hair" hanging about down to his elbows.
After the parade we made a quick change of clothes and hurried down to the Basque Festival at the park, only to find out they were out of food!!! True to the reputation of small-town hospitality, however, attempts were made to find us at least a couple of Chorizo sausages, and we headed to the bar for a Picon Punch while we waited. The bar was a couple of tables at the edge of the park, well stocked, and the bartenders had apparently been testing their creations. We were entertained by the "senior" barkeep teaching the junior one the fine art of creating a Picon. We toasted them, each other, and Basques in general, then headed to the Owl for some food.
The Owl was reasonably quiet, but the lone waitress was harried. Turned out she's usually the school librarian, so it was understandable — talk about culture shock! The Owl's special was a "Pit Goulash", and it was necessary to check whether there was still some available. Everyone was out of something, except hospitality.
We finished the evening at the park, dancing to "DESPERADO". The lead singer/guitarist had scored a Basque beret and was wearing it well.
We awoke the next morning tired, but with memories. We spotted an open door on the Antique store on our way out of town, so dropped in. They were officially closed, but let us browse. We were soon followed in by other visitors, and soon they were officially
open after all, more small town hospitality. My daughter was able to replace a broken teacup of my grandmother's, and I found some some hand-made linen and some very cool feathered earrings to make into a broach.
My advice to Battle Mountain is: Lay in more supplies. This likely won't be the last of these festivals, and the word is spreading. I know I'll be back...
R.W.
Reno
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Gene Weingarten Returns
to the Scene of the Crime
By David Gouger
Managing Editor Battle Mountain Bugle/Humboldt Sun
Gene Weingarten’s roots in the newspaper industry run deep. The Washington Post writer covered street gangs in New York, served as legendary satirist Dave Barry’s editor at the Miami Herald and broke the story about former President Bill Clinton’s half-brother.
But as he surveyed the scene around Elquist Park Friday, Weingarten had to admit that his “Armpit of America” story now probably tops them all.
Gene Weingarten enjoyed the glow of fatherhood at Old Spice Festival in the Pit at Battle Mountain
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“Nothing I did ever birthed a festival,” he said, with a laugh, when asked where his Battle Mountain story ranked with others he had written over the years. “I created a T-shirt. Now that’s exciting.”
Weingarten returned to the scene of the crime last weekend for the Old Spice Festival in the Pit, a three-day celebration that came about thanks to his infamous Dec. 2001 Washington Post Magazine story that dubbed Battle Mountain “the Armpit of America.”
Weingarten said he wasn’t surprised by the large number of e-mail’s, letters and phone calls from angry residents he got when the story first appeared.
But, as he hinted at toward the latter part of his original story, what Weingarten was really hoping would come of the designation was something very similar to last weekend’s festival.
“It’s interesting,” he said. “The story made everybody angry. It even made me angry after awhile. If people were really offended by the story, they didn’t understand it. They need to re-read it again.
“The people of Battle Mountain have done exactly the right thing. I think this is very clever, and it says a lot for them.”
The idea for the Armpit story began as a joke, Weingarten said, based on the fact that there were so many towns and cities across the country with that unofficial designation.
He decided to solicit ideas from readers to come up with the official Armpit town, and took an interest in Battle Mountain based on a rather harsh letter about it that he received from a man in Seattle.
After two three-day trips to Battle Mountain in late 2001, Weingarten said he had no doubt he had found the winner.
Based on the negative feedback Weingarten received about the story from locals, most were surprised to hear he was coming back for the festival.
But Weingarten had planned to come back last summer for the inaugural Pit Festival, which was held in conjunction with the Fourth of July celebration, before a family medical emergency put an end to those plans.
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There had also been jokes made about Weingarten needing bodyguards during his stay. He walked around the park in relative anonymity Friday and said he wasn’t scared for his safety.
“If I do get shot, I’ll become the first American martyr to humor,” Weingarten said. “That’s worth something, right?”
The Dunk Tank was a popular attraction
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Weingarten extended his stay in Battle Mountain when he was asked to serve as a judge in Saturday night’s parade down Front Street and received a warm round of applause — along with his fair share of boos — when his name was announced.
J.D. Vierra, a Battle Mountain resident for nearly 14 years, said he disagreed with Weingarten’s article, but respected him for having the guts to return to the town for the festival.
Vierra had written a letter to Weingarten about the story and also discussed it with the writer over the phone a couple of times. The two also talked Friday night at Elquist Park.
“I think it’s great that he’s here,” Vierra said. “This way he gets a chance to see what we’re really all about. And he seems to be having a good time.”
Having a good time seeing what his story helped Battle Mountain create, no doubt.
“This is a very American thing to do,” Weingarten said. “This is celebrating America. And by celebrating it, they’ve eliminated its power to hurt them.”
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