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2/1/12) |
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2Online price includes service fee. No additional charges. 320% discount on Saucony at time of registration. 4Cash or check only. Staggared Starts: Starts will range form 0 to 25 minutes, based on age and gender. First one across the lines finishes. Awards to top 15, the fastest male and female (net time), and the oldest and youngest finishers.
Course description: Updated course, now ~7.9mi, starting at 6,850', with 1,300' of climbing, on forested dirt trails, on a mix of flat, steep and rolling terrain. The trails are mostly soft with good footing, so you can really fly on the downhills. It starts flat, alongside the S Platte river, in Pine Valley Open Space Park, climbs steeply into the Buffalo Creek (non-burn) area of the Pike National Forest, rolls across the plateau, then descends steeply back to the river. This is the reverse direction of the 2009 race, with a change shortly after the start. Aid Stations: 1 aid station at approximately 4.7 mi, just before the start of the long descent to the finish. Rock by rock: The course will be extremely well marked for the race with lots of signs and accurately placed mile markers. I guarantee* that you won't get lost. *entry fee refunded (less $5)
Start by the shelter below the main lot. Head W, onto the wide Narrow Guage path, and along the N side of the river. After ~0.4mi, go left across the bridge. Just after crossing the bridge, go left, then immediately veer right towards the SW corner of the lake. Follow the path as it curves left around the S side of the lake. At the SE corner, by the shelter, go right onto the Park View trail. This is 0.7mi into the race. Start up the wooden stairs. The trail climbs 300'+ in 0.45mi (13%), on a mix of wooden stairs and single-track. After the last set of stairs, around a large boulder, it then continues up another ~200', for another 0.55mi (7%), on a wider, fairly smooth trail. There's a short decline before hitting the Strawberry Jack trail. Go left on Strawberry Jack. There's ~¼mi downhill. Enjoy it. It won't last. At the bottom, you'll start a long, ~1.5mi climb. The start of the climb is the steepest part of the course (outside of the stairs). There are a couple of short, near 20% pitches. You come out into the open, and through a couple of switchbacks. Exiting the switchback, there's a short, flattish section. This leads to a fairly steep, steady, and somewhat loose stretch. The trail widens and gets flatter towards the top. At the 4-way junction, turn right onto the Skipper Jack trail. The trail continues to rise gradually, then drops steeply to a stream crossing. There's a moderate, straight, uphill stretch leaving the stream. This leads to an open, somewhat rocky set of switchbacks. After the last left curve, there's a ~1km, straight, slightly uphill section. At the aid station, by the kiosk, go right and start the long descent down Buck Gulch. The trail is fairly wide, smooth, and gradual at the top. As you progress down, you'll encounter several steep and somewhat loose (though not that rocky) pitches, some 15% or greater. This is where most of the passing will begin to occur. Leading runners do not have to stop or step off the trail. However, hold your line, don't run side-by-side, except when passing, and don't block a passing runner. It's up to the passing runner to alert the runner ahead, and to get around without leaving the trail. There's a sharp right, then a sharp left at the bottom of Buck Gulch. At the junction with Strawberry Jack (comes in from the right), continue straight down. The trail widens a bit, with at least one rocky drop. As you exit the forest, stay left at the Y. Return across the bridge, then right on the Narrow Guage path. It's ~0.4mi of flat, smooth and wide to the finish. Driving & Parking: Please carpool to save money, gas and carbon. Create your own map and directions using Yahoo or Google maps. From C470 in Morrison, take hwy 285 S 19.5mi to Pine Junction. Turn left at the light, S, down hwy 126. Continue 6mi down the road. Watch for the brown Pine Valley Ranch signs along the road. Before you get to the bottom take a sharp right onto Crystal Lake Rd. Follow the road ~¾ to the end. Parking: Parking is limited! Please carpool to save money, gas and carbon. Carpool: Offsite parking plans fell through. Parking is limited. I need everyone to carpool.
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