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Course Description


Course gain: 11,003 ft.
Course loss: 12,000 ft.

Cut Off Times

Pack Creek Picnic Area: Start 6AM

Oowah Lake (Mile 14.32): 1 PM

Warner Lake (Mile 26): 3:30PM

Junction of La Sal Loop Road and Kokopelli Trail (Mile 32.5): 5PM.
At this point runners must have lights in order to finish the race. Runners without lights at this point will be removed from the course.

Slickrock Bike Trailhead: finish at 8PM

 

Pack Creek (6,400') to La Sal Pass 4x4 (10,400')

This segment is approximately 9.34 miles in length and you will climb about 4000 feet. It's a tough grind! It is also one of the least used trails in the La Sal Mountains. The first 4.5 miles you will climb in a seldom used two track that will be rocky at times. The next 3.5 miles climb steeply along Pack Creek on a single track and can be hard to find at times. You will cross Pack Creek once (dry crossing) and continue on a single track that runs now on the north side of the drainage. Pay attention to the course markings. About .25 mile you will be traveling away from the Pack Creek drainage and the trail will be getting steeper and more difficult to find. The trail almost disappears but keep your eyes on the markings in the aspens. Keep a small run off drainage on your right (tributary of Pack Creek). You are about 150 yards from the top. Once on top the single track turns left (west). Now you are on a well worn single track, some aspens but mostly scrub oak. Follow this for about 1mile to a meadow. Follow (north) the flagging across to the other side of this meadow. There will be a two track just opposite side of this meadow. Now starts a long down hill. You will be running down this two track for about .50 mile. Keep your eyes open for flagging veering off to your left. (Good way to know when to start looking left. There will be some ponds on your right side.) Just past the ponds you will be coming out of the thick woods into a clearing. Now you want to go across this clearing (left) to the other side. There will be a single track heading down into the woods. You will still be heading down hill. You will approach yet another meadow. Go directly to the opposite side and the single track continues on down through the aspens. You will be approaching heavy fallen aspens. Look to your left and you will see the (green) roof top of a cabin. Right when you get into this maze of dead aspens veer right. The single track continues on down hill. You will see a dry pond on your right hand side. Coming up again soon will be another clearing. You will want to head into the middle of this clearing. Once in the middle head towards the right and find the single track. Just down from this clearing there will be a spring fenced off on your right side. You are almost off this trail and to the road. But guess what another clearing is coming up. This clearing is mostly on your right side. Hug the aspens on your left to find the single track just across. The road is just below. Once on the road make a right. Run up this road until you connect with another 4x4 road (about 200 yards). Turn right on this road and now begins another climb. Follow this road (about.75) until you get to your first aid station.

La Sal Pass 4x4 (10,400') to Squaw Springs Trail (8,760')

This segment is all down hill for roughly 1,000 feet in 1.50 miles. You will run down La Sal Pass 4x4 Rd from the first aid station. In about .25 mile you will come upon a drainage coming in from your right, cross this drainage and continue down the La Sal 4x4 Rd. Next you will run across a granite scree slope that has slid across La Sal 4x4 Rd. please be careful not twist your ankle here! From this point you are about 1.0 miles from the Squaw Springs turn off on your right. When you turn off the La Sal 4x4 Rd. on to Squaw Springs there will be a steep two track. Note: There is a wooden sign post indicating Squaw Springs to Gyser Pass 4.3 miles.

Squaw Springs Trail (8760') to Oowah Lake (8800')

This segment basically contours the side of Mt. Tukuhnikivatz for four and a half miles. It is a sweet yet challenging single track. You'll pass through ponderosa, oak, spruce, aspen and alpine meadows. If rainfall has been sufficient several of the drainages you pass in and out of may have flowing water. Four and a half miles into this segment, there is an aid station (8880') at the junction of Geyser Pass Road and Squaw Springs Trailhead. Next is a two and half mile segment of nice single track through aspen and alpine meadows. You will cross a stream athat maybe flowing if rainfall has been adequate. You will crest Boren Mesa in an open meadow (9280') and continue downhill into the Oowah Lake basin.

Oowah Lake (8800') to Geyser Pass (10,600')

This three and half mile segment is all single track and all climb, 1,800 feet worth. You will pass Clark Lake about 1.5 miles from Oowah Lake and continue through aspen and spruce and up to a newly created trail through Moonlight Meadow to Geyser Pass. Don't forget to look behind you as you cross through the meadows near Geyser Pass. The views are awesome.

Geyser Pass (10,600') to Warner Lake (9280')

This five and half mile segment is tough on the lungs as you pass over Burro Pass (11,000') and then on the legs as you descend into Warner Basin. From Geyser Pass you will run down a dirt two track for about a mile and then hang a left on another two track that will take you up and into Burro Basin. The ascent over Burro Pass is on single track and will gain 720 feet in a mile and a half. Once over Burro Pass you will descend quickly on steep single track into the West Fork of Mill Creek. The last two miles of this segment are gentler and pass through aspen groves and meadows as you near Warner Lake.

Warner Lake (9280') to Miners Basin (9600')

Three miles may not seem too far, but this is a killer segment. You will ascend quickly on a single track from Warner Lake to Miners Pass (10,800'). A 1,500 foot climb in a mile and a half! The trail is in very good condition and easy to follow. From Miners Pass you descend sharply for a half-mile on a single track and then another mile on old dirt mining roads. The descent from Miners Pass to Miners Basin is a drop of 1,200 feet, so watch your knees once again.

Miners Basin (9600') to Junction of La Sal Loop Road and Kokopelli's Trail (8360')

This segment is four and a half miles long. From Miners Basin you will descend on dirt two-track for three miles to the paved La Sal Loop Road. Take a left on the paved Loop Road and run (facing traffic) along it for a mile and a half. Watch for traffic at blind curves.

Junction of La Sal Loop Road and Kokopelli Trail (8360’) to Sand Flats/ Kokopelli Intersection (7280’)

This section is all down hill on a 3.0 mile two-track, which is the Kokopelli Trail. You will have amazing views of Castle Rock and the red rock valley below, so hopefully this will make up for the extreme temperature difference from the previous La Sal section. Once you arrive at the junction you will make a right onto the Sand Flats dirt road. Please take advantage of the aid station’s food/drink provided for you here.

Sand Flats/ Kokopelli Intersection (7280’) to Porcupine Spur (6440’)

This segment is roughly 5.28 miles in length. As you head right on Sand Flats Road you will run on this road for approximately 3.0 miles to the Porcupine Spur which you will veer right off of Sand Flats. You will connect with the main Porcupine Trail and you will turn left and the Porcupine Trailhead aid station is approximately 1.0 miles.

Porcupine Spur (6440’) to Finish Line (4700’)

From the aid station it is approximately 7 miles to the finish line at the Slickrock Bike Trail — all downhill!

The race has a limit to 14 hours in which the course must be completed.

 

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