Race Information
ABOUT
A 60km or 200km human-powered winter race on a network of groomed snowmobile trails. Groomed is relative. This is a backcountry event that will require some experience and winter survival skills. You will be challenged, humbled and rewarded in many different ways. The 200km distance course will not be marked and you will need to navigate by GPS or map and compass. The 60km will be well marked. If you can read a map you will have no problem following the route. You will need to be self-sufficient and carry all your own gear, food, and water, although there will be checkpoints and aid stations.
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The race HQ and start/finish will be at Sawtelle Mountain Resort. 200km racers will tackle the highlight of the route early in the race: Two Top is in the first 30 miles, so you can catch the climb in daylight, in good conditions, when you're fresh.
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This event was created to help people gain experience and learn about backcountry winter travel. We feel everyone needs that chance and we do not require a resume of races to do the 60km or 200km distance, although past winter travel experience is strongly recommended.
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Please understand that temperatures of 20 below are not uncommon. The snowfall average at 6300′, your low point, is over 200″ and over 300″ at your high point of 8300′. Snow is guaranteed!
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DO NOT TAKE THE 60KM DISTANCE LIGHTLY!
You are being exposed to the same things the 200km participants are being faced with.
Trail Guarantee
ALMOST = )
How does the trail get put in and do you groom it?
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Lets start by saying the routes of the event are part of a 500+mile trail system that gets groomed by the state. It's a multi million dollar program and there are big PistenBully groomers that go out each evening to groom trail. There is no set schedule as it depends on snow fall and trail usage on where they might go. Some trails get more regular trail grooming over others. The "trails" are the same as the Forest Service "roads" and the grooming is as wide as the road.
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I've spent years building relationships and donate money (Thanks to Fat Pursuit!) to the Fremont County Parks and Rec that heads this program up. I put in my trail grooming requests for event weekend and have a finger on the pulse of mostly what is, has been, and will be groomed prior to the Fat Pursuit.
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This area gets a lot of snow and wind that can literally shut the trail down to a snail's pace within a handful of hours. Ask veterans, they know. As an event organization we do everything we can to keep the trail "open" and keep people moving. We have learned a lot over the years and have tried all sorts of techniques to deal with unridable trails. Some were better than others. And then we found a tool that literally saved the event one year. This implement can blow a foot+ of snow off trail and get down to the existing firm service allowing a biker to start pedaling again.
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After that year so many people were thankful for that implement, gave it a name, and said WOW that thing is amazing. So, we crowd funded and bought our own.
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Hence, I know give the "Trail Almost Guarantee," meaning "We will do everything we can within our power with our equipment and our incredible volunteers and their equipment to give everyone the best surface of trail possible."
