When, What, Where:  A 50 mile ultramarathon through the Catskills on Sat. 6/22/13 starting at 5 am at CD Lane Park (Batavia Kill Rec. Area) in Maplecrest, N.Y., in Windham Twp.  The park is our staging and start area. We will then head east down Big Hollow Rd. to the northern end of the Black Dome Trail, which takes you up to the Escarpment Trail. We will make a right onto the Escarpment Trail, which is the same as the Long Path at this point and continue on to North Lake, one of the relay exchanges. Then we will follow the Long Path all the way to Palenville and on to Platte Clove Rd., another relay exchange point. (You could also use Palenville aid station as a relay exchange point). We make a right onto Platte Clove Rd., a left onto Praediger and join the Devil’s Path for a mile until we rejoin the Long Path. From there we follow the Long Path all the way to Phoenicia, finishing on Plank Rd. in Phoenicia. The finish (we hope) will be in downtown Phoenicia, N.Y. in a field behind the Parish House.

Who can run?:  This is an extreme event and only those who are highly qualified and/or completely deranged should attempt it.  In order to run in the 50 miler, you must have run another 50 miler within the time limits for that course and within the last two years.  To run in the relay, you must have completed a road marathon in under 4:30 within the last two years, or a 50k trail race, or a trail marathon, or the Escarpment Trail Run. You will need to provide this info on the race application.

Cutoffs:  The cutoff is 24 hrs. for the 50 miler.  But realistically, we will probably not let anyone leave the Platte Clove aid station (31 miles) after 8 pm.
Registration:  Visit our registration page.  The race fee is $100 for 50 milers, with a 25% discount for first responders and military. The fee for relay participants will depend on the number of relay members on the team, 2 or 3, but will add up to $150.

Crew and Pacers:  CREW AND PACERS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED.  There are no limits to crew and pacer access, but you are responsible for anyone who accompanies you or helps you.  Crew and pacers will be able to take food/supplies at aid stations and partake of the finish line feast.  See directions for crew (eventually it will be there).

Aid Stations:  We are planning the following aid stations (the mileage is not exact yet):
1 – water stop at bottom of Black Dome before ascent up to Acra Point – 3 mi.
2 – Dutcher’s Notch – 10.3 mi
3 – North Lake – 17.5  This could be the end of the first relay leg.
4 – Palenville, Rte. 23A – 21.5 mi
5 – There may be a backcountry aid station on Kaaterskill High Peak – about 25.5 mi
6 – Platte Clove – 31.5 mi  This could be the end or start of a second or third relay leg.
7 – Mink Hollow – 40.5 mi
8 – Silver Hollow (probably) – 45 mi
9 – Jessup (Willow) Trail (probably) – 50+ mi
10 – water stop, Rte 40, one mile to finish – 54+ mi
Note: Distances are a bit approximate, but probably realistic. Some are from GPS and some from map.
Post Race Food:  There will be a catered post-race meal probably from the Phoenicia Diner, free to participants and one crew member per participant, and free to volunteers. Additional meals available for a reasonable price, I hope. Also, we will be able to use the kitchen in the Parish Hall.
Awards and T-shirts:  Of course, details to follow.
Lodging:  See Lodging and Directions page.
Directions for runners and crew:  See Lodging and Directions page.
Bus: There will be a bus to the start in Windham from Phoenicia leaving at 3:30 a.m. sharp! Included with the race fee. Details to follow.
Parking:  You can park at the start in CD Lane Park. I will find out if you can leave your car there soon, I hope. There will be no official transportation back to the start.  There is lots of parking near the finish in Phoenicia, details to follow, so think about taking the bus or getting dropped off at the start, carpooling, etc.  See Lodging and Directions page.
Course Description:
The start is at CD Lane Park in Windham.  You will run 3 miles on paved and dirt road to a trailhead for the red blazed Black Dome Trail, then make a left and climb up to the Escarpment Trail over 1.1 mi. You then make a right onto the Escarpment Trail and climb up to Acra Point and continue on to Blackhead Mtn. You will head steeply down the mountain to the Dutcher’s Notch aid station (about 2500 ft.).  From here you will begin the long climb in stages up to Stoppel Pt. and the wreckage of a plane crash.  Continuing on you will pass North Point, and several scenic ledges to reach North Lake campground at about 14.5 mi.  A second relay runner (for a three person group) could start here.  After North lake, there is a long, very runnable descent of 5 miles to Rte 23A in Palenville, at 568 ft. the lowest elevation on the course.  After passing the aid station, you will cross over to the left side of the road and run about 300 yards on the highway over a bridge and make a left down a dead end.  Climb over the fence and follow a ragged trail to Malden Ave.  After passing the Fernwood Restaurant, make a right uphill at the next road which looks like a driveway, and then a quick sharp right steeply uphill to begin the climb up Kaaterskill High Peak, the worst climb all day, over about 3 miles.  There are some great views along the way, eventually, from the tops of two waterfalls.  You will not actually summit KHP as it is a bushwhack.  The descent to the Platte Clove aid station is long and very runnable.  For a two person relay, this would be a good breakpoint, and also a good break for a third person in a three person relay.  The remaining 20 miles are the most rugged on the course, however.
If you think you’ve had it at this point, you ain’t seen nothing yet!  There will (most likely) be a short road segment up Platte Clove Rd. to Praediger Rd. to the start of the Devil’s Path (red), which you will follow for about a mile until you rejoin the Long Path (still the Devil’s Path and still red blazed).  You will turn right and begin to climb steeply up Indian Head, yet another 3500+ peak.  After Indian Head, you will drop into the col and then climb Twin and Sugarloaf Mtns.  The descent off Sugarloaf is treacherous and it may be near nightfall at this point.  There is an aid station off to the left in the lean-to in Mink Hollow.  A tough hike up Plateau, 1200 ft. in 0.8 mi, pulling yourself up ledges then follows.  At 3840 ft., this is the last of the seven 3500+ peaks on the course, but by no means the end of your trouble.  After running a short distance on the relatively flat top of Plateau, you will turn left on the new Long Path and head 10.4 miles towards the summit of Mt. Tremper.  You will have cross over Silver Hollow, Edgewood Mtn., Warner Creek (can be knee deep), and Carl Mountain.  The footing is sometimes bad and many of you will be doing this segment in the dark, guided by reflective tape or glowlights.  Finally, you will reach the fire tower at the summit of Mt. Tremper, at about 3100 ft.  From there you will descend 1900 ft. in less than 3 miles to County Rte 40 (Plank Rd.) and turn right to follow the highway the last mile into Phoenicia and the finish line.
Contact:  RD  Charlie Gadol  willow333@earthlink.net