50K Course
COURSE MAP
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This race starts with a .25 mile run up the dirt road to give you some room to gain position before getting on the single track trail. After .4 miles on the single track you are on double track for about a mile. At mile 1.95 (single track) start a steady climb up the cool, lush valley as you cross the stream 11 times. 
At mile 3. 4 you leave the stream and to start a .4 mile lung burner climb.
This section is steep, but it is short. Keep pushing it, it is over before you know it. At mile 4.0 you turn right at the junction for a short .2 gradual climb to the top. The descent is rocky, but fast. Take a moment to enjoy the great view of Mt. Evans to the south. 
Descend the 4 or so switch backs to the 1st aid station at mile 5. Fuel up here because you have a steady 1,000 foot climb in 3 miles. Climb the Buffalo (double track dirt road) for 1.2 miles and go around the metal gate into the campground parking area. There are rest rooms here if you need them. Head west across the parking area and pick up the trail to the right of the restrooms.
Follow the course marshals and signs to the Snowshoe Hare. Right after you get on the trail you will take a right on a faint trail, but you will see the Snowshoe hare sign shortly. This trail meanders through the woods for about a .5 mile and then comes out into another road and campground area. Follow the signs and marshals to the service road that connects back to the Snowshoe Hare trail. Stay left and follow the road to the restroom and take the trail that is just right of the restrooms down to the lower road.
Go left down the hill to the circle. Go left and follow the circle around to the service road on your left. Take this road down to an open area where you see a lake to your left and a Snowshoe Hare sign on the right. Turn right on Snowshoe Hare trail. Stay right, or straight at the next junction. Continue the steady climb up to Mule deer trail.
Turn right on Mule deer which takes an immediate left. Follow the Mule Deer hoof signs. From here the trail climbs and travels through beautiful lush forests. There are a couple short steep climbs in this section, but you will be at Gap road and enjoying breath taking views of the divide and a fast descent in just 1.22 miles - so keep pushing this section and know it will be over quickly, although I guess that depends on whether you are a mountain goat or a tortoise!
Cross the road at Gap Rd. and head right on raccoon. Enjoy a mile descent and know that the climb will come too soon. Take a moment to enjoy the great views of the divide from here and the aspen groves. 
At mile 9.45 you will start the .75 mile climb up to Gap Rd. When you reach the junction of Raccoon and Elk turn right. Climb Elk to Gap Road and cross Gap Road.
After a quick climb to the top of the hill you will enjoy a fast 1 mile descent down the Elk trail though beautiful grass meadows to the Coyote Trail junction.
Turn left on Coyote which begins one of the toughest climbs of the race. Aid Station 2 is just .1 mile on Mountain Base Road. There are bathrooms and picnic tables here. This is a great place for crew, friends and family to meet you.
This climb up Coyote is tough, but you are rewarded with great views to the west - so be sure to turn around and enjoy them when you get to the top of this 1.4 mile climb. The top is a rock scramble so follow the cairns and trail markings, keep your head up and you will stay on the trail. 
Another fun, fast descent down the east side of Coyote takes you through some peaceful forest and aspen groves then drops you in the center of the wide open spaces of Fraser Meadow
. 
Turn right on Mule Deer. Stay on Mule deer, passing the Horseshoe trail to the next trail junction.
Turn left and an immediate right to take Black Bear. Black Bear is a 2.7 mile technical adventure. You start off with a 300 foot climb in less than a .5 mile
and then a traverse and 1,100 ft descent in the next 2 miles. Like I said, this section is technical - travel at a comfortable speed, keep your eyes ahead and pick up your feet! No Diggers!
After the long descent you will come up on to a junction on your left that traverses over to Horseshoe
. The 3rd aid station and your drop bags are at mile 16.8 at the Bridge on Horseshoe. After stocking up and changing gear head up Horseshoe for a steady mile climb to the 1st junction you see on your right. The next .5 miles to the Mule Deer junction has some pretty steep sections, but keep pushing and remember it is all part of the fun.
Enjoy the wide open views of Fraser Meadow again. Take a right on Mule Deer and enjoy the short climb. This next section is 1.39 miles along Mule Deer. Turn right on the 1st Snowshoe Hare Junction. Stay right on the next couple of trail junctions. Just before the Dudes fishing hole turn right on the Snowshoe Hare single track trail. 
From here there is a little more than a 200 ft. climb in less than a .5 mile. Just remember, it seems worse than it really is. You get a little bit of a reprieve and short descent and then another short 100 ft. climb before you get to enjoy a 1000 ft. descent before your last big climb of this course.
At mile 22 you will come to the Buffalo junction. You need to reach this point by the 2:00 PM cut off time. (If you don't make this cut off time you will be picked up by a race official and driven back to the start.) Turn right and now you get to enjoy the mile decent that you had to climb in the beginning of the race. At mile 23.4 you will reach the 4th and final aid station.
Stock up for the steep, 1000 foot climb to the top of Windy Peak. From the aid station head right and down hill past the lake. Go left at the city lights ridge trail and turn left on the Burro trail. This trail has a short steep descent before it starts its long 1,100 ft, 2 mile climb. Just remember, when you are suffering at this point � it is all worth the great view from the top of Windy Peak - and the descent is fast and furious! Turn left at the first junction that head to the top of windy peak. Go left at the next junction. Pass the next junction, staying on Burro to the top of Windy Peak. Punch your bib at the top of Windy Peak - take in the beauty that surrounds you - do a dance and turn around and head back down.
Stay on the Burro Trail, again passing the cut off to Lions loop and go left at the Burro junction (opposite where you came up from). Enjoy this screaming down hill and turn right at the next trail junction. Go right on the service road, go right on the single track, stay right and pass the junction which you took to climb Windy Peak and head back up the short climb back to Lions Loop and Bridge Creek. Turn left on Lions loop.
From here you have 3 short climbs on the ridge heading back to the parking lot. Each successive climb is easier than the previous. After this 3rd little bump, enjoy the fast down hill back to the parking lot. At the bottom of the steep descent turn right and head towards the finish line. All your fans will be there cheering you through the finish line.
