General Course description
A general overview of the race course itself is it's a combination of a loop, point to point and out and back all together. Essentially runners start in Pine using the Highline Trail (#31) as a "base" of sorts for all other routes. There are no spurs or little out and backs to add mileage or get the right number of miles. Each portion of the race is needed to reach another area and as the Highline goes East to West it also connects the trails that climb onto the top of the rim where the Cabin Loop trail system lies.
After making the first climb onto the Rim through Pine Canyon runners descend to the Highline and head east to Washington Park Aid Station. Then a climb up and around a loop of the two major trails of Fred Haught and Houston Brothers in the Cabin Loop it takes runners back to descend into Washington Park again. Then heading east on the Highline again to Myrtle Point where a climb brings up to the second of the two Cabin Loops. This returns runners to the Rim's edge, descend to the Highline and then return West on the Highline back through Washington Park and a return to Geromino Aid Station where a last climb onto the Rim greets you before the descent through the start line and the last few miles on minimal pavement as runners finish in the mountain town of Pine, Arizona.
In all the course has a little bit of everything, nothing repeated in the same direction and more than enough variety and challenge for everyone. We tried our best to minimize the road running as best we could and feel we accomplished that with short stretches of 4-6 miles and only a few times as they connect different trail systems. For some this will be a welcome sight as its all very runnable and the views from these roads are incredible as most of the dirt roads hug the very edge of the Rim and the views that come along with it. The only pavement will be a very, very minimal section exiting the starting line parking lot and the last mile or so through the streets of Pine to the very finish. Nearly everything else is single track through desert, forest, and along fern draped, pine needle covered heaven.
After making the first climb onto the Rim through Pine Canyon runners descend to the Highline and head east to Washington Park Aid Station. Then a climb up and around a loop of the two major trails of Fred Haught and Houston Brothers in the Cabin Loop it takes runners back to descend into Washington Park again. Then heading east on the Highline again to Myrtle Point where a climb brings up to the second of the two Cabin Loops. This returns runners to the Rim's edge, descend to the Highline and then return West on the Highline back through Washington Park and a return to Geromino Aid Station where a last climb onto the Rim greets you before the descent through the start line and the last few miles on minimal pavement as runners finish in the mountain town of Pine, Arizona.
In all the course has a little bit of everything, nothing repeated in the same direction and more than enough variety and challenge for everyone. We tried our best to minimize the road running as best we could and feel we accomplished that with short stretches of 4-6 miles and only a few times as they connect different trail systems. For some this will be a welcome sight as its all very runnable and the views from these roads are incredible as most of the dirt roads hug the very edge of the Rim and the views that come along with it. The only pavement will be a very, very minimal section exiting the starting line parking lot and the last mile or so through the streets of Pine to the very finish. Nearly everything else is single track through desert, forest, and along fern draped, pine needle covered heaven.
Race Start to Pine Trailhead - 1st Aid Station
All info coming soon after final tweaks to the course are finalized with the Forest Service.
