Course Description  

Aid stations are fully stocked with water, Accelerade, gels, fruit, salty snacks, sweets, Coke and other sodas, PB&J sandwiches.  Pizza, chili and hot soup at the finish.

   Start/Finish Area:

Sunrise Trailhead (Just North of Mile Marker 34 on Sunrise Highway)

Out and back course.  Run commences from Sunrise Trailhead parking area and follows Pacific Crest Trail North to Mason Valley Truck Trail, where runners will begin their descent down Oriflamme Canyon into the desert. At the base of Oriflamme Canyon, runners will turn onto the California Riding & Hiking Trail, crossing S2 and then proceeding through Box Canyon into Blair Valley and the turnaround point.

   Aid Stations:

Start/Finish:      Sunrise Trailhead  

                         Nice, single track mostly along Pacific Crest                          Trail with rolling terrain for first 5.4 miles,                          with great views of the desert below. 

Mile 5.4:            Mason Valley Aid Station

                          Course shifts east and begins approximate                           2,000 foot descent into desert along Mason                           Valley Truck Trail. Drop is steep at times,                           reaching desert floor after about 5                           miles. Runners continue heading east on                           soft desert track, turning onto California                           Riding & Hiking Trail for final leg to aid                           station at S2 road crossing. (7.8 miles to next aid.)

Mile 13.2:          S2 Aid Station

                         Runners continue on California Riding & Hiking Trail as its hugs its way north along Box                          Canyon and the historic Old Mormon Trail on the way to Blair Valley turnaround point.  Footing is                          sandy and rocky at times.  With any luck, desert flowers will be in bloom! (2.5 miles to                          turnaround.)

Mile 15.7:          Blair Valley Turnaround

                          Return via same route to S2 aid station and road crossing. (2.5 miles to next aid.)

Mile 18.2:          S2 Aid Station

                          Runners have a little over 2 miles left on the desert floor before beginning steep ascent up                           Oriflamme Canyon.  (7.8 miles to next aid. Un-manned water aid will be provided at base of                           climb up Oriflamme Canyon, approximately 5 miles before Mason Valley AS.)

Mile 26.0:          Mason Valley Aid Station

                          Final aid before finish.  Runners will rejoin Pacific Crest Trail and final leg home along rolling                           single track. (5.4 miles to finish.)

Mile 31.4/Finish: Sunrise Trailhead

   Directions to Start/Finish: 

Take Interstate 8 East. Exit Sunrise Highway. Turn left at exit, over freeway and head north. Follow Sunrise Highway to just past mile marker 34. Sunrise Trailhead parking area is on the west side of the road.