Participant Information - Friends & Family Challenge

Check-In

The Friends & Family Challenge will take place rain or shine. Upon arrival at White Oak Farm, first stop at the check-in table in or near the barn to pick up your ID tag and map. You may optionally pick them up Friday evening in North Park, in which case you can go directly to the starting queue to be scanned out. When you have your tag, you'll need to have it scanned before starting. Please have the group leader pin the tag on his or her right side at waist level so it can can be readily located. Memorize the number on the tag as it will be called out when it is scanned. The group leader is responsible for ensuring all members stay together and the tag is properly scanned! Registration opens at 11:30 AM.

Starting

You may start when all group members are present and ready, anytime between 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM. Make sure you stop at the table and let the volunteers scan your tag so we know you've left and have an accurate start time. Registration closes at 12:30 PM.

Checkpoints

There is one aid station on the Friends & Family Challenge, with water, Gatorade, snacks, basic first aid, and radio communication.

Elevation Profile

Total Ascending 1210 ft. Total Descending 1186 ft.

Course Map

Covid-19 Protocol

Please carefully review these rules and be prepared to comply with them. Covid-19 is a serious disease so it's critical that no one deviates from the protocol in order to keep everyone safe.

The operating principle is that the primary transmission vector is the air and infection is a function of exposure quantity ("viral load") and time. That means constraining individual emissions (via masks) and minimizing time spent in close proximity.

If you simply behave as though you are infected and don't want to infect anyone else, all these rules will come naturally.

General

• Masks are required while on the shuttle bus, at check-in, at the start, at each aid station, and the finish. Masks are not required while on the trail.
• Maintain at least six feet separation when near other people for more than a few moments.
• Wear a mask which covers your mouth and nose when around other people.
• Turn away from people when exhaling heavily, even when wearing a mask.
• Masks and hand sanitizer will be available everywhere. If you don't see them, ask.

Afternoon Shuttle Bus

• Everyone must wear a mask.
• Staggered seating will be used as shown here. Please fill the bus front-to-back back-to-front and sit in the proper place based on the position of the person in front of behind you.
• During the bus trip, please sit quietly and refrain from talking.
• Weather permitting, please lower the bus window next to your seat.

Start

• While in the starting queue, maintain a safe distance and wear a mask.

Aid Stations

• Everyone must wear a mask within the aid station area.
• Only volunteers are permitted to touch the fluid dispensers. Volunteers will operate the valve while the participant holds their hydration pack or bottle underneath.
• Cups with water, Gatorade, and soda will be placed on the table for participants to take.
• Gels, PB&J, fruit, candy, etc. will be individually packaged and dispersed on the table for participants to take.
• Only participants and volunteers are permitted near the aid station tables.

Finish

• Food will be provided by volunteers on plates for participants to take.
• Canned soda, water, chocolate milk, Gatorade, and cups with ice will be provided by volunteers.

Transportation

There is no shuttle service to the aid station! If you drop out at the aid station and cannot arrange your own ride, volunteers will do their best to assist you in securing transportation. However, this is not guaranteed and you will almost certainly be required to wait, perhaps for several hours, for someone to take you. If you drop out elsewhere, you will need to find transportation yourself or wait by the trail for the Trail Sweeps to come through and they will assist you as best they can.

ID Tags

You must turn in your ID tag in order to receive your t-shirts. If you drop out and don't make it to the finish, please give the tag to the supervisor of the closest Checkpoint. If you do not return your tag you will be charged a $5 replacement fee.

T-Shirts

The t-shirts are distributed at the finish in North Park. You will be required to turn in your ID tag in order to receive your shirts. If you drop out, be sure to stop by the finish and collect yours.

Parking

The Friends & Family Challenge is a point-to-point course, not a loop. When you finish you will be 7 miles away from where you started. You have two parking options:

1. Park at North Park (the finish) and carpool to White Oak Farm on your own. There is no pre-event shuttle service. The benefit of this option is you will be at your car when you finish. The parking area is at the swimming pool (map).
2. Park at White Oak Farm (the start), do the Challenge, then wait for the shuttle to take you back from North Park. The drawback is you will need to wait for the shuttle (which generally run hourly) after you finish the Challenge (also note that the shuttle starts running at 1 PM). However, there will be food and drink at the finish for you to partake while waiting.

Afternoon Shuttle Itinerary

The afternoon shuttle bus will start running from North Park at 1 PM. The bus will make these stops, depending on passenger needs. When you board, please let the driver know where you need to go.

• White Oak Farm
• Springdale High School Marion Avenue lot
• Harrison Hills Park

Directions

• To White Oak Farm: Take Route 28 to Exit #5B and follow Route 8 north about two miles and turn right on Saxonburg Boulevard (at the Eat'n Park), then almost immediately turn left onto Middle Road. Travel about five miles and turn right on Wagner Road. In about a mile, the farm entrance will be on your left. Map

• To North Park Harmar Shelter: From Pittsburgh, take I279 North to the McKnight Road exit and travel 6.4 miles north. Take the North Park/Ingomar Rd. exit east and turn right at the third traffic light onto Babcock Blvd., then take the next left onto Hemlock Drive, then left again into the swimming pool lot. Follow the perimeter drive back and bear right. The Harmar Shelter is ahead on the left, behind the guardrail. Map
• To the Sample Road Aid Station: From Pittsburgh, take I279 North to the McKnight Road exit and travel 6.4 miles north. Take the North Park/Ingomar Rd. exit east and turn right at the fourth traffic light onto Wildwood-Sample Road. This road will end at a T-intersection with Sample Road. Turn right, then right again immediately before the railroad tracks. Map

Advisories

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink lots of liquid in small amounts at a steady, frequent rate. You should be carrying at least two quarts.

• Water and snacks will be available at the aid station within 4 miles.
• Wear a hat and use a high-SPF sunblock. You'll be outside all day.
• Watch the weather forecast closely to know what gear to bring; the Challenge will happen rain or shine.
• Stay on the trail. Shortcuts may not be fair to other participants and can upset landowners.
• Backtrack to find the last trail blaze and reassess your direction if you haven't seen a blaze in a hundred yards or so, as you may have missed a turn.
• Resist forging ahead or spending time trying to "hook up" with the trail if you lose it; this rarely works to your benefit.
• Respect private property! Much of the Rachel Carson Trail crosses privately owned land and the owners graciously allow us there; do not impose upon any landowner you may encounter.
• Clean up any trash you bring and any you encounter along the way. There are trash receptacles at the aid station.

Volunteers

We need quite a few volunteers to help us stage the Challenge. Please cajole and/or coerce your friends, relatives and co-workers into helping! Check out the Volunteers page for details.