Event Information
Overview
The first annual Baker Trail UltraChallenge will take place on Saturday August 27, 2005. The UltraChallenge is a 50-mile ultramarathon on the Baker Trail. Unlike the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, this is a footrace; the "challenge" is for you or your relay team to win, or at least finish in 14 hours or less! This year, the UltraChallenge starts at the northern trailhead in Forest County at 6:30 AM. Runners will follow the Baker Trail south for 40 miles to Summerville, then turn east over rolling country roads to Brookville and end at the Brookville YMCA. The deadline for finishing is 8:30 PM.
Details
Participants will meet at the Brookville YMCA beginning at 4 AM on August 27 for check-in. At 5:40 AM, a shuttle bus will take the individual participants and first leg relay team members to the trailhead where their tags will be scanned as they start out, as early as 6:05 AM if there is sufficient light. All participants must take the shuttle bus; there is no parking at the trailhead.
There are 11 aid stations along the course providing water, sport drinks, Coke, gels, sandwiches, and bagels. Candy such as M&Ms; and other snacks will be available at some stations. Four of these stations are also relay transfer spots and checkpoints where your tag will be scanned and your time recorded. Except for the start, relay teams are responsible for their own transportation to and from each transfer spot.
Each checkpoint has a designated cutoff time. Any participant arriving after the indicated time will be required to drop out.
The YMCA has showers available for participants.
| Aid Station | Cume Miles | AS Delta Miles | Relay Leg Miles | Opening Time | Cutoff Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start: Trailhead (map) | 0.0 | 6:00 AM | |||
| AS1: SR 1015 (map) | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7:15 AM | ||
| AS2/CP: Cook Forest (map) | 11.7 | 3.9 | 11.7 | 7:35 AM | 9:45 AM |
| AS3: Fire tower (map) | 14.7 | 3.0 | 7:55 AM | ||
| AS4: Clarion River (map) | 17.6 | 2.9 | 8:15 AM | ||
| AS5/CP: Fisher Road (map) | 21.1 | 3.5 | 9.4 | 8:35 AM | 12:30 PM |
| AS6: Summerville Drive (map) | 25.0 | 3.9 | 9:00 AM | ||
| AS7/CP: Frozen Toe Road (map) | 29.8 | 4.8 | 8.7 | 9:25 AM | 2:55 PM |
| AS8: Route 949 (map) | 34.3 | 4.5 | 9:55 AM | ||
| AS9/CP: Route 28 (map) | 40.0 | 5.7 | 10.2 | 10:30 AM | 5:45 PM |
| AS10: Roller Coaster Road (map) | 43.5 | 3.5 | 10:50 AM | ||
| AS11: Route 36 (map) | 47.7 | 4.2 | 11:15 AM | ||
| Finish: YMCA (map) | 50.2 | 2.5 | 10.2 | 11:30 AM | 8:30 PM |
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| Elevation Profile of the 2005 UltraChallenge |
Course Map
A map of the course is here (1.3MB JPEG).
Shirts & Awards
Individual registrants will receive a long-sleeve technical fiber shirt. All relay team members will receive a short-sleeve t-shirt.
All individual finishers will receive the first piece of a unique three-piece medal (a different piece will be awarded in each of the subsequent two years for the central and southern sections). All relay team members will receive a special relay medal. Trophies will be awarded for:
- First, second, and third place male, female, and overall finishers
- First place Masters (age 40+) male, female, and overall finishers
- First place relay team male, female, coed, corporate, and overall finishers
Registration
Advance registrations may only be submitted online, via active.com. Click here to register! Individuals as well as relay teams of up to 5 members may register, and we are accepting up to 300 registrations this year. Note that advance registrations are non-refundable. |  |
Participant Information
Important event details and other information for participants is here.
Lodging
These hotels are all within a few minutes drive of the YMCA.
| Hotel | Phone |
|---|---|
| Days Inn Double:$45 (mention event) | (814) 849-8001 |
| Gold Eagle Inn Single:$40 Double:$45 | (814) 849-7344 |
| Holiday Inn | (814) 849-8381 |
| Howard Johnson Motel Single:$29.99 Double:$34.99 (mention the event) | (814) 849-3335 |
| Super 8 Motel Single:$50.39 Double:$56.39 (w/3 day advance reservation) | (814) 849-8840 |
Volunteers
The UltraChallenge needs volunteers! We will need people throughout the day, from morning registration to checkpoints along the course and the finish. People can volunteer for as few as two hours. If you'd like to help out, email your name and phone to volunteer2 at rachelcarsontrails dot org. What's in it for a volunteer? As a thank-you, all volunteers receive a coveted Marshal t-shirt and the gratitude of hundreds of strangers!