2024 COURSE DETAILS

UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

Details for the 2024 will be posted soon: 30K/50K races

Below are the course descriptions from 2023.  For 2024, the courses will be the same 30K classic loop and the 50K will be the 30K + a second big loop using the Jeaneete Creek Trail to Crystal Mountain, then down the Willow Creek Trail to Finish at Pete Creek Trailhead.

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START/FINISH LOCATION:

We will Start and Finish at Pete Creek Trailhead and Dispersed Campground.

Google Maps Link to the Start: https://goo.gl/maps/wgdAbYgEkeh5Ljwi8

Directions are pretty simple.  From the west end of McCall, turn north onto Warren Wagon Road and drive 28.2 miles on the paved road.  Just before Warren Wagon Road turns to dirt, turn left on Forest Road #246 (AKA Burgdorf Road).  Drive the dirt road 4.1 miles to the Pete Creek Trailhead on your left.  This road is part of the race course, so please NO DUST and drive carefully.  Follow our directions for parking.  If cars are parking out on the Burgdorf Road, tuck in tight to the RIGHT/EAST shoulder and park. Watch for trafffic.  Walk into the Campground access road towards the back where we will start the race.

We will sign the location well for runners showing up in the dark on Saturday and I will be directing parking with a glow wand and reflective vest.  We are starting towad the back of the trailhead access road.  The camp is open to other campers and user groups, so please be respectful if you are starting at 5AM for the 50 Mile or 7AM for the 50K.  For the 9AM 30K stsrt, the sun will be high and most people awake.  Parking for the 30K will likely be out on the main Burgdorf Road on the right/east side, tight to the shoulder.

GPX Files

Visit and join our McCall Trailrunning Classic Facebook Group site.  Under the "FILES" tab, download your course distance map (choose 50Mi, 50K, 30K).  You may need to use a laptop or desktop for this feature.  Some people can't access the FILES tab with their phones.  If you are unable to get the map, email me and I will send it to you.  Once you download the file, upload it into your phone, GPS watch, GPS unit, etc.


AID STATIONS:

Link to Aidstation Spreadsheet here:  ***NOTE- use tabs to flip through 50M, 50K, 30K courses.


Here are pics of the sheets:

30K


50K


50 Mile


Cutoffs: 

Read this carefully and have crew ready to pick you up if you miss a cutoff or need to drop or miss a cutoff.

50 Mile Cutoffs: Our measured distance is 49.0 miles, so a little short.  The 50 Mile will start in the dark at 5AM. An earlier start available upon request.  Do not start early without my consent, you will be marked as DID NOT START and DQ'ed from the race.  We want everyone done before dark Saturday night, so 9:30PM as a final cutoff time for an official finish.  That means 16hrs 30mins, which for a 50 miler is 19:48 pace per mile.   The first cutoff will be at Chinook Campground, mile 19 at 10:45AM MST (5 hrs 45mins run time).  That means you need to do the easiest 19 miles of the course, by far, at an average of 18:09 mins/mile.  Chinook is remote but fine for any passenger vehicle to access, so have crew ready to gather you up if you need to drop there.  The next cutoff is North Fork Meadow, Mile 32.3.  Your cutoff here is 3PM (10 hrs run time).  To get here under the cutoff, you need to average 18:35 mins/mile for 32.3 miles.  This section has the first BIG climb up Victor Creek and over Diamond Ridge, thus slower than the first section, so pace accordingly.  If you make the North Fork Meadow cutoff and leave there before 3PM, you will have 6hrs 30 mins to travel the final 16.7 miles up and over Bear Pete Mountain to the finish.  This final section from North Fork Meadow to the finish allows 23:21 mins/mile. Easier said than done.  There will be a remote, hiked in- aid station at Frosty Meadows (Mile 40.2) manned by Irene and Carl and their packgoats and perhaps others.  No cutoff at Frosty Meadows because you need to get off that mountain.  Bear Pete Mountain is long, high and hard.  Don't take it lightly.

50K Cutoffs: Our measured distance is 32.3 miles, so a little longer than 50K.  7:00AM MST start time, full daylight, no headlamps needed unless you risk missing the final cutoff at 9:30PM.  The only intermediate cutoff for 50K runners is North Fork Meadow. at 1:00PM (6 hrs run time). This is mile 15.7.  Thus, a runner must travel 15.7 miles at an average of 22:56 to make the cutoff.  50K runners will visit Frosty Meadow twice at miles 7.9 and 23.5.  Neither visit will be a cutoff, as it is way up on the mountain, and backpacked in.  50K runners have until the final finish cutoff at 9:30PM, same as the 50 Milers.  This means they must finish in 14hrs 30 mins for an overall pace of 26:56 mins/mile.


30K Cutoffs: None, except the final cutoff at 9:30PM.  Measured distance is 17.2 miles, so a little shorter than 30K.  Starts at 9:00AM MST.  This means you get 12 hrs 30 mins to go 17.2 miles.  Very doable and can be hiked the whole way and still easily make the cutoff.


Basic Course Descriptions & Maps

50MI.  The full north loop of the original IMTUF100 course (circa 2012-2019) except it uses Pete Creek and Bear Pete's jawdropping summit, instead of Nethker Creek.  8000'-9000' of climbing, mapped at 49.0 miles. 

Full Course Footprint and Flow.  More detail in images below.

50 Mile- Loon Lake Area Detail. Note: The overall race flow is Clockwise.  However, we will do the Loon Lake Loop in a Counter Clockwise direction.  The enitre Loon Loop is just under 10 miles, including a short out and back to the lakeshore. 


50 Mile Elevation Profile.  The sting is definitely in the tail!



50K.  The 50K follows the 30K course to Frosty Meadows, before breaking off and running  south along the Bear Pete trail a few more more miles, passing Cloochman Saddle to our planned aid station at North Fork Meadows.  Turn around and climb back up over Cloochman Saddle to Frosty Meadows #2, then continuing north to the top of Bear Pete Mountain and descending Pete Creek back down to the finish.

50K course detail.


50K Elevation Profile



30K.  The Legend of Bear Pete Course from 2015-2019, except a start at Pete Creek Trailhead instead of Burgdorf.  Possibly the most loved and classic mountain running loop in Western Idaho.  Big views throughout and plenty of action above 8,000'.  Begin on the French Creek road, heading south.  Climb up Nethker Creek to the south shoulder of Bear Pete Mountain and drop quickly north into Frosty Meadow for an aid station.  Continue north on the Bear Pete Trail to the top of Bear Pete Mountain, then descend Pete Creek.  Cross the creek just 100 yards before the finish line.


30K course detail.

30K Elevation Profile.



NARRATIVE RACE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 
(2023 Clockwise Courses)

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50 MILE 

Part 1: START TO WILLOW BASKET #1: Begin at Pete Creek Campground and Trailhead.  Run SOUTH gently downhill on Forest Road #246 (AKA Burgdorf Road).  At Mile 2.7, pass Burgdorf Hotsprings on your left.  At Mile 2.9, pass Nethker Creek Road on your right (50K/30K runners will turn right here).  Continue south on Road #246.  At Mile 4.3, reach the paved Warren Wagon Road, go RIGHT.  Run carefully, being mindful of traffic for 200 yards and go LEFT into the Ruby Meadows Trailhead area.    At Mile 4.75, reach the Ruby Meadows Trail (#141) as it begins with an ATV width trail heading south. We will have an unmanned water station here at the Trailhead. Climb gently for about a mile, then descend gently for about a mile to reach Ruby Meadows Lake at Mile 6.7 as you cross a small earthen dam.  The ATV width trail continues south on rolling terrain to reach a junction.  GO LEFT, continuing on Trail 141, which is now a singletrack trail.  Trail #141 rolls up and down along Willow Basket Creek.  At Mile 12.0, reach Willow Basket Junction.  We will set up an unmanned water and bear canister station at this junction. Pay attention, this junction requires runners to read our race signs and make sure you go the correct way.

Part 2: THE LOON LAKE LOOP.  This roughly 10 mile loop will run in a COUNTER-CLOCKWISE direction and visit Loon Lake on a short out and back, then run along the Secesh River to hit Chinook Aid Station before coming back to the Willow Basket Junction... Again, pay attention to signage and understand the general flow of this section to avoid route finding errors.  Let's jump into the loop:
Willow Basket Junction is a 4-way intersection and you will eventually use all 4 of the trails, but they need to be in the proper order.  We will use very detailed signage here.  Read them all.  From Willow Basket #1 (Mile 12.0), head SOUTH on Trail #081 towards Loon Lake (bypass Victor Creek Trail #117, save that for Willow Basket #2).  Going SOUTH on Trail #081, reach a junction for Loon Lake at Mile 13.3.  This begins a short out and back section to visit the shore of Loon Lake.  Go RIGHT and reach Loon Lake at Mile 13.6.  Mark your bib with the Sharpie as instructed, to prove your visit and turn around, going back to the intersection. Go RIGHT/EAST on Trail #084 and travel along the Loon Creek drainage as it descends to the Secesh River.  At Mile 15.3, reach the large, beautiful bridge over the Secesh River.  Cross the bridge and go LEFT onto the Secesh River Trail #080.  Travel upstream through the beautiful canyon on amazing trail close to the river.  At Mile 19.0, reach Chinook Campground Aid Station.  This is a fully staffed and stocked aid station, serving pancakes and your crew and/or dropbags are there for you.  Get your fill and go SOUTH on Trail #081, crossing another gorgeous bridge over the Secesh River.  You are now heading back towards the Willow Basket Junction to finish the Loon Lake Loop.  More rolling terrain brings you back to the Willow Basket Junction at Mile 21.8.  Again, pay attention to make sure you turn into the proper trail.  Read all of our PINK race signage and you will be fine.

Part 3: Victor Creek Trail, Diamond Ridge and North Fork Meadow.  This is your first big ascent of the day and this section is very wild and is just under 11 miles to reach humans again.  
From Willow Basket Junction #2 (Mile 21.8), go RIGHT/WEST on Trail #117 and immediately cross a small wooden bridge over the creek.  The trail enters an old burn and will warm up through here if the sun is on you.  Climb gently for a few miles through this regrowing burn section to re-enter some shaded forest.  At approximately Mile 24.5, cross Victor Creek and then cross it again just down the trail.  I am unsure if you can keep feet dry on these crossings.  If it's hot out, get wet and don't worry about it.  Keep climbing through  the forested slope and at around 6600' elevation, the trail enters more open alpine slopes as views of the canyon's giant granite walls greet you.  At Mile 27.6, reach 7000' elevation and cross a small finger of Victor Creek and begin the steepest mile of the race on rough, bouldery footing.  Power hike up to a pass on Diamond Ridge at Mile 28.6.  Take a look back down Victor Creek Canyon and appreciate what you did.  Only one more big mountain to climb in this race and looking north, Bear Pete is staring right at you and guarding your finish.  You are now 3.7 miles mostly downhill to the aid station at North Fork Meadow.  Let's go!
From the pass at Diamond Ridge, drop steeply for just a few hundred feet and reach an unmanned water station.  Soon after, reach a beautiful basin with some small water crossings, meadows and gorgeous singletrack trail.  At the far end of this basin, the trail begins dropping fast on rough, guttered trail through open country.  ***NOTE: You will have cell service for the first time in the race here, for the next approximately 1 mile as you descend. Your lungs will love the break, but your legs will be screaming.  The trail enters darker forest and approaches the bottom.  At Mile 32.1, CAREFULLY cross Warren Wagon Road.  Look and listen for FAST moving cars.  Cross diagonally to another small paved pullout and continue WEST on Trail #117 a few hundred more yards to reach North Fork Meadow Aid Station at Mile 32.3.  There is a cutoff here for 50 Milers at 3PM.  Your crew can see you here and you can access your drop bags.  One big mountain to go!  ***NOTE: 50 Mile and 50K races follow the same course from here to finish, approximately 16.7 miles to go.

Part 4: North Fork Meadow to Cloochman Saddle This short, 3 mile long section is the link to Bear Pete Mountain.  Some key junctions in here, so pay attention.  Leave North Fork Meadow and head NORTH on an unnamed and un-numbered trail.  It takes off from the deadend road at the aid station.  At Mile 33.0, reach Forest Road #260 (aka Center Ridge Road) and go LEFT.  Follow this road to it's deadend at the old Fish and Game Cabin at Mile 33.9.  This is a critical junction.  Begin on the trail #116, but make an immediate RIGHT/UPHILL onto Trail #142.  This is the beginning of the Bear Pete Trail.  This is a NASTY climb for just under 1 mile on steep and rutted trail.  At Mile 34.8, reach Forest Road #492 (AKA Cloochman Saddle Road), go LEFT and climb a half mile to reach Cloochman Saddle Trailhead at Mile 35.3 6900' elevation.  An unmanned water station will be here.  

Part 5: Cloochman Saddle, Bear Pete's summit and Pete Creek Finish:  ***NOTE: You will have cell service most of the next 9  miles until you drop into Pete Creek and head for the finish. You are on prime terrain from here to the finish.  Sweet trail, high altitude and some of the best views in Idaho.  From the water station at Cloochman Saddle, go RIGHT on the continuation of the Bear Pete Trail #142, going uphill on awesome singletrack trail. The trail is smooth and scenic with switchbacks that keep the ascent angle reasonable.   At Mile 37.8, the trail reaches the ridge top and the trail will run straight north for several miles near this ridge staying above 8000' for a long way.  
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION HERE: At Mile 39.6 and at 8120' elevation, there is a vague  intersection. You will see our race signs for the 30K race as the 30K course intersects here but goes in a different direction as your course.  You are 0.2 miles from the Frosty Meadows Aid Station.  WE ARE DEVIATING FROM THE POSTED GPX FILE HERE for the next approx half mile.  Pink race signs will take you veering RIGHT and staying on the obvious trail that descends quickly.  At Mile 39.8, reach Frosty Meadows Aid Station.  It will be manned, but supplied by backpack and goat pack, so expect basic aid that was carried up the mountain.  The aid location will be at the junction with the top of Nethker Creek Trail #143.  Leave the aid station, continuing north on the Bear Pete Trail.  Very soon you will see a 30K sign on your left at another vague intersection, as the 30K race joins the 50K and 50 Mile courses to the finish.  Everyone on the same path from here on out.  Continue north on the obvious and very nice trail.  
SUMMIT PUSH: At Mile 42.3, begin the half mile out and back climb to Bear Pete's 8752' high point.  At a pink race sign, go RIGHT/EAST and climb a vague trail through a  meadow.  This section will be marked very tightly to keep everyone on the same track and not making multiple trails through the sensitive terrain.  Climb the ancient fire lookout trail through open country terrain and staggering views.  Be careful to stay away from the 1000+ foot  cliff dropoff that is the east face of Bear Pete Mountain.  We will mark the ridge close enough to the ridge for great views, but not so close that you are at risk of a fall.  Hit the summit at Mile 42.8 and mark your bib as directed (similar to what you did at Loon Lake earlier).  The top is marked by a big green box holds radio repeaters and other US Forest Service gadgets. The fire lookout building burned down long ago.  The cliff is very close to the top, so step carefully.  Mark your bib and turnaround, returning to the main trail at the pink race sign at Mile 43.2.  Go RIGHT/NORTH and continue along the Bear Pete Trail #142.  From this point, you are one mile to the junction with Pete Creek Trail.
Pete Creek Trail: At Mile 44.3, go RIGHT/EAST on the Pete Creek Trail.  This trail will drop 2000+ feet over the next 5 miles and take you to the finish.  Begin your Pete Creek descent with some steep and rocky terrain, real mountain running!  Reach an unmanned water station at mile 45.0 at approx 7600' elevation.  Continue dropping through crazy steep terrain to around 7000' elevation where the trail mellows some and continues getting more reasonable and smooth as you go.  The trail crosses Pete Creek a few more times and passes some swampy areas, but you can mostly avoid the wet shoes if you wish.  You will be very ready to stop running at this point, and Pete Creek will throw a few very short and irritating rolling uphills at you to keep the effort honest.  You are now very close. Enter a broad open meadow and the trail gets very narrow and is gravelly.  Get across this meadow and you are done!  The trail reaches the crossing of Lake Creek on a bridge.  The bridge partially washed away this spring and is just downstream of the proper location.  It is crossable if you are careful.  Planks have been added to add stability.  The creek is about 30 feet across.  By raceday, the creek should be low enough to safely cross by fording it through the channel, if you wish to soak down just before the finish, splash water on your face, etc.  Emerge on the other side of Lake Creek, finsih off the meadow and reach the Pete Creek Trailhead finish at Mile 49.0.  Don't be surprised if your GPS watch shows 50-52 miles, as that is what GPS watches do around here, they struggle just like you.

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50K

Part 1: START TO FROSTY MEADOW: Begin at Pete Creek Campground and Trailhead.  Run SOUTH gently downhill on Forest Road #246 (AKA Burgdorf Road).  At Mile 2.7, pass Burgdorf Hotsprings on your left.  At Mile 2.9, turn RIGHT on Nethker Creek Road #251 (50K/30K makes this turn, 50 Milers go straight).  Cross a bridge and follow the dirt road past Burgdorf US Forest Campground.  Ahead, the road splits and you keep RIGHT on Road #248.  Climb up the steepening grade a few hundred yards and go RIGHT at the small Nethker Creek Trailhead onto Trail #143.  We will have an unmanned water station here at mile 3.9. The Nethker trail climbs consistently for the first 3 miles.  Then, you get a short reprieve as the trail descends briefly just before reaching a good spring.  Cross the marshy area and if you wish to get a drink from the spring, the prime spot is just before you leave it behind, on your right.  The final mile of the Nethker trail is absurdly steep until you arrive at Frosty Meadows Aid Station #1 at 7.9 miles, 8000' elevation.  Now you begin a long out and back section on the south ridge of Bear Pete Mountain to North Fork Meadow Aid Station and back to Frosty.  

Part 2: FROSTY MEADOW #1 TO NORTH FORK MEADOW AND BACK:
Get your Frosty aid and your goat selfies and continue on climbing WEST another 0.25mi to the top of the ridge, where the Bear Pete Trail swings south.  You will see yellow 30K signs here (30K goes right/north here through the bottom of Frosty Meadows), disregard these signs and continue south, heading towards Cloochman Saddle and North Fork Meadows Aid.  The Bear Pete Trail through this next several miles is as good as it gets. High, scenic and buttery nderfoot, with just enough techy rocks in sections to keep it fun and keep you engaged.  The trail trends downward slowly, but throws a few rollers at you along the way.  At mile 10.5, reach a flat meadowy spot in a small saddle (views to the WEST of Josephine Lake if you step off the traila short way).  Here, the trail drops to the southwest and begins some long, extra gentle switchbacks which will take you down to Cloochman Saddle.  You can really rip it through here if you are feeling strong.  The last half mile down to Cloochman Saddle is rocky, techy and steeper.  Arrive at Cloohcman Saddle Water Station at Mile 12.8.  GO LEFT and descend the Forest Road #492 for a half mile.  PAY ATTENTION.  Where Road #492 makes a hairpin left turn, you have to make a HARD RIGHT turn onto a single track trail to continue the Bear Pete Trail.  We will mark this well with a sign, but you still must be sharp here to catch the turn. Make that RIGHT turn and continue descending the Bear Pete Trail.  Drop on this section of trail for almost a mile on rough, guttered terrain full of rocks.  This trail is gnarly and unaesthetic, but is over quickly.  At the bottom, the Bear Pete Trail joins the French Creek Trail #116 for just a few steps before arriving at the Trailhead at the "Old Fish and Game Cabin" at the dead-end of Forest Road #260.  Run SOUTH on #260 for about 0.9 mile and go right on an unnamed singeltrack trail that will run along Warren Wagon Road for 0.75 mile to arrive at North Fork Meadows Aid Station at Mile 15.7.  Get your aid, visit your crew or access your dropbag and continue on.
Turn around and go back to Frosty Meadows Aid Station the exact same way you just followed.  Arrive back at Frosty Meadows at Mile 23.5.

 PART 3: FROSTY MEADOWS #2 to BEAR PETE MOUNTAIN AND PETE CREEK FINISH.

Leave the aid station, continuing north on the Bear Pete Trail.  Very soon you may see a yellow 30K sign on your left at a vague intersection, as the 30K race joins the 50K and 50 Mile courses from here to the finish.  Everyone is on the same path from here on out.  Continue north on the obvious and very nice trail.  
SUMMIT PUSH: At Mile 25.6, begin the half mile out and back climb to Bear Pete's 8752' high point.  At a pink race sign, go RIGHT/EAST and climb a vague trail through a  meadow.  This section will be marked very tightly to keep everyone on the same track and not making multiple trails through the sensitive terrain.  Climb the ancient fire lookout trail through open country terrain and staggering views.  Be careful to stay away from the 1000+ foot  cliff dropoff that is the east face of Bear Pete Mountain.  We will mark the ridge close enough to the ridge for great views, but not so close that you are at risk of a fall.  Hit the summit at Mile 26.1 and mark your bib as directed with the Sharpie.  The top is marked by a big green electrical box holding radio repeaters and other US Forest Service gadgets. The fire lookout building burned down long ago.  The cliff is very close to the top, so step carefully.  Mark your bib and turnaround, returning to the main trail at the pink race sign at Mile 26.5.  Go RIGHT/NORTH and continue along the Bear Pete Trail #142.  From this point, you are one mile to the junction with Pete Creek Trail.
Pete Creek Trail: At Mile 27.6, go RIGHT/EAST on the Pete Creek Trail.  This trail will drop 2000+ feet over the next 5 miles and take you to the finish.  Begin your Pete Creek descent with some steep and rocky terrain, real mountain running!  Reach an unmanned water station at mile 28.3 at approx 7600' elevation.  Continue dropping through crazy steep terrain to around 7000' elevation where the trail mellows some and continues getting more reasonable and smooth as you go.  The trail crosses Pete Creek a few more times and passes some swampy areas, but you can mostly avoid the wet shoes if you wish.  You will be very ready to stop running at this point, and Pete Creek will throw a few very short and irritating rolling uphills at you to keep the effort honest.  You are now very close. Enter a broad open meadow and the trail gets very narrow and is gravelly.  Get across this meadow and you are done!  The trail reaches the crossing of Lake Creek on a bridge.  The bridge partially washed away this spring and is just downstream of the proper location.  It is crossable if you are careful.  Planks have been added to increase stability.  The creek is about 30 feet across.  By raceday, the creek should be low enough to safely cross by fording it through the channel, if you wish to soak down just before the finish, splash water on your face, etc.  Emerge on the other side of Lake Creek, finish off the meadow and reach the Pete Creek Trailhead finish at Mile 32.3.  Don't be surprised if your GPS watch shows a little more or less, as that is what GPS watches do around here, they struggle just like you.

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30K

Part 1: START TO FROSTY MEADOW: Begin at Pete Creek Campground and Trailhead.  Run SOUTH gently downhill on Forest Road #246 (AKA Burgdorf Road).  At Mile 2.7, pass Burgdorf Hotsprings on your left.  At Mile 2.9, turn RIGHT on Nethker Creek Road #251 (50K/30K makes this turn, 50 Milers go straight).  Cross a bridge and follow the dirt road past Burgdorf US Forest Campground.  Ahead, the road splits and you keep RIGHT on Road #248.  Climb up the steepening grade a few hundred yards and go RIGHT at the small Nethker Creek Trailhead onto Trail #143.  We will have an unmanned water station here at mile 3.9. The Nethker trail climbs consistently for the first 3 miles.  Then, you get a short reprieve as the trail descends briefly just before reaching a good spring.  Cross the marshy area and if you wish to get a drink from the spring, the prime spot is just before you leave it behind, on your right.  The final mile of the Nethker trail is absurdly steep until you arrive at Frosty Meadows Aid Station at 7.9 miles, 8000' elevation.  

 PART 2: FROSTY MEADOWS to BEAR PETE MOUNTAIN AND PETE CREEK FINISH.

The 30K course deviates slightly from the 50K/50mi courses throughout the next mile and you must pay attention and follow yellow signs and markers (50K/50Mi follow pink).  Leave the aid station and climb WEST for 0.25mi.  At the ridgetop, you will make a sharp RIGHT turn at yellow signage.  Drop NORTH into the bottom of Frosty Meadow, crossing a lush oasis with a nice creek at the bottom with a small lake nearby.  Exit the meadow bottom and make a short climb to re-emerge on the Bear Pete Trail at a vague junction.  You will see a sign noting all 3 race ditances are on the same course from here until the finish.  Veer LEFT onto the Bear Pete Trail and continue NORTH on excellent trail.
 
SUMMIT PUSH: At Mile 10.4, begin the half mile out and back climb to Bear Pete's 8752' high point.  At a pink race sign, go RIGHT/EAST and climb a vague trail through a  meadow.  This section will be marked very tightly to keep everyone on the same track and not making multiple trails through the sensitive terrain.  Climb the ancient fire lookout trail through open country terrain and staggering views.  Be careful to stay away from the 1000+ foot  cliff dropoff that is the east face of Bear Pete Mountain.  We will mark the ridge close enough to the ridge for great views, but not so close that you are at risk of a fall.  Hit the summit at Mile 10.9 and mark your bib as directed with the Sharpie.  The top is marked by a big green electrical box holding radio repeaters and other US Forest Service gadgets. The fire lookout building burned down long ago.  The cliff is very close to the top, so step carefully.  Mark your bib and turnaround, returning to the main trail at the pink race sign at Mile 11.4.  Go RIGHT/NORTH and continue along the Bear Pete Trail #142.  From this point, you are one mile to the junction with Pete Creek Trail.
Pete Creek Trail: At Mile 12.4, go RIGHT/EAST on the Pete Creek Trail.  This trail will drop 2000+ feet over the next 5 miles and take you to the finish.  Begin your Pete Creek descent with some steep and rocky terrain, real mountain running!  Reach an unmanned water station at mile 13.1 at approx 7600' elevation.  Continue dropping through crazy steep terrain to around 7000' elevation where the trail mellows some and continues getting more reasonable and smooth as you go.  The trail crosses Pete Creek a few more times and passes some swampy areas, but you can mostly avoid the wet shoes if you wish.  You will be very ready to stop running at this point, and Pete Creek will throw a few very short and irritating rolling uphills at you to keep the effort honest.  You are now very close. Enter a broad open meadow and the trail gets very narrow and is gravelly.  Get across this meadow and you are done!  The trail reaches the crossing of Lake Creek on a bridge.  The bridge partially washed away this spring and is just downstream of the proper location.  It is crossable if you are careful.  Planks have been added to increase stability.  The creek is about 30 feet across.  By raceday, the creek should be low enough to safely cross by fording it through the channel, if you wish to soak down just before the finish, splash water on your face, etc.  Emerge on the other side of Lake Creek, finish off the meadow and reach the Pete Creek Trailhead finish at Mile 17.2.  Don't be surprised if your GPS watch shows a little more or less, as that is what GPS watches do around here, they struggle just like you.


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