Not everyone will be interested in this tidbit of info, but if you are running the PCT50 and haven't heard yet...this was in this month's Oregon Road Runners e-news letter this month:
"The PCT is a great ORRC tradition, as well as a favorite among the Oregon Trail Ultramarathon Race Series. The event filled in February, but is sorting through the effects of US Forest Service's notification that a portion of the PCT is no longer available. The race starts at the Clackamas Lake Ranger Station at Timothy Lake, near Government Camp.
Wyden's Wilderness bill (Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 (H.R. 146) went into effect when President Obama signed it on March 30, 2009. It put puts part of the route in the Twin Lakes area in the wilderness area covered by the bill. The bill chops off 10 miles of the North-bound out-and-back PCT section. We have had permits in hand for 6 months but the Wilderness bill trumps the permits.
We are truly disappointed with the way events turned out, and had been pondering for a few days on alternative routes to reach Timberline Lodge to keep events in spirit of the past. However, all the logging roads and the trails connecting them on the map are not existing at this point - they have been unused and impassable for years. Thus not only it makes it nearly impossible to have them ready for July race (at least simply due to snow level still there till mid-July, not to mention being in far proximity to Portland where majority of our volunteers reside), Forest Service told us we will not get a permit for these trails due to safety issues.
After racking their brains on how to salvage the race, race directors Mike "Bushwhacker" Burke, Monika Gold, Olga Varlamova came to the conclusion to use the South-bound route on PCT - the one planned for the September Hood 100 miler - for continuation of a full 50 Miles intact.
Full details will be announced on the event website within couple of weeks, once they are worked out. "We feel your pain - and please, feel ours as well - and hope you understand that such change was not intended by us, nor anticipated, and surely not welcomed. But we plan to provide you with the best we can, still offer you at least a sneak peek at our gorgeous Mt. Hood and have a lot of fun," said Olga in an announcement to registered participants."
Well, I'm not running it, but I wish I was. I'm counting on vicarious thrills.
ReplyDeleteAssuming you're healed up. How's that going anyway?
Not healed up David but it's coming along. Lots and LOTS of fast walking--seems to be no limit on how much of that I can do,and... now adding full squats and short barefoot runs. This has been unbelievably hard to recover from, maybe I'm getting old. ;)
ReplyDelete(Ha, not that I care-I just want to run.)
I'll be there pacing a friend and passed the news on to her.. she was VERY disappointed to hear of the change. She paced someone last year and fell in love with the course so she picked it as her first 50. Thanks for the heads up! Keep healing Lori!
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