[Author’s Note: This column was originally published in June of 2013, and over the past 11 years, a few things have changed at Western States 100. Ahead of the 2024 race edition, we’re publishing a new, updated Obsessive’s Description of the Western States 100 course.]
Through the years, I’ve coached dozens of runners of their quests to finish the Western States 100, volunteered on the race quite a few instances, and have 10 finishes of my very own. That is all to say that I’m a type of individuals who is aware of the Western States 100 course considerably obsessively. What follows is my course description, divided into 4 sections and following a Kerouac-esque stream of consciousness. Take pleasure in!
Olympic Valley to Robinson Flat
Leaving Olympic Valley, California, you’re going to get caught up within the second and run up the fireplace highway shortly for 1 / 4 mile or so. Shortly thereafter, actually a half mile into the race, it is best to settle into a powerful powerhike.
On the climb as much as the Escarpment, there are a number of runnable sections, however they’re temporary. Consider protecting a gentle climbing rhythm up the climb to the chairlift that’s on the base of the steep scramble up the precise Escarpment. When you’ve crested this, it’s a couple of three-minute powerhike to the highest of the Palisades Tahoe ski space and the race’s excessive level. Take pleasure in this part, and make sure you flip round to take a look at the view. I even did that in 2005 after I completed second.
Zoë Rom (proper) and Leah Yingling climbing as much as the Escarpment on the 2022 Western States 100. Picture: Tony DiPasquale
After cresting the summit, get onto singletrack and for roughly the subsequent seven miles to Lyon Ridge. You roll alongside a ridgeline that requires you to run some and stroll some. My sturdy recommendation right here is to softly run the flats, aggressively run the downs, and hike the ups. One caveat to that is that in the event you get caught behind a conga line that’s going slower than you are feeling such as you’d wish to go, attempt to get round it. Additionally, hold an in depth eye out for the course markings by way of this part, as there are locations when the path is braided, and you may go barely astray. Nothing main, however it may be annoying.
After the Lyon Ridge support station (mile 10.3), the terrain turns into extra predictable, and it’s about half run/half stroll to the Pink Star Ridge support station (mile 15.8).
Surroundings alongside Pink Star Ridge, on the Western States 100 course. Picture: iRunFar
From Pink Star, start a grinding two-mile climb that’s largely climbing. That is adopted by a pleasant, rolling singletrack part that step by step descends to the Duncan Canyon support station. It is a good part to open the legs a bit, because it’s the primary of what is going to be many lengthy, sustained downhills on the day.
Once you hit Duncan Canyon Support, you’ll be at mile 24.4 and have a 2.5-mile descent to Duncan Creek. That is one other good descent the place it’s value stretching the legs a bit, and it’ll even be the primary place the place you’ll get a good suggestion of what sort of warmth the day has in retailer. Ever because the 2001 Star Fireplace, this has been uncovered and sizzling.
The Duncan Canyon support station is a welcome reprieve within the excessive nation. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
After crossing Duncan Creek, which will be fairly deep and a few years has a rope to help you throughout it, start the lengthy, gradual four-mile climb as much as Robinson Flat. To be sincere, there may be not a lot runnable right here till the final mile or so, and also you’re higher off giving freely a while right here which you can make up later. I used to get handed on this climb and finally go the individuals again within the canyons later.
The final mile into the Robinson Flat support station (mile 30.3) is a bit flatter, and it’s enjoyable as a result of tons of persons are on the market. Plus, you get to see your crew.
Adam Peterman at Robinson Flat through the 2022 Western States 100, on his solution to successful the lads’s race. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Robinson Flat to Foresthill
Leaving the Robinson Flat support station, the path climbs a couple of mile by way of good forest up the flank of Little Bald Mountain. On the prime, you flip proper at a key — and normally well-marked — intersection the place you start the lengthy, regular descent to the Miller’s Defeat support station (mile 34.4). The path by way of here’s a mix of singletrack and previous fireplace highway. Since that is the primary part of the race that traverses the south aspect of a ridgeline, you’ll doubtless get a sign of the warmth on faucet for the day.
From the Miller’s Defeat support station, the path geese right into a extra forested singletrack path earlier than coming out onto a wider, dustier path main downhill into the Dusty Corners support station (mile 38). Dusty Corners is an efficient place to gasoline up, and it’s value taking an additional minute right here to sponge off earlier than heading out onto the Pucker Level Path — particularly if it’s sizzling.
Jim Walmsley on the Dusty Corners support station in 2019, with its namesake mud within the background. Walmsley went on to set a course report of 14:09:28 that yr. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
That is a fully lovely part with views to Screwauger Canyon to the correct and lengthy sight traces all the way down to Deadwood Canyon, your subsequent goal. After a brief uphill, which comes after a pleasant, regular downhill, the path pops out onto a dust highway and descends one other half mile into the Final Probability support station (mile 43.3).
That is the jumping-off level for the traverse of Deadwood Canyon and time to evaluate your situation. Make sure you prime off your whole fluids, because the four-mile stretch from right here to Satan’s Thumb will doubtless take over an hour.
Ida Nilsson resupplying in Dusty Corners in 2023. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
I divide the descent into Deadwood Canyon into two elements. First, the descent is gradual on a rutty, previous fireplace highway, passing previous mining tools and dropping to Pacific Slab Mine. Then, after a left-hand flip onto slim singletrack, the path drops precipitously over the subsequent mile to the swinging bridge on the backside of the canyon. The path is usually in nice form right here, and the descent is enjoyable. Nevertheless, take care to not overstride, as it’s nonetheless early, and also you wish to hold your quads intact.
It’s on this part that you just’ll see the results of the 2013 American Fireplace, in addition to the exceptional path restoration efforts of dozens of volunteers within the years that adopted.
After bouncing throughout the swinging bridge (actually), there’s a quarter-mile flat half that ends at a spring coming off the canyon wall. This water is potable, and I at all times prime off my bottles right here. Additionally, it’s value a bit of additional time to dunk within the spring, or at the very least soak your working hat or shirt, as the recent, 1,800-foot climb to Satan’s Thumb comes subsequent.
This infamous climb is just below two miles and consists of 36 switchbacks up the canyon wall. Nearly all of it’s a powerhike, and I strongly counsel settling into climbing rhythm by way of right here and simply getting it performed. About midway up the climb, there’s a significantly steep part. You may normally hear the help station from a couple of quarter mile away, and it’s a good incentive to maintain tramping away. Be sure that to steal a have a look at the Satan’s Thumb rock outcropping itself.
The help station at Satan’s Thumb (mile 47.8) is likely one of the finest on the course. Dennis Zilaff and his group have been working this station for years, and so they have all the pieces you’ll want to get better from the heinous climb you’ve simply accomplished. Take time right here to eat, drink, and get better earlier than descending into the subsequent canyon, El Dorado.
This descent is a little more gradual than the downhill into Deadwood and for much longer. The truth is, at just below 5 miles, it’s one of many longest downhills on the course, and it’ll actually check the quads. Once you go the Deadwood Cemetery, you’re a couple of third of the way in which down the descent, and the path steepens over the past mile to the river.
That is the realm the place you’ll start to expertise the results of the area’s most up-to-date wildfire, the 2022 Mosquito Fireplace. This hearth burned by way of roughly 20 miles of the Western States Path, in addition to by way of the village of Michigan Bluff and as much as the sting of the city of Foresthill. The Mosquito Fireplace left a mark on the realm, and the race course, that may final for many years to come back.
The doorway of the Deadwood Cemetery pictured in early 2022 earlier than this space was burned by the Mosquito Fireplace. Picture: iRunFar
You may normally hear the speeding water of the creek a couple of half mile earlier than the underside and really feel the canyon’s warmth. El Dorado Creek support station (mile 52.9) is simply after you cross the bridge on the backside of the canyon. That is normally the most well liked level on the course, and so they usually have a thermometer out so you’ll be able to see for your self! Cool off right here and prime off your bottles, however don’t stay lengthy.
This climb as much as the previous mining city of Michigan Bluff begins out steep however step by step ranges out towards the highest. I counsel powerhiking a lot of the first half of the climb after which roll into a number of jogging elements as you close to the highest. The Mosquito Fireplace has rendered a lot of this climb shadeless and uncovered, so care for your self right here.
Tom Evans (again) and Dakota Jones locked in a duel climbing to Michigan Bluff through the 2023 Western States 100. The burned bushes of the 2022 Mosquito Fireplace are seen. Picture: iRunFar/Jaja Ferrer Capili
The path pops out of the singletrack onto a rutted grime highway a couple of half mile earlier than the Michigan Bluff support station (mile 55.7) and you may return to working right here. The run into Michigan Bluff is triumphant! You might be by way of two canyons, you’ll be able to see your crew, and it appears like you might be again in civilization. There’s a nice medical group right here, so you probably have any points, cope with them now. Additionally, make sure you prime off on energy and fluids as you will have yet one more canyon to go.
Volcano Canyon has three distinct sections: the grime highway out of city, the singletrack by way of the canyon, and the paved Tub Street climb. Take every of those sections as their very own entities and also you’ll be wonderful. Towards the underside of the canyon, as soon as once more, the path steepens. There’s additionally a whole lot of publicity to the solar on this space because of the Mosquito Fireplace.
On the creek crossing, make sure you douse your self and funky off a bit earlier than the climb to Foresthill. The paved climb up Tub Street is an efficient mixture of strolling and working earlier than hitting Foresthill Street and the gradual downhill into the Foresthill support station (mile 62).
Tyler Inexperienced opening up his stride coming into Foresthill. He took second within the 2023 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Foresthill to the Rucky Chucky River Crossing
After the joyous run by way of Foresthill, the place you’ll be able to see your crew, re-fuel, and choose up a pacer, you’ll start the descent into the American River Canyon, on the notorious California Road. This 16-mile part of the race is likely one of the most vital and deceiving sections of the course. Certainly, it’s all downhill, apart from the uphill elements, and these climbs alongside the way in which make this the crux of the race.
The runners and crowds of Foresthill on the 2019 Western States 100. Picture: Michael Lebowitz
Leaving Foresthill, descend precipitously to the Cal 1 support station (mile 65.7), aka Dardanelles. This 2.9-mile stretch has only a few flat elements and just one quick climb. Once you cross Dardanelles Creek, you will have between 9 and 10 minutes to the help station. Leaving Cal 1, you will have a 3rd of a mile of flat earlier than starting a brief however steep and uncovered climb. It is a good place to take a gel and powerhike.
Cresting this hill, it’s about 1.7 miles of comparatively flat terrain earlier than starting the “rollers,” a sequence of 15 quick climbs that may kick you within the tooth in the event you’re not prepared for them. If you happen to’re not too brain-dead, you’ll be able to rely these rollers, and once you get to the “crimson curler,” so named as a result of the soil is crimson, you will have just one extra earlier than you hit the “elevator shaft.” It is a 0.3-mile steep descent on the rugged path that may drain the quads out of nearly anybody. In 2005, I handed Vincent Delebarre right here as he was strolling backward!
When you backside out of the shaft, you will have lower than 5 minutes of good runnable terrain to the Cal 2 support station (mile 70.7), also called Peachstone. Take a minute at Cal 2 to re-fuel and get located earlier than starting one other switchbacking descent on clean singletrack. This descent abruptly ends about 1.5 miles out of the help station at “six-minute hill,” a grinding climb on a fireplace highway that may be powerful in the event you’re not prepared. After cresting the hill, you will have a five-minute downhill to the Cal 3 support station (mile 73), additionally referred to as Ford’s Bar.
Leaving Cal 3, it’s 5 miles to the Rucky Chucky crossing of the American River. Don’t be misled by the sound of the river to your left. You continue to have a methods to go and a number of other quick however steep ascents on the way in which to the crossing. The singletrack path provides solution to a fireplace highway about 1.5 miles earlier than the river crossing, and you’ve got one final grinding climb after going round a gate earlier than descending to the Rucky Chucky support station (mile 78).
Right here, re-fuel, hobble down, and cross the river. Chances are you’ll must take a ship or cross utilizing a hand line, relying on the river’s degree. As soon as on the opposite aspect, dunk within the restorative waters of the American River and start the two-mile climb as much as the Inexperienced Gate support station (mile 79.8).
Ruth Croft on the Rucky Chucky river crossing through the 2022 Western States 100, en path to successful the race. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
The Rucky Chucky river crossing through the 2023 Western States 100, a yr when boats have been used to cross the river. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
The River to the End
One of many oft-spoken truisms concerning the Western States 100 course is that the final 20 miles comprise probably the most runnable terrain. And, probably the most oft-spoken recommendation is to save lots of your legs with the intention to really run a few of this runnable terrain. Subsequently, in the event you’ve performed an honest job of preserving your legs and a few power, this can be a excellent spot to run.
Ellie Greenwood along with her crew through the 2012 Western States 100, arriving to the Inexperienced Gate support station after working and powerhiking up from the river. She set a course report that yr, which stood till it was reset by Courtney Dauwalter in 2023. Picture: iRunFar
After the two-mile powerhike up from the river to the Inexperienced Gate support station, start a five-mile part to the Auburn Lakes Trails support station (mile 85.2). This is a superb path with a number of bumps alongside the way in which and two comparatively sustained climbs. You’ll have two quick, grinding climbs out of creeks en path to the help station.
When you go a small memorial in your left, created for a girl who was attacked and killed by a mountain lion right here again in 1994 whereas out on a coaching run, you will have about one mile to go to the Auburn Lakes Trails support station. This huge support station has medical assist, drop baggage, and sizzling meals. If you happen to’re feeling slightly down right here, this isn’t a foul place to spend a couple of minutes regrouping with soup, maybe some strong meals, and fluids. The crew right here is skilled and really pleasant, and it helps to be in temper earlier than leaving on the five-mile part to Quarry Street.
The path to Quarry Street is, fairly actually, all runnable. If you happen to have been out right here on a 20-mile coaching run, you’ll simply run the entire thing. However, alas, you aren’t. Subsequently, on this part, you will need to keep targeted and run as a lot of the path as you’ll be able to. Whereas the little rollers might look like mountains after 85 miles, you’ll be able to and may run them.
Rolling into Quarry Street support station (mile 90.7), which is staffed by the nice of us from Rogue Valley Runners, together with two-time Western States 100 champ Hal Koerner, it is best to really feel drained however happy.
You allow Quarry Street on a clean fireplace highway that parallels the American River for about 1.5 miles earlier than leaping again onto singletrack for the 1.5-mile climb to the Freeway 49 crossing at mile 93.5. This flip turned notorious in current race lore when, in 2016, Jim Walmsley missed the flip onto singletrack whereas main the race at under-course-record tempo.
At Freeway 49, you’ll definitely start smelling the barn. There’s a small group of volunteers right here on the highway crossing to cheer you on for the final 0.8-mile climb to the Pointed Rocks support station (mile 94.3) situated within the Cool Meadow, considered one of my favourite elements of the course.
The singletrack throughout Cool Meadow, coming into the Pointed Rocks support station on the Western States 100 course. Picture: iRunFar
Leaving Pointed Rocks, start a gradual 2.7-mile descent to the long-lasting No Arms Bridge (mile 96.5). Once you get to a degree the place you’ll be able to see and listen to the visitors going to and from Cool Meadow on Freeway 49, you will have a couple of mile left to the bridge. When the path opens into a big meadow trying down on the American River’s confluence, it’s about 5 minutes to the bridge. Keep targeted and run these downhills as assertively as you’ll be able to.
No Arms Bridge ready for runners through the 2023 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar
After crossing No Arms Bridge, start what’s at first a gradual climb as much as Robie Level. After a mile or so of mild climbing, the grade steepens and crosses two creeks. When the singletrack pops out onto a fireplace highway, you will have lower than 1 / 4 mile to the highest.
You’ll hear and see the oldsters up on the Robie Level support station (mile 98.9), and once you go across the gate and onto the paved roads on the outskirts of Auburn, California, you will have 1.3 miles left to the end. The primary third of a mile is a grinding climb up the highway that crests at a home that normally has a celebration happening with an indication saying “Mile 99.”
Spectators await runners on the final mile to the end line in Auburn, California. These dwelling on the route deliver chairs and couches out, and lots of keep awake to cheer all evening lengthy. Picture: Michael Lebowitz
From right here, wind downhill on metropolis streets earlier than crossing the white bridge and making a left downhill to Placer Excessive College. You’ll see the sunshine towers from the observe, so that you’ll know you’re shut. Enter the observe and revel in probably the most superb 250-meter jog you’ve ever had.
Bottoms up!
Courtney Dauwalter setting a brand new course report of 15:29:33 on the 2023 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from The Good Wolf in Truckee, California. Identified for his or her “Forest Beers,” that are produced with components sourced from the native forests, Good Wolf’s The Tree That Splits the Wind is a scrumptious spruce brown ale that tastes prefer it got here proper out of a pine forest. Creamy and clean, The Tree that Splits the Wind is a novel and refreshing deal with.
Name for Feedback
- Is there any a part of the Western States 100 course that AJW has neglected?
- What’s your favourite a part of the course?
The 2019 Western States 100 followers on the Placer Excessive College observe. Picture: Michael Lebowitz