Bigfoot 40M Course Information
Race Day Schedule
Highlights:
WHEN: August 9th, 2024 at 7am. 17 hour cut-off: finish line cut-off is 12:00 Midnight.
RACE CHECK-IN: From 5:30am-6:45am at Marble Mountain Sno Park
START/FINISH LOCATION: Marble Mountain Sno-Park at Mount St. Helens National Monument, National Forest Development Road 83, Stevenson, WA 98648. Closest town: Cougar, WA
Map location of the start /finish:
GPS Coordinates (plug into google): 46.1303, -122.1713
Google Map
RUNNER INFO: Drop bags will only be allowed at Blue Lake Aid Station. No Pacers will be allowed during the 40 mile race. If you choose to have crew, they will be allowed at the start/finish area and Windy Ridge Aid. No crew allowed at Blue Lake, sorry.
AWARDS/SWAG: All finishers get a unique, artist-made finisher award. Top 3 male and top 3 female finishers receive special awards in addition to finisher’s awards. Other merchandise is optional and can be purchased on ultrasignup or on-site at the race. Please bring cash or checks since cards will not be accepted. We will likely have race hoodies, hand painted trucker hats, cotton and athletic t-shirts, and stickers!
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: GRADUATE level race requires self-sufficiency and experience in the backcountry. We recommend that runners consider that this is a tough 40mi race that requires runners to be fairly self sufficient. There are very few locations where runners can drop out of the race, please do not enter if not sufficiently trained and prepared. There are limited number of aid stations, just two!
Aid Stations
AID STATIONS, CUT OFF TIMES AND MILES TO NEXT AID:
The overall cut off is 17 hours.
Blue Lake Aid will be a full aid station providing real food and more. Most aid stations will have medical personnel and HAM radio operators. Medical volunteers are on site to assist with minor medical issues. Post race meal/food provided at the finish line for all participants.
Start at Marble Mountain to Blue Lake Aid: 12 miles, +3172 gain and -2614 ft in elevation loss to Blue Lake Aid. 4 hour cut off to Blue Lake (2.6 mph), 11:00am
Blue Lake Aid (mi 12) to Ape Canyon (mi 32.3). Miles from Blue Lake Aid to Ape Canyon: 20.3 and +4008 ft elevation gain and -4313 ft in elevation loss. Cut off at Ape Canyon is 7:00pm.
Ape Canyon (Mile 32.3) to Finish (mi 43.5). Miles from Ape Canyon to Finish: 12.1mi. +2594 ft elevation gain and -2798 ft of elevation loss to finish. Cut off at finish is at 12:00 midnight, that's 17 hours.
Finish, Mile 44.4, Cut off at 12:00 midnight. Runners have up to 17 hrs to complete the route.
WHAT'S AT THE AID STATIONS? Please note there are only 2 aid stations! There will also be a post race meal at the finish line for all runners. Aid stations are stocked with ultra distance food like sandwiches, wraps, fruit, soda, snacks, soup (at night), candy, electrolyte drink (Tailwind), Spring Energy Gels (limited number donated from Spring Energy) and water.
BLUE LAKE AID: This station will be well stocked and carry a variety of food. We will have fruit, sandwiches and wraps, chips, dips, snacks and candy. For drinks we will have water, soda and Tailwind Nutrition. Ice will also be available at Blue Lake aid station. NO CREW ALLOWED
APE CANYON AID: This station will be well stocked and carry a variety of food. We will have fruit, sandwiches and wraps, chips, dips, hot soup at night, hot food to order, a variety of snacks and candy. Aid will have limited Spring Energy gels. For drinks we will have water, soda and Tailwind Nutrition. Ice will be available at Windy Ridge Aid Station. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options - please ask the aid station if you need something special. Crew are allowed.
If you need to drop out during the race: Please notify the race organization at the aid station if you drop from the event, don’t just leave without telling anyone! If you do not tell us we will have to go looking for you and will call your emergency numbers until we hear back. Make sure when you tell the aid station you are dropping you tell the “Aid Station Captain” and HAM radio staff and that they write it down. Thank you
Mandatory Gear
MANDATORY GEAR, All participants are required to carry mandatory gear of the following items:
1. Jacket with hood (waterproof recommended). If the forecast calls for precipitation we will change this to mandatory WATERPROOF jacket.
2. Emergency blanket (foil type including foil bivy is acceptable). We recommend a mylar bivy as they are far more effective than the blankets. Here's the bivy we love.
3. Whistle
4. Long sleeve insulating layer: long sleeve t-shirt or down jacket or long sleeve shirt or jacket of some kind in addition to the jacket with hood
5. Pants- must cover your entire legs
6. Hat & gloves. Can substitute buff for hat.
7. 500 EXTRA calories: should be carried the entire race unless needed for emergency
8. Headlamp and/or waist lamp with extra batteries
9. Cell phone
ELEVATION GAIN: 9,019 ft
ELEVATION LOSS: 9,059 ft
Finish, Mile 43.5, Cut off at 11pm. Runners have up to 16 hrs to complete the route
ACCOMMODATIONS/CAMPING:
Camping is allowed and is free at the start location at Marble Mountain Sno Park however it will not be quiet. For quieter dispersed camping please park along NF Road 83 - the road that leads to Marble Mountain sno park. It's all dispersed camping so please LEAVE NO TRACE. Please do not use pavement for tents as we need the paved parking area for vehicle parking. Clean up after yourselves or camping will not be allowed future years: leave no trace, carry out your garbage, waste and please do not leave feces and toilet paper in the woods or parking lot. Again, the race management cannot take your garbage from camping, plan to take out what you bring with you do not leave it in cans at the race start (Marble Mountain).
Car camping is fine, but we do need runners to park closely to each other as the 'camp area' is also the race parking. Some areas will be designated for the race management and start/finish areas of the race and camping will not be allowed there, however those locations will be clearly marked. There are bathrooms but no water and no electricity and for most people no phone reception. Verizon has a little reception on site. T-Mobile seems to have the best reception at Marble Mountain. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN WATER if you are camping! No water on site except for what we have for the race finishers.
Small RV Vans are allowed but keep in mind there may not be turn around and we cannot accomodate large RVs or RV trailers. RVs can find dispersed camping along Road 83 or a local campground. There are no hookups or electricity on site and most cell phones will not work. Camping on site is free and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Closest town is Cougar, WA and is very limited in hotels. Woodland, WA is about 1 hr 20 mins away and has more hotels. Please use Yelp, Google, Air BnB or another web program to find lodging. We aren't able to make specific recommendations.
Race Policies:
Exceptions to the race policies cannot be made for any reason. Please do not ask for one.
No refunds regardless of your situation, injury status or if there is a waitlist. (we do not have a waitlist) Do not register if you do not agree to this policy. Transfer information can be found here on our policy page.
All participants are required to carry extra calories, water, clothing, headlamp(s) and other safety gear in order to self rescue or help other participants in the case of emergency.
Participants must agree to policy that the race could be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. The Bigfoot 200/40M/20M reserves the right to cancel the run based on: (1) Extreme snow pack. (2) Extreme weather during the event. (3) Extreme fire danger. (4) Other extreme conditions. (5) For any other reason that the race director sees fit. (6) Lack of Permits. In the event that the race is cancelled, I understand that I will not receive a refund, however the race management will do their best to offer race transfer/new date or other option.
