Shawangunk Ridge Trail 70mi Trail Race
Sussex, NJ, US
Sep 14, 2018
Next entry deadline: Sep 11, 2018
Type: Running - Regional
event website
added by: hughmac4
Welcome to the Shawangunk Ridge Trail Run/Hike
The Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT) is a 70-mile hiking trail that traverses the entire length of the Shawangunk Mountains, from High Point State Park in New Jersey, where the SRT intersects the Appalachian Trail, all the way to the town of Rosendale, New York, where the trail ends just beyond a restored railroad trestle 140 feet above the Rondout Creek. Along the way, the SRT passes through rolling hills, wetlands, rare dwarf pine barrens, sky lakes, waterfalls, and the distinctive white conglomerate cliffs of the Shawangunk mountains uplifted almost three hundred million years ago. From vantage points in these mountains, some 2,000 feet above the Hudson Valley, you’ll experience views that cover five states and reach more than 100 miles on a clear day. Because of its scenic beauty and rare ecosystems, the Nature Conservancy has identified this ridge as “one of Earth’s last great places.”
We created this event to celebrate the preservation of the Shawangunks, or the “Gunks” as they are also called, and to encourage people to come out and experience their natural beauty.
- Magical trail across rugged mountainous terrain, rare environment, spectacular views
- Point to point traverse
- Adventurous "minimalist" unsupported format
- Generous cut-offs for runners and fit hikers
- Festive finish line with food, drink, t-shirts, finishers medals, ceremonial tomahawk awards for first place male and female
Schedule of Events
70 Mile
Race start: 6:30pm, Friday, Sep 14th, 2018
Start Location: High Point Monument, High Point State Park, NJ
Shuttle bus leaves muni lot behind Rosendale Theater: 4:30pm
50 Mile
Race start: 6:00am, Saturday, Sep 15th, 2018
Start Location: DEC Boat Launch, South Rd, Wurtsboro, NY
Shuttle bus leaves muni lot behind Rosendale Theater: 4:25am
30 Mile
Race start: 9:00am, Saturday, Sep 15th, 2018
Start Location: Sam's Point Preserve Visitors Center, Cragsmoor, NY
Shuttle bus leaves Binnewater parking area: 7:45am
Half Marathon
Race start: 10:30am, Saturday, Sep 15th, 2018
Start Location: Peter's Kill Area, Minnewaska State Park
Shuttle bus leaves Binnewater parking area: 9:35am
Please note: there are no packets to pick up. Race bibs will be handed out when you board the bus or at your race start (if you get dropped off there instead of taking the bus). T-shirts will be available at the finish line.
Cut-offs
70-milers who reach checkpoint #3 (Route 52) before 5:00 AM will be held up and released at 5:00 AM, with any waiting time deducted from their finishing time.
70 and 50-milers must pass checkpoint #3 (Route 52) by 11:30am
70, 50, and 30-milers must pass checkpoint #4 (Jenny Lane/Rt 44-55) by 4:30pm
All participants must pass checkpoint #5 (Coxing Kill parking area) by 6:30pm
All participants must pass checkpoint #6 (Spring Farm) by 8:30pm
The race concludes at 12:00am (midnight), which is the final cutoff for all distances.
Map
Interactive course map showing start points, finish, checkpoint locations, and elevation profile is available
HERE.
GPX file available upon request.
Warning: Minimalist Format
The event has multiple checkpoints to ensure participant safety, but it is unsupported. You must therefore bring your own food and water filter (or other water purification technology), change of clothes, navigation tools, etc.
The trail is well blazed, and key intersections are marked with the SRT disk, but there will be no supplemental race markings. Runners in particular must pay attention to blazes to avoid missing a turn. No special navigational skills are required beyond the ability to follow blazes, and if necessary, refer to a map. To simplify navigation, we suggest you utilize the following tools:
- The Trail Conference provides a free map app for your Android or iPhone which allows you to see your position relative to the SRT at any time, and cellphone coverage is not required. Once you've downloaded the app, search for and download the free "NYNJTC SRT" map. The app is simple to use, but make sure to familiarize yourself with it prior to the race, and you must of course manage your phone's battery power (extra batteries or a charger are recommended)
- The SRT is also available on AllTrails, and you should be able to find it on the mobile app by searching under the "Explore" tab for the "SRT Race Route" trail
- GPX file available on request
Be advised this is a rugged hiking trail that traverses a wide variety of terrain. Some sections are rocky, with difficult footing, squeezes, or scrambles.
No pacers, no support crew, no drop bags, no resupply caches allowed. Carry it in, carry it out.Recognition
- Distinctive SRT tech t-shirts for all registered participants
- Unique medals for all finishers
- Special "barefoot" pin for runners wearing sandals, Vibram Five Fingers, or who barefoot it
- Completion certificates for 70-mile finishers
First place male and female finishers in each division receive a ceremonial tomahawk as a symbol of fitness and connection to the land, and as a tribute to the explorers, hunters, scouts, Rangers, and Native Americans who moved through the wilderness without aid or support in times gone by.
Transportation
All race parking is at the finish in Rosendale. 70-mile and 50-milers will park at in the municipal lot behind the Rosendale Theater (near Joppenburgh Mountain trail head). 30-milers and Half Marathoners will park at the Binnewater Kiln. See the "Schedule of Events" section above for GPS links to these locations.
There is paid parking at most of the start points, but is strongly discouraged due to limited space and limited hours. NOTE: We do not provide any post-race transportation from the finish line back to any of the start points.
We provide shuttle buses from the finish line to each division's start point. You may purchase a shuttle ticket for $15 during the registration process. To avoid this cost, you are welcome to be be dropped off at the start by a friend. If your plans change and you need to purchase a shuttle ticket after you've already registered, you can do so by returning to the UltraSignup registration page and clicking on the Store (shopping cart) icon.
Cancellations
Sorry, there are no refunds due to cancellations, and no deferrals or transfers.
Optional Donations to NY-NJ Trail Conference
As part of the registration process, please consider making an optional donation to the NY-NJ Trail Conference, the not-for-profit organization which created the Shawangunk Ridge Trail, and whose volunteers maintain the SRT and 2,100+ miles of other trails in the Hudson Valley. If you love trails, you should get involved in and support this organization!
Where to Stay
The following link from our friends at Mohonk Preserve includes suggested places to stay:
where to stay