The course will be marked with red and yellow flags. Yellow flags are used to point out key turns or super technical trail. Keep your eyes alert.
Overall, the course is remarkably beautiful and diverse. There are sections that flow beautifully through the forest, atop ridges, and along the river. There are also sections that are extremely demanding – that require a high level of awareness. There are several hop scotch root & rock sections that will challenge even the best trail runners. There are several staircases and one wet bog/lowland area. The course will make you feel fully alive.
The first mile is flat and fast – either dirt forest road or pine needle covered trail. The second mile is narrow, winding, with several wet sections that require careful foot work. It skirts a large bog and enters a dense cedar forest. Mile three features a steep, triple switch back climb and then the course rides along a high ridge. The Camp 10 lakes can be viewed to the north. Aid is available at about 3.7 miles at the Timberlost forest road intersection. Past the first aid station the trail is wide, mostly tree covered, with a mossy or grass surface – a good time to really cruise. Eventually the trail narrows to single track and enters a rolling section through Jack Pines with a thick understory of wild blueberries and ferns. This section is non technical and a blast to run fast. The sunlight does amazing things in this forest/savannah area. A few yards before the 7 mile point you will again reach an aid station. Past the aid station the trail remains single track – at times it is a wide ribbon of moss through the forest and other times it is a pine needle duft surface that winds smoothly through pine and birch forest. You will eventually see the Watertank Lakes to your right and perhaps a moose wading through the shallows. You will be up on little ridge in a pine forest. There are several steep descents before you reach the Lower Falls Campground just past 9 miles. You’ll pop out into a campground and see a little bit of civilization, maybe some cheering fans. Aid awaits you at 9.5 miles near the Visitor Center. There are also restrooms at this point. The 8K race starts here. You will want to make sure your water bottle is topped off at this point as there is no aid until the finish, 6 miles later. Near the aid station you will have spectacular views of the Lower Falls and then the trail takes you up a steep hill and inland for awhile. This trail is non-technical and fast. It features some of the most beautiful forest along the entire course. The trail turns on to a forested ridge overlooking a ravine with a creek and follows this down to the Tahquamenon River. You will hear the water rushing and will be so close to the water you can almost touch it. Now you are on the River Trail. The first section is extremely technical with roots, roots, and even more roots. It is wet and there are rocks. The trail is narrow single track. Don’t feel bad if you have to walk this section. This is followed by a very hilly section – just be prepared and enjoy it. It is difficult to run this section fast. After a mile or so the trail levels off and you will be very close to the river. When I ran this section last week, the water was sparkling like diamonds and was framed with towering forests on both sides – take some time to really enjoy this section. The last 1.2 miles are hilly and features several steep, long staircases to take you up into a dense hardwood forest overlooking the river. You will see massive hemlocks and yellow birch. Near the finish you will pop out on to a short section of paved tourist trail before making a right turn back into the forest. About 300 meters later you emerge from the forest and across the finish line.
|
|
Last Updated on Friday, 31 October 2008 23:46 |
