Kirkwood’s Ultras

Date:	Saturday, August 5, 2023 through Sunday, August 6, 2023
Location:	Kirkwood Mountain Ski Resort Red Cliffs Day Lodge 1501 Kirkwood Meadows Drive Kirkwood, CA 95646
Race Distances:	Half Marathon, 25K, Trail Marathon, 50K, 46 Mile, 100K
Start Time:	6:30 AM
Overall Cut-Off Times:	25K – 6 Hours 50K – 12 Hours 46 Mile – 18 Hours 100K – 24 Hours

About the Race

This course is extremely challenging. The course starts at the Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge and runs on pavement for around 0.2 miles leading to a single track trail, then from there it is all single track going up. If you like the High Sierra and are into an incredible challenge, join us for the Kirkwood’s Ultras.

—Troy

REGISTRATION

DISTANCE	BY 5/4/23	BY 7/14/23	ONLINE 7/15/23 THROUGH 8/4/23	8/5/23 IN PERSON RACE DAY REGISTRATION
25K	$90	$95	$100	$105
50K	$130	$135	$140	$145
46 Mile	$160	$165	$170	$175
100K	$210	$215	$220	$225

Prices do not include UltraSignup processing fees

Active military receive a 15% discount. Please e-mail team@tctruns.com to process your military registration discount.
Entry fees are non-refundable, but the full registration amount (minus processing fees) may be transferred to another future TCT Run by contacting team@tctruns.com at least 24 hours before the scheduled event.
Runners may purchase a Troy’s California Trail Runs sport-tek technical fabric shirt during the registration process, or at the event supply permitting. All shirts are gender-specific and come in sizes ranging from ladies XS all the way to mens XXL.

Online registration is available through the evening before the race.

Please print the form, fill it out, and mail it to us with the enclosed registration fee.

Race day registration is available beginning at 5:00 AM.

VOLUNTEER
NOW

Volunteers are needed to help with aid stations.
Everyone who helps out gets a free future race!

If interested, please email volunteer@tctruns.com.

Schedule

5:00 AM: Runner check-in at the Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge (1501 Kirkwood Meadows Dr., Kirkwood, CA 95646)
6:15 AM. Trail briefing
6:30 AM: Race start for all distances.

Course/Race Information

Race starts at Kirkwood’s Red Cliffs Day Lodge, 7800 feet in elevation, and some of the distances will go up to about 9500 feet. Overall time limit: 6 Hours for 25K, 12 Hours for 50K, 18 Hours for 46 miles, 24 Hours for 100K.

Bib Colors:

Half Marathon, 25K, Trail Marathon – Black bibs
46 Mile & 50K – Red bibs
100K – Yellow bibs

RACE MAPS, AID STATIONS, AND COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

25K Course Info (6 Hour Time Limit)

(Counter Clockwise Loop)

This course will complete a counter-clockwise full loop and upon arrival at the finish line at Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge (aid available).

25K Aid Stations

Thunder Mtn Trail Head aid station (Encountered at mile 4.0)
Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge Start / Finish / aid location. (Encountered at miles 0 and 15.6)
Water Stops (Encountered at miles 0.3 and 8.7)

50K COURSE MAP

Map Download

Download GPX

50K Course Info (12 Hour Time Limit)

(Counter Clockwise Loop + Clockwise Loop)

This course will complete a counter-clockwise full loop and upon arrival at the Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge (aid available), turnaround, and repeat the course in a clockwise direction.

50K Aid Stations

Thunder Mtn Trail Head aid station (Encountered at miles 4.0 and 27.2, drop bag location for 50K Runners)
Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge Start / Finish / aid location. (Encountered at miles 0, 15.6, and 31.3)
Two Water Stops (Encountered at miles 0.3, 8.7, 22.6 and 30.9)

50K cut-off times

50K time limit 12 hours (6:30 AM to 6:30 PM.)
Start: Kirkwood Red Cliff Day Lodge
Mile 0.3: Water only.
Mile 4.0 (8:30 am cutoff): Thunder Mountain Trailhead aid station. Full aid. 50 km drop bags available.
Mile 8.7: Trail Junction. Water only.
Mile 15.6 (12:30 pm cutoff): Kirkwood Meadows Terrace. Full aid. 50 km drop bags available. 50 km turns around.
Mile 22.6: Trail Junction. Water only.
Mile 27.2 (4:30 pm cutoff): Thunder Mountain Trailhead aid station. Full aid. 50 km drop bags available.
Mile 30.9: Water only.
Mile 31.3 (6:30 pm cutoff): Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge. Finish.

46 Mile Course Info (18 Hour Time Limit)

(Counter Clockwise Loop + Clockwise Loop + Counter Clockwise Loop)

46 Mile Aid Stations

Thunder Mtn Trail Head aid station (Encountered at miles 4.0, 27.2, and 35.3. Drop bag location for 46 Mile Runners)
Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge Start / Finish / aid location. (Encountered at miles 0, 15.6, 31.3, and 46.9)
Two Water Stops (Encountered at miles 0.3, 8.7, 22.6, 30.6, 31.9, 40)

46 Mile cut-off times

46 Mile time limit 18 hours (6:30 AM to 12:30 AM.)
Start: Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge
Mile 0.3: Water only.
Mile 4.0 (8:30 am cutoff): Thunder Mountain Trailhead aid station. Full aid. Drop bags available.
Mile 8.7: Trail Junction. Water only.
Mile 15.6 (12:30 pm cutoff): Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge. Full aid. Drop bags available. Turn around.
Mile 22.6: Trail Junction. Water only.
Mile 27.2 (4:30 pm cutoff): Thunder Mountain Trailhead aid station. Full aid. Drop bags available.
Mile 30.6: Water only.
Mile 31.3 (6:30 pm cutoff): Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge – Pacers may join you here for the last loop of the course.

Mile 31.9: Water only.
Mile 35.3 (8:30 pm cutoff): Thunder Mountain Trailhead aid station. Full aid. Drop bags available.
Mile 40: Trail Junction. Water only.
Mile 46.9 (12:30 am cutoff): Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge. Full aid. Drop bags available.

100K COURSE MAP (50K COURSE TWICE)

Map Download

Download GPX

100K Course Info (24 Hour Time Limit)

(Counter Clockwise Loop + Clockwise Loop + Counter Clockwise Loop + Clockwise Loop)

This course will complete a counter-clockwise full loop and upon arrival at the Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge(aid available), turnaround, and repeat the course in a clockwise direction. Then runners will complete a counter-clockwise full loop and upon arrival at the Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge (aid available), turnaround, and repeat the course in a clockwise direction.

100K Aid Stations

Thunder Mtn Trail Head aid station (Encountered at miles 4.0, 27.2, 35.3, 58.6. Drop bag location for 100K Runners)
Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge Start / Finish / aid location. (Encountered at miles 0, 15.6, 31.3, 46.9, 62.6)
Two Water Stops (Encountered at miles 0.3, 8.7, 22.6, 30.6, 31.9, 40, 53.9 and 61)

100K cut-off times

100K time limit 24 hours (6:30 AM to 6:30 AM.)
Start: Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge
Mile 0.3: Water only.
Mile 4.0 (8:30 am cutoff): Thunder Mountain Trailhead aid station. Full aid. Drop bags available.
Mile 8.7: Trail Junction. Water only.
Mile 15.6 (12:30 pm cutoff): Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge. Full aid. Drop bags available. Turn around.
Mile 22.6: Trail Junction. Water only.
Mile 27.2 (4:30 pm cutoff): Thunder Mountain Trailhead aid station. Full aid. Drop bags available.
Mile 30.6: Water only.
Mile 31.3 (6:30 pm cutoff): Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge. Turn around. – Pacers may join you here for the last two loops of the course.

Mile 53.9: Trail Junction. Water only.
Mile 58.6 (4:30 am cutoff): Thunder Mountain Trailhead aid station. Full aid. Drop bags available.
Mile 61.0: Water only.
Mile 62.6 (6:30 am cutoff): Kirkwood Red Cliffs Day Lodge.

Wet Feet Mileage

100k, 46Mi, 50k Runners at approximately mile 12. The creek must be used for part of the trail in this section for approximately 100 yards.

The creek runs downhill & is slippery so please use CAUTION.

100k will encounter this section 4 times.

46 Milers 3 times.

50k 2 times.

Pacers

All pacers must check-in with Staff before heading out with your runner. We will need for you to sign a race waiver & to get bib before heading out with your runner.

Pacers are allowed for the 46 Mile and 100k distances. Pacers are allowed to start with their runner after the runner has completed 2 loops of the course (50k distance).

Weather

Alpine Summer, Highs – 90 degrees / Lows 54 degrees. Lots of potential heat and sun exposure. Weather in the High Sierra mountains can be extremely unpredictable.

Summer weather at high elevation may include but is not limited to: heat, cold, wind, snow, hail and even thunder/lightning (hence the name of the mountain). Please dress in layers and be prepared!

Awards

All runners receive a medal for finishing the race.

Results

Results are posted here after the race.

Drop Bags

Drop Bags can be checked at registration, and will be available at both Kirkwood Aid and Thunder Mountain Aid Stations on course.

Directions, Crew Access, and Parking

Directions leaving the the Start and Finish for the event:

Attention Crews – be very careful driving on Hwy 88. If you need to walk across Hwy 88 for any reason, use extreme Caution.

You will have access to the Thunder Mtn Trail Head aid station – Directions.

Turn Left West onto Hwy 88. Drive less then one mile the Thunder Mtn Trail Head aid station will be on your Left located in a dirt parking lot.

Travel and Accommodations

Troy’s California Trail Runs is partnered with iWeekender to provide comprehensive travel packages that include accommodations, air travel, and rental cars.

Troy’s California Trail Runs has partnered with Vail Resorts’ Kirkwood Lodge to extend a discounted rate to runners for accommodations on the weekend of the race. These rates are subject to availability.

KIRKWOOD LODGE ONLINE RESERVATIONS – PLEASE CLICK HERE

For Phone Reservations: Please call 855-332-1601 to make lodging reservations and use the group code: KG4KSU to receive the discount.

Other lodging and camping information:

TCT Runs is not affiliated with these operators, but they may be able to provide more economical or additional space when conditions are sold out.

Pyramid Peak Properties with options from studios to full multi-bedroom homes available in Kirkwood area. View options and availability on their website, and book in real time.

Kit Carson Lodge on Silver Lake, about 4 miles west of Kirkwood Resort, with rustic cabins and a restaurant.

Silver Lake West Campground, Silver Lake East-ElDorado Campground, Martin Meadow Campground

This race is made possible through partnerships with the following companies and organizations!

Kirkwood Resorts / Vail Resorts
De La Torre Radio Services
The Sample Guy
iWeekender
EMTs

More Info

Attention Runners & Crews no gasoline is available in Kirkwood, so please fill up if needed prior to getting up in the high country.LIGHTS – Back up lights are always advised in case you get off course.Restrooms – Available in the morning & during the entirely of the event at Red Cliffs Day Lodge near Runner Check In & Start/Finish Line. Food is available in Kirkwood, but very limited. Kirkwood does have a very small general store.

Phone reception for runners and crews:

Cell phone reception is great inside Kirkwood.
Cell phones work on the first 2.5 miles of the course on the Sentinels Trail leading up to the Thunder Mountain Trail.
For the runners out on the course, once gaining some elevation up on Thunder Mtn, cell phone service is good in lots of locations.
Cell phones work on some sections of the Thunder Mountain Trail up to the top.
No cell phone reception at the Thunder Mountain Aid Station, but if you hike up the trail a little, then you might be able to get some cell phone service.