Magdalena Massacre (35/42K)

October 8th. 

Course:https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/track/b06b503e-b0f5-42ad-841a-48dbf6bc6a55/?layer=GaiaTopoRasterMeters

Course Description: The race begins and ends at Water Canyon Campground in the Magdalena mountains. From here, runners will run half a mile downhill to the picnic area before turning left uphill toward the group campground area. At 0.8 miles into the race, runners will turn right, passing by the group campgrounds and continuing uphill on a rough dirt road for the next 3 miles. Look out for a right turn 2 miles into the race to stay on course. Runners will continue to climb, eventually reaching a steep and rocky portion of jeep-track that will lead them past an old mine with excellent view of the Magdalena mountains. At mile 5.5 they will reach a dirt road just beneath North Baldy peak, about 9700' above sea level. 

Here, runners will take a left to reach trail 25A. Staying on this trail they'll descend a steep and gorgeous section of singletrack until they reach a trailhead at mile 8.5, where they'll find aid. Exiting the trailhead they'll continue on trail 25, slowly climbing back up to the Magdalena ridge and connecting with the iconic trail 8 at mile 12.5. They'll remain on this trail, eventually skirting the side of South Baldy Peak and reaching a thin dirt road to the top at mile 15.5. From here, runners will descend the dirt road to reach Langmuir road. For the next mile, runners will fly down a runnable section of dirt road to reach trail 11. Here, runners can expect a steep and occasionally technical descent before reconnecting with the road at mile 20. Runners will have another chance to descend quickly on this runnable section for the next two miles. 

35K runners will continue to descend to the finish line. 42K runners will not be so lucky. At the mesa loop trailhead (mile 22), they'll take a right and climb 1200 feet. Here, the trail rolls along at 8000' before dropping off to the north. Runners will then face a steep, loose, and rocky descent returning them to the dirt road, where they will turn right and run towards the finish line. 

Aid Stations:

Cutoffs: