:: Mt. Wilson Trail Race >>

Register for the 2008 Mount Wilson Trail Race and Be A Part of One of the Oldest Trail Races in California, Celebrating 100 Years since the First Race

THE 8.6 MILE RACE STARTS ON PAVEMENT, UPHILL, TO A DIRT PATH NO MORE THAN 3 FEET WIDE. IT FEATURES AN ELEVATION GAIN OF OVER 2,100 FEET; APPROXIMATELY 4.3 MILES TO THE TURNAROUND POINT AT ORCHARD CAMP. MOST OF THE RACE TAKES PLACE ON THE MOUNT WILSON TRAIL, WHERE SOME SECTIONS HAVE VERTICAL DROP OFFS OF SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET. EMERGENCY SUPPORT IS STATIONED AT STRATEGIC POINTS ALONG THE COURSE TO GIVE ANY NECESSARY AID. BOY AND CUB SCOUT TROOPS PROVIDE WATER AT TWO LOCATIONS: THE 2.3-MILE MARKER AND THE TURNAROUND POINT.

SETTING
WITH ITS CHARMING VILLAGE ATMOSPHERE, THE CITY OF SIERRA MADRE SITS AT THE BASE OF MOUNT WILSON IN THE NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS OF LOS ANGELES. THE TRAIL RACE BEGINS AND ENDS IN THE CENTER OF TOWN, AT KERSTING COURT, LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SIERRA MADRE BOULEVARD AND BALDWIN AVENUE. THE MOUNT WILSON TRAIL RACE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST RACES IN CALIFORNIA; FIRST HELD IN 1908 WHEN RUNNERS RACED TO MOUNT WILSON, RESTED ½ HOUR, THEN RACED BACK DOWN. ONLY A HANDFUL OF INTREPID RUNNERS DARED TO ATTEMPT SUCH A GRUELING TEST. THE RACE WAS HELD SPORADICALLY FROM THE FIRST YEAR UNTIL THE LATE 1940’S AND EARLY 1950’S WHEN IT WAS ABANDONED COMPLETELY. IN AUTUMN OF 1965 IT WAS REVIVED AND HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS TO ITS PRESENT FORMAT. TO PROMOTE THE SIERRA MADRE VOLUNTEER TEAM, THE RACE WAS HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE DAYS IN THE SPRING OF 1987. ORGANIZED BY A VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE, THE CURRENT RACE IS 8.6 MILES IN LENGTH. THE EXACT COURSE HAS CHANGED BY EROSION, FIRES, AND EARTHQUAKES. FOR THIS REASON NO OFFICIAL RECORD IS RECOGNIZED. SINCE THE REVIVAL IN THE 1960’S, TODAY’S COURSE IS CONSIDERED THE MOST DIFFICULT.

PRE-REGISTRATION AND PASTA LOAD PARTY!!
SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 AT 7:30 AM SHARP.

CHECK-IN TIME IS FROM 6:00 AM TO 7:15 AM.

THE RACE CONCLUDES AT 10:30 AM.
RUNNERS NOT CROSSING THE FINISH LINE BY 10:30 AM WILL NOT RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL TIME.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2008 TO PICK UP YOUR RACE NUMBER AND T-SHIRT AND ENJOY A PASTA DINNER. MORE DETAILS TO COME ON OUR WEBSITE: www.cityofsierramadre.com or visit www.mountwilsontrailrace.com.

For more information, please contact the Community Services Department at 626-355-5278.