Highlands Sky Trail Run
Monongahela National Forest

Celebrating the 6th running

June 14, 2008

2008 Update  For the past two years we have been going around the horse farm section after Aid Station #1. At this time it appears the Forest Service has clarified the section of trail and we will again be   taking the more direct route onto Flatrock Trail. 

I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear there are also plans to construct a permanent, more runable trail following the "butt-slide". The short ski slope climb will still be there, but extreme marking will hopefully keep the few runners who seem to miss the turn back into the woods trail on course.    

There will be a new type of award for the top five and age group winners finisher. Also a  new award category has been created to recognize the first WVMTR woman and man.

And lastly, even though the Highlands is listed as a 40 miler the of the aid station mileage on the Maps and at the Aid Station signs have always indicated the true distance of 40.8 miles. Well I must admit I had to correct that figure this year. With the help of some new gps data the actual course length is 41.0 miles. 
DL

The Course The point to point course begins near the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area on Red Creek in Laneville, WV.  Following a 2 mile paved section, the trail ascends to Roaring Plains, Flatrock Plains and Red Creek Plains into Dolly Sods. The course proceeds north along the Allegheny Front to Bear Rocks.  Here runners will turn west crossing Dolly Sods to the rim of Canaan Valley north of Timberline Ski Resort. A descent through Timberline  leads to Freeland Rd  and into Canaan Valley State Park. This is not an easy ultra, but very rewarding when completed! 

The  course climbs a total of 5474 feet and descends 4856 feet and is basically in three sections;  the Plains, the Road Across the Sky, and Dolly Sods. Two significant climbs occur in the first 15 miles where a 2300' ascent is followed by a 1700' descent, and then another 1200' climb. In the first half of the course highly technical (rocky), single track sections occur from mile 7-11 and  16-18. The Dolly Sods section has an exciting boulder-hopping section from mile 30-31. The course is  75% trail, 15% Forest Service road, and 10% paved road.   There are eight aid stations. You should carry fluids and fuel due to remote location and distance between of some  of the stations.

Photos from the first half of course.

  
                                                                                                                                                                                                  2007 photos by JR petsko
 
Time Limit There is a 12 hour time limit to complete  the course. There are 4 Aid Stations where runners must meet cutoff times.  Aid #2 by 9:15am     (3hr 15m), Aid #3 by 11:05am (5hr 5 min), Aid #4 by 12:05pm (6hr 5min) and Aid  #6 by  1:30pm (7hr 30min). See Course Maps for better details.

Restrictions Limited to 200. Must be at least 18 years of age.   No pacers. No pets.

Race Registration  Printable 2008 Entry or online at

Packet Pick-up  Friday, June 13 at Canaan Valley Resort State Park lodge from 5-8:00pm. Arrangements can be made for later pick up. There will be no race day registration.

Pre-race dinner Friday,  June 13 from 6:00-7:30pm. Dinner is included for registered runners.  Guest tickets are $10 (kids 5 and under free).  Menu yet to be determined but there will be meat and meatless entree's. A race briefing starts at 7:00pm. 

Post-race dinner starts at 5:30pm. This meal is not included in registration. The cost for dinner is $10. Menu yet to be determined but it will be good too. The awards ceremony and door prize drawings will begin around 6:30pm.

Aid Stations   There are 8 aid stations. Station 1 will only have water and Gatorade. Stations 2 thru 8 will in a mix of utlrarun cuisine such as; pbj, fruit, cookies, pretzels, chips, Hammergel, baked potatoes, m&m's, soup if it's cold,  salt, meds and more. See Course Maps for Aid Station locations.

Drop Bags will be collected at the Start and be available at Aid Station #4, mile 19.7. Label your bag with name and bib number.


The Start Shuttle busses will depart Canaan Valley  Lodge at 5:00am for the 25 min trip to the start. The race starts at 6:00am. The start begins at the gray metal bridge crossing Red Creek near the Laneville DNR Cabin at the entrance to the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area.  All runners must check-in with the race director Saturday morning at the start.  There will be no shuttle service back to the start after the race. If you have family or crew driving you to the start, please indicate so on the Entry Form.

Crew, Family, Spectators All are welcome at the Start, but please park out of the way of runners and busses. This will be discussed Friday evening. The best place to meet your runner is Aid #4. This is the approximate half way point at mile 19.3. Here runners have completed the tougher first half and support will be appreciated.  There are no other locations where crews can drive to meet runners. If you have any special needs please let me know. Directions to Start and Aid Station 4.
 		  
  The Finish will be at the Canaan Valley Resort Lodge.  Showers are available.

Finishing Award   Runners completing the course in the 12 hour time limit will receive a Patagonia Capilene shirt. These will be available in men's and women's  sizing.

Awards and Prizes Awards will be presented to the Top Five Overall Male and Female finishers,  the 1st  Place Masters 40-49,  1st Place Grand Masters 50-59, and 1st Place Super Masters 60 and over for both Male and Female. No duplicate awards. Awards and door prize drawings will start at 6:30 pm.

WVMTR Award New for 2008 will be recognition of the first woman and man  WV Mountain Trail Runner finisher. 

Directions Canaan Valley Resort State Park is on Rt. 32 10 miles south of Davis, WV and 9 miles north of Harman, WV. Go to Canaan Valley Resort State Park for travel directions.

Driving Directions to Start From Canaan Valley Resort entrance turn right and proceed south on Rt. 32 one mile and turn left on County Rt. 45/4 East Laneville Road.  Continue on this curvy, narrow road 5.7 miles to the gray metal bridge and FS 19 at the entrance to the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area.  From Harman, WV go north on Rt. 32  3.7 miles and turn right on County Rt. 32/3 Bonner Mt. Road at the Assembly of God Church. Go 5 miles to a stop sign and turn sharp right. Go 1.5 miles to the gray metal bridge and FS 19 at the entrance to the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area.
 


Accommodations Canaan Valley Resort is offering special rates for the weekend.   Cabins and camping are also available at the park very near the lodge where activities will take place. Go to lodging and camping for rates and reservations.  

Results Photos and results will be posted online at www.wvmtr.org and Iplayoutside.com.

Refunds  A request for refund of entry fees, minus a $10 fee, will be granted up to May 23, 2008.  Please don't ask after this date.

Questions of any sort, email Dan Lehmann irun@starband.net , (304)924-5835. Every attempt has been made to meet runners' needs. If you have any concerns or suggestions, please feel free to contact me.
 

 

  

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