 |
PCT 50 Mile Trail RaceSURF Hotline: 858-456-5725 |
| |
PCT 50 Mile Trail RaceSURF Hotline: 858-456-5725 |
The PCT 50 Mile Trail Race started way back in 1978. The race has had several race directors since that time. The event has been held at all times of the year, from February to September, November, and August. As such it has had years of snow, heat, thunderstorms, and rain, along with a brush fire last year (1999) and a cold, windy rain in 1998. The 2000 race was hot and sunny with clear blue skies. The 2002 event is the 24th annual. This makes this one of the oldest ultras in Southern California. You will find much information on the event in the pages below. If you have any volunteer or course related questions, contact co-RD Shawn McDonald via email smcdonal@strubix.com or via home phone at (858) 689-2410. For questions, comments, or to get an entry form, contact co-RD Maureen Moran at (619) 460-9694 or email her at mmoranmic@hotmail.com They usually mail out race entry forms to the previous two years entrants and to all SURF members about 2 months before the race date. You can check the SURF hotline for details on the race in the weeks before the event, and for info about any training runs being held on the race course. We usually get out 2-3 times in the two months before the race to cover most of the race route. Upon receipt of your completed race entry form and entry fee check, you will be sent a packet with all the race info and maps you will need.
The race route starts with a half lap around a dirt track at Mt. Empire High School. You then run out a gate in a fence, and across a field, to a barbed wire fence. Crossing carefully, head left across a small stream, and up along a trail thru a campground. Parallel Old Hwy 80 for about 1/4 mile, then cross the road and continue North on the Pacific Crest Trail. The route is mostly uphill as you go thru the aid stations at Kitchen Creek Rd. (5.1 miles), Fred Canyon Rd. (7.7 miles), and beyond, to a point about 1.5 miles south of the Dales Soup aid station. Just before you get to Dales you get back into trees on the trail and run thru some nice shaded parts. Dales is at mile 14.7. Continue on the PCT past Burnt Rancheria campground, on rolling terrain mostly free of rocks, to the aid station at Air Force Road (mile 19.3). From here continue on the PCT heading north, on rolling terrain, and then downhill, past Al Bahr temple, and on more exposed trail (views of the Borrego desert to the east), and then a short uphill to the aid station at Penne Pines (mile 23.2). From here continue North on the trail over exposed areas and rocks, for 1.8 miles to the turnaround.
The route then heads south on the Pacific Crest Trail after the turnaround. It is mostly downhill from the turnaround to Penne Pines, and then mostly uphill from Penne Pines to the Air Force Rd. aid station. Then the route is rolling and then slightly uphill to Dales Soup aid station. About a mile out of the Dales station heading south, the trail starts to head downhill. Most of the rest of the route is downhill, except for the last 1.5 miles which is flat. Remember to cross Old Hwy 80 about a mile from the finish, turn left, and then right and go around the campground, downhill and cross the stream, and turn right and go thru the field, back to the track at the school and do a half lap counterclockwise to reach the finish line.
Miles to Miles From Name of Motel or City Phone
Start San Diego Campgroun
Airport
7 50 Pine Valley Inn Pine Valley (619) 473-8560
28940 Old Hwy. 80 Pine Valley CA 91962
17 57 Mount Laguna Lodge Mount Laguna (619) 445-2342
10678 Sunrise Highway, Mount Laguna, CA 91948
http://www.lagunamountain.com
5 65 Lake Morena County Campo (858) 565-3600
Campgrounds
6 60 Cibbetts Flats Campground Campo
or write to San Diego County Parks, Reservations Dept., 2454 Heritage Park Row,
San Diego, CA 92110 or on the web at http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/parks
17 55 Green Valley State Descanso (800) 444-7275
Campground
Allow about 65 minutes drive time to reach the race start
site from either downtown San Diego, or the airport.
Kitchen Creek Road Aid station:
From the start area, go back onto Buckman Springs Rd. heading north towards the Interstate, then get onto I-8 east, go 1 exit and get off the freeway, turn left and go up Kitchen Creek Rd. about 3 miles to the aid station which is at the crest of a hill where the trail intersects the road. Please park off to the side of the road out of traffic and be careful of cars from both directions.
Air Force Road aid station:
From Kitchen Creek Rd. aid station, go back on Kitchen Creek Rd. to the I-8 head west on the freeway and go 2 exits, to the Sunrise Hwy, turn right off the ramp, head uphill on Sunrise Hwy about 11 miles to Air Force Rd. on the right side of the Hwy, about a mile past the Mount Laguna General Store. This is near Mile Paddle 24.5 and there will be white streamers here to mark the turn onto Air Force Rd. The aid station is about 200 yards up the road past the gate (you will have to walk there).
Penne Pines Aid Station
From Air Force Rd. aid station, continue north (right) on the Sunrise Hwy for about 2.5 miles, to the Penne Pines Picnic Area. There are parking lots on the left and right side of the road. The aid station is about 150 yards to the right/east of the picnic area, right off the Pacific Crest Trail.
Gas and groceries can be purchased at convenience stores in Pine Valley, which is an exit off I-8, 2 exits west of Buckman Springs Road. This is about 7 miles from the start site of the race. You can also get basic first aid supplies and ice in Pine Valley. The nearest restaurants are likely in Pine Valley, about a 10 minute drive from the start, heading back towards San Diego. You can also get some snacks, sodas, etc. at the general store in Mount Laguna. It is right off the Sunrise Hwy on the way to the Air Force Rd. and Penne Pines aid stations. There are no gas stations on the Sunrise Hwy so plan accordingly.
Cutoffs
| Aid station name | Mileage | Cutoff time | Pace between stations (min/mile) |
| Penne Pines | 26.8 | 7 hrs 15 minutes | 16.25 mpm |
| Dales Soup Kitchen | 35.5 | 9 hours 40 minutes | 16.6 mpm |
| Fred Canyon Road | 42.5 | 11 hours 30 minutes | 15.7 mpm |
| Kitchen Creek Road | 45.2 | 12 hours 10 minutes | 14.8 mpm |
| Finish Line | 50.3 | 13 hours 30 minutes | 15.7 mpm |
| Station Name | Mileages | Crew Access | Drop Bag |
| Kitchen Creek Road | 5.1,45.2 | Yes | No |
| Fred Canyon Road | 7.7,42.5 | No | No |
| Dales Soup Kitchen | 14.7,35.5 | No | Yes |
| Air Force Road | 19.3,30.9 | Yes | No |
| Penne Pines | 23.4,26.8 | Yes | Yes |