North Country Trail Relay Directions

Directions for 2011, the 2012 directions will be available at a later date.

Welcome to the 2011 North Country Trail Relay (NCTR). Organized by North Country Trail Relay, LLC, the race is run on the North Country National Scenic Trail, which is a footpath that one day will stretch more than 4,000 miles to link communities and wilderness areas across seven northern states from North Dakota to New York. The section of the trail we will be using for the race runs through the Huron-Manistee National Forest. A portion of the entry fee is donated to the Trail Association; the balance of the proceeds are donated to the Alzheimer's Association of West Michigan.

 

Registration: In the first part of June we will e-mail a copy of these directions and a set of maps to the team captains. We will not have any extra copies of the maps or directions at packet pickup. Team captains will pick up packets at the start from 5:15 a.m. - 6:00 a.m.  Shirts, numbers and vehicle permits for the entire team will be in one packet. At 5:45 a.m. we will have announcements on any last minute updates. The race will start at 6:00 a.m. Each team will be given six of the same numbers; runners are required to wear their number while running. We will have a sheet at the registration table to aid you in exchanging shirts if you prefer a different size than was originally ordered.

 

Trail - Runners must yield the trail to hikers; if you come up on a hiker from behind let them know you are approaching. Bikers are required to yield the trail to foot travel; some bikers follow this better than others. Follow the trail markings; it is marked with blue rectangular paint blazes. In some sections of the trail you will still encounter the gray or blue nailed-on diamonds (the previous markings in the Manistee National Forest). The end of leg 2, the beginning and ending of leg 3, the beginning of leg 4 and the last 0.4 miles of the race run on a spur trail; these sections are marked in white paint. A turn is indicated through the use of two blazes -- one placed 2 inches above the other and offset in the direction of the turn. The sections of the trail that run on roads are marked in the same manner as the trail. However, since the correct direction for these road sections is less obvious than when running on the trail additional information is included for those sections. We are guests of the Huron-Manistee National Forest and want to return so please help us make a good impression.  Please help us to leave the trail in better shape than the way we find it.  Do not litter.  You must carry any trash such as gel wrappers to the end of the leg with you. Some of the exchange locations have restroom facilities; make use of them as you encounter them.  Boardwalks can be very slippery; use caution when crossing.  Runners will cross a number of busy roads.  RUNNERS MUST YIELD TO TRAFFIC AT ALL TIMES. We will be monitoring some of the busy road crossings; individuals that fail to wait for traffic will have their entire team disqualified.

 

Road - Park only on the right side of the road past the exchange point in the direction of the race flow unless directed otherwise. Do not use the trailhead parking areas at legs 2, 3 and 9; these are fee areas and are reserved for hikers using the trail. Remember to reset your vehicle odometer at the various corners in the instructions. If you don’t it can be easy to drive right past the trailhead.

 

Roster Changes: Team rosters complete with a waiver signature for each participant are due by June 1st. They may be mailed to: North Country Trail Relay, 5075 Coltons Run, West Olive, MI 49460, faxed to 616.392.3100 or scanned and e-mailed to nctrelay@nctrelay.org.

 

Exchange Points: You may only exchange at the designated exchange points. Some of the exchanges are located by private property, please stay off their land. If an incoming runner reaches an exchange point and the next runner is not present, the incoming runner may wait until the next runner appears or they may continue on for the entire next leg. Once a runner starts a leg they must finish the leg.  While waiting for your runner at exchange points refrain from straying into the middle of the road.

 

Awards: Each runner must run a minimum of 10 miles. We have three divisions, female, mixed and open, with awards to the fastest teams in each division based on a handicap scoring method. You must pick up your award; we are not able to mail them. The mixed division will include teams with two to five females and the female division will include teams comprised entirely of females. The winning teams will be the ones with the fastest handicapped time based on: women 13%, men and women age 14 – 5%, age 15 – 5%, age 16 – 3%, age 17 – 1%; men and women 40 - 49 years old 1% for each year over 39, and men and women over 49 years, 10% plus 1.5% for each year over 49 years. Results will be e-mailed to team captains and available on the web at www.nctrelay.org the week following the race.

 

Automobiles: You must display the NCTR vehicle permit on the dashboard for each vehicle you intend to have on the course. You are limited to the number of vehicles included on your entry form with a limit of two vehicles per team. The safety of runners is of the utmost concern. In some sections runners and vehicles will be sharing the road. Please use caution and reduce speed at exchange points, areas where the trail crosses the road, or sections where runners and vehicles will be sharing the road. You have plenty of time to get to each of the exchange points while driving at the posted speed limits. Runners have the right of way at all times when relay automobiles and runners are in the same area.

 

Injured/Lost/Aid to Runner: An injured runner may be replaced, however, the injured runner is done for the race. If the injured runner has not completed the minimum distance their entire handicap will be lost. The trail is very well marked. If a runner goes off course, you may take them back to the point where they went off course. The trail often times merges onto and off of an occasional two-track road. A word to the wise - it can be very easy to run past the trail where it leaves the two-track so pay attention. Starting with leg 6 you may have a teammate run with the official runner if you so choose. On leg 7 and 14 you may use your vehicle to help your runner in finding the turn off of the road and back into the woods. Biking the course with the runner is prohibited. Make sure to have plenty of fluids in your vehicle and maintain proper nutrition and hydration levels; it can be a long hot day.

 

Severe Weather: In the event of severe weather you may want to have your runner wait before starting the leg. You must sit the runner out in increments of 15 minutes. Report the lost time at the finish so the results can be adjusted accordingly.

 

Gasoline/Food Stops: There is a gas and convenience store located in Mesick at the corner of M37 and M115 that is four miles east of the start and normally opens at 6:00 a.m. The next opportunity for gas and food will be on the way to Michigan Avenue (leg 5). The store is located in Brethren on High Bridge Road just north of Coates Highway. On the way to leg 11 go left on Bass Lake road for about 1 mile to the Na-Tah-Ka party store for gas, food and beverage options. Just West of the corner of US 10 and Tyndall Road on the way to the Wingleton Road exchange (leg 14) is a party store where food and beverage items may be purchased.

 

Penalties: We will impose penalties in the form of minutes added to your time up to team disqualification for infractions of the rules including, but not limited to: reckless driving, more than 2 vehicles, excessive speed, no number, failure to follow the instructions of a race official or course marshal, or littering. The race committee reserves the right to adjust penalties as necessary.

 

Concurrent Running: Teams unable to complete the relay in under 13 hours will need to run currently to get them to the finish by 7:00 p.m. Teams running concurrently will not be eligible for awards. Concurrent running involves sending your outgoing runner off before your incoming runner arrives. You will need to keep track of your time for each leg and turn it in at the finish so we can correctly post the time for your entire team.

 

Thanks: This event would not be possible without the help of the many individuals who have worked to make it successful: Ramona Venegas of the Huron-Manistee National Forest; Kathy Bietau of the Baldwin Ranger District; American Land & Leisure who maintains the campground at the finish; the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians for allowing the event on sections of the trail that cross tribal land, the residents of Forest View Estates and the Spirit of the Woods Chapter of the North Country Trail Association that is responsible for the section of the trail we are running on. Special thanks to the volunteers who get up at 3:00 a.m. to make the event a success.

 

Emergency Contacts:

Police:  Emergency Dispatch 911

Legs 1 - 7 run through Manistee County: Sheriff’s office – 231.723.8393

Legs 8 – 15 run through Lake County:     Sheriff’s office – 231.745.2712

Hospitals:

Manistee – West Shore Medical Center 231.398.1000

Ludington – Memorial Medical Hospital:  888.742.7426

Cadillac    -  Mercy Hospital:  800.336.3729

Reed City -  Spectrum Health-Reed City:  231.832.3271

 

TO GET TO THE START:

FROM BOWMAN BRIDGE CAMPGROUND: Turn left on 56th Street for 4.6 miles to M-37 (Baldwin). Turn left on M-37 for 38.6 miles to M-115. Turn left on M-115 (plan 1 hour for traveling from the campground to the start).

 

FROM M-37 AND M-115 In Mesick: Head West on M-115 for 4.0 miles to the Mesick Roadside Park.

 

Leg 1 - Mesick Roadside Park               Leg: 5.3 miles       Total 5.3       Scenery: Scenic                              Difficulty: Challenging

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 612                                           Loss 823

 

Trail: Cross M-115 and follow the unmarked trail 0.3 miles emerging onto No. 14 Road, cross No. 14 road onto No. 3 Road, (a seasonal road). Follow No. 3 Road for 1.0 miles to No. 16 Road, a paved road. Continue straight on No. 3 Road another 0.2 miles, at this point the road turns right and changes name to Forest View Trail. You will enter Forest View Estates; follow the road1.7 miles to the wire barricade on the left. Cross over the barricade and ascend 0.2 miles on the abandon road to the top of the hill. Cross over another wire barrier and continue straight on Hillside Trail. Follow Hillside Trail 0.7 miles to the stop sign at Hodenply Dam Road, a paved road. Turn right on Hodenpyl Dam Road (Hodenpyl Dam Road is a busy road; you must yield to traffic when crossing, run on the left shoulder against traffic) for 1.1 miles. At 1.1 miles turn left following the gravel road 0.1 miles to the exchange at the trailhead on the right. Not a lot of trail on this leg, a collection of running surfaces including some nice down hills.

 

Road: Turn left from the Mesick Roadside Park on M-115 for 2.7 miles to Beers Road (sign says Hodenpyl Dam Road). Turn right on Beers Road for 4.6 miles to the Dam Road. Turn left for 0.1 miles to the exchange at the trailhead. Your first vehicle may turn at the Dam Roan and stop at the exchange; it must have the pink vehicle sign. This road is used by fisher persons make sure to keep the traffic lanes open, angle park where space on the shoulder permits, do not park in the trailhead parking area.

 

If you have a second vehicle it may not stop at the exchange or park on Beers Road. From the Dam Road continue straight on Beers Road 2.7 miles to T, turn left on Marilla Road (sign says Manistee County Road 598). Follow Marilla Road for 5.7 miles to Coates Hwy (at 0.4 miles on Marilla Road, Manistee County Road 598 turns to the right, continue straight). Turn left on Coates Hwy for 2.2 miles to Upper River Road (at 1.7 miles the trail crosses Coats Hwy, watch out for runners). Turn left for 0.1 miles to the trailhead parking area, park on the east (right) side of the road pulling straight in; do not park in the trailhead parking area or the west (left) side of the road. If your team has two vehicles pull in far enough for your second vehicle to park behind you.

 

Leg 2 - Beers Road                                 Leg: 9.1 miles       Total 14.4     Scenery: Visually Orgasmic           Difficulty: Gut Buster

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 2019                                         Loss 2034

 

Trail: Turn right follow the trail for 8.8 miles to the Manistee River Trail (at 0.7 continue straight, at 1.2 miles continue straight do not turn right on the trail that leads to the Marilla Trailhead). At 8.8 miles turn left following the trail 0.3 miles down to the exchange point at the trailhead parking area. The last 0.3 miles on the spur trail will be marked with white paint, you may encounter runners heading out on leg 3, please share the trail. A challenging leg with a number of long steep up-hill sections followed by long downhill sections and some fantastic views, you will want to come back and run this one over again. Use caution descending the hills especially the last hill to the exchange point. If you come to a paved road you missed your turn to the exchange, turn around and go back 0.6 and follow the Manistee River Trail down to the exchange.

 

Road: Continue straight on Dam Road 0.4 miles to Upper River Road. Turn right on Upper River Road for 6.2 miles to the trailhead parking area, park on the east (left) side of the road pulling straight in; do not park in the trailhead parking area or on the west (right) side of the road. If your team has two vehicles double park behind your first vehicle. If you can not find space to park across from the trailhead continue down Upper River Road across Coats Hwy and continue parking only on the east side of the road.

 

Leg 3 – Manistee River Trail                   Leg: 7.2 miles       Total 21.6     Scenery: Visually Orgasmic           Difficulty: Gut Buster

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 1741                                         Loss 1856

 

Trail: Head back out the trail retracing the direction of the incoming runner and follow the Manistee River Trail for 0.3 miles to the North Country Trail. Turn left and follow the trail for 6.7 miles to the edge of the bluff overlooking the Manistee River. Turn left following the spur trail for 0.2 miles to the exchange at the road. (At 0.9 miles you will cross Coats Hwy., which is a busy paved road, watch for traffic. At 6.7 miles you will cross Dilling Road, another busy paved road. Continue diagonally across Dilling Road for another 0.5 miles to the exchange). The first half of this leg will get your heart rate up; enjoy the gorgeous views of Tippy Dam Pond.

 

Road: Head south on Upper River Road 0.1 miles to Coats Hwy. Continue South on Upper River Road from Coats Hwy for 4.2 miles to a stop sign, turn right for 0.1 miles to a second stop sign. Turn right on Dilling Road for 0.6 miles to the Sawdust Hole Recreation Area. You will find a 2-track on the right with plenty of area where you can pull off the road to park or you can park along the shoulder of Dilling Road either before or after the 2-track. This is a popular area for fisher persons often traveling at a high rate of speed, stay off the road and watch for traffic. To get to the exchange you will need to walk from the parking area. Turn left on FS8799 for 0.3 miles to the edge of the bluff the, runners will come down the trail from the right to the exchange on the road.

 

Leg 4 – Sawdust Hole                             Leg: 6.9 miles       Total 28.5     Scenery: Visually Orgasmic           Difficulty: Gut Buster

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 885                                           Loss 1099

 

Trail: Head back out the trail retracing the direction of the incoming runner, follow the trail along the bluff 0.2 miles until you reach the North Country Trail marker. Turn left, really going straight. Follow the trail, at 2.8 miles you will make a sharp left turn after running up a hill on a short section of an old two track road. At 5.0 miles the trail crosses the Manistee River stay on the left side of the road bridge, do not run down the road, after you cross the river you will then cross High Bridge Road, run through the parking area on the other side of the road. Exit the far corner of the parking area and follow the trail to the exchange where the trail will merge onto a gravel road, this is Chicago Avenue. A collection of flats and climbs, the views on the ridge along the Manistee River will help you to forget the switch-backs. Yield to traffic when crossing High Bridge Road. Use care on the boardwalks, they may be slippery.

 

Road: Continue down Dilling Road 2.1 miles to Coates Hwy. Turn left on Coates Hwy for 3.4 miles to High Bridge Road. Turn left on High Bridge Road for 3.7 miles to Chicago Avenue (at 2.8 miles you will cross the Manistee River, on the far side of the bridge runners will be crossing High Bridge Road please be careful. YOU MAY NOT STOP AT THE RIVER, continue on to the exchange). Turn right on Chicago Avenue for 1.3 miles to the exchange where the trail merges with Chicago Avenue on the right hand side of the road. Park past the exchange, only one vehicle per team may stop at this exchange it must display the pink vehicle permit. Both sides of the road in this area are private property you may not trespass or use the woods as a rest stop.

 

Leg 5 – Michigan Avenue                       Leg: 4.6 miles Total 33.1           Scenery: Scenic                              Difficulty: Easy

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 241                                           Loss 164

 

Trail: Continue on Chicago Avenue 0.2 miles to Michigan Avenue. Turn left on Michigan Avenue for 1.1 miles to Cedar Creek Rd. Turn right on Cedar Creek Rd. for 1.0 miles to Huff Road (no sign). Turn left on Huff Road (do not run across Huff Road into the power lines) for 0.3 miles to where the trail re-enters the woods on the right hand side (at 0.1 miles Huff Road crosses Pine Creek, continue up the road for another 0.2 miles and look on the right hand side for the point where the trail re-enters the woods). Follow the trail for 1.2 miles to M-55. Cross M-55 and continue straight down Firetower Road for 30 yards to where the trail re-enters the woods on the right hand side of the road. Follow the trail for 0.7 miles to the exchange at FS5502. Use caution crossing M-55, this is a busy road - you must yield to traffic.

 

Road: Continue straight on Chicago Avenue for 0.8 miles to Huff Road. Turn left on Huff Road for 1.2 miles to Pine Creek. Turn right on Pine Creek for 1.2 miles to Horseshoe Bend. Turn left on Horseshoe Bend for 0.5 miles to M-55. Turn left on M-55 for 0.3 miles to Firetower Road. Turn right on Firetower road for 0.7 miles to FS5502. Park on Firetower Road before or after FS5502, walk 0.1 miles (to the right) down FS5502 to the trail. You may not stop at M-55 and Firetower Road, watch out for runners crossing M-55 at this intersection from left to right. The trailhead at M55 has a bathroom for those that wish to use it.

 

Leg 6 – FS5502                                        Leg: 5.9 miles Total 39.0           Scenery: Visually Orgasmic           Difficulty: Gut Buster

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 571                                           Loss 598

 

Trail: Follow the trail, at 5.0 miles you will come out to a gravel road, follow the trail across the gravel road and back into the woods. At 5.4 miles the trail will come out to a paved road, Udell Hills Road. Turn right on Udell Hills Rd for 30 yards to the intersection of S. Skolcelas and Udell Hills Rd. Turn left on S. Skocelas Road for 0.5 miles to Riverside Drive for the exchange. You will negotiate some major ups and downs; treat yourself to a dip in the Little Manistee River just before the exchange point when you are done with the leg.

 

Road: Continue down Firetower Road for 5.0 miles to the exchange at the corner of S.Skocelas Road and Riverside Drive. At 0.7 miles stay right, at 1.0 miles stay right, at 1.6 miles go left on FS8190, at 2.2 miles stay left, at 2.4 miles go straight, at 2.9 miles go right, at 4.1 miles continue straight on the paved road (this is S. Skocelas Road) for another 0.9 miles to the exchange at Riverside Drive. Turn left and park on Riverside Drive. Both sides of the road in this area are private property you may not trespass or use the woods as a rest stop.  At 4.1 miles the trail crosses the road from right to left, watch out for runners.

 

Leg 7 – Riverside Drive                          Leg: 5.4 miles Total 44.4           Scenery: Gorgeous                         Difficulty: Challenging

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 367                                           Loss 292

 

Trail: Turn left on Riverside Drive for 0.2 miles where the trail re-enters the woods on the right hand side of the road. Follow the trail for 5.2 miles to the exchange at FS5203. Just enough variation to make this a fast leg, careful on the boardwalk, if it's wet it will be slippery. Your vehicle may aid you for the turn at 0.2 miles where the trail re-enters the woods.

 

Road: Continue on Riverside Drive for 4.3 miles to FS5331, (sign says 10 1/2 Mile Road). Turn right on FS5331 for 0.8 miles to FS5203. Turn left on FS5203 for 0.3 miles to the exchange where the trail crosses the road.

 

Leg 8 – FS5203                                        Leg: 2.5 miles Total 46.9           Scenery: Scenic                              Difficulty: Easy      

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 192                                           Loss 320

 

Trail: Follow the trail to Freesoil Road, cross the road to the exchange at the sign in the trailhead parking area. Just enough elevation change to be interesting but no major climbs.

 

Road: Continue straight on FS5203 for 1.9 miles to Freesoil Road. Turn left on Freesoil Road for 0.6 miles to FS5327 (no sign). Turn Right on FS5327, the exchange is at the trailhead on the corner of Freesoil Road and FS5327. Park along FS5327, do not park in the trailhead parking area.

 

Leg 9 – Freesoil Road                            Leg: 4.0 miles Total 50.9           Scenery: Scenic                              Difficulty: Easy

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 429                                           Loss 380

 

Trail: A relatively flat section, follow the normal trail markings to the exchange at 5 Mile Road. (The trail follows a 2-track for 0.3 miles then the trail turns right off of the 2-track.)

 

Road: Continue straight on FS5327 for 3.8 miles to 5 Mile Road. Turn left on 5 Mile Road for 0.2 miles to the exchange where the trail comes out onto the road. The property on the right side of the road in this area is private property you may not trespass or use the area as a rest stop.

 

Leg 10 – West 5 Mile Road                     Leg: 2.3 miles Total 53.2           Scenery: Scenic                              Difficulty: Easy

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 41                                             Loss 109

 

Trail: The trail turns left and follows the road to the exchange where the trail re-enters the woods. Follow the road directions below. The last two miles are on a paved road with rolling hills that can be busy, run on the sholder against traffic.

 

Road: Continue straight on 5 Mile Road for 0.3 miles to the stop sign, at this point 5 Mile Road turns to pavement. Turn left on 5 Mile Road following the pavement for 2.0 miles to the exchange where the trail re-enters the woods on the right side of the road. At 1.0 miles on the section of paved road you will come to a stop sign at the intersection of Five Mile Road and Bass Lake Road, stay right following 5 Mile Road. Caution, runners will be running along 5 Mile Road reduce your speed, please drive with care.

 

Leg 11 – East 5 Mile Road                      Leg: 3.5 miles Total 56.7           Scenery: Gorgeous                         Difficulty: Challenging

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 487                                           Loss 449

 

Trail: Follow the trail and exchange at 3 Mile Road. Some challenging hills with a nice downhill finish to the exchange.

 

Road: Continue straight on 5 Mile Road for 2.7 miles; at this point 5 Mile Road turns to the left; continue straight on 3 Mile Road which is a gravel road. (At 2.1 miles on 5 Mile Road the road turns to the right and changes names to Brooks)  Follow 3 Mile Road 2.2 miles to the exchange where the trail crosses the road. Be careful not to spend too much time after picking up your runner from leg 10 or your runner on this leg may beat you to the exchange for leg 12.

 

Leg 12 – 3 Mile Road                              Leg: 6.1 miles Total 62.8           Scenery: Visually Orgasmic           Difficulty: Gut Buster

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 1146                                         Loss 981

 

Trail: - Follow the trail crossing several two track roads to the exchange at 8th Street. If you missed out on some of the early legs of the day then here is your chance to experience some of the best running of the day. The section along McCarthy Lake will allow you to almost forget the climb you have to make up after the downhill finish on leg 11. At 2 miles you will cross Mac Road, which is being used by the support vehicles use caution when crossing.

 

Road: Continue straight on 3 Mile Road for 0.7 miles to Mac Road (no sign). Turn left on Mac Road for 2.3 miles to stop sign, this is FS5196. (At 1.5 miles on Mac Road the trail crosses the road please watch out for runners.) Turn left on FS5196 for 1.0 miles to FS5441. Turn right on FS5441 for 2.0 miles to 8th Street. Turn right on 8th Street for 0.5 miles to the exchange where the trail crosses the road, turn your vehicle around.

 

Leg 13 – 8th Street                                    Leg: 4.7 miles Total 67.5           Scenery: Gorgeous                         Difficulty: Challenging

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 1498                                         Loss 2233

 

Trail: Follow the trail to the exchange at Wingleton Road. At 3.1 miles you will come to a Y where the NCT meets a spur trail leading to Timber Creek Campground, go left following the main trail. At 3.2 miles you will come to US 10, use caution crossing this busy road, you must yield to traffic; follow the trail across the road.

 

Road: Go back 0.5 miles to FS5441. At this corner FS5441 changes names to FS5197. Turn right on FS5197 for 1.9 miles to US-10. Turn right on US-10 for 3.9 miles to Tyndall Road (map says Hamilton Road). Turn left on Tyndall Road for 0.5 miles to Stevenson Road. Turn left on Stevenson Road for 1.2 miles to W. Wingleton Road (at 0.9 miles Stevenson Road turns to the right and changes names to S. Branch Road). Turn left on W. Wingleton Road for 0.7 miles to the exchange where the trail comes out onto the road, turn your vehicle around and park before the trail.

 

Leg 14 – Wingleton Road                      Leg: 3.3 miles       Total 70.8     Scenery: Gorgeous                         Difficulty: Challenging

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 583                                           Loss 626

 

Trail: Turn right on Wingleton Road for 0.7 miles to South Branch Road. Turn left on South Branch Road for 0.4 miles, shortly after crossing the Pere Marquette River veer left where the trail re-enters the woods. Follow the trail another 1.7 miles to 40th Street. Turn left on 40th Street for 0.5 miles to the exchange where the trail re-enters the woods. The beginning and ending are pretty easy with a fairly good climb in the middle.

 

Road: Go back 0.7 miles to S. Branch Road. Turn left on S. Branch Road for 1.2 miles to 40th Street. Turn left on 40th Street for 1.5 miles to the exchange where the trail re-enters the woods. At 0.4 miles on S. Branch Road the trail re-enters the woods, you may aid your runner at this point to ensure they make the turn into the woods.

 

Leg 15 – 40th Street                                  Leg: 4.9 miles       Total 75.7     Scenery: Visually Orgasmic           Difficulty: Challenging

                                                                  Elevation Change                     Gain 576                                           Loss 647

 

Trail: Turn right and follow the trail for 3.1 miles where you will cross 56th Street, a busy paved road (at 2.9 miles a spur trail branches off to the right, continue straight on the main trail). Continue straight across the road following the trail for another 1.3 miles to the spur trail that leads to Bowman Bridge Campground. Turn left on the spur trail for 0.4 miles to the finish. For the last 0.4 miles you will be following white blazes instead of blue. With 0.2 miles to go you will cross back over 56th Street. This last leg of the day has a little of everything, you will be able to cool off in the Pere Marquette River when you are done, enjoy!

 

Road: Continue straight on 40th Street for 3.0 miles to 56th Street (no street sign, you will come to a stop sign, at 2.6 miles 40th Street turns right.) Turn left on 56th Street for 0.9 miles to Bowman Bridge Campground. Turn left into Bowman Bridge Campground, take the first road to the left up the hill and follow it to the back of the campground to the finish area. Double park in the group site 3 and 4 parking areas or along the right hand edge of the circular drive at the end of the road. Make sure to maintain an open lane for traffic. One individual from each team will need to report to the scoring table to notify us if circumstances did not allow each of the runners to run the minimum number of miles to qualify for their handicap, report total time run if your team ran concurrently and to pick up the finisher glasses for the team. For access to the river continue straight instead of taking the first left after turning into the campground and follow the drive to the river. If you want to park down by the river you must purchase a vehicle parking permit from the pay station. When driving in the campground you must observe the posted speed limit of 15 MPH. Please watch out for runners and campers.

 

 

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