August 25-26, 2023

First, a few basics:

• 120 Runners maximum in the race
• Runners (and pacers) must carry all required gear
• Eight hours of volunteer work required
• Entries are not transferable.
• Cut-offs will be enforced
• Check in and out at every aid station
• Stay on trail, taking every switchback and passing every course marker.
• Crewing only at noted aid stations
• Pacers allowed beginning at mile 50 / Guanella Pass and at other aid stations as noted.
• Trekking poles are allowed and recommended
• All finishers will receive a unique finisher's buckle

Race Schedule

Thursday August 25
4:00 pm: Check-in begins
7:00 pm: Check-in ends
All drop bags must be dropped off by 7:00 pm.

Friday August 26
5:00 am: Race start
10:20 am: Warden Gulch Cut-Off
3:15 pm: Wild Irishman Cut-Off
6:30 pm: Webster Pass Cut-Off
10:40 pm: Geneva Creek Cut-Off

Saturday August 27
2:00 am: Guanella Pass Cut-Off
4:00 am: Geneva Creek Cut-Off
8:20 am: Webster Pass Cut-Off
2:30 pm: Tiptop Cut-Off
5:15 pm: Warden Gulch Cut-Off
9:00 pm: Leavenworth Creek Cut-Off
11:00 pm: Finish Line Cut-Off

Volunteer Work

We require 8 hours of either trail work or race volunteering to be completed. Look for a form here by December 2021. If you are unable or unwilling to complete your volunteer work you may pay an opt-out fee of $125 that will be donated in equal sums to the Colorado Trail Foundation and Continental Divide Trail Coalition (minus 5% for the USFS). You will find this option under the "store" on the race's Ultrasignup page.

Gear requirements

All runners must carry all of the following for the entirety of the race.  Your packs will be checked at check in and anyone missing equipment from the list will not be allowed to start. Furthermore, be prepared for any member of the race staff to check your pack during and immediately after the event. A time penalty of three hours will be applied if any gear is found to be missing (if checked at an aid station and this penalty puts you behind cut-offs, you will be not be allowed to continue).

Pacers must also carry this gear.

To quote two runners from 2021:
"It was cold up on the ridge and then it was a different cold down lower."
"I'm so happy you made us carry all that. I put everything on last night."

• Hooded waterproof jacket (seam taped, etc.)
Wind shells are not acceptable
• Warm gloves/mittens (not thin liner gloves). Waterproof counts.
• Warm hat (‘buff’ is inadequate)
• Buff/neck gaiter ('buff' is adequate, obviously)
• Full-length bottom layer (tights, pants, etc)
• Second warm upper layer layer (other than above jacket)
• Survival blanket or bivy
• Water capacity of 40oz minimum (bladder or minimum 3 soft flasks)
•    Reusable, collapsible cup/bowl (one or both). This is for soda and also any hot soup so be sure it won't melt.
• Two headlamps (1 being an emergency lamp acceptable). Must have extra batteries for main headlamp (Sunset is 8:00 pm and Sunrise is 6:30 am).
• “Wag Bag” for fecal removal from sensitive alpine areas (will be provided at check in). More will be available at aid stations as well.
• Course Map (Either cell phone with Caltopo/Gaia/similar app + route downloaded for offline use or a paper map + compass and the ability to read it)*

*The trail between Red Cone and Guanella Pass is technical and sometimes ambiguous. It is some really fun running, but above treeline navigation assistance will be helpful (especially at night when you are tired).

We recommend filter bottles if you would like a means for keeping pack weight down. There is a lot of water on course, most of it is drinkable with a filter (some of it flows right of mines however so mind your sourcing.)

Aid Stations

The longest stretch between aid stations is a little over 9 miles. This section also happens to be high altitude and fairly exposed (like most of the course). Consult your map and elevation profile.  Frankly, there is no easy part of this race once you are away from a five mile radius of Georgetown. Be prepared for each section.
• As of now, all food will either be pre-packaged or in single-serve. Unfortunately, we must be less environmentally friendly also to eliminate potential cross-contamination.
• Aid stations will have your usual ultra fare including: saltines, ramen, potatoes, fruit, sandwiches, various candies, sodas, hot foods, broth and instant coffee overnight.
• There will be gluten free options available as well.
• Every aid station may not have what you want. Anticipate basics at every aid station, but Webster Pass is rather remote and will be a lighter aid station and may not have some or any hot food items.  Plan for less and then be happily surprised when you are wrong!
• Every aid station will have hand sanitizer and it must be used upon arrival.
• There might be gels at the aid stations or there might not, but you will know either way before race week.
• Aid stations may not have cups or bowls for you. Remember you are required to carry these yourself. There will be some utensils available at each aid station if you need them.

Drop Bags

Drop bags will be allowed as noted on the above chart. Please do not go overboard with them. Use a drawstring back, backpack, small duffle, etc. No hard bins allowed.  If your drop bag is too big, it may be refused at drop off or left off the truck for the drive to the aid station. Use your judgment on this and be kind to the volunteers who have to haul your bags around.  As far as contents, you have to carry almost everything on your back anyway so you might as well pack it light!

Cut offs

All cutoffs are firm. If you do not leave an aid station by the cutoff time you will be pulled for the safety of both yourself and the volunteers. Aid station captains also retain the right to pull anyone at their own discretion (if you show up grey and speaking gibberish, you should probably stop running). You can walk the entire course and finish under cut-offs, but you do have to keep moving.

Bib numbers

• Bib numbers will be assigned and provided at check in on Thursday.
• Please ensure the aid station personnel has made note of your bib number upon arrival and departure.

Litter and waste

Intentional littering will result in immediate disqualification. If aid station volunteers catch you throwing anything (including orange peels, etc.) aside you will be called back and removed from the race.  There will be trash bags on the exit side of every aid station. This is a mostly high alpine environment and any damage/litter will take a long time for recovery.

On that same note, all runners are provided with “wag bags” just in case any of you need to go while above treeline. It may seem silly, but human waste in that environment simply does not break down well or quickly. Do your best to use them and please dig holes at all other times or utilize port-a-lets available at Warden Gulch, Geneva Creek, and Guanella Pass.

Crewing and Pacing

Pacing is allowed beginning at Guanella Pass Aid Station and at noted aid station following. Pacers must carry all required gear.

Crews are allowed at the following aid stations, per the Aid Station spreadsheet:
• Warden Gulch (Mile 14.75 and 86.7)
• Webster Pass (Mile 35.6 and 65.9)*
• Geneva Creek (Mile 45.6 and 55.9)**
• Guanella Pass (Mile 50.5)

*It is illegal to park along any roads within the town limits of Montezuma (or elsewhere on Summit County roads). On your way to Webster Pass, you will cross a fence/gate that notes the beginning of USFS land. This is 0.7 miles from the lower fork in the road. It is another two miles on a high-clearance 4x4 road from this fence to the aid station. There are two acceptable parking areas for the aid station. The first is 0.7 miles past this fence at a junction with several camping areas, the next is to drive all the way to the aid station. No Subarus/crossover vehicles allowed. You need a high clearance 4x4 vehicle and to know how to drive it. Plan for 25-35 minutes from Montezuma to the aid station, and if you drive in, I recommend staying for the entire time until your runner returns.  If you do not have vehicle like that, do not attempt do drive up and do not park lower, even if you find a spot that does not have any "no tresspassing signs". Even with our small numbers I have had to turn crews away who parked near Montezuma both years. If it continues to happen there will be no crews allowed at the aid station at all!

**Crews are not allowed to drive over Webster Pass between that aid station and Geneva Creek. The pass is a very technical, narrow road and cannot handle our race traffic. There is no way to sneak this either, you have to drive past the aid station to access the pass so do not try. The drive between them takes almost 2.5 hours back to I-70 and through Georgetown, or two hours from Webster Pass to Guanella Pass. I would recommend either staying at Webster Pass overnight for the runner's return trip or skipping Webster Pass and seeing the runner at both Geneva Creek / Guanella Pass.

Crews are not allowed at any other points along course, even for spectating. A number of factors are in balance to allow this race to exist, and crews/spectators in other areas could jeopardize the future of the event. If crewing/spectating is witnessed outside any of the allowed areas, the runner will be disqualified.

Of particular note: Leavenworth Creek Road is a popular OHV area and we need to not clog the roads with crew traffic.  

Every runner is allowed one crew vehicle and will receive a placard to place on the dash of that car. If you want a dozen people on your crew, you better have a big car. Furthermore, crewing is only allowed within the direct area of each aid station. Don't try handing off a water bottle a mile away; you will be disqualified.

At all crew accessible aid stations, park only where indicated and directed by signage and aid station staff. We will do out best to make it obvious.  We do need to be careful regarding parking to help with resource protections under our permits, so please help with this!

Crews are the responsibility of their runners and any crew acting poorly will be given a warning, and if this is ignored the runner may be subject to disqualification. Examples are littering, parking outside of appropriate zones, or any activity that is illegal on federal land.

All this threat of disqualification may seem like overkill, but are necessary to ensure permitting the event for years to come. We must do our best to keep all governing bodies happy with us, as well as be good stewards of the sport.

Dogs

Unfortunately, no dogs are allowed on the race course as a condition of our USATF sanction and insurance, so leave the pooch at home please!

Feel free to reach out to the race director, Guy Love, at glove@vt.edu with any questions or if you would like to volunteer!

The Divide 100 takes place within the Arapaho and Pike National Forests under special permit with the United States Forest Service, as well as under special permit from Summit County, Clear Creek County, the town of Georgetown and with special permission of the town of Montezuma.