Racer Briefing
WHEE Racer briefing
Getting there
From Eugene:
From I-5 South, Take Exit 188 for Highway 58 towards Oakridge. Follow Highway 58 for 35 miles to Oakridge. Follow highway 58 through Oakridge. One mile after Oakridge, turn right onto Kitson Springs Road. Continue on Kitson Springs Road for 0.5 miles to Forest Service(FS) Road 21 on the right. Proceed on FS Road 21 for 24.5 miles to the Sacandaga Campground, on the left. There will be signs on FS road 21 directing you to the start. Follow the campground road and look for the WHEE Banner. See below for parking. Please note, the road from Highway 58 to the start winds around Hills Creek Reservoir and crosses arms of the lake twice. Allow at least 45 minutes from Highway 58.
Bib pickup will be at the start in the campground. All runners must pick up their bib before the race and also be present for roll call 5 minutes before race start time. Start times are 9:00 for 33 Mile, 10:00 for the 22 Mile and 10:30 for the 11 Mile.
To Aid Stations:
For Aid Station 1 (Chuckle Springs) from the start, return to road 21 and turn right (south) and continue 4 miles to unmarked road 404 on the right, Look for the 11 Mile turnaround sign. Follow gravel road 404 for 7/10 of a mile to a turn out on the right. The aid station is 1/3 mile down the chuckle springs trail, which is a bit steep.
For Aid Station 2 (Road 2153), follow road 21 to the intersection of road 2153 (Big swamp road) and the turn to road 2154. You will see a “WHEE 22 M right, 33 M left” sign. Turn right onto 2153. Follow road 2153 for 3 miles to the bridge over the Willamette, you will see a “Runners on Road” sign. Watch out for runners! The aid station is right before the bridge.
For Aid Station 3 (Timpanogas), at the intersection above, turn onto road 2154 (to Timpanogas Lake) after a few miles this road will turn to gravel and is heavily washboarded. This road is slow going, 20 mph. There will be several roads to the left, continue straight until you see the Timpanogas lake sign and a WHEE sign, turn left into the campground then right after the bathrooms to the aid station at the Indigo Lake trail head. The distance from the 2153/2154 intersection to Timpanogas is 8.5 miles.
Start/ finish Parking
A volunteer will be positioned at the campground entrance. 33Mile and 22 mile runners have the option of turning on Rigdon Meadows Road or continuing down the campground road for parking. 11 Mile runners will be directed to park where space is available. Parking on Rigdon Meadows will be on the right past the hunter’s campsite. Please be respectful of other campground users. Runners parking in the campground can park in the unused camp sites or along the road. Please be careful to maximize parking space, do not block the road, do not block in other cars and do not damage greenery when parking. Disregarding this advice will put my ability to secure a permit next year in jeopardy. One camp site will be blocked off for public use, do not park there.
Runners will be using the campground entrance road on the way out and back. If you arrive while a race is about to start (9:00, 10:00 or 10;30) you may be held where you are. Please watch for runners when exiting.
Aid Station Parking
There is minimal parking at AS #1. Spectators are allowed but not encouraged. For AS #2, parking is along the road. Be sure to not block the road and be careful for runners, who will be on the road at this point. For AS#3, there are 10 parking spots at the trailhead, where the aid station will be. Not all these spots are to be taken by spectators. If the trailhead lot is nearly full, you will be directed to exit the campground and park on road 2154, spectators are not allowed to park in the campground.
Toilets:
Start/Finish: There are two pit toilets in Sacandaga campground, near sites 2 and 17, see attached map. There is NO TOILET at chuckle springs or Rd 2153 aid stations. Timpanogas aid station will utilize the campground toilet, 200 yard from the aid station. Please use hiking etiquette when needing to relieve yourself while running. Don’t go in the middle of the trial!
Camping
Sacandaga Campground is available for racers at $8 a night. Rigdon Meadows, where the start/finish will be, has a few spots available with no amenities.
Changing Races
Racers can step up to a longer distance race morning at the registration table by paying the difference. Racers can also drop down to a shorter distance but there will be no refund. Changing races during the race is not allowed. IF YOU CHOOSE TO TURN AROUND EARLY, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE AN OFFICAL FINISH AND YOU MUST INFORM THE AID STATION ON THE WAY BACK.
Course Hints
Please read the course description on the website. Runners may wish to have the attached map with them. IMPORTANT: all runners must visit the 11 mile aid Station (Chuckle Springs) and check in with a volunteer. 22M and 33M runners must visit the aid station on both the way out and the way back. This is important for runner safety. All runners must verify they have been checked in at all aid stations appropriate for their race. Racers without a check in time for the turn around for their race may be disqualified.
There are a few stream crossings on the course. Most all should be passable while keeping feet dry using logs or rocks. This approach will take more time and can be risky. Logs and rocks can be slippery and/or unstable. Please take care when crossing streams.
Trail Etiquette
Since this is an out and back, runners will be passing each other. Slower runners should yield to faster runners. Give a warning when passing and pass on the left. Runners being passed should stay to the right. It is imperative racers yield to other trail users and be courteous and respectful. Aid is not allowed outside of aid station areas. Littering is grounds for disqualification. Please see the website for a complete list of rules.
The trail is open to all other users during the event, including hikers and bikers. If you encounter other trail users, please be friendly and yield the trail when appropriate. This is not a well-used trail so it is likely you will only see other racers. Any complaints should be directed to the Race Director at Sacandaga.
Course Marking
All turns will be marked with agility cones and surveyor's tape and I'll have surveyor's tape every quarter mile for reassurance. There is surveyor’s tape on the course for other uses, so I’ve used pink and green tape together. Only follow pink and green tape together. The trail is naturally hard to get lost on, there are only two intersecting trails and there will be a sign at one and the aid station at the other. The road sections are very short, less than 100 yards. If you find yourself on a road longer than that, you’ve missed a turn. I will have wrong way signs, if the see a wrong way sign, look for a turn before the sign. If you pass a wrong way sign, you are off course! Please be aware that there is always the chance of course marking vandalism. Use common sense if the course marking appears to lead you astray. Please familiarize yourself with the attached map and if you go more than a half mile without seeing pink and green tape, you are probably off course or the markings have been removed. There is really only one trail, if you are on a trail, you are on course!
Cutoffs
Runners are expected to be through the aid stations at the times below. These times are what is expected to be needed to finish the course in daylight and allow our aid station workers to finish in a reasonable time. Runners will not be allowed to continue if they are not out of the aid station before the times below.
11Mile:
1:30pm
22 Mile:
2:00 pm Rd 2153
3:30 Chuckle Springs
33 Mile:
1:00 Timpanogas
3:00 Rd 2153
4:30 Chuckle Springs
Food/Beverages
The aid stations will be stocked with GU gels and chews. Candy and trail mix will be on hand as well as PBJ’s and salted potatoes. Drinks available will be Water, GU Brew electrolyte drink (watermelon), coke, sprite and ginger ale. Note the water at the Chuckle Springs aid station will be from the spring, minimal distilled water will be available. There will be a water drop 2 miles from the finish. Please use this water sparingly.
The start finish will have snacks and a light dinner available. Please limit yourselves to one meal to leave food for later finishers.
Note, there will be no pain relievers at the aid station. If you wish to use pain relievers, which is not recommended, you will need to bring your own
Drop bags
22 Mile and 33 Mile runners may use drop bags for Timpanogas and RD 2153. Drop bags must be dropped at the start before 9:00 am and must be labeled with the runner’s bib number. Please do not put valuables in drop bags. Drop bags will be returned to the start when the aid stations are broken down and MUST be picked up at the end of the race.
Hunters
It has been noted that this is opening weekend. Rest assured, I would not have chosen this weekend and the forest service would not have approved the permit if this was an issue. I have run on this trail on opening weekend many times in the past and have never encountered a hunter. If you do encounter a hunter please be courteous and respectful. Fur coats and antler hats are not recommended.
Getting there
From Eugene:
From I-5 South, Take Exit 188 for Highway 58 towards Oakridge. Follow Highway 58 for 35 miles to Oakridge. Follow highway 58 through Oakridge. One mile after Oakridge, turn right onto Kitson Springs Road. Continue on Kitson Springs Road for 0.5 miles to Forest Service(FS) Road 21 on the right. Proceed on FS Road 21 for 24.5 miles to the Sacandaga Campground, on the left. There will be signs on FS road 21 directing you to the start. Follow the campground road and look for the WHEE Banner. See below for parking. Please note, the road from Highway 58 to the start winds around Hills Creek Reservoir and crosses arms of the lake twice. Allow at least 45 minutes from Highway 58.
Bib pickup will be at the start in the campground. All runners must pick up their bib before the race and also be present for roll call 5 minutes before race start time. Start times are 9:00 for 33 Mile, 10:00 for the 22 Mile and 10:30 for the 11 Mile.
To Aid Stations:
For Aid Station 1 (Chuckle Springs) from the start, return to road 21 and turn right (south) and continue 4 miles to unmarked road 404 on the right, Look for the 11 Mile turnaround sign. Follow gravel road 404 for 7/10 of a mile to a turn out on the right. The aid station is 1/3 mile down the chuckle springs trail, which is a bit steep.
For Aid Station 2 (Road 2153), follow road 21 to the intersection of road 2153 (Big swamp road) and the turn to road 2154. You will see a “WHEE 22 M right, 33 M left” sign. Turn right onto 2153. Follow road 2153 for 3 miles to the bridge over the Willamette, you will see a “Runners on Road” sign. Watch out for runners! The aid station is right before the bridge.
For Aid Station 3 (Timpanogas), at the intersection above, turn onto road 2154 (to Timpanogas Lake) after a few miles this road will turn to gravel and is heavily washboarded. This road is slow going, 20 mph. There will be several roads to the left, continue straight until you see the Timpanogas lake sign and a WHEE sign, turn left into the campground then right after the bathrooms to the aid station at the Indigo Lake trail head. The distance from the 2153/2154 intersection to Timpanogas is 8.5 miles.
Start/ finish Parking
A volunteer will be positioned at the campground entrance. 33Mile and 22 mile runners have the option of turning on Rigdon Meadows Road or continuing down the campground road for parking. 11 Mile runners will be directed to park where space is available. Parking on Rigdon Meadows will be on the right past the hunter’s campsite. Please be respectful of other campground users. Runners parking in the campground can park in the unused camp sites or along the road. Please be careful to maximize parking space, do not block the road, do not block in other cars and do not damage greenery when parking. Disregarding this advice will put my ability to secure a permit next year in jeopardy. One camp site will be blocked off for public use, do not park there.
Runners will be using the campground entrance road on the way out and back. If you arrive while a race is about to start (9:00, 10:00 or 10;30) you may be held where you are. Please watch for runners when exiting.
Aid Station Parking
There is minimal parking at AS #1. Spectators are allowed but not encouraged. For AS #2, parking is along the road. Be sure to not block the road and be careful for runners, who will be on the road at this point. For AS#3, there are 10 parking spots at the trailhead, where the aid station will be. Not all these spots are to be taken by spectators. If the trailhead lot is nearly full, you will be directed to exit the campground and park on road 2154, spectators are not allowed to park in the campground.
Toilets:
Start/Finish: There are two pit toilets in Sacandaga campground, near sites 2 and 17, see attached map. There is NO TOILET at chuckle springs or Rd 2153 aid stations. Timpanogas aid station will utilize the campground toilet, 200 yard from the aid station. Please use hiking etiquette when needing to relieve yourself while running. Don’t go in the middle of the trial!
Camping
Sacandaga Campground is available for racers at $8 a night. Rigdon Meadows, where the start/finish will be, has a few spots available with no amenities.
Changing Races
Racers can step up to a longer distance race morning at the registration table by paying the difference. Racers can also drop down to a shorter distance but there will be no refund. Changing races during the race is not allowed. IF YOU CHOOSE TO TURN AROUND EARLY, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE AN OFFICAL FINISH AND YOU MUST INFORM THE AID STATION ON THE WAY BACK.
Course Hints
Please read the course description on the website. Runners may wish to have the attached map with them. IMPORTANT: all runners must visit the 11 mile aid Station (Chuckle Springs) and check in with a volunteer. 22M and 33M runners must visit the aid station on both the way out and the way back. This is important for runner safety. All runners must verify they have been checked in at all aid stations appropriate for their race. Racers without a check in time for the turn around for their race may be disqualified.
There are a few stream crossings on the course. Most all should be passable while keeping feet dry using logs or rocks. This approach will take more time and can be risky. Logs and rocks can be slippery and/or unstable. Please take care when crossing streams.
Trail Etiquette
Since this is an out and back, runners will be passing each other. Slower runners should yield to faster runners. Give a warning when passing and pass on the left. Runners being passed should stay to the right. It is imperative racers yield to other trail users and be courteous and respectful. Aid is not allowed outside of aid station areas. Littering is grounds for disqualification. Please see the website for a complete list of rules.
The trail is open to all other users during the event, including hikers and bikers. If you encounter other trail users, please be friendly and yield the trail when appropriate. This is not a well-used trail so it is likely you will only see other racers. Any complaints should be directed to the Race Director at Sacandaga.
Course Marking
All turns will be marked with agility cones and surveyor's tape and I'll have surveyor's tape every quarter mile for reassurance. There is surveyor’s tape on the course for other uses, so I’ve used pink and green tape together. Only follow pink and green tape together. The trail is naturally hard to get lost on, there are only two intersecting trails and there will be a sign at one and the aid station at the other. The road sections are very short, less than 100 yards. If you find yourself on a road longer than that, you’ve missed a turn. I will have wrong way signs, if the see a wrong way sign, look for a turn before the sign. If you pass a wrong way sign, you are off course! Please be aware that there is always the chance of course marking vandalism. Use common sense if the course marking appears to lead you astray. Please familiarize yourself with the attached map and if you go more than a half mile without seeing pink and green tape, you are probably off course or the markings have been removed. There is really only one trail, if you are on a trail, you are on course!
Cutoffs
Runners are expected to be through the aid stations at the times below. These times are what is expected to be needed to finish the course in daylight and allow our aid station workers to finish in a reasonable time. Runners will not be allowed to continue if they are not out of the aid station before the times below.
11Mile:
1:30pm
22 Mile:
2:00 pm Rd 2153
3:30 Chuckle Springs
33 Mile:
1:00 Timpanogas
3:00 Rd 2153
4:30 Chuckle Springs
Food/Beverages
The aid stations will be stocked with GU gels and chews. Candy and trail mix will be on hand as well as PBJ’s and salted potatoes. Drinks available will be Water, GU Brew electrolyte drink (watermelon), coke, sprite and ginger ale. Note the water at the Chuckle Springs aid station will be from the spring, minimal distilled water will be available. There will be a water drop 2 miles from the finish. Please use this water sparingly.
The start finish will have snacks and a light dinner available. Please limit yourselves to one meal to leave food for later finishers.
Note, there will be no pain relievers at the aid station. If you wish to use pain relievers, which is not recommended, you will need to bring your own
Drop bags
22 Mile and 33 Mile runners may use drop bags for Timpanogas and RD 2153. Drop bags must be dropped at the start before 9:00 am and must be labeled with the runner’s bib number. Please do not put valuables in drop bags. Drop bags will be returned to the start when the aid stations are broken down and MUST be picked up at the end of the race.
Hunters
It has been noted that this is opening weekend. Rest assured, I would not have chosen this weekend and the forest service would not have approved the permit if this was an issue. I have run on this trail on opening weekend many times in the past and have never encountered a hunter. If you do encounter a hunter please be courteous and respectful. Fur coats and antler hats are not recommended.
