The Drift 100 March 12-14
13-mile, 28-mile marathon, and 100-mile ultramarathon winter adventure and endurance races
March 9, 2021
The Drift 100 winter endurance races will take place March 12-14, 2021. The Drift is a winter race in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming, the largest mountain range in the state. Racers may ski, bike, or run on the snow-covered groomed trail.
For 2021, there will be a 13-mile half-marathon, a 28-mile marathon, and a 100-mile ultramarathon (the highest-elevation winter ultramarathon in the United States). This is an individual race on a mapped course. The trail is a groomed snowmobile course (not groomed for skiing). Bikers will need fatbikes. Runners may also want to bring snowshoes. Skiers pick their preference for classic or skate skiing. The course is marked. Maps and GPS are allowed. Cell phone coverage is spotty, mostly only at the start/finish line. Racers are expected to help each other out and be prepared to take care of themselves for a long period of time before help arrives if they are in need. There are manned check stations along the race course.
This recreation event is authorized under a Special Use Permit with the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Shoshone National Forest.
The 100-mile race begins on Friday March 12, while the 13- and 28-mile races begin on Sunday, March 14. Races begin from the Upper Green River snowmobile parking lot at the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary. The 100-mile race is capped at 50 racers.
Racers are expected to be self-sufficient and to start and finish with all gear they will need for the course. Racers may pick up snacks and drop trash at aid stations. There is no caching or outside support allowed. This includes dropping gear you are not using, towing or receiving food, water or a ride from anyone not affiliated with the race. Doing so will result in disqualification. Racers can and should help each other. Buddy system is always encouraged.
Winter weather description from the race page: "March in Pinedale is still very much winter. The average high is 38*F (which seems like a lie-it’s colder than that) and the average low is 7*F (again: lies). March is the windiest month (and, hey, that’s really saying something) with an average wind speed of 8 mph (but it’s totally going to be windier than that). However, temperatures in Sublette County in March have been as cold as -39*F. Read it again. For real. (yes, it says negative.thirty.nine.degrees.fahrenheit). Wyoming doesn’t f**k around: frostbite, hypothermia, dehydration, sun- and windburn are all very real and potentially deadly dangers here. Be prepared. Be overly prepared. Should you show up for the race under-prepared, it is at the discretion of a Race Director to determine whether you can safely race, and you may be denied entry, without a refund on your registration fees. So get your shit together and be safe."
The Drift race sponsors:
Great Outdoor Shop
Two Rivers Fishing Company
Rob and Nancy Tolley
Pinedale Fine Arts Council
Pinedale Travel and Tourism
Wyoming Arts Council
Wind River Brewing Company
Keen Footwear
Lakeside Lodge
Salomon Footwear
Prophase International
Country Lane Liquor
Patagonia
Osprey Packs
High Mountain Real Estate
Cascade Designs
Tread Lightly!
The North Face
Goal Zero
Smith Optics
Kate’s Real Food
Ridley’s Family Market
Tumbleweed Farms
Friends of the Bridger-Teton
Bucky’s Outdoors
Pinedale Snow Explorers
Stockman’s
For more info go to www.thedrift100.com.
For those who are more fair-weather minded for their racing tastes, check out the Surly Pika Adventure Race on July 18, 2021: www.surlypika.com
|
