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Note to race veterans: there are five slight but important course changes for 2006.
Aid station people may not be prepared to transport all dropouts. If you are not confident of finishing, and have no contingency plan, consider whether or not you should start the run.
PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU ARE CHECKED OFF AT EACH AID STATION! Ask the attendant to be sure. We must be able to account for each of you at all times.
Start at Fairhaven Park at the junction of the trail leading from the main park road and the Padden Creek Trail. This start line is 0.2 mile farther along the course than it was up until 2005 to keep the course at 50 km due to slight course changes described below, but the finish line is the same as previously: on the main park road where the sidewalk leads to the lower pavilion. Run past some apartments and bear left on the sidewalk. Carefully cross 20th then 22nd Streets and continue at the start of the Interurban Trail (right turn). In just over a mile you will enter a new (2006) wide crushed gravel path and follow this fast sweeping S curve down to Old Samish Highway. Watch for traffic, carefully cross the road, and enter Arroyo Park near the junction of Old Samish Highway and Chuckanut Drive. This path bears left and quickly becomes a slightly rough single track path, but in less than a quarter mile joins the main Arroyo Park trail. Turn right (downhill) and follow the trail upstream, being sure to cross over the wooden bridge and follow the trail until it meets unsigned California St. (paved).
Cross California St. and immediately rejoin the Interurban Trail. Make no turns for about 4 more miles. When well inside Larrabee State Park note the sewage lagoon toward your left but run straight ahead for another 100 yards and take a left turn on a path (Key Junction.. Do not continue on the Interurban Trail to Chuckanut Drive) which will take you next to a cyclone fence into the paved parking area. This is Aid Point #1 at Mile 6.3 (rest rooms).
Continue past the restrooms and follow the gravel road left for 150 yards, then turn left onto a path leading past the sewage lagoon back to the Interurban Trail, where you turn right and retrace your steps to the Fragrance Lake Trail. There will be a course monitor to direct you onto this trail which climbs steadily up to Fragrance Lake, keeping right at a junction in 0.8 mile. Continue the ascent and in 1.8 miles after turning off the Interurban Trail, pass between a wooden post barrier and immediately turn left, descending slightly on the trail to the lake, turn LEFT at an obvious junction, cross a swampy area on a long wooden bridge, and go 1/4 way round the lake CLOCKWISE. This trail is quite narrow in a couple of places. Just before a small bridge crosses the outlet of the lake, turn left and traverse along a narrow path, passing a shallow cave, and 30 feet after beginning a climb, just at the first switchback toward the left, continue straight ahead. In about 50 yards you will meet a long abandoned logging spur onto which you turn right and begin a long traverse north and generally down, sometimes steeply, to Cleator Road and Aid Point #2 at Mile 10.4. Turn right up the wide gravel road, immediately passing a gate. If the gate is open, this road will have car traffic. If the gate is locked, you won't have drop bags at Station #3 or #4! This occurred in 2002 when we had fresh snow.
Ascend the road for 2.9 miles, ignoring all side trails, until nearly to the top of Chuckanut Mountain. At the right-turning switchback in the road, find Aid Point #3 (13.6 miles). Turn left and follow the fun and scenic ridge trail. Slow down to enjoy the spectacular views and tackle the difficult footing. This is a potentially dangerous part of the course! While not continuously exposed, be very careful, especially since the rocks may be wet...the cliff occasionally precariously close to your right is over 150 feet straight down! Watch for and heed danger signs placed in strategic places where there are sudden dropoffs or slippery slabs. This is no place to get careless...the drops appear suddenly. Just slow down and take it easy...this is a fun run, not an all-or-nothing kamikaze race.
Avoid turning off on any deer trails and footpaths for nearly 3 miles, then watch for a right turn at a trail (Dan's Traverse) which is reached shortly after descending a very steep section after leaving a spectacular rocky crest. This is just before the old "Banana Peel Way" used until 2002. This new trail traverses the east side of the ridge, then soon connects with the Lost Lake Road (dirt). Turn right (uphill). The road will become a trail and the trail will become a mudhole then a stream. Wet feet guaranteed! Don't bother trying to stay dry...tighten your shoes and just power through the slop. Hurdle a few fallen logs and at a very obvious junction (Key Junction), go right (again uphill) on the trail to Fragrance Lake. If you go left you'll be lost at Lost Lake. The muddy trail goes gradually up (occasional views of Lost Lake to the left). At the ridge crest stay to the right and descend back toward the north with great views of Samish Bay and the San Juans through the trees. After a long downhill and while on a level section of this wide dry trail, watch for the trail to level off and round a bend to the right. Do not go until you reach the metal gate, and do not reach the Fragrance Lake Road you came up the hill on.
(Key Junction) 50' before the gate start up an inobvious trail. If you reach the closed white gate you are 50' past the turn. The steepest climb of the course...and last major ascent...is fondly called Little Chinscraper because it is quite steep in places. About 70 yards BEFORE the mountain crest, turn left on a good trail and run down to the south end of the Cleator Road parking area (Cyrus Gates Overlook), then continue down the road for about 150 yards to Mile 21.2 and Aid Point #4. If you should miss this new turn just below the top, you will still intersect the road but it is slightly longer and slower. This is Cleator Road again, so watch for cars as you descend the tight switchbacks on the road for about 3/4 mile. After the road levels off turn sharply left onto a wide trail marked "Fragrance Lake".
Continue downhill on this fast trail, making no turnoffs. The trail widens and becomes Fragrance Lake Road. Do not return to the lake, but scream down the quad-thrashing road back to Aid Point #1 (which will now be Aid Point #5... Mile Point 24.8. This aid station will close at 2:30.p.m.
Retrace your steps to Fairhaven Park. Watch very carefully for cars when you leave Arroyo Park and cross Old Samish Highway...you probably won't be quite as quick just now and there will be no monitor to alert you for traffic. Return exactly as you ran out and sprint on into the park and the finish (Mile 31.1). Good work!
Start to Aid Point #1: 6.3 miles (level)
#1 to #2: 4.2 miles (uphill then downhill)
#2 to #3: 2.9 miles (uphill)
#3 to #4: 7.6 miles (difficult)
#4 to #5: 3.6 miles (downhill)
#5 to Finish: 6.5 miles (level)
**Very Important: If you should get hopelessly lost, follow any road or trail on the mountain and you will eventually come to civilization. Call 206.715.0919 or 206.715.1990 to report in so we don't needlessly set the hounds out for you! Thanks.