Overview
Do you love mountain trail races, but get tired of soul-destroying climbs? Ever wish you could actually run for an entire race and just, you know, let ‘er rip?
Then come join us this fall for the inaugural running of the Umatilla Rim Ripper! With about 1,600 feet of vertical gain over 25K and 3,200 over 50K, The Ripper is the perfect race for trail veterans looking to set a new PR and for newcomers who want to dip their toes in the ultra-distance waters without having them bit off by a land shark.
The Course
Runners in both the 50K and 25K will compete on the same course, with 50K runners completing two laps.
The course is 15.5 miles long, consisting of almost all flowy single track with only a short section of forest service access road. When not darting through a luscious forest, you’ll enjoy stunning vistas of the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness and the Walla Walla Valley beyond.
See the course map here.
The course will be marked with pink flagging tape at all major trail intersections and will include occasional confidence markers, however runners are responsible for navigating the course and staying on trail. It is recommended that you download the GPX course file and save it to your phone or GPS equipped device.
The course will not be closed to the public. There may be other trail users, including mountain bikes. There is also a short section of paved forest development road on which motor vehicles may be present.
Runners are expected to yield to other trail users and exercise caution when on the roadway.
Aid Stations
There will be two full aid stations on the course with water, electrolytes, gels and snacks. There will also be an aid station at the start/finish line for runners in the 50K. The aid stations will be roughly five miles apart.
This is a no cup course, runners will be expected to carry a container. As this is a trail race with fewer aid stations, it is highly recommended that runners have the ability to carry at least 12 ounces of water.
Start/Finish Line
The start and finish line is located at Horseshoe Praire, just off Oregon Highway 204. There will be porta-potties, music, a food truck and a brewery. There will be a place to check a drop bag for 50K runners, who will have access to it when they pass through the start/finish line area for the start of their second lap.
Parking is available across the highway in the Andies Prairie Snowpark parking area.
Spectators and crew are welcome at the start/finish line and any aid station, however please stay off the course as much as possible.
Pacers and pets are not allowed on the course.
Bib Pickup
The race bib will be available for pickup Thursday and Friday before the race at a location to be announced as well as at the starting line on race day.
Lodging
The nearest town is Elgin, OR, however the closest hotels are in Walla Walla, WA, about 1 hour away. There are also multiple campgrounds run by the forest service in the area.
Awards/Swag
All finishers will receive a custom finisher’s medal and drop bag. The top three men and women finishers overall will receive a custom award to commemorate their accomplishment. Hats and T-Shirts are available for purchase (link to be provided) in advance and will be available for pickup with the race packet and on race day.
Event's current local time: 2:12 PM PT
