THE SQUATCHY SURPRISE
Join us at the South Mountain Reservation in West Orange, New Jersey on Saturday July 26, 2025 for The Squatchy Surprise! Inspired by the TommyKnocker Ultra in Golden, Colorado, The Squatchy Surprise will test your endurance, strategery and mental fortitude as your fate on the course is determined by the luck of the draw...... We are supporting our non-profit partner, Bigger Than The Trail with this Trail Party!
BIGGER THAN THE TRAIL
We are proud to partner with Bigger Than The Trail . BTTT is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that is using trail running as a platform to advocate for mental health. BTTT's mission is to enrich the lives of individuals struggling with mental health. Through their fundraising efforts, BTTT provides free therapy to those in need! Please consider making a donation to BTTT: Bigger Than the Trail to provide cost-free therapy for folks in need.
TRAIL PARTY DETAILS
There are 4 different trail loops and a bucket of golf balls that match the color of each loop. Before each loop, you'll reach into the bucket and pull out a golf ball to determine which loop you will do. Along with the 4 colored golf balls that correspond to the 4 different loops, there will also be a black golf ball. If the runner/hiker pulls the black golf ball, they get to choose whichever loop they want to complete. Our Volunteer Dream Team will keep track of the loops that you complete by adding stickers to a giant chart. This means that we need you to keep your bib visible at all times! You'll repeat this process after every loop until 6PM. You are welcome to run/hike with a friend and draw the same golf-balls (you just can't be eligible for post-race awards).
At 6PM, runners will have to make a game-time decision! Take a chance and continue drawing golf balls OR or wait until 6:30PM for the 1/2 mile mini loop to open up. You'll have to choose one or the other! If you decide to continue drawing golf balls, you cannot go on the mini 1/2 mile loop. This means that if you get the long loop and are unable to complete it in the time remaining, that loop will not count towards your final mileage. If you draw a shorter loop and you finish with time remaining, you can continue tempting fate and drawing golf balls with the time remaining. "You get what you get, so don't get upset!" Any loop not completed before the timer ends, will not count. We are also offering ONE "Charity-Mulligan". You can choose to use your ONE Charity-Mulligan at any point in the race to do a re-draw if you pull a golf-ball you don’t like. You have to donate $20 cash or venmo to get the Charity-Mulligan. 100% of the proceeds from the charity mulligans will be used for additional donations to Bigger Than The Trail!
If you decide to run the mini 1/2 loop, you must wait until 6:30PM before you can begin racking up those 1/2 miles. Any loop not completed before the timer ends, will not count.
SQUATCH KIDS CLUB
We want the WHOLE family to come out to our events! Kids under the age of 19 can score 15% off their registration with the code SQUATCHKIDSCLUB. We also have some free entries available for youth athletes; email us to learn more! We have a special discount code for families registering 3 or more Squatches in the same household. Please email trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com before you register so we can give you the code! We recognize and celebrate our young adventurers by giving out wooden star medallions to kids who are registered AND to kids who come to spectate with their families. It's our way of saying thank you for being a part of our community and for embracing the spirit of adventure! We want families to come to our Trail Parties! We have a range of fun games that your family can enjoy: corn hole, connect four, a giant rainbow parachute and the Squatch Hunt. Don't be shy, head on over to the Finish Line and join in on the fun! Learn more about our Squatch Kids Club!
SQUATCH DISCOUNTS
Sassquad Trail Running is proud to offer 20% off all events to all active duty military and Veterans, hospital workers and teachers. Please email trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com before you register for an event so we can provide you with a discount code. We extend a 10% discount to our Wise Elder Squatch Squad (folks who are over the age of 60); email us for the the code! New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Members and South Mountain Conservancy members can receive 10% off of registration; please email us for the discount code!
SKRATCH
We are excited to share that our friends over at Skratch Labs are official Sassquad sponsors! We will be proudly serving Skratch Hydration at the aid stations. Sassquaders can save 20% by using the code SASSQUAD24 at skratchlabs.com
FAQs
Q: Can I have a pacer?
A: As with all of our events, Squatchers over the age of 60 and AWD (athletes with disabilities) can have a pacer/guide at any time. Pacers are not allowed for other runnres and hikers without prior approval from the Trail Party Director.
Q: Can I bring my dog?
A: Negative. Lassie has to stay home for this event.
Q: Can I sign my kids up for The Squatchung Surprise?
A: Yes! This is a family friendly event. However, YOU are responsible for your kids and need to run with them. Be sure to register your child separately. Please keep track of Mikey, Chunk and Data before, during and after the race. We only have 1 search-party and they're already out there looking for Sasquatch.
Q: What's the weather like in West Orange, NJ in July?
A: Hot and humid or maybe rainy. Be ready for anything.
Q: Talk to me about the finishers' swag. What do I get to take home with me after the race? I want you to spill your guts, tell me everything!
A: Everything. OK, I'll talk! In third grade, I cheated on my history exam. In fourth grade, I stole my uncle Max's toupee and I glued it on my face when I was Moses in my Hebrew School play. In fifth grade, I knocked my sister Edie down the stairs and I blamed it on the dog... When my mom sent me to the summer camp for fat kids and then they served lunch I got nuts and I pigged out and they kicked me out! ...But the worst thing I ever done: I mixed up all this fake puke at home and then I went to this movie theater, hid the puke in my jacket, climbed up to the balcony and then, t-t-then, I made a noise like this: hua-hua-hua-huaaaaaaa - and then I dumped it over the side, all over the people in the audience. And then, this was horrible, all the people started getting sick and throwing up all over each other. And I never felt so bad in my entire life!
Q: What in the world are you talking about??!!
A: Oh, sorry. You wanted me to spill my guts! Anywayyyy, besides memories that will last a lifetime, every runner/hiker will receive a handcrafted wood medal and squatchtastic finishers item. We will have squatchy awards for the top 3 male/female/non-binary who rack up the most miles. Swag will be given out during check-in.
Q: I want to sign up for the event, but I know I won't stay out there to run the entire time. Can I still sign up?
A: YES! If at any point you decide that you're finished running and you do not want to go out for another loop please tell a volunteer so we know that you are no longer out on the course.
Q: What will you have at the aid station?
A: We'll be serving fettucini alfredo, with a bottle of fettucine, a 1981........ Yeah right. We'll have pre-packaged items that should appeal to most runners: chips, granola bars, pretzels as well as hot food items etc. etc. (If Chunk and Sloth register, we will be sure to have some Baby Ruths and Rocky Road Ice Cream)
Q: I could get lost in a brown paper bag and I'm worried that I'm going to get lost in the woods. Will the course be marked?
A: Yes, the course will be marked! Remember to follow the ribbons that are the same color of the golf ball that you pulled.
Q: Speaking of directions, what’s the best address for me to use to get to the start/finish?
A: 62 Cherry Lane, West Orange, New Jersey.
Q: I don't want to run, are there any volunteer opportunities?
A: Yes! We always need Sassy Volunteers! Click the "Volunteer" button at the top of the page!
VOLUNTEER DREAM TEAM
Join the Sassy Volunteer Dream Team! We need help with check-in, aid stations, sweeping the course and cleaning up. Are you registered for a race that requires volunteer hours? We can sign-off on the hours that you log at the Trail Party. We love our volunteer team and we are always looking to add more sassy members to the Volunteer Squad! Email us at trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com if you would like to volunteer!
REFUNDS/DEFERRALS
Like many other race organizations, we do not offer refunds for our events. Please take the time to double check your calendar before registering for a Trail Party. Please understand that we do not offer refunds under any circumstances. If you notify us via email (not through social media, text or phone call) more than 21 days from the date of the Trail Party, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for. If you sustain an injury less than 21 days from the race date, we will extend a deferral if you come to that race to volunteer for at least 4 hours. If the race that you want to drop from is sold-out with an active wait-list and are able to fill your spot: if you notify us via email (not through social media, text or phone call) at least 3 days before the race, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for. The race credit is the amount that you paid for the race (not including UltraSignUp fees) so you will need to cover any difference in fees; refunds will not be issued if the deferred event costs less than your race credit. You can only defer one time so please doublecheck that you can make the race you're deferring to.
SASSQUAD TRAIL RUNNING
We are a community of SASQUATCH-lovin' trail runners and hikers. Our goal is to provide FUN and challenging events for runners of all ages and paces. We like to think that we have a good sense of humor, a full arsenal of sarcastic wit, useless trivia facts and a deep appreciation for cinematic masterpieces (as evidenced multiple times already). Follow us on Instagram , and like us on Facebook to get all of our Squatchy updates. You can also join our Facebook group, "Sassquad Trail Runners" to connect with other runners and hikers!
Event's current local time: 7:32 AM ET
