Races
Bear 100
Logan Dry Canyon toward Bear Lake. Fall color, then a freeze at night. One hundred miles through the Bear River Range.
The mountain
Start at the mouth of Logan Dry Canyon. The first climb is the longest. Pines, red maple, yellow aspen. Mix of smooth descents and rocky ones. High eight thousand eight hundred sixty-five. Low four thousand eight hundred fifty-three. Average about seven thousand two hundred fifty. 2026 finishes at Conestoga Ranch in Garden City after Stump Hollow and Peter Sinks, not Fish Haven.
The work
Late September was picked for color and cooler days. Nights in the valleys often go below freezing. Twenty thousand three hundred twenty-one feet of gain. Lottery. Eight hours of volunteer work. Qualifier for Western States and Hardrock.
Race morning
Logan. Point to point. Shuttle from finish to start if you need it. Drop bags and crew at published stations. Tony Grove is still a landmark in the middle miles. Black Bear buckle thirty to thirty-six. Grizzly twenty-four to thirty. Wolverine under twenty-four.
Watch outs
The opening climb. Night freeze in the sinks. Rocky descents after you relaxed on a smooth one. 2026 is a new last twenty-five. Do not run last year's finish in your head.