Races

Oregon Outback 230

Fort Rock to Lakeview, OregonJuly

Fort Rock to Lakeview. Two hundred thirty miles across the Oregon Outback. Sage. Volcanic arc. Dark sky country. Navigation is the race.

230 mi+19,152 ft-19,349 ft120 hours4,701 ft to 8,294 fttech 5/10Checkpoints per race bookDark Sky Sanctuaryself-navigationmulti-dayJuly
Distance230 mi
Gain+19,152 ft
Loss-19,349 ft
Altitude4,701 ft to 8,294 ft
Technicality5/10
Air35°F to 95°F
Gradient profileCalTopo course map
  • Start4,951 ft
  • High8,294 ft
  • Low4,701 ft
  • Finish4,754 ft

Geometryderived

Steepest drop1,401 ft-8.2% over 3.2 mi

The cruxRemote Basin and Range miles with forty mile gaps between towns (near mile 150)

Course DNA

The Course

Oregon Outback 230 runs 230 mi through Fort Rock to Lakeview, Oregon. +19,152 ft gain and -19,349 ft loss. Surfaces skew 70% dirt road / 30% trail. Remote Basin and Range miles with forty mile gaps between towns. High point near 8,294 ft. Low near 4,701 ft. July temps run 35°F to 95°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 115.

The Work

Train for 19,152 feet of climbing across 230 mi. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 120 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 5/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 150.

Kit

July in Fort Rock to Lakeview, Oregon: plan for 35°F to 95°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 120 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 58. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 70% dirt road: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 115.

Race Day

Hold effort through mile 58. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 115. Remote Basin and Range miles with forty mile gaps between towns near mile 150 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 76 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.

Oregon Outback 230