Races
Pass Mountain 50 Miler
Usery Park to the Goldfield Mountains and back. Pass Mountain twice. Cholla, granite, and a full desert day before the spring calendar heats up.
50 mi+4,062 ft-4,095 ft15 hours1,361 ft to 2,650 fttech 5/10Checkpoints per race bookDesert Runner seriesUsery ParkGoldfield MountainsNovember
Distance50 mi
Gain+4,062 ft
Loss-4,095 ft
Altitude1,361 ft to 2,650 ft
Technicality5/10
Air45°F to 85°F
- Start1,804 ft
- High2,650 ft
- Low1,361 ft
- Finish1,772 ft
Terrain
Field, 2025 · 5-year samplescraped
Starters53
Finish rate57%
Median13:04
Sub-2430
Geometryderived
Steepest drop1,102 ft-9.9% over 2.1 mi
Night miles10 misunset near 18:00 local
Weather at the cruxderived
At hour 9 of race, feels like 27 C (86 F).Sample of 7 race days, medium confidence.At hour 9 of race, apparent temperature P90 is 27 C / 81 F.
Course records
Men7:41:01Nick Coury
Women8:23:30Rachel Entrekin
The cruxSecond Pass Mountain climb near mile 35 on tired legs (near mile 33)
Course DNA
The Course
Pass Mountain 50 Miler runs 50 mi through Mesa, Arizona. +4,062 ft gain and -4,095 ft loss. Surfaces skew 85% trail / 15% jeep. Second Pass Mountain climb near mile 35 on tired legs. High point near 2,650 ft. Low near 1,361 ft. November temps run 45°F to 85°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 25.
The Work
Train for 4,062 feet of climbing across 50 mi. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 15 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 33.
Kit
November in Mesa, Arizona: plan for 45°F to 85°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 15 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 13. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 85% trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 25.
Race Day
Hold effort through mile 13. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 25. Second Pass Mountain climb near mile 35 on tired legs near mile 33 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 17 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
Results
Pass Mountain 50 Miler finish lines.
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Sources (2)
- Field stats (2025): https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=124491
- Course record (M): https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=84699