Olympic Valley to Auburn. High country first, then Deadwood and Eldorado in the heat, then the American River if the quads still work.
100 mi+19,768 ft-24,706 ft30 hours533 ft to 8,696 fttech 7/1020 stationspoint to pointlottery369 startersWSER qualifierJuneGrand Slam legWSER qualifierHardrock qualifier
Distance100 mi
Gain+19,768 ft
Loss-24,706 ft
Altitude533 ft to 8,696 ft
Technicality7/10
Air30°F to 105°F
Gradient profileOfficial Western States GPX
DIST--
ELEV--
GRADE--
Start6,232 ft
High8,686 ft
Low568 ft
Finish1,294 ft
Aid stations21 stops verified
Lyon Ridge at mile 10, cutoff 5.5 hours
Red Star Ridge at mile 16, cutoff 5.5 hours, drop bag
Duncan Canyon at mile 24, cutoff 7.5 hours, crew
Robinson Flat at mile 30, cutoff 9.17 hours, crew, drop bag
Miller's Defeat at mile 34, cutoff 10.25 hours
Dusty Corners at mile 38, cutoff 11.08 hours, crew
Last Chance at mile 43, cutoff 12.42 hours, drop bag
Devil's Thumb at mile 48, cutoff 14.17 hours, drop bag
El Dorado Creek at mile 53, cutoff 15.67 hours
Michigan Bluff at mile 56, cutoff 16.92 hours, crew, drop bag
Foresthill at mile 62, cutoff 18.75 hours, crew, drop bag
Dardanelles (Cal-1) at mile 66, cutoff 21.67 hours
Peachstone (Cal-2) at mile 71, cutoff 21.67 hours
Ford's Bar (Cal-3) at mile 73, cutoff 24 hours
Rucky Chucky at mile 78, cutoff 24 hours, crew, drop bag
Green Gate at mile 80, cutoff 24.83 hours, crew
Auburn Lake Trails at mile 85, cutoff 26.25 hours, drop bag
Quarry Road at mile 91, cutoff 27.67 hours
Pointed Rocks at mile 94, cutoff 28.67 hours, crew, drop bag
High country first. Flowing singletrack. Then the canyon walls. Deadwood and Eldorado, miles 43 to 56. Dusty. Steep. Heat trapped. Foresthill at mile 62 opens the American River. Runnable if the quads held. Rucky Chucky at 78. No Hands Bridge in the dark. Low 1,300 feet. High 8,750. Eighteen thousand up. Twenty-three thousand down. Trail 80 percent, jeep 15, paved 5.
The Work
Twenty-three thousand feet of downhill pounding. Quads take the eccentric load for a full day. Canyons go past 100°F. Core temp is the limiter. Train massive descent blocks. Sauna or active heat for three weeks. GI shuts when the canyons cook you.
Kit
Ice bandana. Arm cooling sleeves. White sun hoody. Ice them at every aid. Wide toe box. Feet swell on 100 miles of hot descent. That is the kit.
Race Day
Hike the little climbs through the high country. Even at Robinson Flat. First 30 miles are conservation. Deadwood and Eldorado win or lose it. Dust, heat, steep walls. If the quads live, run Foresthill to the finish on the American River. Rucky Chucky at 78 is shuttle access. Dry waist pack and a high-lumen lamp for No Hands Bridge. Liquid carbs when food dies.