This information encapsulates all info found in the Confirmation Letter, Entry form etc.
The '05 Confirmation letters will be sent individually to each entrant, by one week before the race.

New for 2005: The closing date for entries is one week before the race. There will be NO RACE DAY ENTRIES.
Don't pretend—and don't bandit either. If you did not get a confirmation, and you did not contact the RDs, you are not in the race. No Exceptions.

Starting time:
6:00 AM Start, 5:15 AM Course Directions.
Early starts without trophies by prior arrangement only.

Location:
Ice House Canyon, Mount Baldy, 8 miles north of Claremont/Upland, CA.

Race begins at Ice House Canyon parking lot. Take the 210 Freeway (I-210) to Mountain Ave. exit (Upland). Drive north on Mountain Ave, past San Antonio Dam, continuing through Mt. Baldy Village. Ice House Canyon is approximately 1.7 miles above the village, where the main road heads left. Go right, into the Ice House Canyon parking lot. If you find yourself going up a steep set of switchbacks, you’ve gone past Ice House Canyon. Fuel up in advance! There are no gas stations on the mountain.

Lodging Info will give you ideas on where to spend the night if you so choose.

Course:
32.14 Miles. Two unequal loops with one ear. 10,775 ft climb..10,775 ft of descent. Main course landmarks are Ice House Canyon, Baldy Village, Bear Canyon, West Baldy, Baldy, Baldy Notch, Manker Flats, Sierra Club Cabin, Baldy, Notch, Thunder Mountain, Notch, Manker, Ice House Canyon. Refer to the topo map and the schematic map for reference.

Course Markings
This course will be marked clearly but SPARINGLY as befits a mountain trail race.

Parking
Parking is VERY limited at the Ice House Cyn parking lot. Carpooling is encouraged. Please bring Your Adventure Pass. It is required for parking. Adventure Passes also available from Dee Hansen at the foot of the finish line parking lot.

Course Records
Gabriel Flores (1997) 5:36:22, Sherry Mahieu (2000) 6:27:30.

Baldy Peaks Qualifying Criteria
1] On the entry form you will see the section titled "is this your first ultra? If so, what prepares you to run Baldy Peaks? (Specify below)" This is designed to alert you that you will not be running the LA Marathon, for instance. Many people have run Baldy as their first ultra—but were under reduced illusions as to its demands.
Some people honorably mention ultras they finished with times and so forth. This is good. We check.
2] You must be 18 years old to run this race. No exceptions.

...and Literary Excellence Therein.
But then a few, a precious few, flex their creativity and have the Literary Editors here at Baldy Peaks "on the ropes" with their responses. This cried out for wider recognition. We winnowed through these lapidary essays, and have collected the best of them in their glory. Read them and profit by their wisdom. Incidentally, they all were telling the truth, which is inexorably revealed.

Relevant Race History
Originated by John Davis, with his sons Ken and Stan. With the artistry, precision and eye to maximal sensory overload that can only come from the mind of an aerospace engineer (John) and a classically-trained musician (Ken) the race was born. Stan provided SysOps support.

Joe Franko adds that "Actually, as I recall, the credit should go to John's son Ken, who laid out the course as part of a college project at Cal Poly, Pomona. We were students together then. He was an undergraduate in mathematics and I a graduate student." So who said that science, math and pain don't mix?

The Inaugural "Zeroeth" Baldy Peaks was run as a trial effort in December 1988. There was no snow that month on top of Baldy. When the day was ended they all came home and Phyllis Davis made the lads dinner. Phyllis was a key element of the race that ended only with her sudden and untimely death in December 2000. She was missed by all of us.

All of your joy and delight on race day is thanks to them. Be not stingy in your praises and hosannas.

The first official Baldy Peaks 50k was run in September 1989. The race has had a peripatetic presentation date over the years, hovering between mid July and late October--dodging the various weather and ultra-event bullets.

John decided to retire the race after the 2000 presentation. At this point Andy and Larry, the current RDs took it over. Incidentally, running the race is a psychic prerequisite for being a Race Director.

Ken Davis has since left the state to pursue a life that does not include Mt Baldy. Stan is our Hero Aid Station Dude at the Notch. John is The Ham Radio God. And so it goes.

Awards:
Patagonia capilene shirts and other awards for all entrants. Trophies for 1st-3rd Male and Female in Open, Masters (40+), and Supermasters (60+) age groups. Raffle prizes galore from Patagonia and other event sponsors. Crabtree Most Improved Trophy. Exotic high-denomination cash prizes!

But...What Do Runners Think?

Funny you should ask. Linda Hurd has posted her observations on her website. We also suggest you read Angela Brunson's 2003 Essay, which won the Grand Prize for Literary Excellence.

Race Day Mandatories
TWO (2) FULL water bottles (approx. 40 ozs. minimum) required at start. There is NO WATER on top of Baldy. You will have a MINIMUM of 8 exposed miles (2-4 hrs, depending) between Bear Flats and the Notch.

Cutoffs
Manker (15.2 mi) at noon, Notch 2nd time thru (22.9mi) 4:30pm.

Entries
One entry per bib. Please, no “friend-assisted training runs” on Race Day. No minors, no exceptions.

Weather
Generally mild in early morning. Full solar-exposure is par for the race. Temperatures can range from mid 70’s to low 90’s. Dehydration is a real concern.

Aid Stations
Bear Flats (Water only), Notch, Manker Flats, Sierra Club Cabin. There will be no Aid on the top of Baldy. Many types of fluids and solid food. Refreshments at end.

Drop Bags
...are strongly discouraged. If you really need a drop bag they may only be used at the Notch and Manker Flat. Drop bags are only returned to the finish line at end of day. Drop bags can be collected by your crew. Any drop bag or other runner gear etc not claimed at end of race is considered abandoned after 14 days. Runner pays for shipping.

Crew Access
Only at the Notch and Manker Flats. Runners who need crew access at the Notch can either walk up from Manker Flat or ride the ski-lift above Manker Flats.

Dogs/Pets/Children
No unattended children or unleashed dogs at any time, please.

Event Cancellation
In the event of the race's forced cancellation (owing to wildfire, USFS denial of permit, etc) there will be NO REFUNDS. The entrant can opt for either an entry rollover to the next year's race; or to donate their entry fee to the race’s designated beneficiaries, the Mt. Baldy Volunteer Fire Department and the Claremont High School Boys and Girls’ Cross-Country teams. We appreciate your understanding.

With that, we look forward to seeing you on Race Day!

Larry Gassan & Andy Roth
Co RDs

Last, but Not Least: The Official Baldy Peaks Vocalista
It's true. She's been our muse. Shakira offers the Baldy Peaks runner many things that current pop musica en Ingles fails to address. Listen to her and profit accordingly.

All proceeds benefit the Mt. Baldy Volunteer Fire Department and the Claremont High School Boys' and Girls' Cross-Country Teams.

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