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The Great Adirondack
Trail Run
2008
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Great
Adirondack Trail Run
Course Description
11.5 Mile Run: Beginning with a nice flat to gradually uphill
section through a beautiful hardwood forest, the trail starts to climb
at a significant (but still runnable) angle after crossing a bridge at 1
mile. Continuing to climb next to the stream on a rocky trail, the first
hill tops out at the junction (marked with a red arrow) with the trail
to Owl Head Lookout at 2.5 mi. Continuing straight ahead, the trail
drops gradually but with rough footing (be careful, for your ankles'
sake) before leveling out,
crossing a small tributary, and arriving at High Bank (a beautiful view
point). The trail takes a hard right here (volunteers will show you
where) and begins to climb steeply, arriving at the junction with the
North Trail to Giant at 6 mi. (volunteers here as well).
At this point the trail levels out a bit but soon enters a boggy section,
about 200 yards long, through which you must run. The bog is knee-deep
at times and can pull a loose shoe right off your foot. It's recommended
that you slow to a walk here, don't try to hop across on the logs (they
are very unstable) and just push through. You'll remember it fondly once
the race is over!
About a mile after the bog the trail reaches a junction (red arrow) and,
going straight ahead, climbs steeply to the bare summit of Hopkins Mt
(great views). Volunteers here will make sure you top out and will
direct you to the point where the trail enters the woods again. It's all
downhill from here! Watch your footing going down the open rock, until
another junction is reached (red arrow). A right at the junction leads
to the steepest downhill on the course: less than a mile of very rough
trail. Quick feet and controlled momentum will take you down this
section safely, until the trail eases off a bit and becomes runnable
once again.
At this point the trail reaches a system of dirt roads, mostly downhill or
on the level, with many other roads branching off the main road. All
intersections are marked with red arrows, so watch for them. This is a
quad-punishing descent, but you can make good time here if you care
about that by this point in the race! At the end of the dirt road system
you will make a left (red arrow) onto a paved road for a short section
before making another left (volunteers here) onto a driveway and then a
single-track trail along the river. Follow the red arrows to the finish
at the Mountaineer, mile 11.5!
Main course - elevation profile
 
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