Registration Open for Boulder Beast
Trail Challenge to be held September 24
LOCK HAVEN – Registration is now open for the inaugural Boulder Beast trail challenge. The 25-mile race will be held Saturday, September 24, with the start/finish at the Castanea Fire Company Picnic Grounds.
Sign-ups opened June 1 through the event website at www.boulderbeast.com, according to race director Jeff Stover, who calls the Boulder Beast a new event, held on familiar ground.
“The team that founded the Megatransect is back,” says Stover. “All of the favorite sections of Bald Eagle Mountain will be on display on a course that is as beautiful as it is daunting. The race gets its name from the Boulderfield, one of the most challenging sections, but the course also traverses the Rote overlook, Gorge Trail, Giant’s Steps, and some new sights, including a second major boulder field.”
Stover, of Lock Haven, is the originator of the Megatransect trail challenge. In addition to heading up the Boulder Beast, he also serves as race director for the Frozen Snot, a 13.5-mile winter trail event held in January.
For the Boulder Beast, he says participants can expect nearly 7,000 feet of elevation gain on mostly technical terrain.
Stover says a group of volunteers has been meeting to finalize the course for the September event.
“Besides our legacy volunteers, many of the folks who helped with the Mega in recent years are back as well, and we welcome anyone who would like to help, whether it’s their first time or they’re a veteran.”
Stover says details on the event are available at www.boulderbeast.com. Registrations are being taken at https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/LockHaven/BoulderBeast. He says the event will be limited to 800 competitors.
The City of Lock Haven is serving as the official race sponsor, as the course traverses both City watershed property and Bald Eagle State Forest. Woolrich, Inc. also has signed on as a major sponsor. Additional supporters include Troegs Brewing, First Quality, American Alpine Institute, Lock Haven Strength and Conditioning, and Pepsi.
People with questions about the Boulder Beast can contact Stover at jeff@boulderbeast.com. Those interested in volunteering can contact volunteer coordinator Joanne Heimer at jheimer@comcast.net or 570-753-3699.
