This is the Lodge. We will have a large tent in front of this building on the right, where the food is served, packets picked up, dropbags left, briefings held, aid station, and finish area. Camping is located behind this structure
Ice Cream Hill looks so easy from this perspective. Both the 'bottom up' and the 'top down' views look pretty easy. There aren't any mountains in central Texas. Only a few of these hills. Check out all the switchbacks. Oh, there aren't any! Quickest way to the top is strait up. No sense beating around the sotol bush
Boyle's House and barn are major landmarks. This marks the only section of trail that is out and back. You will run between Boyce's house & barn as you start the race. The 50K/100K runners will see it again within a half-mile of the finish as you come down off the last hill directly at the Boyle's house. This time, you will make a left and head back to the finish. Nobody lives here but rattlesnakes and scorpions. Stop to visit for a spell.
After Last Chance, the last flat section before you hit Cairne's Climb (a good climb and scramble through a fresh cut trail on 4a) followed by the climb up to Cougar Canyon overlook (on 4b)
From the saddle, where #5 & #6 cross each other and spawn off many other side trails. #6 comes in from the side just before getting to the Cross Roads aid station. It's a very nice little roller coaster that's a load of fun to run. The pic on the right is a top down look at #1, which we call the superhighway. #1 cuts through the park as the major trail. It's mostly jeep road, but even that isn't constant
The Big Nasty is a sweet surprise first thing in the morning. It is a hint of whats to come and it is the first Big Nasty you'll meet on this course. It is not marked on the map and unless you know exactly where this is, it will surprise you. Just after you pass Boyle's house and leave #4 for #5. Thats where this starts and it raises you to the saddle where the next surprise waits.
This is what the flat sections look like. This is the superhighway #1 trail
This new trail was created just for this race. Cairne's Climb: just after Last Chance. It goes up, rides a flat rock ledge overlooking Cougar Canyon, then drops back down. The trail is marked with (you guessed it) many cairnes & lined with rocks for much of it. Yes, it is very rocky and there are quite a few cactus up here, so be careful. I suggest you have a very good light and pay very close attention in here
Prickley pear are in abundance in this park. They're everywhere and have some pointed arguments to discuss with you. I suggest you avoid any discussion with these lovely plants. Another devil is the Texas Sotol. It is also a cactus plant and is impossible to avoid in some areas. It has a sharp point and serrated edges. It either sticks you directly or cuts you as you slide by. All these are very tiny, but after a few trips through the sotol, it begins to burn. This plant is why I suggest everyone where long lightweight pants regardless of the weather. Wind pants or orienteering pants, maybe some chaps! I've even worn some very tall gaitors. They are more focused on steep hillsides, so look for them around the Ice Cream Hill and Three Sisters areas on the big outside and inside loops
There is an odd mix of trails. Some of it you can really go on while some of it is perfect for the rock afficionado that loves rough terrain. Most of the trails are not under tree cover and are open to the sky, so I suggest a hat and sunscreen during the day. Some of the hill tops are bare and can be quite wind blown, so tie down all your goodies
Bandera has more than a few sections that are very rough and rocky. We've sent many very large runners down these trails many times to smash the rocks, but so far this hasn't worked effectively. Sombody suggested we move the rocks to the side, but we discovered more rocks underneath. So now we have rock ditches filled with rocks
These are the rocky trails after we have removed the rocks
There are a few flat sections. This is the field leading into the Cross Roads aid station. Only a few miles of this look before you're up on the rocks again. Also the picture on the right is the rolling hills under the powerlines on trail #8. Looks pretty easy but it's actually full of (you guessed it) rocks
Bandera used to be a working ranch and still has many reminders of the old cowboy days. Water tanks and old corrals seem to be spread all over. The park is still surrounded by working ranches and dude ranches. They bring horses here regularly to ride
Another wonderful look of the rolling hills off one of the few major jeep roads through the park. No vehicular traffic is allowed on any of these roads. Only thing you'll see out here are runners, bikers, and horses. The bikers you see will likely all be working support for the race. The picture on the right is typical of many trail sections here. Most of the section behind Chapas on the trail #9 area looks like this
Some of the trail is rock, some is flat, some is wet, some is dry. There is so much variety that it'll make you cry and make you laugh. Depends on your personality which will do which
A few more lovely rides that we feature in this amusement park. Keep in mind - this is Texas! So everything that lives here (plants, critters, people) stings, cuts, or bites. Most of the bushes and trees have thorns. Fortunatly, most of the critters hide out all winter
There are a few water crossing, but they all look like this. They may be completely dry or with water depending on recent rain. No way to know til you get here
More variety. This does not cover all of it by a long shot. It is just a taste. One must come and run here to get the full flavor. You can count on getting plenty of hills to run (or walk). I have tried my very best to avoid as much flat as possible and successfully found the most difficult way up most of these hills. The park ranger has given me permission to create some new trails, so I suspect this course will only get more fun and more difficult each year. Look for another new surprise each year. This year's surprise is Cairn's Climb on 4a
Left: Nachos Aid Station and the Tornados from Houston. Right: Last Chance: Letha Cruthirds, Mark Dick, and NTTR of Dallas
Chapas: Paul, Abby, & Erin Stone w/Max Roycroft & Red Spicer of NTTR in Dallas/Tyler
Cross Roads Aid Station - Bill Gardner and his San Antonio crew