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Sage Burner Trail Race: 50K
Trail Running Route
Hard
30.63 mi
4,036 ft
A rugged, challenging trail race through the granite boulders and sagebrush of Hartman Rocks.
The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is located in the heart of the Gunnison Valley on a series of rolling sagebrush-covered hills and granite rock outcroppings. This rugged high-desert landscape hosts the Sage Burner Trail Race every Memorial Day Weekend. This 50K trail running course is technical and challenging, featuring a surprising amount of climbing for its location. While the topography isn't nearly as dramatic as the nearby Elk Mountains or San Juan Mountains, runners will still have to climb (and descend) 4,000 feet of vert over this distance. The vast majority of the course traverses up-and-down singletrack filled with never-ending granite slabs, rock ledges, and chunky rock gardens. Runners will encounter a few sections of doubletrack and dirt road in the course, but these short sections have really only been added for passing opportunities right out of the gate and at key intervals on the course. There are also a few smooth sections of dirt singletrack rolling through the sagebrush in between the rocky cahllenges, but the Sage Burner is renowned as a truly rugged trail race. Be prepared to face your demons on this gnarly run! The race features a wave start format to spread out the runners on the singletrack and avoid congestion. The race organizers also provide 7 aid station stops along the 50K distance (there are 5 aid stations, and 2 are visited twice). These stations are the only assistance allowed out on the course: no pacers or crew are allowed anywhere on the course or at the aid stations. The route shown here is the full 50K ultra, but the Sage Burner also offers shorter 28K and 13K courses if you aren't up for the full challenge. Sources: Written by Greg Heil
The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is located in the heart of the Gunnison Valley on a series of rolling sagebrush-covered hills and granite rock outcroppings. This rugged high-desert landscape hosts the Sage Burner Trail Race every Memorial Day Weekend. This 50K trail running course is technical and challenging, featuring a surprising amount of climbing for its location. While the topography isn't nearly as dramatic as the nearby Elk Mountains or San Juan Mountains, runners will still have to climb (and descend) 4,000 feet of vert over this distance. The vast majority of the course traverses up-and-down singletrack filled with never-ending granite slabs, rock ledges, and chunky rock gardens. Runners will encounter a few sections of doubletrack and dirt road in the course, but these short sections have really only been added for passing opportunities right out of the gate and at key intervals on the course. There are also a few smooth sections of dirt singletrack rolling through the sagebrush in between the rocky cahllenges, but the Sage Burner is renowned as a truly rugged trail race. Be prepared to face your demons on this gnarly run! The race features a wave start format to spread out the runners on the singletrack and avoid congestion. The race organizers also provide 7 aid station stops along the 50K distance (there are 5 aid stations, and 2 are visited twice). These stations are the only assistance allowed out on the course: no pacers or crew are allowed anywhere on the course or at the aid stations. The route shown here is the full 50K ultra, but the Sage Burner also offers shorter 28K and 13K courses if you aren't up for the full challenge. Sources: Written by Greg Heil
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Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Road 32 C Climb | 0.38 mi | 154 ft | 7.5% |
| County Road 32C Climb | 0.28 mi | 190 ft | 12.5% |
| Unnamed Rd Climb | 0.91 mi | 312 ft | 6.5% |
| Sea of Sage West | 1.31 mi | -233 ft | -3.3% |
| Down 9-0 | 0.94 mi | -249 ft | -4.2% |
| Outback E to W | 1.18 mi | -95 ft | -0.4% |
| County Road 32 B Climb | 0.39 mi | 148 ft | 7.2% |
| Dirty Sock S to N | 1.00 mi | -144 ft | -0.7% |
| County Road 56 Climb | 0.83 mi | 289 ft | 6.6% |
| Josie's to the Split | 1.73 mi | 299 ft | 2.2% |
| Descend the World | 0.90 mi | -269 ft | -5.6% |
| Ridge Tail Eastish | 1.54 mi | 131 ft | 1.5% |
| Up the Tail Pipe | 0.38 mi | 98 ft | 3.6% |