Welcome to the Coyote Wall Sort Of Virtual Trail Races!
Thank you for joining Wonderland Running in the Columbia River Gorge. In a time of so much pain, growth, and uncertainty, we are grateful to be able to share this very special place with you. This event takes place on breathtaking trails with sweeping vistas. This journey is a grand and thoughtfully crafted tour of this unique Cascade rainshadow ecosystem. Mount Hood’s imposing volcanic pyramid looms large over much of the course, while other parts of the course flow between Douglas fir forest, oak savanna, and grasslands with seemingly endless viewscapes of the Columbia River Gorge.
After the cancelation of the 2020 in-person races, we are delighted to be able to host this on-course virtual run in the Coyote Wall & Catherine Creek area of the Columbia River Gorge. After much contemplation, revision, and coordination (and a couple of false starts), we are grateful and thrilled to be FINALLY doing this! Runners may choose any day that suits their fancy from February 4th through March 31st, 2021 to run the 25k (one loop) or the 50k (two loops).
This is a rugged, sometimes technical, and fairly steep course that will challenge even the most seasoned trail runners. The course features almost 4,000’ of climb. Due to long, steep climbs and technical terrain, this is not considered beginner’s course, and runners are therefore strongly encouraged to have prior trail running experience.
These races take place upon the ancestral lands of the Klickitat and Yakama peoples, who have lived here for over 10,000 years. They spoke Sahaptin (Ichishkiin S?´nwit). In Sahaptin, the Columbia River is known as Nch'i-Wana, which means "Great River.”
Before that, these rugged and resplendent landscapes were architected by the Missoula Floods, whose catastrophic floodwaters scoured out the Columbia River Gorge as the Cordilleran Ice Sheet retreated at the end of last Ice Age.
THE DATES ARE FEBRUARY 1 - MARCH 31, 2021!
You will have all of February and all of March to find the day that suits you best. Winter and early Spring in the Columbia River Gorge can be dramatic, though the rainshadow offers many lovely days of crisp aor and sunshine as the world west of the Cascades is draped in a soaking gray blanket.
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS!
It's quite simple, actually!!! Runners may choose any day that suits their fancy from February 1st through March 31st, 2021 to run the 25k (one loop) or the 50k (two loops). Registration will be open through Ultrasignup from February 1st until March 15th, 2021.
All finishers will receive a unique finisher’s award and a Coyote Wall t-shirt from Territory Run Co. These will be mailed out or delivered to all finishers within three weeks of the conclusion of the event on March 31.
PLEASE READ THE COURSE DESCRIPTION AND RACE RULES found on the Coyote Wall Sort of Virtual Trail Races webpage. You will need to be familiar with both! The webpage is also where you will find the course GPX.
On behalf of Wonderland Running, Cispus Learning Center, and Columbia High School, thank you again for joining us! We hope you have a wonderful time running in one of the most magical places in the Columbia River Gorge!
Race Rules
Runners may run the 2021 Coyote Wall Sort of Virtual Trail Races event(s) on any date and time of their choosing from Saturday, February 1, 2021 through Thursday, March 31, 2021.
Your race must start no earlier than 12:00 AM on Saturday, February 4, 2021, and your race must be completed by 11:59 PM on Thursday, March 31, 2021. Runners who ran the course on the original scheduled race weekend may contact Wonderland Running directly.
There are no specific time cutoffs. However, runners must complete the race as one continuous event (i.e., one push). The event must not be broken up into separate runs. Activities normally conducted during a trail running event do not constitute breaking up the event (e.g. aid stops, food and water breaks, changing clothing, bathroom breaks, taking pictures, etc.).
For your run to be counted as a finisher, you must complete the prescribed course as shown and explained in the courser description, course map, and GPX file. The course will not be marked, and there are many unmarked junctions, game trails, and other ways to get easily off course. Please bring GPX and course description with you during your race.
For your run to be counted as a finisher with results posted to Ultrasignup and prize eligibility, you will need to provide your results through Strava, Garmin Connect, MapMyRun, or any other credible, verifiable site showing your run. Your activity must be set to ‘public’.
Upon completion of your chosen event, please submit a link to the above information via email to Wonderland Running at wonderland.running.pnw@gmail.com, along with the time you started your event and the time you finished your event, no later than 11:59 PM on Thursday, March 31, 2021.
REMEMBER THAT WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC!! All of the obvious COVID precautions and prerequisites apply to this event. IF you are sick or suspect you have been exposed, DO NOT come out to run. Wait until you safely can.
If you choose to run with others, please limit your group size to 6 or fewer runners.
All runners MUST carry masks with them and wear them when 6 feet of distance cannot be achieved.
This is NOT a closed course. All runners MUST yield the right-of-way to hikers, bikers, and other users.
Please do not cut switchbacks or go off trail. The oak savannah and grasslands are beautiful but delicate. Many native plants, including rare endemic plants, are easily disturbed or destroyed.
PLEASE NOTE: If the 2021 Coyote Wall Sort of Virtual Trail Races are cancelled for any reason (e.g. fire or fire hazard, restrictions or safety issues related to COVID-19, severe weather, Acts of God, etc.), there will be no refund whatsoever. All canceled or unused registration monies over incurred costs will be donated to our event beneficiaries.
Event's current local time: 1:31 AM PT
