September 27th-28th, 2014. 100 Mile Ultra, 2-, 4-, 6-, & 8-person Relay.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Course Preview: Miles 80-100


Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile Ultra & Relay Course Preview
Miles 80 to 100:  Hull Cabin to the Tusayan IMAX Theater


Where we left off last time.  Hull Cabin Aid Station (mile 80).

After retracing their steps back to the Arizona Trail from Hull Cabin, runners are greeted by the Grandview Fire Tower (mile 83).  Still actively used in the summer months to spot wild land forest fires, the tower affords some good views of the Grand Canyon if you can handle heights well.

Another view of the Grandview Fire Tower.

Back on the Arizona Trail heading west towards your final destination, the Town of Tusayan, runners pass through the aftermath of the 2012 Grand Fire.

Large oak stands greet runners on this section of the course.

More meadows and wild flowers.

Most of the final 17 miles gradually trend downhill.

Smooth two-track.

Watson Tank (mile 87) is usually dry.

A half-mile past Watson Tank is FR303 and the location of the 88 mile aid station.

Back into the forest and through yet more stands of red-barked ponderosa pine.

At roughly mile 94 the Arizona Trail joins the Tusayan Mountain Bike Trail System.

These smooth two-track bike trails pass through wide meadows...

...and wash bottoms lined with limestone cliffs.

The trail along the bottom of Coconino Wash.

Reed Tank (mile 97.5).  As evil as it is, it is here that you will be literally a stone's throw from the finish line and IMAX Theater.  You'll be on Tusayan's city limits here.  To keep you honest and moving forward your final aid station will be located here to direct you onward.

One final climb...

...to the Highway 64 underpass...

...then a final mile of gravel urban trail...

...to your finish line...

...at the Tusayan IMAX Theater.  Mile 100!